Potato Side Dishes That’ll Upstage the Main Course

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Potatoes are the ultimate side dish but sometimes they’re so good they steal the spotlight. These recipes take the humble spud and turn it into something everyone will rave about. They’re perfect for adding comfort and heartiness to any meal with plenty of flavor to keep things interesting. I’m always looking for easy sides that make dinner feel special and these hit the mark. Trust me, these potato dishes might just become the star of the show!

Hearty Penna Dutch Potato Salad

Hearty Penna Dutch Potato Salad in a patriotic motif serving bowl with a spoon.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Hearty Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Salad is a rich and creamy Amish-style dish that’s perfect for any gathering! It’s both crunchy and smooth, delivering that classic, nostalgic flavor with a special warm dressing that makes it stand out.

Get the Recipe: Hearty Penna Dutch Potato Salad

Breakfast Potatoes

A beautifully presented photo of Breakfast Potatoes
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crispy Breakfast Potatoes are so quick and easy to make in a skillet with just a few staple ingredients. The perfect side for any breakfast!
Get the Recipe: Breakfast Potatoes

Southern Mashed Potatoes Recipe with A Parmesan Crust

A red pot containing a baked dish with a browned, slightly charred top.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This Southern Mashed Potatoes Recipe with a Parmesan Crust is a game-changer, hands down! Fluffy potatoes are taken to the next level with whipped heavy cream folded in after passing through a ricer, then topped with Parmesan and baked to golden perfection.

Get the Recipe: Southern Mashed Potatoes Recipe with A Parmesan Crust

Loaded German Potato Bake

A close-up of a cheesy baked potato casserole topped with chopped scallions and crispy bacon in a rectangular baking dish.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Loaded German Potato Bake is the best of both worlds—a delicious mashup of traditional German potato salad and comforting baked potato casserole. This hearty side dish is packed with flavor, combining tender potatoes, tangy dressing, and savory toppings for a seriously irresistible bite that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds!

Get the Recipe: Loaded German Potato Bake

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole

A baked casserole dish filled with mashed potatoes topped with melted cheese and chopped green onions, with a spoon resting inside and a serving missing.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Make your holiday meal a breeze with this Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole recipe, perfect for prepping ahead of time. With easy steps and loads of cheesy goodness, this dish is the ultimate side to complete any festive spread!

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole

Cheesy Creamy Delmonico Potatoes Recipe

A close-up of a serving of scalloped potatoes on a white plate, garnished with a sprig of rosemary. The dish appears creamy with a golden, crispy top. A fork is partially visible on the right side of the plate. The background includes a red and white cloth.
Cheesy Creamy Delmonico Potatoes Recipe. Image Credit: Noshing With The Nolands.

Cheesy Creamy Delmonico Potatoes are a rich, comforting dish packed with layers of cheesy goodness. This classic recipe makes for one of the most indulgent potato side dishes you can serve at a dinner party or holiday meal. Creamy and satisfying, it’s perfect for when you need a warm, hearty option to complement your meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Creamy Delmonico Potatoes Recipe

Smashed Potatoes

A baking sheet lined with parchment paper displays a variety of smashed and roasted potatoes. The potatoes are golden brown with crispy edges, sprinkled with chopped herbs, coarse salt, and pepper. A small spoon containing oil is placed beside the potatoes.
Smashed Potatoes. Image Credit: The Cookie Rookie.

Smashed Potatoes are the perfect combination of crispy edges and soft insides. These potatoes are first boiled, then smashed and roasted, creating a fun and flavorful side. They’re a great alternative to regular potato side dishes and are easy to customize with toppings like herbs or Parmesan. Simple yet delicious, they’re bound to be a hit at your next dinner.
Get the Recipe: Smashed Potatoes

Cheesy Potato Casserole (Hash Brown Potato Casserole Recipe)

Tasty Cheesy Potato Casserole (Hash Brown Potato Casserole Recipe) on display
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Cheesy Potato Casserole is the ideal holiday side dish recipe for anyone that loves cheese and potatoes. Delicious casserole.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Potato Casserole (Hash Brown Potato Casserole Recipe)

Roasted Baby Potatoes

Roasted Baby Potatoes served fresh
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Easy-to-make Roasted Baby Potatoes crisped in the hot oven with olive oil, garlic, and fresh thyme or rosemary are one of life’s simple pleasures.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Baby Potatoes

Potato Pancakes

A plate of golden-brown, pan-fried potato pancakes garnished with chopped chives. The pancakes are crispy on the outside and appear soft on the inside, arranged in a slightly overlapping pattern on a white plate.
Potato Pancakes. Image Credit: The Cookie Rookie.

These Potato Pancakes bring a crispy and golden addition to your table, great for serving alongside anything from roast chicken to grilled fish. Made with grated potatoes and a few pantry staples, they’re quick to put together and fry up beautifully. As a favorite among potato side dishes, the crunchy texture makes them a hit for any meal, adding a bit of comfort to your plate.
Get This Recipe: Potato Pancakes

Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

Four baked potatoes stuffed with mashed potato, melted cheese, bacon bits, and chopped chives on a plate with a gold fork.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This is the BEST Twice Baked Potato recipe and courtesy of The Cookie Rookie! It’s the perfect side dish for any meal. Loaded with all the flavor to make it a showstopper.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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