There’s something truly magical about those tender, buttery bites that just melt in your mouth, isn’t there? This Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe brings that perfect combination of crisp edges and soft centers that always makes me want to savor every single piece.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe isn’t just another way to roast potatoes — it’s my go-to when I want something comforting yet elegant. The combination of meltingly soft potatoes with a golden, caramelized crust is unbeatable, and the flavors from butter, garlic, and herbs just make it irresistible.
- Perfect Texture: The method guarantees potatoes that are crispy on the outside and irresistibly tender inside, just like the name promises.
- Simple Ingredients: You probably already have everything in your kitchen – no fancy or hard-to-find items here.
- Versatile Flavor: The butter, fresh thyme, garlic, and herbs create a depth that pairs beautifully with countless main dishes.
- Hands-Off Cooking: Once they’re in the oven, you can relax and let the magic happen with minimal babysitting required.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic in this Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe really starts with choosing the right potatoes and pairing them with butter and fresh herbs. Each ingredient lends a crucial role — from melting richness to subtle aromatic flavors — so having quality produce makes a big difference.
- Yukon Gold potatoes: Their creamy texture when cooked makes them perfect for melting potatoes—plus, they hold their shape beautifully in the oven.
- Unsalted butter: Melted butter not only adds richness but also helps the potatoes get that irresistible golden crust.
- Fresh thyme: The earthy, slightly minty flavor of fresh thyme complements the potatoes without overpowering them.
- Kosher salt: Essential for seasoning, it enhances all the flavors and balances the richness of the butter.
- Black pepper: Adds mild heat and a touch of complexity to the dish.
- Low-sodium chicken broth: Using broth instead of plain water brings a subtle savory depth and helps keep the potatoes moist as they finish roasting.
- Garlic cloves: Fresh minced garlic infuses every bite with that irresistible warm aroma and taste.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: A subtle kick that wakes up the taste buds without being too spicy.
- Herbs de Provence: A fragrant herb blend that adds a classic southern French touch.
- Fresh herbs (rosemary and sage): Optional, but trust me — adding these makes the dish feel special and festive.
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with the herbs and spices in this Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe. It’s such a flexible dish — you can easily make it your own. Here are some of my favorite tweaks and ideas to try.
- Variation: I once swapped the chicken broth for vegetable broth and added some smoked paprika, which gave it a wonderful smoky twist that my family couldn’t get enough of.
- Dietary tweaks: To make it dairy-free, try using a high-quality olive oil instead of butter — the potatoes still crisp perfectly and taste fantastic.
- Herb substitutions: If you don’t have fresh thyme, dried works too — just reduce the amount by half. Rosemary and sage can be swapped out depending on what’s on hand or what you’re serving.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Potato Slicing
First things first: Adjust your oven rack to the middle and preheat it to a blazing 500°F. You want high heat to get that perfect crisp. Then peel the Yukon Gold potatoes and slice them into 1-inch thick disks, making sure they’re all roughly the same size — this helps them cook evenly. I like to square off those pointed ends for uniformity, but it’s more about consistency than perfection.
Step 2: Butter and Season the Potatoes
Toss the potato disks in a big bowl with melted butter, fresh thyme, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Get your hands in there gently so every slice gets coated — you’ll see how that buttery sheen promises fantastic flavor and crispness.
Step 3: First Roasting
Spread the potatoes out in a nonstick-sprayed 12x8-inch baking pan in a single layer with at least half an inch space between each. Giving them breathing room is key to that crisp crust forming. Roast for about 20 minutes until the bottoms begin browning and caramelizing around the edges — this is where the magic starts!
Step 4: Flip and Continue Roasting
Take the pan out carefully and flip each potato disk over with a flat metal spatula. Loosen them gently without pulling to keep their shape intact. Pop them back in the oven for another 15 minutes to let the other side catch up.
Step 5: Garlic Broth Infusion
While they roast, whisk together chicken broth, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and herbs de Provence in a bowl. This fragrant broth adds moisture and an herby punch that makes the potatoes even more luscious.
Step 6: Final Flip and Pour
Remove the pan from the oven once more, flip the potatoes again, and pour the broth mixture evenly over them. This step softens the potatoes into that melting texture, while the sauce reduces to a flavorful glaze. Roast for a last 15 minutes until tender and irresistibly saucy.
Step 7: Rest and Serve
After pulling the pan from the oven, let the potatoes cool for about 5 minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly. When you serve, spoon some of that buttery, herby sauce over the top — it’s the best part that brings everything together.
Top Tip
After making this Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe multiple times, I’ve learned that a few simple tricks make all the difference between good and unforgettable potatoes.
- Slice Evenly: Uniform potato slices ensure they cook evenly and all achieve that perfect melting texture.
- Space Them Out: Crowding the pan traps moisture, leading to soggy potatoes instead of crisp edges.
- Use a Metal Spatula for Flipping: It helps loosen the potatoes without breaking them — a plastic spatula just doesn’t cut it here.
- Don’t Skip Resting: Letting the potatoes rest after roasting allows the sauce to thicken and flavors to settle perfectly.
How to Serve Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these potatoes with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or chives — it adds a pop of color and subtle freshness that contrasts beautifully with the richness. A little grating of Parmesan also works wonders if you want a cheesy touch.
Side Dishes
They pair wonderfully with roasted chicken, prime rib, or even a simple steak dinner. I’ve also enjoyed them alongside roasted vegetables or a crisp green salad for a more balanced meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For special dinners, I like to serve these potatoes in a beautiful shallow baking dish right from the oven, garnished with whole sprigs of rosemary and sage for a rustic look. Sometimes I spoon the pan sauce in a little ramekin on the side for guests to drizzle at will — it always feels more festive that way!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep well for 3-4 days but do best when reheated gently to retain that tender inside. Cold potatoes can lose some charm, so warming is key.
Freezing
Freezing works okay if you want to prep ahead, but I find the texture softens a bit after thawing. If you do freeze, try reheating in a hot oven to restore crispness as much as possible.
Reheating
My favorite way to reheat these is in a 375°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, uncovered, to crisp up the edges again. You can also reheat gently in a skillet with a little butter for added flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions:
While Yukon Gold potatoes work best because of their creamy texture and ability to hold shape, you can experiment with red potatoes or fingerlings. Avoid starchy potatoes like Russets, as they may fall apart more easily.
Using melted butter and spraying the pan with nonstick spray helps a lot. Also, allow enough space between the potato slices and avoid moving them too much during roasting. Using a flat metal spatula to flip ensures you don’t tear the potatoes.
Yes! Replace the butter with a good quality olive oil or vegan butter. The rest of the ingredients work as-is, just check that your broth choice is also plant-based if needed.
They’re done when the edges are golden and crispy, and the potatoes are tender enough to easily pierce with a fork. The final step with broth infusion helps soften them further and build that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Final Thoughts
I’ve made this Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe more times than I can count, and it never fails to bring smiles to the table. It’s comfort food elevated, simple enough for weeknights but special enough for guests. I hope you’ll give it a try soon — once you do, you might just find yourself making it a weekly tradition like I have.
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Oven Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Melting Potatoes are a rich and flavorful side dish made with tender Yukon Gold potatoes roasted to perfection in a butter and herb mixture. Perfectly crispy on the edges and meltingly soft inside, they are enhanced with garlic, thyme, and fresh herbs for an irresistible accompaniment to any main course.
Ingredients
Potatoes and Butter
- 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (peeled)
- 1½ cups unsalted butter (melted, 3 sticks)
Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon herbs de provence
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- Fresh herbs such as rosemary and sage (optional)
Liquid
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 500°F. Spray a 12x8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Cut the Potatoes: Square off the pointed ends of the peeled Yukon Gold potatoes and cut them into 1-inch-thick disks, ensuring the slices are very similar in size for even cooking.
- Toss Potatoes in Butter and Seasoning: Place the potato disks in a large bowl and toss them with the melted unsalted butter, minced fresh thyme, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well coated.
- Arrange Potatoes in Pan: Lay the buttered potatoes in a single layer in the prepared baking pan, spacing them at least ½ inch apart to allow for even roasting.
- First Roasting: Roast the potatoes in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until the bottoms start to brown around the edges.
- Flip the Potatoes: Remove the pan from the oven and carefully flip the potatoes over using a flat metal spatula, loosening them from the bottom without pulling upward.
- Continue Roasting: Return the pan to the oven and roast for an additional 15 minutes.
- Prepare Broth Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the low-sodium chicken broth and minced garlic, adding optional fresh herbs like rosemary and sage, and spices such as crushed red pepper flakes and herbs de provence if desired.
- Add Broth and Final Roast: Remove the pan from the oven, flip the potatoes again, and pour the broth and garlic mixture evenly over them. Return to the oven and cook for another 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the sauce has reduced slightly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the potatoes cool for 5 minutes. To serve, spoon a little of the delicious sauce over the potatoes and enjoy.
Notes
- Use Yukon Gold potatoes for their creamy texture and ability to hold shape well during roasting.
- Ensure potato slices are uniformly cut for even cooking and consistent texture.
- Spacing potatoes apart in the pan helps them crisp rather than steam.
- Be gentle when flipping to keep potatoes intact and maintain crispy edges.
- Customize the herb blend with favorites like rosemary, sage, or thyme for added flavor.
- Step-by-step photos can guide you through the process for best results.
- This recipe makes a perfect side dish to complement any main course.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 887 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 70 g
- Saturated Fat: 44 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 61 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 183 mg
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