Crispy on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside. German Fried Potatoes are everything you want in a potato side dish…including the bacon!
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making German Fried Potatoes with Bacon is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.
The ingredient list:
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- golden potatoes, washed and quartered
- salt
- olive oil
- bacon
- champagne (or white wine) vinegar
- chopped scallions
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- large stockpot
- colander
- large skillet (I prefer cast iron)
- silicone cast iron handle protector (optional)
- cast iron wire mesh cleaning cloth (optional)
- measuring cups and spoons
- chef's knife or santoku
- cutting board
- baking sheet (for cooling boiled potatoes)
- cooling rack
- paper towels (optional)
- slotted spatula
- serving bowl
How to properly care and maintain a cast iron skillet?
Can other types of skillets be used for this recipe?
Sure, but I prefer cast iron for its fantastic heat conduction and natural non-stick properties after it's been properly seasoned.
Can other types of potatoes be used for this recipe?
No, not if you're looking for a fried potato that holds its cut shape and won't turn into a fried mashed potato glob after cooking.
Golden potatoes are the best potato to use for this recipe as they will hold their cubed shape during the boiling (and frying) process, due to their slightly waxy, and semi-starchy consistency.
Can the bacon be omitted from this recipe?
Sure, if you're not a fan of bacon, by all means, leave it out.
However, since the bacon adds additional frying fat to the skillet, you may want to increase the amount of olive oil called for in this recipe from 3 tablespoons, to 4 tablespoons.
How long do fried German potatoes take to make from start to finish?
Figure on about 70-90 minutes from start to dinner.
The boiling of the potatoes will take approximately 20-25 minutes (once the water is brought to a boil), with an additional 10-15 minutes for cooling the potatoes down before cutting them into cubes before frying.
From there, frying the potatoes in a large skillet over medium/high heat with oil and bacon will take an additional 20-25 additional minutes (with minimal stirring) in order to achieve the crisp and golden exterior texture.
Although 70-90 minutes may seem like a lot of time, remember that most of that time is a hands-off time where you can be doing other things.
To peel or not to peel (the potatoes), that is the question...
Save yourself some time and aggravation because there is no need to peel the potatoes!!
Since the peel of a golden potato is super thin and loaded with nutrients (including vitamin C, potassium, and fiber), it's best (in my opinion) to leave the skins on.
However, should you feel the desire to remove the skins from the golden potatoes, it's super easy to do by slipping the peels off once the potatoes have been boiled and cooled.
The step-by-step photo instructions for making German fried potatoes:
- Wash and slice the golden potatoes into quarters.
- Add the potatoes to a large stockpot and cover with cold water, along with 2 tablespoons of kosher salt.
- Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to a medium simmer.
- Cook the potatoes for 20-25 minutes until fork-tender.
- Drain and spread the hot potatoes onto a baking sheet fitted with a rack (with paper towels being optional) and cool completely.
- Meanwhile, cut 4-5 slices of thick-cut bacon into half inch pieces.
- Heat a cast iron skillet to medium/high heat and add 3 tablespoons olive oil to the pan along with the cut bacon.
- Cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is cooked (but not overly crispy) and it's fat and flavor has infused the olive oil with flavor.
- Once the potatoes are cooled, cut them into approximately 1" pieces, removing the skins if desired (not shown).
- Use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside for later.
- Add the potatoes to the skillet along with the bacon flavored oil, and cook the potatoes over medium/high heat, stirring only occasionally, until the potatoes are crisp and golden (approximately 15-20 minutes).
- Season with potatoes with additional salt and pepper to taste and add the cooked bacon back into the skillet. Stir well.
- To finish, add 1½ tablespoons champagne vinegar to the skillet and stir well to combine.
- Top the potatoes with chopped scallions and serve hot.
How long can these cooked fried potatoes keep in the fridge?
You can store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat, bring the potatoes to room temperature and then reheat them in a microwave until hot. Or add them to a skillet over medium heat with a touch of oil and cook, stirring occasionally until hot.
Additional German recipes you'll also enjoy:
*Bratwurst Bite Appetizers (shown below and featured in the video)
Easy Bratwurst Appetizer Bites are just the thing to serve during a party or for game day. They’re also super simple to make and everybody loves them! SCORE!
*Top Seven Recipes from Austria (not shown) from Strudel & Schnitzel
*German Onion Soup (shown below)
German Onion Soup has plenty of caramelized onions, beer, bratwurst, and pretzel roll croutons. This delicious and hearty caramelized onion soup with a German flair will soon become a family favorite!
*Black Forest Cake (now shown) from Quick German Recipes
*German Bee Sting Cake (shown below)
German Bee Sting Cake is a yeasted cake with a beautiful texture, fantastic honey flavor (hence the name), a beautifully caramelized almond topping, not to mention a thick, creamy vanilla filling.
*Berliner Currywurst (not shown) from German Foods
*German Fried Potatoes (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!
Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's German-inspired potato side dish.
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Printable Recipe Card
German Fried Potatatoes
Ingredients
- 4 pounds golden potatoes washed and quartered
- 2 quarts cold water
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4-5 slices thick bacon cut into pieces
- 1½ tablespoons champagne vinegar or white vinegar
- additional salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup chopped scallions
Instructions
- Wash and slice the golden potatoes into quarters.
- Add the potatoes to a large stockpot and cover with cold water and 2 tablespoons of kosher salt.
- Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a medium, cover, and simmer.
- Cook the potatoes for 20-25 minutes until fork-tender.
- Drain the potatoes, and spread the hot potatoes onto a baking sheet fitted with a rack (optional with paper towels) and cool completely.
- Meanwhile, cut 4-5 slices of thick-cut bacon into half-inch pieces.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet to medium/high heat and add 3 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet along with the cut bacon.
- Cook the bacon in the oil, occasionally stirring, until the bacon is cooked (but not overly crispy) and the bacon pieces have infused the olive oil with flavor.
- Use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside for later.
- Once the potatoes are cooled, cut them into approximately 1" pieces, removing the skins if desired (not shown).
- Add the potatoes to the skillet with the bacon-infused oil, and cook the potatoes over medium/high heat, stirring only occasionally, until the potatoes are crisp and golden (approximately 20-25 minutes).
- Season with potatoes with additional salt and pepper to taste and add the cooked bacon back into the skillet. Stir well.
- To finish, add 1½ tablespoons champagne vinegar to the skillet and stir well to combine.
- Top the potatoes with chopped scallions, and serve hot.
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's delicious German fried potato side dish recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
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