Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

Big weekend breakfasts are my favorite me time. Theyre lazy (always in my PJs, always), cozy, relaxed, delicious, and just so much less expensive than going out to brunch. Not to mention, no waiting in line for an open table, being rushed by a harried server, or enormous bill. Lately, Ive been making these Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes, which I love because oven roasting means theyre hands off so I can tend to other parts of the meal, like getting my eggs just right, and the leftovers are sooooo good later.

So grab a hot cup of coffee, stay in your robe and slippers, turn on some music, and lets make these awesome potatoes to go with your bacon and eggs!

P.S. These potatoes cook at the same temperature as my oven baked bacon, so you can do both at the same time!

Easy Peasy Smoky Oven Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

A serving platter full of Roasted Breakfast Potatoes with eggs, bacon, and oranges on the side

Why are they Breakfast Potatoes?

Because Im eating them at breakfast. Ha! Honestly, I would eat or serve these any time of day, but small cubed potatoes are a common side at diners and breakfast joints across the U.S., so I went with the theme. Normally theyre fried (also known as Home Fries) but I prefer to make them in the oven. Not only is it less splattering grease, but they require a lot less attention in the oven, leaving me free to cook my eggs, dance, and enjoy my company.

How to Serve Breakfast Potatoes

Sure, these roasted breakfast potatoes are an easy side with bacon and eggs (a lot of people like to add ketchup, as well), but theres so much more you can do with them! These simple potatoes make a great base for any number of toppings. You can pile them high with cheese, green onions, crumbled bacon, sour cream, salsa, or just about anything you like on a baked potato. Make a bowl meal out of it, even! Theyre inexpensive, versatile, and delish.

If you happen to have a bell pepper in your fridge that needs to be used up, you can also dice that up and add it to the potatoes and onions before roasting. It never hurts to get another vegetable involved.

What Kind of Potatoes are Best?

I definitely prefer russet for these roasted breakfast potatoes. Theyre soft on the inside, they crisp up nicely on the outside, and the size and shape makes them easy to dice. Red potatoes would be my second choice, but they do tend to be more dense than russet, so I would only use those if thats what I had on hand.

A sheet pan full of roasted breakfast potatoes with onions

See these potatoes used in my Country Breakfast Bowls meal prep!

Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

These Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes cook in the oven, leaving your hands and pans free to cook your eggs and enjoy a stress-free breakfast!

  • 2 lbs. russet potatoes ($1.08)
  • 1 yellow onion ($0.32)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
  • 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • freshly cracked black pepper ($0.03)
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Wash the potatoes well, then dice them into 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes. Dice the onion into similar sized pieces.

  2. Add the diced potato and onion to a large bowl along with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper (10-15 cranks of a pepper mill). Toss the potatoes until they are well coated in oil and spices.

  3. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the potatoes and onions out over the parchment so they are in a single layer.

  4. Roast the potatoes for 40-60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes, until they are brown and crispy. Total cooking time will depend on the size of your potato pieces and your personal preference for how brown and crispy you like your potatoes. Taste, and add additional salt if needed.

  5. Serve hot, with ketchup if desired.

Scroll down for the step by step photos!

Close up of roasted breakfast potatoes on a plate with eggs and orange slices

How to Make Roasted Breakfast Potatoes Step by Step Photos

Three russet potatoes on a cutting board

Begin by preheating the oven to 400F. Wash 2 lbs. of russet potatoes (for me, this was three small-ish potatoes). I dont peel my potatoes because A) Im too lazy during my weekend breakfasts and B) I like the color and texture the peel provides.

Diced Potatoes on cutting board

Dice the potatoes into to -inch pieces. Also dice one yellow onion into similar sized pieces.

Potato, onion, and seasoning in a bowl

Add the diced potatoes and onions to a bowl along with 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika, tsp garlic powder, tsp salt, and some freshly cracked black pepper (10-15 cranks of a pepper mill). Toss the potatoes until they are well coated in oil and spices.

Uncooked potatoes and onions on baking sheet

Line a large baking sheet with parchment and spread the seasoned potatoes and onions out over the baking sheet so they are in a single layer.

Potatoes and onions after roasting 20 minutes

Roast the potatoes in the preheated 400F for 40-60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes. This is what the potatoes looked like after 20 minutes. They are beginning to soften and look a little less opaque.

Potatoes and onions after roasting 40 minutes

This is what the potatoes looked like after 40 minutes. They have a decent amount of brown on them, but I wanted them a little more brown on the edges. The length of the cooking time will depend on the size of your potato pieces and your personal preference.

Potatoes and Onions after roasting 50 minutes

So I decided to roast my potatoes for an additional 10 minutes, or 50 minutes total. This gave me some really caramelized edges, which I really like, especially on the onions.

Close up of roasted breakfast potatoes with onions

Heres a close up so you can see all the browned goodness. Give your potatoes a taste and add more salt, if needed.

A platter full of roasted breakfast potatoes with eggs, coffee, oranges, and bacon on the side

By the time the potatoes are done, the rest of your breakfast should be, too! Its time to sit down and enjoy the weekend. :)

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