Easy Delicious Potatoes O’Brien Recipe
This delicious Potatoes O’Brien recipe is made with tender, crisp potatoes pan-fried with bell peppers and onions. This versatile side dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
While you are here, try more delicious potato recipes like my Smothered Potatoes with Onions and Peppers, Roasted Cheesy Ranch Potatoes, and Garlic and Herb Mashed Red Potatoes next!
Potatoes O’Brien is just another reason why I absolutely love potatoes. These restaurant-style potatoes are perfect for any meal; a delicious combination of tender potatoes, sweet bell peppers, and savory onions.
The blend of spices gives them a flavorful kick that elevates the dish beyond simple home fries. Easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser, this recipe is a staple in my kitchen and now you can add it to your rotation!
Why you will love Potatoes Obrien:
Simple! This is one of the first recipes I’d teach a newbie in the kitchen because it’s so easy to master. And it takes just 20 minutes!
Versatile! Is it a breakfast food? Dinner? Either, or, and everything in between! These potatoes are fire with some scrambled eggs but I could just as easily serve this as a side to pot roast.
Flavorful! The savory blend of spices, combined with the sweetness of the bell peppers and the depth of the onions, makes every bite a burst of deliciousness.
What are Obrien Potatoes?
O’Brien potatoes are a classic potato side dish made of seasoned, diced potatoes fried with bell peppers and onions. While exact origins have been debated, we’ve narrowed it down to early 20th-century East Coast restaurants Jack’s (Manhattan) and Jerome’s (Massachusetts).
Ingredients for Potatoes O’Brien Recipe
To make obrien potatoes, you will need the following ingredients:
- Red potatoes: I chose red potatoes for their slightly sweet flavor and firm texture. They hold up well during cooking, staying tender and crisp without becoming mushy. You can also use russet potatoes if you prefer a more starchy texture.
- Bell peppers: I like to use diced yellow and red bell peppers for their sweet flavor and vibrant color.
- Onion: Diced onions add a savory depth and aromatic flavor to the dish.
- Olive oil: This is what we use to sauté our obrian potatoes, ensuring the potatoes and vegetables cook evenly and achieve a nice, crispy exterior.
- Seasoning: Generously season the potatoes with all purpose seasoning, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.
How to Make Potatoes O’Brien
Start by dicing your potatoes into ¼ inch cubes, then rinse them under cold water. Once rinsed, thoroughly dry them with a paper towel.
Place the diced potatoes in a large bowl and add the red and yellow bell peppers and diced onions.
Drizzle olive oil over the mixture and sprinkle in the all-purpose seasoning, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Mix everything well using a large spoon until the seasonings and olive oil evenly coat the potatoes and vegetables.
Next, heat a large skillet with a lid over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, gently pour in the potato mixture and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Cover the skillet and let the potatoes cook for 3-5 minutes.
After that, remove the lid, stir the potatoes, then cover again and cook for another 3-5 minutes. By now, the potatoes should be fork-tender. Remove the lid and allow the potatoes to fry in the skillet for an additional 2-3 minutes, turning as needed, to ensure they brown and cook evenly on all sides.
Finally, remove the skillet from the heat and serve your O’Brien potatoes immediately. Enjoy!
Tips and Variations for Potatoes Obrien
- Potato Substitutes: If you don’t have red potatoes, russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes work well too. Both alternatives offer great texture and flavor for this dish.
- Adding Fresh Garlic: For an extra flavor boost, add 2-3 cloves of minced fresh garlic to the skillet during the last few minutes of cooking. This will give the dish a rich, aromatic garlic flavor.
- Even Cooking: Make sure to cut the potatoes into uniform pieces so they cook evenly. Stir them occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure they brown nicely on all sides.
- Customize Seasonings: Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste. You can add more Cajun seasoning for a spicier kick or include herbs like rosemary or thyme for a different flavor profile.
- Make Ahead: You can dice the potatoes and vegetables a day in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will save you time when you’re ready to cook.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a skillet over medium heat to maintain their crispiness.
FAQ
More Potato side dishes you’ll love
- Skillet Fried Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
- Smothered Green Beans and Potatoes
- Delicious Steakhouse Mashed Potatoes
- The Best Candied Sweet Potatoes on the Stovetop
Thanks for taking the time to try this easy Potatoes Obrien recipe. If you love it, let me know by reaching out on Instagram or Facebook!
Ingredients
- 5 Red potatoes diced (sub russet potatoes)
- ¼ cup Red bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup Yellow bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup Onion diced
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- ½ tablespoon All purpose seasoning
- ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Dice your potatoes up into ¼ inch size cubes and rinse them off in cold water. Then dry them off thoroughly with a paper towel.
- Place the diced potatoes in a large bowl and add the red and yellow bell pepper, along with the diced onions into the bowl with the potatoes.
- Now drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes and sprinkle in the all purpose seasoning, the cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Use a large spoon and mix up the potatoes, peppers, and onions very well until all of the olive oil and seasonings are fully coating the potatoes and peppers and onions.
- Heat up a large skillet (that has a lid) over medium high heat. Once the skillet is hot, gently pour the potato mixture into the skillet and use a spatula to spread it out into one even layer in the pan.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and let the potatoes simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove the lids from the skillet and stir the potatoes around, then cover it back up and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
- The potatoes should be fork tender now. Remove the lid and allow the potatoes to fry in the skillet for 2-3, turning as needed, so that they can brown and cook evenly on each side.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and serve right away. And enjoy!
