If you’re looking for a show-stopping side dish that combines crispiness, buttery goodness, and a beautiful presentation, this Hasselback Potatoes Recipe will quickly become your go-to favorite. These potatoes are sliced thinly yet kept intact, allowing the melted butter and seasoning to seep right into each crevice, resulting in golden, flavorful layers that are both visually stunning and irresistibly tasty.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are refreshingly simple, yet each one plays a crucial role in delivering that perfect balance of taste and texture. From the hearty russet potatoes to the aromatic spices and rich butter, every component contributes to making this recipe unforgettable.
- 8 medium russet potatoes: Their starchy quality yields that crispy outside and tender inside texture.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted: Adds luscious richness and helps crisp the edges beautifully.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt: Enhances all the natural potato flavors without overpowering.
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper: Offers a subtle kick to balance the butteriness.
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika: Provides a mild smoky depth and gorgeous color to the potatoes.
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder: Infuses a gentle, savory aroma that pairs perfectly with butter.
- Chives, for serving: A fresh and mild onion flavor plus a vibrant green pop to finish the dish.
How to Make Hasselback Potatoes Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Potatoes
Start by warming your oven to 425 degrees. This high heat is key to achieving that crispy texture on the outside while keeping the inside wonderfully creamy. Grab your russet potatoes and set up a clever cutting trick: place each potato between a pair of chopsticks. This helps you slice thinly—about 1/8-inch thick—without cutting all the way through, ensuring the potatoes hold their shape like delicate fans.
Step 2: Arrange and Butter
Carefully separate the thin slices so they fan out a bit, creating perfect spaces for the butter and seasoning to really work their magic. Place the potatoes in a 9×13-inch baking dish or on a sturdy baking sheet. Using a brush, drench them in half the melted butter making sure to reach in-between every slice. This step is what starts to build that irresistible flavor and crispy edges.
Step 3: Season Generously
Now it’s time to sprinkle on the kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Each seasoning adds a layer of complexity—the salt boosts the natural potato flavor, paprika gives inviting color and a subtle smokiness, while garlic powder introduces a comforting, savory note. This mix is simple but so effective.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Pop the baking dish straight into the oven and let those potatoes bake uncovered for 50 to 55 minutes. During this time, the outer edges will crisp up beautifully, and the butter will infuse the insides through those slits. After this initial bake, remove the dish, brush the remaining butter over the slices to add extra richness and crunch, then bake for another 10 minutes until golden and crispy all over.
How to Serve Hasselback Potatoes Recipe
Garnishes
The first thing to make your Hasselback potatoes pop visually and flavor-wise is a sprinkle of minced fresh chives. The bright green color contrasts beautifully with the golden potatoes while the mild oniony zing refreshes each bite, making the dish feel vibrant and complete.
Side Dishes
These potatoes pair exceptionally well with hearty mains like roast chicken, steak, or grilled salmon. Their crispy yet tender texture complements rich proteins perfectly. For a vegetarian twist, serve alongside roasted vegetables, a fresh green salad, or a creamy mushroom sauce to keep the dinner wholesome and satisfying.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special touch, try topping your Hasselback potatoes with grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled bacon in the last five minutes of baking. You can also offer a variety of dipping sauces like garlic aioli, sour cream with herbs, or spicy sriracha mayo on the side to let guests customize their experience. Presentation-wise, arrange them in a circle on a large platter with garnishes scattered on top for an inviting, festive feel.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Hasselback potatoes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. When stored properly, they retain most of their crispiness and flavor, making them perfect for easy next-day meals or snacks that feel special and satisfying.
Freezing
While you can freeze cooked potatoes, the texture might soften a bit upon thawing. To freeze Hasselback potatoes, first cool completely, place on a baking sheet to flash freeze until firm, then transfer to freezer bags or containers. Reheat in a hot oven for best results to help restore some crispness.
Reheating
The best way to reheat your Hasselback potatoes is in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. This warms them evenly and crisps the edges back up nicely. Avoid microwaving if you can, as this tends to make the potatoes soggy and takes away the lovely texture you worked so hard to create.
FAQs
What type of potatoes work best for this recipe?
Russet potatoes are ideal because their starchy nature crisps up nicely on the outside while keeping a fluffy interior. Other baking potatoes like Yukon Golds can also work but might yield a slightly different texture.
Can I add cheese to the Hasselback potatoes?
Absolutely! Adding cheese such as Parmesan, cheddar, or gruyere in the last 5-10 minutes of baking melts deliciously and creates a wonderful rich crust on top. It’s a fantastic way to elevate the dish.
Is there a way to speed up the cooking process?
Because the potatoes cook through thoroughly and crisp slowly, baking at a lower temperature or cutting slices too thin may be tempting but is not recommended. To save time, you could microwave the potatoes for a few minutes before slicing, then finish baking to get the crispiness.
How do I prevent the slices from cutting all the way through?
Using chopsticks or wooden spoons as guides on either side of the potato stops your knife from slicing too deep. This little trick helps keep the potato whole while allowing for perfect spacing in the slices.
Can this recipe be made vegan?
Yes! Swap the butter for a plant-based margarine or olive oil, and skip any toppings like cheese or sour cream. The potatoes will still be flavorful and crispy, especially if you season generously.
Final Thoughts
This Hasselback Potatoes Recipe is an absolute treasure for anyone who loves comfort food with a twist of elegance. Simple ingredients come together to create something unique, crunchy, buttery, and full of flavor. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or a festive occasion, these potatoes will impress and delight everyone at the table. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it’s going to become a beloved staple in your cooking repertoire.
PrintHasselback Potatoes Recipe
This Hasselback Potatoes recipe features thinly sliced russet potatoes brushed with melted butter and seasoned with kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Baked to crispy perfection and garnished with fresh chives, these potatoes make a flavorful and visually impressive side dish perfect for dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 potatoes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Potatoes
- 8 medium russet potatoes
Seasoning & Butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Garnish
- Chives, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the potatoes.
- Slice the Potatoes: Place each potato between a pair of chopsticks and carefully cut 1/8-inch thick slices along the potato, slicing until the knife hits the chopsticks. This technique prevents cutting all the way through, keeping the base intact.
- Arrange Potatoes: Slightly fan the sliced potatoes apart and place them in a 9×13 inch baking dish or on a baking sheet, allowing space for even cooking.
- Apply Butter and Seasoning: Brush about half of the melted butter thoroughly over and between the potato slices. Then sprinkle evenly with kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- First Bake: Bake the potatoes in the preheated oven uncovered for 50-55 minutes until tender and starting to crisp on the edges.
- Second Buttering: Remove the potatoes from the oven and brush the remaining melted butter again, making sure to get between the slices for maximum flavor and crispness.
- Final Bake: Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the edges are golden and crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with minced chives, and serve warm as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- Using chopsticks while slicing helps achieve uniform cuts without slicing through the entire potato.
- Feel free to add cheese or bacon bits between slices for extra flavor.
- Russet potatoes are preferred for their starchy texture and ability to crisp up nicely.
- Ensure the oven is fully preheated for the best crispy results.
- Adjust seasonings to your taste preference.
