Cowboy potatoes can be a great side dish or a whole meal with some mix-ins and additions.
Plus, each family member can build cowboy potatoes if you set up a topping bar with all their favorite fix-ins.
You can add breakfast lunch, brunch, or dinner to your list of delicious potato side dishes!
Cowboy potatoes can be as simple as being seasoned to mixing in meats or topping with cheddar there is no right or wrong so adapt away.
Just by adding a few simple ingredients, with a variety of seasonings, like our own homemade seasoning salt these will be the best Cowboy Potatoes ever.
If you're a big potato fan don't miss trying my Salt and Vinegar Potato Recipes or my German Style Potato Salad Recipe both family favorites!
Scroll down to the recipe card to print this delicious how-to to make the best Cowboy Potatoes you've ever tasted!
Set Up a Cowboy Topping Bar for Potatoes
Living with picky eaters, I often set up a serving bar with a platter of all kinds of toppings (see below for suggestions).
The kids aren't fond of peppers or onions so if you leave them out, you can add them later from the topping bar.
There potatoes are also easy to make in the oven, just spread them on a cookie sheet (you can also add onions and pepper in a spot on the baking sheet instead of mixing them into the potatoes) and then bake until super crispy.
Just arrange a large platter with any of our topping suggestions for a loaded plate of Cowboy Potatoes and let them build their own plate of deliciousness.
Ingredient Shopping List You Will Need
- russet potatoes
- salt, pepper
- paprika
- butter
- chili powder
- coriander
- cumin
- oregano
- paprika
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- granulated garlic powder or fresh garlic
- diced bell pepper, and onions
- Garnish: chopped parsley
- Optional: see notes for options on the recipe card for mix-ins
Optional Mix-in for Setting Up a Serving Bar
- sliced cooked hot Italian sausage
- sliced pepperoni or cubed
- crumbled cooked bacon
- sausage links
- pepperoni
- mushrooms
- deli meats like black forest ham
- shredded carrots or another vegetable you prefer
- hot peppers
- onions sliced
- eggs beaten
- shredded provolone
- shredded mozzarella
- sliced eggplant
- diced tomatoes
- shredded or wedges of zucchini
- garnish with shredded cheddar cheese
- feta cheese
- sliced olives any kind
- taco meat
- cooked seasoned ground beef
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Stretching Your Food Budget Making Cowboy Potatoes
This is a very economical way to feed a large family on a budget and potatoes make the best side dish for any meal.
Keep them plain or covered in cheesy goodness or topped with a pile of shredded beef or bacon and you'll have a whole meal.
Adding some of the leftovers during the week like hotdogs, boneless chicken or pork chops off the bone were just a few additional ideas to make a simple side dish of potatoes in a whole dinner.
Yield: 6
Cowboy Potatoes
A delicious way to serve potatoes cubed fried or baked with mix-ins or toppings. These flavorful potatoes are called Cowboy Potatoes. Perfect side dish for any meal of the day!
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 45 Min
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 Russet potatoes and cubed (you can also substitute tater tots or hash browns)
- 2 small diced onions
- 1 stick of butter cut into cubes or slices
- salt to taste pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 diced bell pepper
- Garnish: shredded real sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cowboy potatoes can be fried (as shown in the photo or they can be baked on a baking sheet at 400 degrees until crispy just add all ingredients to a bowl stir and spread on the sheet)
- In a deep frying pan add the butter and melt it.
- Place the potatoes in the hot butter with all the ingredients including peppers, garlic, and onions, then continue to stir to blend in all the seasonings.
- Let them saute until golden brown and crispy around 35 minutes.
- Note:If adding the peppers and onion with fresh garlic, do this 4 to 4 minutes before the potatoes are done so as not to burn the vegetables.
- Remove and top with cheese, let the cheese sit on top of the potatoes for a few minutes to melt (or if you like the cheese crispy place under a broiler for 2 minutes).
- See notes for a variety of toppings or serve them just the way the are!
Notes
Optional Mix-in for Setting Up a Serving Bar
- sliced cooked hot Italian sausage
- sliced pepperoni or cubed
- crumbled cooked bacon
- sausage links
- taco meat
- cooked seasoned ground beef
- pepperoni
- mushrooms
- deli meats like black forest ham
- shredded carrots or another vegetable you prefer
- hot peppers
- onions sliced
- eggs beaten
- shredded provolone
- shredded mozzarella
- sliced eggplant
- diced tomatoes
- shredded or wedges of zucchini
- garnish with shredded cheddar cheese
- feta cheese
- sliced olives any kind
Nutrition Facts
Calories
327.02Fat (grams)
17.28 gSat. Fat (grams)
10.71 gCarbs (grams)
39.33 gFiber (grams)
3.53 gNet carbs
35.81 gSugar (grams)
3.09 gProtein (grams)
6.09 gSodium (milligrams)
200.9 mgCholesterol (grams)
45.49 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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