Garlic Thyme Smashed Potatoes

Garlic Thyme Smashed Potatoes are a showstopper for your taste buds! These potatoes are roasted to perfection giving them the ultimate texture on the inside and out!

Roasted potatoes that have a little crust on them are one of our favorite things. There are many ways to roast potatoes, but we have found that a little extra effort on these smashed potatoes is more than worth it. We have eaten these so many times and tried many different variations. So, after using many types of potatoes and seasoning combinations, this is our undisputed champion!

What are smashed potatoes?

If you haven't heard of smashed potatoes before, well you are in for a treat! Smashed potatoes are the love child of a roasted or baked potato and mashed potatoes. They pack that amazingly soft and creamy texture of mashed potatoes on the inside with a perfectly crispy crunch on the outside.

The Key to the Perfect Smashed Potato

What are the keys to this dish? The three most important ones are the type and size of the potato, the cooking method, and the seasoning.

What type of potato is best for this recipe?

The new potato (red creamer, etc.) is what you want to use. They don’t have to be uniform in size since you are smashing them anyway, but we have found that the younger ones – golf ball or slightly larger sized – are the best for texture and water content. Using large red potatoes that you quarter will not work as well, but if that is all you can find, they’re better than russets or waxy white or yellow potatoes.

How do you cook smashed potatoes?

The next key to great smashed potatoes is the cooking method. The potatoes need to first be boiled, then smashed, then roasted to get the ultimate creamy, soft and crunchy texture. A quick note on the potato simmering. The potatoes benefit from boiling/simmering whole first. The skins keep the moisture level to a minimum and potato flavor to a maximum.

We also recommend removing the potatoes from the water once tender and placing them on a towel to remove excess moisture before smashing. When the smashed potatoes are complete, they should have a bit of a crunchy exterior and a creamy, soft interior.

How do you season smashed potatoes?

The third, and most important, key is the seasoning and this is where it gets exciting! You can choose your favorite seasoning blend here, or simply add a little salt and pepper and let the Garlic Thyme compound butter do the trick.

If you plan to experiment with the flavors, just follow the directions below and add your preferred choice of seasoning right before roasting the potatoes.

Enjoy!

We hope you enjoy this recipe for Garlic Thyme Smashed Potatoes! If you give them a try, leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram @cooking_with_wine.

Check out some of our other popular side dishes below:

• Cheesy Layered Rosemary Potatoes
• Parmesan Peppercorn Mashed Potatoes
• Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with Olives
• Hasselback Red Potatoes with Chive Butter

Looking for a vegan version? Check out this recipe for vegan Crispy Smashed Potatoes!