Description
Crispy smashed buffalo potatoes deliver spicy, tangy goodness in every bite. Potato lovers will savor this simple yet bold side dish that brings game-day excitement to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) baby potatoes (Yukon Gold or red potatoes)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) hot sauce (like Franks RedHot)
- 0.25 cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp honey (optional, for a hint of sweetness)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 cup (50 g) crumbled blue cheese or feta
- 0.25 cup ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing (for drizzling)
- 2 tbsps fresh chives or green onions, chopped
- Extra hot sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 425F (220C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for crisp potato roasting.
- Potato Boiling: Submerge baby potatoes in salted water, boiling until fork-tender, roughly 15-20 minutes, ensuring soft interiors.
- Potato Smashing: Transfer boiled potatoes to prepared baking sheet, using a fork or masher to gently flatten each potato, creating textured, rustic surfaces while maintaining potato structure.
- Seasoning Process: Drench potatoes with olive oil, then generously dust with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to amplify flavor complexity.
- Initial Roasting: Bake potatoes for 20-25 minutes, rotating midpoint to guarantee uniform crispiness and achieve a rich, golden-brown exterior.
- Buffalo Sauce Creation: Whisk hot sauce, melted butter, and honey in a small bowl, developing a balanced, tangy coating with depth of flavor.
- Final Transformation: Brush potatoes with buffalo sauce, returning to oven for 5 additional minutes to caramelize and intensify flavor absorption.
- Garnish and Presentation: Sprinkle finely chopped parsley, sliced green onions, and crumbled blue cheese over potatoes, creating a visually stunning and flavor-packed dish.
- Serving Suggestion: Plate immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing for an indulgent dipping experience.
Notes
- Boil Potatoes Perfectly: Ensure even cooking by selecting uniform-sized baby potatoes and adding salt to water for enhanced flavor absorption.
- Smash Technique Matters: Use a flat-bottomed tool like a fork or potato masher, applying gentle, consistent pressure to create crispy edges without breaking potatoes.
- Maximize Crispiness: Pat potatoes completely dry after boiling to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve a crunchier, golden-brown exterior when roasting.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust buffalo sauce heat by mixing different hot sauce varieties or reducing butter for a lighter, tangier coating that suits individual taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg