Easy Boiled Potatoes Recipe

This Boiled Potatoes Recipe is the easiest way to cook potatoes and there is no peeling required. New potatoes are the best for boiling because they have delicate skins and are so creamy and buttery in the center. These potatoes are excellent drizzled with melted butter, extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkled with kosher salt and herbs.

Boiled potatoes are a tasty and easy side dish that pairs well with Pan-Seared Steak, Broiled Lobster Tails, or Surf and Turf for a date night in.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Boiled Potatoes with Olive Oil

I recently made Surf and Turf for my family and I knew my attention would be on making sure my steaks and shrimp are cooked to perfection so I needed a quick side dish. Boiled potatoes to the rescue!

This recipe pretty much makes itself with very little prep required. I usually make potatoes with just butter but adding a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil made the flavors really shine. So simple and so delicious.

Ingredients for Boiled Potatoes

The key to making great boiled potatoes is in using equal-sized potatoes so they cook at the same rate. If your potatoes are a little larger, you can cut them in half.

• 1 1/2 – 2 lbs Potatoes – you can use small yellow or red potatoes
• Unsalted butter – melted and drizzled over the potatoes
• Extra virgin olive oil – drizzled over the cooked and drained potatoes
• Salt – I salt the boiling water with fine sea salt then sprinkle the cooked potatoes with kosher salt.
• Black Pepper – sprinkle over the cooked potatoes, adding it to taste
• Parsley – this is optional but it sure adds beautiful color and fresh flavor to the potatoes.

How to Boil Potatoes

1. Prep Potatoes – wash and scrub potatoes and cut larger potatoes in half so potato pieces are even-sized.
2. Boil Potatoes – place potatoes in a pot of salted water and cover with an inch of water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are fork tender (10-18 minutes depending on size).
3. Drain – drain off the water and return potatoes to the pot (or to a mixing bowl).
4. Drizzle melted butter and olive oil over potatoes.
5. Season – sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper, adding both to taste.
6. Garnish – add freshly chopped parsley and toss to combine.

Pro Tip: The boiling time for potatoes can vary greatly depending on the size of your potatoes. Tiny potatoes can be done as quickly as 8 minutes while larger new potatoes can take up to 18 minutes. Test for doneness by poking with a fork and cook until potatoes are fork-tender.

Variations

There are so many variations for boiled potatoes. You can keep it simple or try some of these substitutions and additions:

• Herbs: You can use either parsley, fresh dill, or chives, or a combination of herbs.
• Salt: You can use a coarse salt like kosher or Maldon salt, or a fine sea salt to season the potatoes, just add it to taste.
• Bacon: Saute bacon in a skillet and toss the potatoes with bacon bits and grease instead of butter and olive oil.
• Parmesan: Freshly grated parmesan is an excellent garnish for boiled potatoes.

More Side Dish Recipes

If you love easy but interesting side dishes, you will love these ideas:

• Roasted Cauliflower
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Spaghetti Squash
• Crispy Smashed Potatoes

These Boiled Potatoes are a staple recipe for our family and they are impressive enough for company. They have tons of flavor and I appreciate how easy they are to cook.

Easy Boiled Potatoes Recipe

4.96 from 49 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Boiled Potatoes are one of the easiest sides and pair well with steak, chicken, seafood and just about any main dish. Drizzling with melted butter and olive oil brings out the natural creamy and buttery flavor of new potatoes.

SaveSaved Pin Review Print

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

Servings: 4 people

• 1 1/2 lbs small new potatoes
• 1 Tbsp salt, to salt the water
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp kosher salt, or added to taste
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or added to taste
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley, optional garnish

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Wash and scrub potatoes and cut larger potatoes in halves or even quarters so the potato pieces are even-sized.
• Place potatoes in a pot of water with 1 Tbsp salt and cover with an inch of water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are fork tender (10-18 minutes depending on size).
• Drain potatoes and return them to the pot, or a mixing bowl.
• Drizzle melted butter and olive oil over potatoes.
• Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper.
• Garnish with a freshly chopped parsley and toss to combine. Keep covered until ready to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

244kcal Calories30g Carbs4g Protein13g Fat5g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat7g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat15mg Cholesterol594mg Sodium732mg Potassium4g Fiber1g Sugar348IU Vitamin A36mg Vitamin C26mg Calcium2mg Iron

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Easy Boiled Potatoes Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

244

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

13

g

20

%

Saturated Fat

 

5

g

31

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

7

g

Cholesterol

 

15

mg

5

%

Sodium

 

594

mg

26

%

Potassium

 

732

mg

21

%

Carbohydrates

 

30

g

10

%

Fiber

 

4

g

17

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

 

348

IU

7

%

Vitamin C

 

36

mg

44

%

Calcium

 

26

mg

3

%

Iron

 

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: boiled potatoes

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 244