Smashed Fingerling Potatoes

Enjoy delicious crispy smashed fingerling potatoes with this easy recipe. These potatoes are quick to make, with a perfect crunchy texture on the outside, a creamy inside, and a hint of parmesan. They make a fantastic gluten-free side dish for any holiday meal or a snack for game day.

Potatoes make a hassle-free, gluten-free side dish. Say goodbye to boring mashed potatoes and try something new! Not only are these smashed potatoes delicious, but they are also incredibly versatile.

You can easily customize them by adding your favorite herbs or spices for an extra punch of flavor. Whether serving them alongside a juicy steak or as a tasty appetizer, these crispy fingerling potatoes will surely impress.

If you love potatoes as much as we do, check out my apple potato leek soup, gluten-free cheesy potatoes, and lemon brown butter potatoes recipe.

Jump to:

• Are Potatoes Gluten-free?
• Why You'll Love These Crispy Smashed Potatoes?
• Ingredients
• How to Make Crispy Fingerling Potatoes?
• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Tips For the Best Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Can I make Smashed Potatoes Ahead of Time?
• How to Store and Reheat?
• What to Serve With Smashed Fingerling Potatoes?
• More Side Dishes You'll Enjoy
• 📖 Recipe

Are Potatoes Gluten-free?

You would not believe how often "Are potatoes gluten-free" is searched on Google, and I get it. While all potatoes are naturally gluten-free, not all potato recipes are because sometimes gluten ingredients are added. Don't worry; these smashed fingerling potatoes are super easy to make and are gluten-free. This recipe can also easily be made dairy-free and vegan by leaving out the parmesan cheese.

Why You'll Love These Crispy Smashed Potatoes?

• Easy to make.
• Easily customizable.
• Have a unique and delicious taste.
• Excellent side dish for any meal.

Ingredients

• Baby or Fingerling Potatoes: They are small waxy potatoes. These little potatoes are often used to make oven-roasted potatoes to add to soups and stews like in my gluten-free beef stew recipe. You can also use other varieties of petite potatoes, such as Yukon gold or honey gold potatoes.
• Olive Oil: Used to coat the potatoes and help them crisp up in the oven. You can also use melted butter for a richer taste.
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese: Feel free to leave off to make these dairy-free potatoes. 
• Fresh Chives: Garnish it with chives. It will add a pop of color to the dish. Feel free to replace it with other herbs you have on hand, such as thyme or rosemary.
• Spices: You'll need salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

How to Make Crispy Fingerling Potatoes?

Step 1: Boil the Potatoes

• Begin by washing and boiling the baby potatoes until they're tender.
• You can boil the potatoes in a pot or saucepan. Bring the water and potatoes to a boil over medium-high heat and let them boil for 15-20 minutes or until they are fork-tender.
• Drain the boiled potatoes and dry them with some paper towels to remove excess water.

You can also boil baby or fingerling potatoes in the pressure cooker using this instant pot baby potatoes recipe.

Step 2: Season the Potatoes

• Combine the boiled potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to coat evenly.
• Transfer the seasoned potatoes to a baking sheet.
• Carefully smash each potato onto the baking sheet until they are about a ¼-½ inch thick.

Step 3: Bake the potatoes

• Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bake the potatoes for 15 minutes.
• Flip the potatoes and place them back into the oven for another 10 minutes.
• (Optional if adding parmesan) After 25 minutes, top the potatoes with the shredded parmesan cheese and bake them for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted over the potatoes.

• The smashed crispy potatoes are ready. Garnish with chives and serve!

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Consider using the air fryer to make these smashed potatoes for an even quicker and crispier version. Follow the preparation steps until you would typically put them in the oven. Instead, transfer the smashed potatoes to the air fryer. The air fryer will enhance their crispiness. Remember to shake the basket or flip the potatoes to ensure an even crispiness. Enjoy your extra crispy air-fried smashed potatoes!

1. Preheat the air fryer to 450 degrees.
2. Place the smashed potatoes in the air fryer, being sure to leave some room.
3. Air fry the potatoes for about 10-15 minutes.
4. Shake and rotate the potatoes and air fry for about another 10 minutes.
5. Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes and cook for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
6. Remove the smashed fingerling potatoes from the air fryer and top with the fresh chives.

Tips For the Best Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Choose the right-sized potatoes: Make sure that you are using baby or fingerling potatoes. These are potatoes that are no larger than about 2 inches in diameter. This recipe is not for larger-sized potatoes.

Wash the potatoes: Because we are leaving the skins on the potatoes to make these smashed fingerling potatoes, you want to make sure to remove any excess dirt that is on the potatoes before boiling them.

Boiling potatoes: Always start potatoes in cold water to ensure they cook at the same rate. To make these smashed potatoes, you want them to be fork tender but not falling apart.

Smashing potatoes: There is no right or wrong way to smash your fingerling potatoes. You can use a fork, a slotted spoon, a potato masher, or even a glass to smash the potatoes. You want to smash the potatoes between ½ and ¼ inch thick. If you want crispier potatoes, smash them thinner and more creamy potatoes with crisp edges, closer to ½ an inch.

Give the potatoes room: Just like with most cooking, if you want to ensure you get crispy potatoes, give them space to cook on the baking tray. If the potatoes are closer together, they will steam and not get as crisp.

Crispy potatoes: I've found that these potatoes will get more crispy if I bake them straight on the baking tray. They will still crisp on parchment paper, just not quite as much.

Fresh herbs: I like to chop fresh chives (or green onions) on top of these smashed fingerling potatoes, but feel free to leave it off or switch out the herbs for parsley, thyme, or even rosemary if you prefer.

Can I make Smashed Potatoes Ahead of Time?

I find these crispy potato bites best freshly cooked. However, if you want them to come together faster, you can boil the potatoes ahead of time and then place them in a bowl to dry in the fridge overnight. Then you have to smash and bake them the day of.

How to Store and Reheat?

• Leftover smashed fingerling potatoes can be kept in a container in the fridge for up to four days.
• Reheating smashed potatoes is best done on a baking sheet in a 400-degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until warmed. You can also pop them back in a 400-degree air fryer for 5-10 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can reheat smashed potatoes in a skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of oil to prevent sticking, and heat for 5-10 minutes, flipping occasionally, until they are thoroughly warmed and regaining their crispy exterior. Adjust the time based on your desired level of crispiness.

What to Serve With Smashed Fingerling Potatoes?

These crispy smashed fingerling potatoes are a versatile delight, perfect alongside various main courses. Add them to your holiday feast by pairing them with Christmas ham or roasted turkey, or check out these family favorites like my gluten-free version of Outback Steakhouse's Alice Springs Chicken and Chicken Cordon Bleu, a hit with the kids.

They also shine alongside grilled meats, adding a delightful contrast to savory flavors. Consider serving them with dipping sauces like green onion dip or barbecue sauce for an extra layer of taste, or drizzle some pesto over them.

Whether a festive occasion or a casual family dinner, these potatoes bring a crispy and flavorful element to the table, making them a go-to side dish that everyone enjoys.

More Side Dishes You'll Enjoy

We do potatoes a lot in this house because they are my kid's favorite vegetable. If you love potatoes too, check out my gluten-free cheesy mashed potatoes or my gluten-free scalloped potatoes next.

📖 Recipe