Here we added bacon and a sliced onion to the mix and simmered them with our halved red potatoes in water until the potatoes were just tender. The water performed two functions: It seasoned the potatoes while cooking them through and rendered the bacon fat. We then removed the lid and boosted the heat to first evaporate the liquid and then lightly brown the potatoes and onion and crisp the bacon.–America’s Test Kitchen

WHY IS BRAISING SUCH AN EFFECTIVE COOKING METHOD?

Most often used for tougher cuts of meat or very dense root vegetables, braising is a very effective way to deeply flavor foods while adding tenderness. Essentially, you’re simmering something in water (or broth) that’s had aromatics and spices added, and letting it slowly cook down until it’s ready to eat. It’s an economical way to add tons of flavor to a dish and makes the most of ingredients that might otherwise be inedible. Most often, meat is browned before being braised but this dish browns at the end, giving the tender ingredients a chance to get crispy before being served.

A frying pan filled with halved red potatoes that are browned and covered with crispy bacon and thyme.

Bacon Braised Red Potatoes

4.67 / 3 votes
Braising red potatoes on the stovetop produces a dead-simple side dish full of flavor. Finishing the dish with some fresh thyme gives it a bright herbal boost. For the best results, use potatoes that measure about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. You'll need a 12-inch nonstick skillet with a tight-fitting lid for this recipe.
David Leite
CourseSides
CuisineAmerican
Servings4 servings
Calories139 kcal
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes

Equipment

  • 12-inch (30-cm) nonstick skillet with tight-fitting lid

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes, unpeeled, halved
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 (8 oz) yellow onion, halved and sliced 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick
  • 2 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch (25 mm) pieces
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

Instructions 

  • In a 12-inch (30 cm) nonstick skillet, arrange potatoes cut side down in a single layer. Add water, onion, bacon, salt, and pepper.
  • Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer until potatoes are just tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Uncover skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Simmer vigorously until water has nearly evaporated and potatoes begin to sizzle, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until potatoes and onion are spotty brown and bacon fat is completely rendered, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat, stir in thyme, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
The Side Dish Bible Cookbook

Adapted From

The Side Dish Bible

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 139 kcalCarbohydrates: 27 gProtein: 5 gFat: 2 gSaturated Fat: 1 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 1 gTrans Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 4 mgSodium: 252 mgPotassium: 802 mgFiber: 3 gSugar: 2 gVitamin A: 62 IUVitamin C: 16 mgCalcium: 27 mgIron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2019 America’s Test Kitchen. Photo © 2019 America’s Test Kitchen. All rights reserved.

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

This recipe for bacon-braised red potatoes is a great side dish that is mostly hands-off. The bacon and onion flavor is all through the potatoes. We love German-style fried potatoes and this recipe ensures that the potatoes are nice and tender inside. Once the water evaporated and they began to sizzle, I started to stir so that the onions caramelized as well.

Next time I’ll only add enough water to cover so that it doesn’t take as long to evaporate. Rosemary or parsley would work as well. The leftovers are wonderful fried up the next morning. Served with a spicy grilled chicken, this is a keeper.

This recipe for bacon-braised red potatoes is on this tester’s choice “yes, yes, yes!” list. These potatoes were creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and total herb-y bacon-y deliciousness. Even the salt was just spot on even though I doubted that 1/4 teaspoon would be enough.

An enamelware bowl filled with braised, halved red potatoes, covered with bacon, onions, and parsley.

My only recommendation is that the pan not be too shallow. The 12-inch diameter pan was perfect for accommodating the potatoes in one layer. My only 12-inch pan with a tight-fitting lid was a bit shallow creating a bit of spillage and a lot of mess. This can definitely be avoided with a 2-to-3-inch pan depth. Trust me, these were worth even the messy clean-up.

Three of us devoured half these potatoes with roasted chicken and slaw. The leftovers warmed up so well in a pan the following day. Those were enjoyed as home fries with eggs and tomato slices. What versatile little spuds these are!

We really enjoy our potatoes, eating them several times a week with our dinners, and this recipe for bacon braised red potatoes is a pretty effortless way to make some pan-roasted potatoes and change up the potato routine. The potatoes are nice and tender and do get a nice crispy browning at the end of the cooking process. The bacon and onion flavor come though nicely and don’t overpower each other. I think the next time I make this I’ll try using some chicken stock instead of water just to amp up the flavor of the potatoes a bit.




About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious potatoes! I think I overdid mine because they fell apart a bit and never crisped up again at the end, but no matter – they made a tasty mash with the bacon, onions, and thyme. I paired them with beer brats and salad with mustardy dressing for an overall German vibe.

    1. Wonderful, Leah! That sounds like an amazing dinner. Please let us know what you try next.