Italian Roasted Potatoes (Easy, Crispy and Creamy!)

Name: Italian Roasted Potatoes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds red potatoes (or other waxy potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes); 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary ((recipe note #3)); 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage ((recipe note #3)); Kosher salt (to taste)

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Crispy outside and creamy within, Italian Roasted Potatoes are impossible to resist. Ideal for your holiday table, but weeknight easy with just 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes of active time.

Italian Roasted Potatoes served on an oval white platter

Cubed red potatoes are tossed with good olive oil, ample fresh rosemary and sage, then roasted to perfection and finished with salt. One simple trick ensures that your roasted potatoes are never hollow or spongy.

Ingredients You Need to Make Italian Roasted Potatoes

Italian Roasted Potatoes Ingredients on a white marble board

Red Potatoes: Or other waxy potato (new potatoes, white potatoes). Or Yukon Gold potatoes which are between waxy and starchy.
Olive Oil: Good quality extra virgin olive oil.
Fresh Sage: If you don’t have access to fresh sage, rubbed sage is an option.
Fresh Rosemary: For this recipe, I don’t recommend using dried rosemary as it can be woody. Other fresh Italian herbs are a good substitute, like oregano, marjoram, or thyme. If you want to go with dried herbs, half the amount of oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning will work.
Kosher Salt: Or fine sea salt.

The Trick for Crispy and Creamy Italian Roasted Potatoes

The trick to perfect roasted potatoes, crispy on the outside and creamy in the center, is to cover them with foil for the first half of your roasting time. This allows the potatoes to retain their moisture so they won’t become spongy or dried out on the inside. Roasting uncovered for the remaining time guarantees all of those delicious, crispy edges.

close up Italian Roasted Potatoes served on an oval white platter

Potato Roasting FAQ

What is a good potato for roasting?

Several potato varieties are great for roasting. Red potatoes (like those used in this recipe) are waxy (low starch and high moisture) and have a few advantages. First, their deep, earthy flavor intensifies when roasted. Second, because of their high moisture content, they hold their shape. Third, they have thin skin that doesn’t require peeling.

Yukon Gold potatoes are a good option too, as their texture falls between waxy and starchy. No need to peel or soak them.

Starchy potatoes, like russet potatoes, are best roasted after they’ve been parboiled or soaked in hot water to remove the excess starch that can reduce crispiness.

Which oil is best for roasting?

For Italian Roasted Potatoes, olive oil is the best choice as it adds wonderful flavor to the dish. If you’re roasting potatoes and want a neutral oil, avocado oil is a good choice.

Should potatoes be soaked before roasting?

You don’t need to soak waxy potatoes, or semi-waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold, before roasting. But starchy potatoes (like russet potatoes) should be peeled and soaked before they are roasted or fried to remove the excess starch that can prevent them from crisping up. See my Breakfast Potatoes or Skillet Potatoes for a great method.

Recipe Options:

Swap in new potatoes, fingerling potatoes, or Yukon Gold potatoes for the red potatoes. You can use baby potatoes or larger potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes. (I don’t recommend russet potatoes for this recipe.)
Try a different herb blend: oregano, marjoram, and thyme are all good options. Fresh herbs give this dish the most flavor, but you can use dried herbs or even Italian seasoning in a pinch, reducing the amount by half.
Add a few cloves of minced garlic to the oil and herb mixture. Be sure to stir at least once during the last 15-20 minutes of roasting to be sure that the garlic doesn’t get too brown.
Sprinkle your crispy potatoes with grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.

What to Serve with Roasted Potatoes

These crispy roast potatoes make an excellent side dish for many main dishes. Here are a few great options:

How to Make Italian Roasted Potatoes

Step 1: Toss potatoes, olive oil, rosemary and sage in a large bowl to coat evenly. Pour out on a rimmed baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Cover tightly with foil and roast 20 minutes.

red potato cubes tossed with olive oil and spices

Step 2: Remove foil and roast 25-30 minutes more until crispy on the outside and creamy in the middle, stirring once about half way through. Season with salt and serve hot on a platter.

Italian Roasted Potatoes served on a white platter

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5 from 6 votes