Garlic Bread Smashed Potatoes

These smashed potatoes are the ultimate side dish you didn’t know you needed! We’ve taken our Garlic Bread Roasted Potatoes and stepped them up a notch and turned them into smashed potatoes. We love them because they are super easy with very minimal prep time. These potatoes are roasted to perfection, then smashed and drizzled with a buttery garlic herb sauce, and topped with Parmesan cheese. It’s a plate-licking side dish that’s a surefire hit!

For some delicious garlic bread recipes, try our Garlic Star Bread or our Ultimate Garlic Bread.

With their crispy exterior and soft, fluffy inside, these garlic bread smashed potatoes have great texture and unforgettable flavor! There’s no chopping or complicated prep involved. Simply bake, smash, and drizzle for a side dish that’s easy to make and oh-so-delicious. It’s perfect to serve alongside a weeknight dinner and fancy enough to impress guests.

Ingredient Notes

• Baby Potatoes: Use red or yellow. These small potatoes are perfect for smashing due to their tender texture and thin skins. Aim for uniform sizes for even cooking.
• Salted Butter: If you only have unsalted butter, add an extra pinch of salt to the garlic herb mixture.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the best flavor or you can use 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
• Grated Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting and flavor. Pre-shredded varieties can be used but may not melt as smoothly.

All About Baby Potatoes

Baby potatoes are those small potatoes rolling around the grocery store that are about the size of a golf ball. This is what you are looking for to make smashed potatoes as they have thin skins and are the perfect size. You’ll find red, yellow, and sometimes purple baby potatoes. All of them will work.

Loose in Bins: Some stores also sell baby potatoes individually in bulk bins. This can be a great option so you can select potatoes that are all roughly the same size for even cooking.

Pre-Bagged: Baby potatoes are often sold in 1- to 3-pound bags, either in the produce section or near other specialty potatoes. These bags may include red, yellow, or mixed varieties. Mixed bags can add a pop of color to your dish.

Microwave-Ready Packs: Baby potatoes are sometimes sold in microwaveable packaging, pre-washed and ready to cook. These are convenient but may cost slightly more per pound.

Smashing Tips

Bake Until Tender: Make sure you’ve baked them long enough so that the potatoes are fully tender and smashable. A fork should easily pierce through them without resistance.

Smash Gently: Use the bottom of a drinking glass, a fork, or a potato masher to press each potato down. The goal is to flatten them while keeping them intact. Don’t press too hard, or all the way through to the pan, or they’ll fall apart. Aim for about 1/2-inch thick.

Space Them Out: Give each potato enough room on the baking sheet for the edges to crisp up during the second bake. Crowding the pan can lead to steaming instead of crisping.

Baking Time

The baking time for your smashed potatoes will depend on how large the potatoes are. If they are on the larger size, you will need to add some roasting time before smashing them. Once they are soft enough to be smashed, you will know that they are ready.