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Butter-Roasted Potatoes

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 26, 2011

Time

1½ hours

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Butter-Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 7 pieces3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick4 ¼ teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Before You Begin

Keep a close eye on the butter as it browns--it can go from golden to scorched in seconds.

Instructions

  1. BROWN BUTTER Adjust oven rack to middle position, place rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line second rimmed baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until butter is nutty brown, about 5 minutes; set aside.
  2. SIMMER POTATOES Bring potatoes to boil in large pot over high heat with 3 teaspoons salt and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are nearly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain potatoes and transfer to paper towel-lined baking sheet. Dry potatoes with additional paper towels.
  3. ROAST POTATOES Discard paper towels and spread potatoes in single layer. Drizzle browned butter over hot potatoes and sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Let sit until butter is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes, flipping once. Remove hot baking sheet from oven and brush with oil. Arrange potatoes on hot baking sheet in single layer. Bake, flipping halfway through cooking, until crisp and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Serve.
Butter-Roasted Potatoes

Butter-Roasted Potatoes

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1½ hours

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 7 pieces
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick
4 ¼ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 7 pieces
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick
4 ¼ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 7 pieces
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick
4 ¼ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Why This Recipe Works

Cutting our Butter-Roasted Potatoes into slices instead of chunks ensured that they had optimal surface area for browning. Precooking the slices in simmering water drew starch to the surface, which facilitated browning and reduced the roasting time. Allowing the precooked slices to “marinate” in browned butter infused them throughout with sweet, nutty flavor.

Before You Begin

Keep a close eye on the butter as it browns--it can go from golden to scorched in seconds.

Instructions

  1. BROWN BUTTER Adjust oven rack to middle position, place rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line second rimmed baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until butter is nutty brown, about 5 minutes; set aside.
  2. SIMMER POTATOES Bring potatoes to boil in large pot over high heat with 3 teaspoons salt and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are nearly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain potatoes and transfer to paper towel-lined baking sheet. Dry potatoes with additional paper towels.
  3. ROAST POTATOES Discard paper towels and spread potatoes in single layer. Drizzle browned butter over hot potatoes and sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Let sit until butter is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes, flipping once. Remove hot baking sheet from oven and brush with oil. Arrange potatoes on hot baking sheet in single layer. Bake, flipping halfway through cooking, until crisp and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Serve.

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