Garlic Butter Boiled Potatoes Recipe (How to Boil Potatoes)

Boiled Potatoes don’t get nearly enough attention. Often under-cooked and under-seasoned, it’s easy to write off such an underwhelming side dish and trade it for something a little more flavorful. What if I told you it didn’t have to be this way? That you could have creamy, perfectly-cooked boiled potatoes smothered in garlic and butter ready and on the table in just 30 minutes.

Today I’m sharing my favorite Garlic Butter Boiled Potatoes Recipe, including how to properly boil potatoes each and every time.

Buttery Boiled Potatoes

I didn’t learn to appreciate the beauty of a boiled potato until I lived in Germany. Long story short, I ate a lot of boiled spuds during my time there. Sometimes they were served as a side for heavy meat-filled stews, while other times, they were simply boiled, peeled, and served plain.

Unfortunately, these simple, plain potatoes were never my favorite. I was more accustomed to creamy, cheese-filled potato recipes like mashed potatoes or potatoes au gratin.

Fortunately, it’s easy to turn boring boiled potatoes into an intensely satisfying side dish by adding just three simple ingredients: salt, butter, and fresh garlic.

Not only is this easy recipe delicious, but it’s also:

• Ready in just 30 minutes
• Gluten-free
• Versatile
• Require no fancy equipment
• Vegetarian
• No pre-peeling needed
• Delicious leftover and reheated

How Long to Boil Potatoes?

The total cooking time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes.

• Baby potatoes (approx. 1-inch): 12-15 minutes
• Small potatoes (approx. 2-inch): 15-20 minutes
• Medium-sized potatoes (approx. 3-inch): 20-25 minutes
• Large potatoes (approx. 4-inch): 20-25 minutes
• Extra-Large potatoes (approx. 6-inch): 30+ minutes

How will you know when your potatoes are finished cooking?

Cook the potatoes until they are fork-tender and the skin is just starting to split from the potato flesh.

Best Potatoes for Boiling

Technically, all types of potatoes can be boiled. Depending on the recipe or method of cooking, some types of potatoes work better than others. However, when it comes to boiled potatoes, waxy potatoes are your best bet.

• Starchy Potatoes: Low in moisture, but high in starch, these are great baking potatoes (and mashing potatoes). The best example is russet potatoes. Should you boil starchy potatoes, plan to use them to make soups or mashed potatoes.
• All-purpose Potatoes: These potatoes are somewhere in between starchy and waxy potatoes. Examples include Yukon-gold potatoes, white-gold potatoes, and purple potatoes.
• Waxy Potatoes: Low-starch, but high in moisture, these potatoes hold their shape even after cooking. Best suited for boiling, roasting, and baking preparations or in casseroles, gratins, potato salad, soups, and stews. Examples include New potatoes, Fingerling potatoes, Red potatoes, baby potatoes, and creamers. 

RELATED >> Potato Types: A Guide to Popular Types of Potatoes

How to Make Garlic Butter Boiled Potatoes

Wash and scrub the potatoes gently under running water to remove any surface debris.

Gently place potatoes in a large saucepan or large pot and cover with cold water by at least 2-inches. Add 1 teaspoon salt to the water.

Set over high heat. Once the water reaches a boil, reduce heat to low heat, cover, and maintain a gentle simmer. Cook the potatoes until they are fork-tender and the skin just starts splitting from the potatoes – total time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes.

• Note: these baby potatoes took approximately 18 minutes to cook after the water came to a boil.

Drain potatoes into a large colander. Immediately return the pan to medium heat. Melt the butter and add the olive oil (if using), fresh garlic, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine. Stir continuously for 1 minute.

• Tip – if your potatoes are on the larger side, or you’d like more surface area for the garlic butter to penetrate the potatoes, halve each potato before moving on to the next step.

Return the warm potatoes back to the saucepan. Mix well to coat in the garlic and butter sauce and season with additional salt and black pepper, to taste. 

Optional additions:

• Red chili flakes
• Fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, dill, thyme, etc)
• Bacon

Tips and Tricks

• Add your potatoes to a pot filled with cold water and then bring it to a boil. This helps ensure even cooking and helps prevent your potatoes from being soft and cooked on the outside, but uncooked and crunchy on the inside.
• Try to cook potatoes that are approximately the same size so that they cook in the same amount of time.
• Do not peel your whole potatoes before boiling.
• Resist over-boiling potatoes. Yes, it’s true, you can over-boil your potatoes (even the waxy kind). So, keep an eye on them. If you can easily slide a paring knife through the center, your potatoes are cooked.

More Potato Recipes,

Easy Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

Baked Sweet Potato (How to Bake Sweet Potatoes)

Classic Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Instant Pot Chicken with Potatoes Recipe

If you try making this easy Boiled Potatoes Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts. 

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Garlic Butter Boiled Potatoes Recipe (How to Boil Potatoes)

4.81 from 76 votes

Chef: Jessica Randhawa

Creamy, perfectly-cooked boiled potatoes smothered in garlic and butter ready and on the table in just 30 minutes. The best Garlic Butter Boiled Potatoes Recipe, including how to properly boil potatoes each and every time.

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 18 mins

Total Time 23 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1.5 pounds small potatoes
• ▢ 2 teaspoon salt - divided
• ▢ 4 tablespoon butter
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil - optional
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 8 cloves garlic - minced

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Instructions

 

• Add the potatoes to a medium saucepan and cover with cold water by 2-inches.
• Bring to a rolling boil and add 1 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to medium-low to low heat, maintaining a gentle simmer. Cook the potatoes until they are fork-tender and the skin is just starting to split from the potatoes - total time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes, but these small potatoes took approximately 18 minutes.
• Drain the water and potatoes into a large colander. Immediately return the pan to medium heat. Melt the butter and add the olive oil, garlic, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine. Stir continuously for 1 minute.
• Tip - if your potatoes are on the larger side, or you'd like more surface area for the garlic butter to penetrate the potatoes, halve each potato before moving on to the next step.
• Return the warm potatoes back to the pan. Mix well to coat the potatoes in garlic and butter. Season with additional salt and black pepper, to taste. For a little heat, add a small pinch of crushed red chili flakes.

Jessica's Notes

Should you peel your potatoes before boiling? No. Potatoes with the skin still intact will absorb less water, helping prevent them from falling apart as they cook. If you prefer potatoes without skin, it's actually easier to peel potatoes after they've been boiled and cooled slightly.

What types of potatoes are best for boiling? Unless you plan to mash or make soup, stick with waxy potatoes. Waxy potatoes have thin, smooth skin and creamy flesh. Examples include,

• New potatoes
• Red Bliss
• Fingerlings
• or anything labeled "baby potatoes"

Optional additions: fresh parsley, chives, or dill

Nutritional Information

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 864mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Boiled Potatoes, How to Boil Potatoes

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