There’s just something magical about the way these Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe turn out—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, all infused with garlic and rosemary. It’s a simple twist on roasted potatoes that feels special every time you make them.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe has been a go-to for me when I want fancy-looking potatoes without fuss. The crispy edges are addictive, and the garlicky, rosemary-infused olive oil melts right in for incredible flavor.
- Beautiful Presentation: The fan-like slices not only look elegant but also help the potatoes crisp up perfectly.
- Easy to Customize: You can add herbs, spices, or cheeses to make these your own every time.
- Crisp & Tender Contrast: Those thin slices let the edges get golden and crunchy while keeping the center soft and fluffy.
- Simple Ingredients: Just potatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, and rosemary come together for a flavor that speaks for itself.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient here plays a role in creating that perfect balance of texture and flavor. Choosing the right potato and using extra virgin olive oil with fresh garlic and rosemary really elevates the dish.
- Potatoes: I prefer medium-sized oval potatoes because their shape helps the slices fan out better as they bake, giving you all the crispy edges you want.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This adds richness and carries the garlic and rosemary flavors deep into the potatoes without overpowering them.
- Cooking Salt / Kosher Salt: Essential for seasoning and enhancing the natural potato flavor, plus it helps with the crispiness.
- Garlic Cloves: Smashed with skins on to gently roast alongside the potatoes—they infuse that beautiful garlicky aroma without burning.
- Rosemary Sprigs: The woody, piney notes of fresh rosemary complement the garlic and potatoes perfectly and make your kitchen smell amazing.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe depending on the season or what herbs I have on hand. It's so forgiving that making it your own is part of the fun—and you can’t really mess it up!
- Variation: Sometimes I swap rosemary for thyme or sprinkle on a little parmesan cheese in the last 10 minutes of baking—adds a lovely nuttiness and extra crispiness.
- Dietary Mod: Use flavored or infused olive oils like chili or lemon oil for a different punch without complicating things.
- Seasonal Twist: Toss in some thinly sliced shallots or sprinkle with smoked paprika for fall vibes.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Potatoes Carefully
Start by washing your potatoes thoroughly and drying them. Place each potato on a cutting board and slice thin slits about 3mm apart, stopping just before you cut all the way through—this trick makes sure your potatoes fan out but stay in one piece. I use chopsticks placed on either side of the potato as a guide to avoid cutting through, it makes things so much easier and safer if your knife skills aren’t super steady.
Step 2: Season with Love
Brush your potatoes generously with 1 ½ teaspoons of olive oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt, making sure some of the oil seeps into the crevices of those slices. This is where the magic starts as the oil and salt help create those irresistible crisp edges.
Step 3: Add Garlic and Rosemary
Tuck the smashed garlic cloves (skins on!) and rosemary sprigs around the potatoes on your baking tray. As they cook, the garlic roasts slowly, mellowing and infusing the olive oil that’s brushed on the potatoes. This step makes a huge difference in flavor.
Step 4: Slow Roast to Perfection
Bake at 200°C (about 400°F) for around 80 minutes. Halfway through, brush with a mixture of ¼ cup olive oil and 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, making sure to work the oil in between the slices again. This keeps the outsides crisp and helps the potatoes stay moist inside. Keep an eye if your oven runs hot—if they’re browning too quickly, you can tent with foil.
Top Tip
From my experience, a few things really make your Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe stand out—especially if it’s your first time making them.
- Knife Skills Matter (But Not Perfect): Don’t sweat perfect slices. Using chopsticks or wooden spoons on either side of the potato as guards helps keep cuts clean and even, but small wonkiness only adds charm!
- Olive Oil Visits Matter: Brushing with oil halfway through baking is my secret to extra crispy edges—it’s worth getting up from your seat to do it.
- Don’t Skip the Garlic Skins: Keeping the skins on the smashed garlic while roasting mellows their flavor and keeps them silky rather than bitter.
- Shape Your Potatoes: Oval potatoes fan out far better than round ones, giving you the irresistible layered look.
How to Serve Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling some freshly chopped parsley or chives on top right before serving—it adds a pop of color and fresh brightness that cuts through the richness. Sometimes a little grated parmesan is my go-to “finishing touch” for a melty, savory boost.
Side Dishes
This recipe pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or steak, but I’ve also served it alongside roasted veggies or a crisp green salad for a lighter meal. It’s versatile enough to feel fancy or casual, depending on the rest of your plate.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, I’ve grilled the potatoes a bit longer to really intensify that crispness and stacked them on a platter with drizzles of herby garlic butter. They become not only a dish but a centerpiece—and honestly, guests love picking apart the crispy fans.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I find the edges soften a bit, but reheating can bring back some crunch.
Freezing
I’ve tried freezing these, but they do lose a bit of that crispy texture on thawing. If you do freeze them, bake them just shy of fully cooked, then freeze. Later, reheat directly from frozen in a hot oven to crisp them up again.
Reheating
For best results, reheat leftover potatoes in a hot oven (about 200°C/400°F) for 10-15 minutes. This helps dry them out and revive the crisp edges without turning them mushy like a microwave might.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You want to choose a potato that holds its shape well while roasting. Medium-sized, starchy to all-purpose potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes work great. Avoid very waxy or mealy potatoes as they won’t crisp up as nicely or might fall apart.
A handy trick is to place two chopsticks or wooden spoons on either side of the potato while slicing. This prevents your knife from going all the way through the bottom, so the slices fan but stay connected, making handling and baking easier.
Yes! You can slice and season the potatoes a few hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. Just bring them to room temperature before baking to ensure even cooking. This is great for prepping before guests arrive.
If you don’t have fresh rosemary, dried rosemary can work, but it won’t be as fragrant. Alternatively, fresh thyme or sage are great substitutes that still bring wonderful herbal notes to the dish.
Final Thoughts
This Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe has become one of those dishes I recommend as a guaranteed crowd-pleaser whenever friends come over. The combination of crispy, garlicky edges with soft potato insides just never disappoints, and it feels like you put in way more effort than you did. I hope you’ll give it a try—and soon enough, you might just catch yourself making it on repeat in your own kitchen too.
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Crispy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 80 minutes
- Total Time: 95 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Crispy and flavorful Hasselback potatoes, thinly sliced to fan out during baking, brushed with a garlic and rosemary-infused olive oil for a perfect side dish with crispy edges and soft interiors.
Ingredients
Potatoes
- 5 - 6 x 250g / 8oz potatoes
Seasoning and Oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon cooking salt / kosher salt
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ¼ teaspoon cooking salt / kosher salt
- 4 garlic cloves, skin on, smashed (optional)
- 3 rosemary sprigs (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the potatoes: Wash and dry the potatoes thoroughly. Place each potato on a cutting board and make thin, evenly spaced slices across each potato, slicing about three quarters of the way through so the potato fans out while keeping the base intact.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to ensure a properly hot environment for crisping the potatoes.
- Brush with olive oil and season: Mix ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil with 1 ¼ teaspoon salt. Brush the potatoes generously with the olive oil mixture, making sure some oil gets in between the slices. Place smashed garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs around the potatoes for added aroma.
- Bake the potatoes: Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 75-80 minutes until the edges are crispy and the insides are tender.
- Final brushing and serving: Halfway through baking, brush the potatoes again with the remaining 1 ½ teaspoon olive oil and ¼ teaspoon salt mixture to enhance flavor and crispiness. Remove from oven and serve hot as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- Use oval shaped potatoes and thin, even slices for proper fanning and crispiness.
- If you are unsure of your knife skills, imperfect slices will still taste fantastic and look charming.
- Optional garlic and rosemary add a wonderful aroma but can be omitted if desired.
- Make sure not to slice all the way through to keep the potato intact.
- Brushing with oil multiple times during baking promotes a crispy texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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