Perfect Potato Side Dishes to Elevate Your Spuds

When you want an impressive, yet whimsical side dish, Molly Yeh’s savoury galette is filled with thin slices of potato and onion seasoned with that classic salt and vinegar flavour. To save on prep time, go with your favourite refrigerated pie dough instead of making your own.

There’s no doubt that garlic mashed potatoes are a simple and delicious accompaniment to almost any meal, but have you ever considered adding rutabaga? The yellow root vegetable will add a sweet, yet peppery flavour to your side dish, which pairs well with roast beef or other rich meat-based mains. Curious about more ways to use this nutritious root veggie? Discover all the ways that you can cook with rutabaga.

Take one less thing off your to-do list for Sunday dinner by preparing these whipped sweet potatoes up to two weeks in advance and freezing them until just before serving. Once reheated, top with sliced scallions and chopped pecans.

Roasted potatoes tossed with rosemary is a classic combination that will never get old.

Spruce up your spring menu with cute nests that bring together your favourite flavours and add a touch of brightness to everyone’s plate. They also make adorable, two-bite appetizers or snacks.

It takes a bit of time and patience to make this side dish, but after one taste, you’ll know the rich, creamy layers of potato are totally worth it. This recipe kicks it up a notch by adding slices of smoky baked ham.

The secret to rich, velvety potatoes is to cook them just a little longer than you normally would, and use a ricer instead of a masher. That way each bite is guaranteed to be smooth and creamy.

Casseroles are a natural fit when it comes to dinners that can be prepared ahead of time. And this savoury sensation — flavoured with leeks and topped with Fontina cheese — is guaranteed to please.

Get more of that golden crunchiness without sacrificing the creamy goodness underneath by making your scalloped potatoes in a sheet pan. It’s ready in under an hour and great for celebratory meals.

Similar to latkes, these potato cakes are an excellent breakfast or brunch side. Guy’s recipe has a hint of Middle Eastern flavours with the addition of spices like cumin, fenugreek, cinnamon, nutmeg and turmeric. It’s also a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes from the night before.

For those days that you feel like you’re in a side dish rut, try this smashed potato recipe from Molly Yeh. Made with mini Yukon gold potatoes that are baked until golden, they’re topped with a fresh chimichurri dressing.

Gloriously cheesy, these skillet-roasted scalloped spuds are a flavour-packed side dish that’s sure to become a family favourite.

Give classic baked potatoes a run for their money with these sweet, dressed-up spuds. Beans, onions, garlic and greens turn taters into a filling family dinner.

A classic sweet potato casserole takes hours to prepare, but this Instant Pot recipe will let you enjoy these flavours in just a fraction of the time. Finish this side dish with a ripple of marshmallow cream and a sprinkling of chopped pecans. Let your multipurpose kitchen gadget boost your weeknight dinners with these effortless Instant Pot freezer meals.

These classic crispy potato bites from Ina Garten require minimal ingredients and take only 20 minutes to make.

While you won’t find any cream, milk or butter in this vegan version of your typical mash, the trick to getting the smooth, creamy consistency is a combination of olive oil and almond milk. Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it! Prepare your entire dinner without an ounce of milk or butter with one of these dairy-free dinners that will trick your taste buds.

Put your slow cooker to the test with this classic creamy potato side dish. Tip: add a little bit of flour to help thicken and stabilize the cream. Don’t stow away that appliance just yet: make one of these spectacular spring slow cooker recipes.

With their accordion-style shape exposing that gorgeous orange interior, these Hasselback-style sweet potatoes are as beautiful as they are tasty. Serve them up with a tangy yogurt sauce.

Deep, golden brown butter adds a nutty flavour to mashed potatoes, balancing the richness of the heavy cream and cream cheese. Just be sure to keep swirling the butter in the pan, removing it from the heat before it burns.

This scrumptious, no-hassle potato dish pairs well with anything you serve beside it. It’s super versatile so you can put your own spin on this classic side.

A simple smashed sweet potato side gets a bit of smoky heat by adding chipotle chiles and adobo sauce, balanced by some pure maple syrup. Don’t forget to help yourself to a portion; it’s so delicious, you’ll watch it disappear before your eyes.

This dish of sliced, pan-fried potatoes and onions is typically made with regular spuds, but using sweet potato adds even more depth to the flavour. Serve this side with a sprinkling of toasted pecans or a touch of Greek yogurt.

Russet potatoes mashed with egg yolks, butter and cream are piped in pretty spirals and baked until golden brown on the edges. Perfect as a comforting and tasty appetizer or as a beautiful side.

Thinly-sliced russet potatoes are smothered in Monterey Jack cheese and peppered with sharp, salty pieces of ham for a creamy, comforting scalloped potato side dish straight from Ree Drummond’s kitchen to yours.

These creamy mashed potatoes are so easy to make and ready in an hour. All you have to do is peel your spuds, and add them whole to your Instant Pot. Once they’re cooked, mash them with sour cream, butter and cream … and enjoy!

These thin and crispy shoestring fries are dusted with a cinnamon and salt mixture and served with a tangy cherry ketchup for dipping.

You may never cook garden-variety scalloped potatoes again once you try this unique side dish that adds a spicy kick to sweet potatoes.

Get the recipe for Bobby Flay’s Smoked Chile Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

Sometimes, only a big casserole full of scalloped potatoes will do. But they don’t have to be laden with heavy cream: this vegan variation is just as silky, hearty and rich, without the excess dairy.

Delicious and downright decadent, Tyler Florence really shows off his flair for creativity in this recipe that stuffs sweet potatoes with a crumbly marshmallow-and-pecan streusel. Plan ahead and make extra, because your family is bound to ask for seconds.

Creamy, cheesy and rich, this potato casserole features baked potatoes loaded up with sour cream, milk, cheese, bacon, and green onions, then baked as a whole so the potatoes soak up all that delicious flavour.

Picture these perfectly spiced spuds on your table, smothered in a sweet brown sugar cinnamon sauce and crunchy chopped pecans.

Mashed Yukon gold potatoes are made even more delicious by adding the nutty sweetness of parsnip. To achieve maximum fluffiness, warm your cream and butter before beating them into the potato-parsnip mixture.

Despite the butter, cream cheese and heavy cream, the best part about these mashed potatoes just might be the fact that they can be made in advance and simply warmed in the oven just before serving.

This unbelievably easy side dish contrasts sweet potatoes with a hint of fiery chipotle in adobo sauce, resulting an explosion of flavours.

These are not your mother’s scalloped potatoes! Boasting bacon, savoy cabbage, fresh chives, Parmesan and cream, this is a dish guaranteed to make any meal twice as delicious.

These crispy Mexican-inspired potatoes pair well with just about any main and are so easy to whip up.

Fluffy, creamy and infused with the aromatic flavour of garlic, these mashed potatoes are a side dish sensation. Plus, they require minimal ingredients!

Patricia makes classic stuffed potatoes even better by filling them with her hometown Ohio flavours. Kielbasa, coleslaw and cheese make an irresistible stuffing for these twice-baked treats.

Sweet, crunchy and oh so satisfying, this super simple, buttery dish will be your go-to for every big family dinner to come.

This recipe is yin to roast beef’s yang. Rich and creamy potatoes infused for hours in sour cream and milk with a kick of horseradish make for a heavenly side.

These soft, creamy Yukon Gold potatoes are mashed with roasted garlic and whipped until smooth for a side dish that doesn’t require gravy to be lip-smackingly delicious.

Crispy, warm potato latkes are a favourite for the holidays or any special occasion. For an additional flavour boost, try adding shredded carrots and serving with cinnamon-spiced apple sauce.

Move over, mash; there’s a new potato at the table. Fun and crispy, these sliced beauties are just waiting to be filled with gravy.

This dish is a perfect way to trick your kids into eating their vegetables. The sweet, bubbly golden topping top will have them thinking they’re getting dessert for dinner.

This roasted potato, garlic and lemon dish is like a burst of Tuscan sunshine in every bite. Diced Yukon Golds are cooked on a sheet pan for up to an hour until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

In this recipe by Guy Fieri, whole sweet potatoes are topped with a crust of brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and chopped pecans for a crunchy, textural dish.

There is no such thing as a bad gratin, but this cheesy version is exceptionally tasty, thanks to chunky sliced Russet potatoes, loads of garlic and sharp cheddar cheese.

These simple baked sweet potatoes – topped with a dollop of sour cream and chopped mint – are the perfect hearty, comforting side to go with your favourite Easter main.

Turn a bag of frozen tater tots into a flavour-packed side dish with this powerful spice mix from Guy Fieri.

A play on sweet potato pie with mashed bananas, butter and honey. Topped with a crumble made from brown sugar, flour and pecans, this dish is ideal for the holiday harvest table.

Infusing cream with bay leaves, thyme, garlic and nutmeg means the thinly sliced potatoes will soak up all those comforting flavours as they bubble away in tasty layers. After 40 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a vegetarian side dish that’s potato perfection.

The trick to these perfectly roasted potatoes from Emily Blunt is boiling them first before transferring them to the oven. They’re creamy on the inside and crispy golden on the outside. Just sprinkle with a bit of fleur de sel to enhance the flavour before serving.

While Molly Yeh serves these potatoes as a brunch side, they really are delicious any time of the day. Once they’re roasted to a crispy brown finish, toss them in the tangy, creamy mayo.

Get a head start on your next big meal by preparing these velvety mashed potatoes ahed of time. They can be kept in the fridge for up to two days. Simply bake them in a casserole dish before serving.

These potatoes are worth every extra step it takes to prepare them. Ina takes scrubbed Idaho potatoes and rolls them in an herbed salt mixture before baking them. Serve them hot from the oven with a dollop of whipped feta.

Preparing scalloped potatoes in a sheet pan cuts down on the cooking time while creating a golden, crispy topping and edges. Valerie infuses this side dish with even more flavour by adding Fontina and grated Parmesan.

These rich, garlicky mashed potatoes can be prepared in advance and then baked right before serving. Garlic and herb goat cheese, Parmesan and sour cream give this side dish bold flavour and maximum creaminess.

Pureed sweet potato is a simple, satisfying and comforting side for almost any meat dish. Ina Garten gives hers a hint of citrus and a dash of heat with the addition of orange juice and zest, and ground cayenne pepper.