If you need a new go-to side dish, this perfectly roasted potatoes recipe is where you need to start. It is so simply to put together, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making roasted potatoes this way all along! The potatoes are roasted to perfection and have a crispy outside and soft inside and taste so good with hints of lemon, garlic and cilantro.
This side dish recipe is a super easy and delicious method for roasting potatoes, but I’ve also used the exact same recipe to roast any vegetable (think carrots, parsnips, cauliflower…any vegetable that one would roast!) Once you try this you’ll never go back!
What ingredients do you need for roasted potatoes?
- Baby red potatoes – you can also use any of your favorite potatoes, like fingerling potatoes.
- Garlic cloves – garlic is always a great addition to any dish!
- EVOO – extra virgin olive oil, mixed with the other recipe ingredients combine to make the most delicious coating to roast potatoes in.
- Lemon – the zest of lemon balances with hearty potatoes and gives the perfect amount of zip.
- Cilantro – I top this recipe with cilantro for an extra touch of color and bite of flavor. You could also use a different herb like parsley or green onions.
- Salt – the perfect amount of salt is paramount to this tasty recipe.
This recipe all starts with good baby potatoes! When I’m able, I like to get mine at the Milwaukee County Winter Farmer’s Market. The cool thing about the Milwaukee Winters Farmers Market is that it is held in the Mitchell Park Conservatory (horticultural domes – think dome shaped botanical green houses that one can walk through).
Of course, any potatoes I’ll do in this recipe. I like using baby potatoes because you don’t have to peel them, but you could certainly use any larger potato (even sweet potatoes) and they turn out great, just a little more prep involved.
This dish is so easy to make! All it takes to make the best ever roasted potatoes are few quick steps:
- Clean and cut the potatoes
- Toss them in a combination of olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and salt
- Bake and then sprinkle with some chopped cilantro (this is optional, you could add green onion instead)
Once you’ve tried roasting potatoes (or anything) this way, you’ll do it over and over again. I know I do! This perfectly roasted potatoes recipe is so easy and highlights the flavors of whatever you’re roasting. Yum!
I love pairing these potatoes with:
- Hot Honey Baked Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
- 5 Ingredient Pineapple Pork Chops Recipe
- Easy Weeknight Sweet Potato Burger Recipe

Perfectly Roasted Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs baby potatoes cleaned and halved
- 1 lemon zested
- 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbs cilantro fresh, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Clean and half potatoes and put in a bowl. Over the potatoes add the lemon zest, olive oil, crushed garlic cloves and salt, toss so that all the potatoes are covered.
- Evenly spoon out potatoes on the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven, turn over, then bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
SK says
Do you put them face down when you bake them? Thanks.
Sweetphi says
Great question!! I don’t put them a certain way, I just put them on the baking sheet every which way, scattered, and then toss them after 15 minutes of baking 🙂
Kim Sedlachek says
This is my new favorite go to potato recipe, perfect with everything. Kim
Sweetphi says
Yay, so glad you like this one, I make them all the time too!!
Vanessa says
This has to be one of the top Best flavorful easy to make healthy recipes I’ve ever done. Gracias ???Will try it so sweet potatoes next time…
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the feedback, so glad you enjoyed these!
maureen a innamorato says
Aldi has small potatoe medley bsgd
Jacob Kreider says
These are great! Well done!
Sweetphi says
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed them.
D A McCray says
What is the name of the black finger like potatoes ?
Sweetphi says
Those are actually purple fingerling potatoes that came in the mix 🙂
chef mimi says
Beautiful. Wish I could shop where you shop for potatoes!!!
Sweetphi says
Thanks for the comment 🙂 I’ve seen them at different grocery stores in Illinois and Wisconsin, but any small potatoes would be great for this recipe 🙂
angelamroberts says
Those potatoes are the prettiest thing I’ve seen in a long time. All that color makes them so happy to look at (and eat).
Sweetphi says
Awe thanks for that super sweet comment! They are as good as they look, promise 🙂
mademoisellegourmande says
Those colorful potatoes really add a nice twist to baked potatoes, it looks much more interesting!! I’ve never found them anywhere though, will have to look out for them. Also I really like the idea of using lemon zest in it! Will definitely try that next time, even without the rainbow potatoes.
Sweetphi says
Thanks for the comment! In the summer I sometimes see a little bag of the rainbow potatoes in the grocery store and always snatch them up! This recipe would also be really good with any little potatoes!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
I LOVE that conservatory. It’s a happy haven in icky weather. These potatoes are truly practically perfect in every way 🙂
Sweetphi says
Thanks girl! It was my first time at the domes and it was really a cool place (especially when there was food/drink/farmers market involved!)
seasonssuppers says
I think there is nothing better than roasted potatoes. I love your rainbow potatoes! We don’t see them often around here, but I always pick some up when I do see them.
Sweetphi says
I completely agree-there’s nothing better than roasted potatoes!! And I’m the exact same way, every time I see them I pick them up because they’re so delicious (and beautiful to look at 🙂 )
Norma | Allspice and nutmeg says
I love roasted potatoes. These look great. I’ll be trying the cilantro. Yum!
Sweetphi says
Thanks for commenting! I also looooove roasted potatoes, you should definitely try adding the cilantro, it’s super yummy! Let me know how you like it!
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
I love the idea of a 5-ingredient Friday, and these potatoes look mouthwatering! What a delicious, easy side for any springtime meal!
Sweetphi says
Thanks Georgia! Five Ingredient Fridays started a few months ago and it has really made things so much easier making recipes that I know don’t have a million ingredients 🙂
cheri says
Love roasted potatoes, like the addition of cilantro, one of my most favorite herbs.
Sweetphi says
The addition of Cilantro really brings out the other flavors, thanks for commenting Cheri!