Get ready to meet your new favorite side dish. These Crispy Bacon Honey Roasted Potatoes are the perfect storm of flavor and texture, combining fluffy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside potatoes with savory bacon and a sweet touch of honey. This is the kind of dish that disappears from the table in minutes and has everyone asking for the recipe. It’s simple enough for a weeknight dinner but impressive enough for a holiday feast. We’ve perfected the method to guarantee you get that irresistible crunch every single time.
Why You’ll Love These Crispy Bacon Honey Roasted Potatoes
If you’re looking for a side dish that truly stands out, this is it. The magic is in the balance of sweet and savory. The rendered bacon fat coats the potatoes, infusing them with smoky flavor and helping them get exceptionally crispy in the oven. The honey drizzle caramelizes in the final minutes of roasting, creating a glorious, sticky glaze that complements the saltiness of the bacon. It’s a culinary masterpiece that is deceptively easy to make.
The Key Ingredients for Perfect Roasted Potatoes
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need a handful of quality ingredients to create this show-stopping dish.
What Kind of Potatoes Are Best?
For the best crispy texture, we recommend using Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes. Yukon Golds have a thin, waxy skin and a creamy interior that holds its shape well during roasting. Russets are higher in starch, which results in a wonderfully fluffy inside and a delightfully crisp exterior. For this recipe, we’re using Yukon Golds, but feel free to use your favorite.
The Role of Bacon and Bacon Fat
Thick-cut bacon is the star here. It not only adds incredible flavor and a chewy, meaty bite, but its rendered fat is the secret weapon for ultra-crispy potatoes. Roasting the potatoes in bacon fat instead of just oil creates a much deeper, smokier flavor profile that is simply unmatched.
Choosing Your Honey and Herbs
A simple clover or wildflower honey works perfectly, adding a touch of sweetness to balance the salty bacon. We also use fresh rosemary and garlic to add an aromatic, earthy depth. You could also experiment with thyme or even a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat.
How to Make Crispy Bacon Honey Roasted Potatoes (Step-by-Step)
Follow these simple steps to achieve roasted potato perfection. The key is a hot oven and giving the potatoes enough space to crisp up.
- Prep the Bacon: Start by dicing your thick-cut bacon and cooking it in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat until it’s crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
- Prepare the Potatoes: While the bacon cooks, wash and scrub your potatoes. Cut them into 1-inch cubes. For extra crispy results, you can soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch, then dry them thoroughly.
- Roast the Potatoes: Add the dried potatoes to the skillet with the hot bacon fat. Toss them with minced garlic, chopped fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper. Ensure they are in a single layer. Roast in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 30-35 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Add the Finishing Touches: In the last 10 minutes of cooking, drizzle the honey over the potatoes and return the crispy bacon bits to the pan. Toss everything together and roast for the remaining time, until the potatoes are golden brown and the honey has caramelized into a beautiful glaze.
Pro Tips for the Crispiest Potatoes Imaginable
Want to guarantee that sought-after crunch? Follow these expert tips.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: This is the most important rule of roasting. Give your potatoes plenty of space on the baking sheet. If they are too crowded, they will steam instead of roast, resulting in soggy potatoes. Use two pans if necessary.
- Ensure High Heat: A hot oven is crucial. 425°F (220°C) is the perfect temperature to get that crispy, golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside fluffy.
- Dry Your Potatoes Completely: Whether you soak them or not, make sure the potatoes are bone dry before they hit the hot fat. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
Flavor Variations to Try
While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also a great base for experimentation. Try one of these delicious variations:
- Spicy & Sweet: Add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of your favorite hot honey with the regular honey for a spicy kick.
- Cheesy Bacon Potatoes: Sprinkle a generous amount of grated Parmesan or sharp cheddar cheese over the potatoes during the last 5 minutes of roasting.
- Herbaceous Twist: Swap the rosemary for fresh thyme, or add a combination of finely chopped sage and parsley.
What to Serve with Honey Roasted Potatoes
These potatoes are the ultimate versatile side dish. They pair beautifully with a variety of main courses. Serve them alongside a juicy garlic butter steak, roasted chicken, or even as part of a hearty breakfast. For a lighter meal, they are a fantastic complement to a fresh Greek chickpea salad.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat and bring back their crispy texture, avoid the microwave. The best way is to heat them in an air fryer at 400°F for 4-5 minutes or in a 425°F oven on a baking sheet until they are heated through and crisped up again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prep them ahead. Roast the potatoes as directed but leave out the honey and bacon for the final 10 minutes. Cool and refrigerate them. When ready to serve, reheat in a 425°F oven, adding the honey and bacon for the last 10 minutes of warming.
You can use turkey bacon, but the results will be different. Turkey bacon is much leaner and will not render as much fat. You will need to add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil or another cooking fat to the pan to ensure the potatoes get crispy.
The key to preventing soggy potatoes is to ensure they are completely dry before roasting, use high heat (425°F), and do not overcrowd the pan. Giving the potatoes space allows air to circulate, which roasts them instead of steaming them.
Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes are the best choices for roasting. Yukon Golds offer a creamy interior and hold their shape well, while Russets provide a fluffy inside and a very crispy exterior due to their high starch content.
For the best results, reheat leftover potatoes in an air fryer at 400°F for 4-5 minutes or on a baking sheet in a 425°F oven for 10-15 minutes. This method helps bring back their original crispy texture. Avoid using a microwave, as it will make them soft.
Crispy Bacon Honey Roasted Potatoes Recipe
Crispy Bacon Honey Roasted Potatoes (The Ultimate Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). In a large, oven-safe skillet, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
- While the bacon cooks, wash and cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Ensure they are thoroughly dry before adding them to the skillet.
- Carefully add the potatoes to the hot bacon fat in the skillet. Add the minced garlic, chopped rosemary, salt, and pepper. Toss until the potatoes are evenly coated. Arrange them in a single layer.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and roast for 30-35 minutes, flipping the potatoes halfway through to ensure even browning.
- During the last 10 minutes of roasting, remove the skillet from the oven. Drizzle the honey over the potatoes and add the cooked bacon back to the skillet. Toss to combine and return to the oven to finish cooking until the potatoes are golden brown and caramelized. Serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure the potatoes are in a single layer in the pan. If they are crowded, they will steam instead of roast. Use a second pan if needed.
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