The Best Greek Potatoes
on Mar 30, 2023
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Greek potatoes are full of rich, lemony flavour, they’re soft and creamy on the inside and lightly crispy and caramelized on the outside. They’re made all in one pan, and go with almost everything. Everyone loves them. I rarely claim a recipe is ‘the best’, but I really can’t imagine better potatoes than these!
The very best Greek potatoes
Potatoes done the Greek way are a mainstay of the average Greek kitchen. If you’ve never tried this incredibly delicious and versatile side dish, you truly are missing out. I’ve made them more times than I can count, and they never disappoint. Literally everyone adores them.
So what’s so great about them? I could literally rave about Greek lemon potatoes ALL day, but I’ll let you do that yourself after you’ve tried them.
Here’s my summary:
- A perfect combination of super crispy on the outside and creamy and tender on the inside. It’s the slow roasting in liquid at a fairly high temperature that does it. Some of the best Greek dishes are cooked slowly, and these potatoes are no exception!
- So EASY! These incredible potatoes take over an hour to cook, but they are super simple to prep.
- Bursting with flavor. Despite containing just a few ingredients, the balance of flavors is just right. Wait until you smell them as they’re cooking – amazing!
- Go with almost everything. My favorite way to serve Greek roast potatoes is with classic Greek dishes such as moussaka and Greek salad. But there’s hardly anything they DON’T go well with, from grilled meats and fish, and much more (see below for ideas!).
Fun fact: Greek potatoes are called ‘patates lemonates’ (Πατάτες Λεμονάτες) in Greece, which just means lemony potatoes. Sometimes they are simply called ‘patates fournou’ which means oven potatoes!
5* Reviews
This Greek potatoes recipe is pretty legendary. Here’s what people have been saying.
“No joke… these were the greatest potatoes I’ve ever had. Like ever. Made them a few days ago and I just put another batch in the oven for tonight. I’m so looking forward to these again. In fact, I normally take a recipe and add improvements to it after trying a first time. Do not change this recipe! Thank you!” (Stacey)
“So. I just made these and they’re life changing. Did I make a main dish? No, these are good enough to be the star of the show.” (Annie)
“I made these yesterday for the first time and we enjoyed them that much that I’ve already prepared them again for today. Five Stars is not enough for how much we enjoyed them!” (Paul)
Scroll down to the very end to browse more raving reviews!
Ingredients
You won’t believe how little you’ll need to make the perfect crispy Greek potatoes – just 6 main pantry ingredients. Here’s what you need to know.
Potatoes: You would think that since potatoes are the main ingredient in this dish, it would matter which type you use. Not so. I’ve quite possibly made these with EVERY kind of potato, and they’ve always turned out delicious.
Having said that, for truly perfect roasted Greek potatoes, try a waxy variety with thin, smooth skin such as red-skinned, Yukon Gold, new potatoes or fingerling potatoes. Waxy potatoes are low in starch and have a firm, creamy texture. They hold up well during cooking, and stay beautifully moist and tender on the inside.
Crushed garlic: We don’t hold back on the garlic in this recipe! Combined with the other flavors in the marinade, it’s perfect. And yes, you can substitute with garlic powder if you don’t have any fresh. Try around a teaspoon.
Olive oil: If you’re still wondering what makes these SO delicious, one ‘secret’ is a common one used by the Greeks – olive oil, and lots of it.
So don’t be shocked by how much oil is in this recipe. Remember you won’t be eating the whole pan by yourself. But I won’t judge you if you do. And anyway… healthy fat!
I tend to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil, but you can use a lighter olive oil instead if you like.
Chicken broth/stock: This is the next little ‘secret ingredient’ in this delicious recipe. Because the potatoes bake in some liquid, they are beautifully soft, moist and creamy inside. But because you don’t completely cover them with liquid, they still end up quite crispy, too.
If you’d like to make the recipe vegan, you can easily switch out the chicken stock for a vegan alternative, or use vegetable stock instead.
fresh lemon juice: You’ll also add the juice of a lemon to the tasty marinade. Combined with the other ingredients, the potatoes have the perfect amount of citrusy tang.
Dried oregano: You’ll stir a whole tablespoon of this classic Mediterranean herb into the marinade. Oregano has a bold, herbaceous flavor that’s essential to this dish.
Salt and pepper: A generous amount of both. They’re the ‘glue’ holding all the other flavors together. Just trust me on this!
Chopped fresh parsley: For sprinkling over at the end for a little color and freshness, if you like.
How to make perfect Greek potatoes
The step-by-step guide below should help you make the recipe perfectly first time. Scroll down to the end for the full recipe including ingredient amounts.
The first step is to preheat the oven to 390F/200C. While the oven is heating up, peel and slice the potatoes roughly into wedges. I usually grab around 5 medium sized ones. Then I slice chunks off them before slicing them all into medium sized wedges that are roughly 2cm thick.
I throw the wedges into a large baking dish (or roasting pan), then begin preparing the simple marinade.
Start by juicing the lemon.
Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a medium jug – crushed garlic, lemon juice, broth/stock, olive oil, oregano and salt and pepper.
Stir well, then pour the marinade all over the potato wedges in the baking dish. The liquid won’t fully cover them – that’s fine!
Then roast (uncovered) for around 40 minutes. Remove from the oven to toss them around. Then return to the oven for another 20 to 30 minutes or until dark golden brown and crispy in parts but tender and creamy inside (taste one to check!).
Note that there will still be some liquid in the pan. That’s fine – it’s how they should be.
If you like, sprinkle a little fresh chopped parsley over the top before serving.
Helen’s top tips
- Cut all the wedges a similar size for even cooking. There are no firm rules, but I usually aim for around 2-3 cm thick.
- Use the largest baking dish that you have. It’s OK if some of the potato wedges are on top of each other, but don’t overcrowd the pan. A single (or almost) layer is best.
- If they start to brown too much, cover the pan with some aluminium foil for the last part of the cooking time. They should be very browned and crisp, but of course not burnt.
- The ideal cooking time can vary in different ovens. Start by baking for 40 minutes, then toss around in the pan. After this the potatoes can take from another 20 to 40 minutes to get nicely browned and crisp on the outside and tender and juicy in the middle. Just keep a close eye on them during the second stage of cooking.
- Following on from the above… if using a fan oven, turn the temperature down to 355F (180C) after flipping, for the second half of cooking.
How to serve
Besides these being the tastiest potatoes you’ll ever eat, they are quite possibly the perfect side dish. They go with so much!
It’s a tough call, but possibly my favorite way to serve them is alongside Greek meatballs (such as these air fryer chicken meatballs), Greek salad (horiatiki) and tsatziki sauce – or just Greek yogurt if I’m feeling lazy!
But the possibilities are endless. Supermarket rotisserie chicken (or 1-hour air fried rotisserie chicken!) goes really well. As does ANY grilled or baked meat or fish (try lamb or pork chops or these easy baked chicken thighs!), or any of the delicious Greek main meals listed below.
The best thing is that these potatoes can be casual or fancy! They’re easy to prepare on a busy weeknight, but they also make a fantastic side dish to serve to guests. Go on, get them on your Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas table!
Here are some more main Greek dishes that I always consider serving these with. And usually with a Greek village salad and tsatziki on the side!
- This easy moussaka doesn’t contain any potato, so it’s a match made in heaven paired with authentic Greek potatoes. Try papoutsakia (stuffed eggplant) instead for a fun twist on moussaka.
- If you’re more in the mood for fish, you won’t regret trying this delicious Greek oven baked fish.
- Rather keep your meal vegetarian? You won’t believe how delicious this Greek baked eggplant with tomato and feta is (just remember to use vegetable broth instead of chicken in the potatoes).
Or see all my easy Greek recipes.
They also go perfectly with non-Greek dishes. Try serving them to guests with this one pan baked chicken with chorizo and tomatoes, or enjoy them midweek with an ‘impossible’ crustless quiche, or with a salad such as this 10-minute easy tuna salad.
Top serving tip: Rule number one – don’t forget to scrape the pan to get the super dark and crispy caramelized bits. Trust me, you can NOT leave those behind!
Variations
The truth is, I don’t often vary this recipe at all. They’re perfect just as they are.
However… you might like to try them with a little sprinkle of feta cheese on top. You could vary the seasonings e.g. add paprika, cumin, thyme or rosemary as well as oregano.
You could even make the dish a complete meal by adding chicken pieces, pork chops or hamburgers. Simply check the cooking time and nestle them in with the potatoes at the appropriate time (you may need to use two baking dishes, or halve the amount of potatoes).
Recipe FAQ
Yes, you absolutely can! Simply wash the skins well, then proceed with the recipe as written.
Yes, you can prepare them up to a day ahead. Pour the marinade over the potatoes in the baking dish, then cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to roast.
Yes, they are great reheated. If you want to reheat a whole pan of Greek potatoes, simply cover with aluminium foil and warm through at 350°F (175°C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until hot again. You can remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to get them nice and crisp again. Alternatively, if you just have a few leftovers you can reheat them covered in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until hot. They are delicious either way!
Don’t be afraid by the amount of oil in the marinade – you won’t be eating it all! You can however reduce the amount by up to half if you’d like to make the dish lighter and more economical. They’ll still taste absolutely amazing!
Also love one pan chicken dinners? Try this amazing roasted Greek chicken and potatoes with a similar marinade!
The Best Greek Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds potatoes, peeled (usually 4-5 medium potatoes)
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 lemon, juice of (medium sized)
- ½ cup chicken broth, /stock (substitute with vegetable broth to keep the dish vegetarian/vegan)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon oregano, dried
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- parsley, for sprinkling at the end (completely optional)
Instructions
- Grease a large baking pan (at least 9 x 13 inch) with olive oil and preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
- Cut the peeled potatoes into wedges roughly 2-3 cm thick. Put them into the baking pan in an even layer. A few can be overlapping but don't overcrowd the pan.2 pounds potatoes
- Combine the garlic, lemon juice, broth/stock, olive oil, oregano and salt and pepper. Stir well, then pour evenly over the potatoes.6 garlic cloves, 1 lemon, ½ cup chicken broth, ½ cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Bake uncovered for around 40 minutes.
- Then stir well, turning all the potatoes and spooning over the liquid. If using a fan oven, turn down to 355F (180C). Bake again for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are well browned, crisp in parts and tender inside. Keep an eye on them during the second half of cooking as you want them to be crispy but of course not burned.
- Scatter with fresh parsley (if using) before serving. Don’t forget to serve with some of the delicious juices, as well as the super crispy bits on the bottom of the pan!parsley
Bonjour Helen, your recipes are always a treat, but now we have an airfryer so I am adapting the Greek potato recipe to conform,
I’ll let you know how it goes.
You have peobably had requests from other users regarding Airfryers , they have not been fully discovered here in France, none of our French friends have one & they seem unaware of their existence or potential. ( Mind you, we are out in the Sticks! )
Best wishes, Harry
Hello Harry! So lovely to hear from you again, and I’m so happy to hear you’re still enjoying the recipes! I think you could easily adapt the Greek potatoes recipe for the air fryer. Generally, you reduce the heat just a little and the time by about a third. That’s interesting to hear that air fryers have not quite reached France yet! I wonder if they will soon? Or as you say if it’s just a city thing haha! If you’re looking for more ideas for the air fryer I’m about to publish a new air fryer recipe so stay tune 🙂
Hi there…tried your recipe and loved the flavour. However, I’m a real rookie at cooking, and my potatoes tuned out real soggy, not crispy.
I’m wondering if I should have drained the marinade off at sometime, or maybe I was just working with older potatoes to begin with.
Thanks
Grant
Oh hello, Grant! I’m happy you liked the flavor, but you’re right, usually the potatoes do turn out crisp – at least on the top. They are supposed to be a little like scalloped potatoes which are creamy and tender on the inside and lightly crisp on top. You do not need to drain off the liquid – I find most of it does get absorbed by the end of cooking but there is a little ‘juice’ leftover. How long did you cook them for? I have found over the years that results can be a bit different in different ovens. It could be that they just needed a tiny bit longer in your particular oven.
Although following the recipe step by step using the best ingredients they continued to stick,stick,stick!!!!! Not a recommended recipe at all!!! Not much I could do but hope my trash cans hungry!!! Highly disappointed!!!
Hello Kim! I’m sorry to hear this, but after years of making the recipe I do think it’s worth persevering with! Toss the potatoes around every now and again – I find a little bit of sticking doesn’t matter as it just means more crispy bits. I’ve made these in all kinds of dishes, but try a baking dish instead of a roasting pan. Also check the liquid levels every now and again. Top up with a drizzle more broth or turn the oven down slightly if it looks like the liquid is all disappearing. I hope you give the recipe another chance 🙂
Each Christmas our family has our Greek/Lebanese dinner. The potatoes were never quite right until this year! These ARE the best Greek potatoes ever!!!
Awww that is the greatest compliment ever! Thank you so much, and have a wonderful Christmas with your family. I bet your dinner will be absolutely delicious! 🙂
Absolutely delicious- hot ….or cold!
Had some left over so was going to reheat them tomorrow but, I couldn’t resist and, instead of putting them away, I ate them…cold!
Hahaha, that is very funny, Delyn. To be honest, I think I have eaten a few cold ones in my time, too. Thank you as always for your lovely encouraging comment.
These are the best Greek potatoes I’ve ever had, even better than those I’ve had in Greece, I used a glass roasting dish and cooked them for about 1 hour and 10 minutes in total and turned them half way through, they turned out perfect, crispy on top and moist underneath. Had them with slow cooked lamb shank and roasted vegetables. Thank you for such a great recipe ❤️
Wow this is the biggest compliment ever – thank you so much, Jackie! Your meal sounds absolutely delicious, and I hope you enjoy these many many more times. Best wishes, Helen
G’day from W.A.
I made this recipe in my air fryer as well and the flavours were awesome.
Your recipes are fabulous.
Hello Lee! Ah, you’re in WA too! Great to hear that the recipe worked well in the air fryer as well. Thanks so much for the extra vote of confidence!
Made thse today for my family and eere a hit! I zested the lemon before squeezing the juice and added to the mixture and took it over the top!
Very happy to hear this Darrin, and I like that you added the zest to the pan too. Thank you so much for letting me know what you thought!
Delicious!! And soooooo simple!!
Really happy to hear this, Brian – and thanks so much for the feedback!