Potatoes O'Brien

Potatoes O'Brien

A classic American skillet dish of cubed potatoes pan-fried with bell peppers, onions, and bacon. Popular as a hearty breakfast side throughout the United States.

Prep

15 min

Cook

25 min

Total

40 min

Serves

4

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •700 g (1½ lb) russet potatoes, waxy potatoes also work, but russets give the traditional fluffy texture
• •150 g (5 oz) bacon, diced
• •1 whole (1 medium) green bell pepper, diced
• •1 whole (1 medium) red bell pepper, diced
• •1 whole (1 medium) yellow onion, diced
• •30 ml (2 Tbsp) unsalted butter
• •5 ml (1 tsp) smoked paprika, optional, for color
• •2 g (½ tsp) salt, adjust to taste
• •1 g (¼ tsp) black pepper, freshly ground
• •15 ml (1 Tbsp) fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Steps

1. 1 Peel the potatoes (or leave skins on for a more rustic version). Cut into roughly 1 cm (½-inch) cubes.
2. 2 Place the diced potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water, and add 5 g (1 tsp) of salt. Bring to a boil and parboil for 4 minutes — they should be just tender on the edges but still firm in the center. Drain well and spread on a clean towel to dry for 5 minutes.
3. 3 While the potatoes dry, dice the bacon, bell peppers, and onion into pieces roughly the same size as the potato cubes.
4. 4 In a large cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp and the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
5. 5 Add the butter to the bacon fat and increase the heat to medium-high. Once shimmering, add the potatoes in a single layer (work in two batches if needed to avoid crowding).
6. 6 Pan-fry the potatoes undisturbed for 4 minutes to form a golden crust, then flip and cook another 3–4 minutes until golden on multiple sides.
7. 7 Add the onion and both bell peppers to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4–5 minutes until the vegetables are softened but still hold their shape.
8. 8 Return the crispy bacon to the pan. Season with smoked paprika, the remaining salt, and black pepper. Toss to combine and cook 1 more minute to heat through.
9. 9 Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately as a side to eggs, steak, or roast meat.