Crispy Golden Fondant Potatoes Recipe for Home Chefs

Golden and luxurious, these crispy butter-basted cast iron skillet potatoes elevate any dinner with their unbelievable richness.

French-style fondant potatoes sparkle with restaurant-quality elegance and surprising simplicity.

Chefs adore this technique for creating perfectly tender interiors and gloriously caramelized exteriors.

You’ll achieve stunning results with just a few quality ingredients and precise cooking methods.

Each slice becomes a decadent canvas of buttery, herb-infused potato perfection.

The secret lies in slow, deliberate cooking that transforms humble spuds into a mouthwatering side dish.

Prepare to impress everyone at your table with these irresistibly crisp and creamy potatoes that deserve a standing ovation.

Why Fondant Potatoes Stand Out

• Master a restaurant-style potato technique that transforms simple ingredients into a gourmet side dish with professional-level results.
• Achieve a golden, crunchy exterior with a creamy, soft interior through strategic searing and baking techniques that guarantee mouthwatering texture.
• Elevate your cooking game with a visually stunning potato preparation that looks complex but requires minimal technical skills and basic ingredients.
• Adapt the recipe by switching herbs, using different broths, or adding complementary seasonings to match your main course or personal taste preferences.

Simple Ingredients for Fondant Potatoes

• Potatoes: Starchy root vegetables that become crispy on the outside and tender on the inside when prepared with this method.
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth: Liquid that helps cook the potatoes and infuse them with additional flavor.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a golden brown exterior on the potatoes.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavor of the potatoes.
• Garlic Cloves: Provide a robust, aromatic flavor to the dish.
• Thyme Sprigs: Adds an herbal and earthy note to complement the potatoes.

• Olive Oil: Used for initial searing to create a crispy exterior on the potatoes.

Kitchen Tools for Potato Success

• Oven-safe skillet: Essential for searing and baking potatoes in one pan.
• Chef's knife: Perfect for peeling and cutting potatoes into precise cylinders.
• Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for potato preparation.
• Tongs: Helps flip potatoes safely during searing process.
• Measuring spoons: Useful for seasoning potatoes accurately.
• Spatula: Helps transfer and serve potatoes from skillet.

Easy Guide to Fondant Potatoes

Step 1: Prepare Potato Cylinders

Select firm potatoes and carefully peel them.

Slice off both ends to create flat surfaces.

Use a sharp knife to cut potatoes into uniform cylindrical shapes, approximately 2 inches thick.

Ensure each potato piece looks neat and symmetrical.

Step 2: Create Golden Exterior

Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high temperature.

Drizzle olive oil across the pan’s surface.

• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Place potatoes carefully into hot skillet.

Allow them to sear undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until developing a rich golden-brown crust.

Flip potatoes and repeat searing process on opposite side.

Step 3: Enhance With Aromatic Ingredients

Reduce skillet heat to medium.

Add butter and allow it to melt completely.

• Smashed garlic cloves
• Fresh thyme sprigs

Gently tilt skillet and continuously baste potatoes with melted herbed butter using a spoon.

Step 4: Finish Cooking In Oven

Pour chicken or vegetable broth around potato edges, avoiding direct contact with potato tops.

Transfer skillet to preheated oven at 400°F.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until potatoes become fork-tender and broth mostly evaporates.

Step 5: Plate And Serve

Remove skillet from oven.

Discard garlic and thyme sprigs.

Drizzle remaining buttery broth over potato cylinders.

Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Chef-Approved Fondant Potato Tips

• Choose starchy potatoes like Russet or Maris Piper for the crispiest exterior and creamiest interior.
• Use a sharp knife to create uniform cylindrical shapes, ensuring even cooking and professional presentation.
• Continuously spoon melted butter over potatoes during cooking to enhance flavor and create a luxurious golden crust.
• Gently pour broth around the potatoes, not directly on top, to maintain their crispy surface while ensuring tender insides.
• Experiment with different herbs like rosemary or sage to add complexity and personalize the flavor profile.

New Ways to Serve Fondant Potatoes

• Vegan Herb Potatoes: Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and use plant-based butter or olive oil instead of dairy butter. Add nutritional yeast for extra flavor complexity.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Alternative: Swap potatoes with cauliflower steaks, maintaining the same searing and basting technique. Use similar seasonings and cooking method for a lighter version.
• Rosemary Garlic Potato Variation: Substitute thyme with fresh rosemary sprigs and add roasted garlic cloves for an intense herbal profile. Keep the core cooking technique identical.
• Mediterranean Potato Style: Incorporate oregano, add a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese after baking, and use extra virgin olive oil instead of regular oil for a Greek-inspired twist.

Elegant Fondant Potato Presentations

• Rustic Roast Companion: Pair these golden potatoes with a juicy roasted chicken or perfectly grilled steak for a hearty meal that feels like a warm hug.
• Gourmet Brunch Star: Serve alongside poached eggs and crispy bacon, creating a luxurious breakfast spread that will impress family and weekend guests.
• Elegant Side Dish: Arrange the potatoes on a beautiful platter, garnished with fresh thyme sprigs and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a restaurant-quality presentation that elevates any main course.
• Vegetarian Delight: Complement these potatoes with a fresh herb salad or roasted vegetable medley, making them a satisfying centerpiece for a meat-free dinner.

Potato Storage That Works

• Store leftover fondant potatoes in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Wrap individual potatoes in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 1 month to preserve texture and flavor.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place potatoes on a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil to prevent drying. Warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through and crispy edges return.
• Warm a skillet with a small amount of butter or oil over medium heat. Cook potatoes for 3-4 minutes on each side, turning gently to maintain crispy exterior and restore original golden-brown color.

FAQs

• What type of potatoes work best for this recipe?

Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are ideal due to their starchy texture and ability to create a crispy exterior while maintaining a creamy interior.

• How do I ensure my potatoes are crispy on the outside?

Use a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat oil to the right temperature, and avoid moving the potatoes too much during the initial searing process to create a golden-brown crust.

• Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, simply replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and use olive oil or vegetable oil instead of butter for cooking.

• What if I don't have an oven-safe skillet?

Transfer the seared potatoes and other ingredients to a baking dish before placing in the oven, making sure to maintain the crispy surface during the transfer.

Fondant Potatoes Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Classic fondant potatoes showcase French culinary precision with golden-crusted potato cylinders that deliver crisp exteriors and creamy interiors. Herb-infused butter and delicate seasonings elevate this elegant potato side dish for discerning diners.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 6 medium Yukon Gold potatoes
• 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

Seasoning:

• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Cooking Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Cylindrical potato preparation involves peeling and trimming both ends to create uniform, flat-sided cylindrical shapes approximately 2 inches thick.
2. Create a golden crust by heating olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high temperature. Season potato cylinders with salt and pepper, then sear each side for 5-6 minutes until achieving a rich, caramelized exterior.
3. Lower skillet heat to medium and introduce butter, allowing it to melt and foam. Add crushed garlic and fresh thyme sprigs, gently tilting the pan to continuously baste potatoes with aromatic butter.
4. Pour chicken or vegetable broth carefully around potato edges, preserving their crispy surface. Transfer skillet to preheated 400°F oven and roast for 25-30 minutes until potatoes develop a tender interior and liquid significantly reduces.
5. Extract skillet from oven, removing garlic and thyme sprigs. Drizzle remaining buttery liquid over potatoes to enhance final flavor profile before presenting to diners.

Notes

• Select waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or Charlotte for the best texture and golden-brown exterior during searing.
• Use a sharp chef’s knife to create perfectly even cylindrical potato shapes, ensuring consistent cooking throughout.
• Pat potato surfaces completely dry before searing to achieve maximum crispiness and prevent steaming instead of browning.
• Maintain medium-high heat when searing to create a beautiful golden crust without burning the potato surfaces.
• Choose unsalted butter to control salt levels and prevent over-seasoning during the basting process.
• Allow potatoes to rest for 2-3 minutes after baking to help redistribute internal moisture and enhance tenderness.
• Customize herbs by substituting thyme with rosemary or sage for different flavor profiles.
• Transform this recipe into a vegan version by replacing chicken broth with vegetable broth and using plant-based butter alternatives.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 400mg
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 20mg