We're doing Thanksgiving with my wife's side of the family this year and this morning my mother-in-law texted in our family group-text saying that one of the cousins in the family was a kinda late-add to the attendees for Thursday and she apparently volunteered to be bring au gratin potatoes. My MIL was asking everybody if we thought that would be "too many potatoes" since there are already (obviously) going to be mashed potatoes there. I was quick to let her no that there isn't really any such thing as too many potatoes, and all remained right in the world.

Anyway, I was sitting here thinking about all the different ways to cook potatoes, which my favorite ways are, and what my "if I could only have them prepared one way for the rest of my life" choice would be....which is an extremely difficult one to come up with for me. Figured I'd toss that question out to the crowd on BGP.

Baked potatoes, French fries, hash browns, hash brown casserole, tater tots, mashed potatoes, roasted, potato chips, potato salad, potato pancakes, cream of potato soup, twice baked potatoes, colcannon, pan fried, gnocchi.....

? ? For me, roasted potatoes for the holidays or accompaniment to any special meal. 

Tricolor mini potatoes (3/4 inch dice), EVOO (not too much), garlic cloves (whole and peeled), sea salt, fresh rosemary (leaves, no stems). Ground white pepper (if you must, but unnecessary imo).

Everything tossed together in a mixing bowl. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Preheated 400° oven for 15 minutes. Remove, stir, and back in for another 15. Another 5-10 minutes if additional bowning desired. Save some whole fresh rosemary sprigs as garnish for the serving dish.

Easy peasy and the kitchen will smell wonderful. Roasted garlic is going to be super mild with a creamy mouth feel and rosemary is a terrific winter herb.

With your mouth.

French fries, tater tots, hashbrowns and one specific type of potato salad (my mother's) only for me. I can't stand mashed or baked potatoes. The taste and texture are both just dreadful for me. 

Baked or fried with onions!

1. Fried potatoes 

2. Potato pancakes

3. French fries

4. Baked potato 

Any way, every way, and the ease of instant potatoes, yummy!

8 hours ago, theguru said:

Any way, every way, and the ease of instant potatoes, yummy!

One of my girls hates mashed potatoes but she loves the instant potatoes (four cheese is her fave.)

2 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said:

One of my girls hates mashed potatoes but she loves the instant potatoes (four cheese is her fave.)

Mashed is probably my favorite but a lot of prep too.  Those instant potatoes are so easy to make, the same with frozen veggies, add a main course and boom, yummy meal super quick.  And four cheese is one of my least favorites, I don't buy that one. 

I'll eat a potato any way they're fixed. But, a couple years ago I was burning a bunch of limbs that I had cut up from a couple trees that I cut down for firewood. 

 

That morning I wrapped a couple potatoes in foil with a little butter and some garlic salt. I sat them on a rock by the fire and roasted as I kept working. Those were some of the best potatoes I've ever had. 

1. Fried w/onions

2. Baked, including the skins

3A. Potato Cakes

3B. Potato Skins (particularly my wife's)

4. Shredded Hash Browns

5. Potato Soup

Pretty much every other way makes honorable mention. 

Fries, Mashed, Fried w/ onions are my top 3.

On 12/1/2025 at 10:27 PM, Kentucky Windage said:

I'll eat a potato any way they're fixed. But, a couple years ago I was burning a bunch of limbs that I had cut up from a couple trees that I cut down for firewood. 

 

That morning I wrapped a couple potatoes in foil with a little butter and some garlic salt. I sat them on a rock by the fire and roasted as I kept working. Those were some of the best potatoes I've ever had. 

We do something similar.  Dice them up with some butter and Lawry's seasoned salt, wrap in foil, and throw on the grill or near the fire.

@Colonels_Wear_Blue go get the Skyline Chili potato. Healthy and delicious.