Crispy Baked Potato Microwave And Oven

If you need to make some roasted or fried potatoes for a side and you need to make it quickly, microwave and oven-baked potatoes are your solutions. Pre-cook potatoes in microwave before baking. They are done in 30 minutes, crunchy outside and soft inside and they go with everything.

Jump to:

• Easy and they feed an army
• Why they work
• Step by step instructions with images
• When to serve them
• 📋 Baked Potato Microwave And Oven

Easy and they feed an army

I often have friends, children, teenagers and young men coming over for lunch or dinner mostly on a last-minute arrangement. My sons like to invite their friends and my friends like to come over. I enjoy having people around and my door is always open.

Very frequently I have to come up with something quick to feed an army, especially if my son Liam's friends are coming.

I always have potatoes in my pantry, if not I threw the germinated ones in my vegetable patch as a back up if I ever need them. So I am never short of potatoes.

Whatever I am cooking, they are a perfect side dish, they are done in a flash, I don't need to peel them, they go with everything, I can make large amounts with no effort and everyone loves them.

The only downside, I never have ketchup in my kitchen, so if someone asks, I cannot deliver....no, that one in the photo is tomato paste.

For more or my easy favorite side dishes check: gnocchi alla Romana, fried polenta, Italian roasted potatoes, baked risotto pilaf.

Why they work

• They are pre-cooked in the microwave, so they don't have to bake for hours
• You don't have to peel them, just cut in quarters. It is important that you use new potatoes with soft skin
• I drizzled them with some olive oil and when they bake they get crispy
• They are soft inside and crispy outside, your guests will never know they were pre-cooked in the microwave
• They can be served with everything

Step by step instructions with images

Pre-cook them in the microwave

1. Put the potatoes on a plate suitable for microwave
2. Pierce the potatoes on both sides with a pointed knife (don't skip this step otherwise the potatoes will explode)
3. Cover the potatoes with a kitchen paper towel, it will absorb the steam
4. Microwave for 7 minutes

Crisp them in the oven

5. Cut them in quarters lengthwise
6. Lay them on a baking pan over a parchment paper, skin facing down
7. Season with salt and pepper
8. Drizzle with olive oil
9. Bake in a hot oven at 400 F - 200 C for 20 minutes, until crisp

When to serve them

Those potatoes can be served as a side of many dishes. They are effortless and will bake while you are busy making your main dish. Whether for a quick weekday dinner or if you have guests, here are some ideas.

Quick weekday dinner:

If you had a busy day and you need to get something fast for dinner, you can make these potatoes while you are grilling a steak and tossing a salad. Your children will be happy to have their chips.

I serve those with baked breaded chicken breast or baked salmon with steamed zucchini, Sicilian beef braciole or sausage with cime di rapa friarielli. The potatoes cook in the oven together with the meat or fish. These are quick and healthy dinners, made from scratch and in less than 30 minutes.

Children coming for dinner

If you, like me, enjoy having children for lunch or dinner even if not planned, these potatoes will make them happy. They can be added to any special children's meal without any effort: Homemade chicken nuggets, hamburgers made with homemade panini, Veal Milanese or eggplant Milanese for a vegetarian dinner.

Entertaining

If you are planning a dinner party, these potatoes are the perfect side dish to make. They are so easy to make, you can focus your attention on your main course while the potatoes bake in the oven.

You can serve them with chicken with Marsala and mushrooms, as a side for a bbq like the Brazilian picanha, a roast beef, or with sea bream cooked in salt.

More Easy Side Dishes for Juicy Mains

When you're preparing a juicy main course, having the right side dishes can elevate your meal to a new level. Here are some easy-to-make options that pair beautifully with any succulent main.

Gnocchi alla Romana is a traditional Italian dish made from semolina flour, milk, butter, Parmesan cheese, and eggs, baked to a creamy, cheesy delight with a crispy top.

Rice pilaf, sautéed with onions and simmered in broth, is a versatile and elegant side dish that pairs well with any main.

Italian roasted potatoes, tossed with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and sea salt, are roasted until golden and crispy, making a flavorful accompaniment.

Yorkshire pudding, made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, and milk, bakes into light, airy puffs that are perfect for soaking up gravy.

Crispy fried polenta, made from cornmeal and fried to golden perfection, offers a crunchy texture and rich flavor that pairs wonderfully with juicy mains.

If you are making these baked potato microwave and oven leave your comment below I would like to know which one is your favourite. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.