Alabama: White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes
This recipe has evolved over the past eight years. After I added the thyme, ham and sour cream, my husband declared, “This is it!” I like to serve this rich, saucy entree with a salad and homemade French bread. —Hope Toole, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Here’s what potatoes wish you knew.
Arizona: Twice-Baked Cheddar Potato Casserole
Bacon, cheddar and sour cream turn ordinary potatoes into an extraordinary twice baked potato casserole. It’s one of our family’s beloved standards for the holidays. —Kyle Cox, Scottsdale, Arizona. And, guess what? You’ve probably been peeling potatoes wrong your whole life.
Arkansas: Deluxe German Potato Salad
I make this salad for all occasions—it goes well with any kind of meat. I often take this salad to potlucks, and there’s never any left over. The celery, carrots and dry mustard are a special touch not usually found in traditional German potato salad. —Betty Perkins, Hot Springs, Arkansas
California: Cheese & Herb Potato Fans
It’s downright fun to make and serve this potato recipe. The fresh herbs, butter, and cheeses are just what a good potato needs. —Susan Curry, West Hills, California. Yum! Also, don’t miss these recipes just like Grandma used to make.
Colorado: Glorified Hash Browns
You’ll be surprised at how quick and easy it is to put together this dressed-up potato casserole! When a friend made it for a church supper, I had to have the recipe. It’s great for parties, potlucks and family reunions. —Betty Sitzman, Wray, Colorado
Connecticut: Savory Potato Skins
For a simple hot snack that really hits the spot on a cool fall evening, put together a plate of these crisp potato skins. —Andrea Holcomb, Torrington, Connecticut. Prefer your potatoes for breakfast? Know the trick to getting the crispiest breakfast potatoes ever.
Florida: Slow Cooker Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Every year my Mom made cream cheese mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving. I tailored the recipe to my family’s taste and carried on the tradition. I make them a day ahead and use my slow cooker to free up oven space for other dishes. —Ann Nolte, Tampa, Florida. Make sure you know how to keep potatoes from turning brown.
Georgia: Creamy Grilled Potato Salad
To avoid turning my oven on in the summer, I grill just about everything—including this creamy potato salad. My friends have dubbed this ‘The Best Potato Salad You’ll Ever Put in Your Mouth!”—and I love that!” —Gayle Robinson, Carrolton, Georgia
Hawaii: Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with Pancetta
Classic American mashed potatoes take a trip to Italy with the flavors of olive oil, garlic, and pancetta. —Bryan Kennedy, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Know these timeless cooking tips we learned from Grandma.
Idaho: German Potato Salad
I’d always loved my grandmother’s German potato salad. So when I married a potato farmer—and had spuds in abundance—I played with several recipes that sounded similar and came up with this salad that reminds me of hers. — Sue Hartman, Parma, Idaho
Illinois: Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
With five different dairy products, you know this make-ahead mashed potato casserole is going to be super-rich and, of course, delicious. It gets even better topped with onions and bacon! —JoAnn Koerkenmeier, Damiansville, Illinois. Do you know how to fix these 17 common cooking disasters?
Iowa: Parmesan Baked Potatoes
It always amazed me that this simple recipe could make potatoes taste so good. Mom liked to make them for Easter because they were more special than ordinary baked potatoes. —Ruth Seitz, Columbus Junction, Iowa. These are the cooking shortcuts you just can’t get away with.
Louisiana: Garlic-Mashed Rutabagas & Potatoes
My family absolutely loves mashed potatoes. I created this recipe to lighten up the calories and sneak in a serving of rutabagas. If you have the time, boil the potatoes in chicken broth to add even more flavor. —Rosemary Tatum, Sterlington, Louisiana. Just don’t make these common mashed potato mistakes.
Maine: Veggie Chowder
Packed with potatoes, carrots, and corn, this soup is a great healthy dinner choice. It’s not too heavy, so it also makes a nice light partner for a sandwich. —Vicki Kerr, Portland, Maine
Maryland: Scored Potatoes
These well-seasoned baked potatoes are a fun alternative to plain baked potatoes. It’s easy to help yourself to just the amount you want, too, since the potato halves are scored into sections. — Barbara Wheeler, Sparks Glencoe, Maryland. Here are some other yummy superfoods you can turn into comfort foods.
Massachusetts: Smashed Potatoes
I wouldn’t dream of making my favorite chicken recipe without making these potatoes, too. —Jennifer Shaw of Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Michigan: Taco Tater Skins
I wanted to make a version of these with ingredients most people have on hand. We make a meal out of these skins, but they’re also great for parties as appetizers. —Phyllis Douglas, Fairview, Michigan. These are the cooking mistakes that are ruining your food.
Minnesota: Hash Brown Egg Bake
A package of frozen potatoes makes this hash brown egg casserole simple to prepare. Featuring bacon and cheddar cheese, this easy egg bake is tasty breakfast or brunch fare. You can even make it the night before, keep in the fridge and bake the next morning—so convenient! —Cheryl Johnson, Plymouth, Minnesota
Mississippi: Spicy Roasted Sausage, Potatoes, and Peppers
I love to share my cooking, and this hearty meal-in-one has gotten a savory reputation around town. People have actually approached me in public to ask for the recipe. —Laurie Sledge, Brandon, Mississippi. These cooking tricks are only taught in culinary schools.
Missouri: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Sour cream and cream cheese give richness to these smooth make-ahead potatoes. They are wonderful for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner since there’s no last-minute mashing required. —Trudy Vincent, Valles Mines, Missouri
Montana: Potato & Bacon Frittata
This filling frittata is so versatile. You can serve it with pesto or fresh salsa, and it’s tasty with almost any type of cheese. —Mariela Petroski, Helena, Montana. These secret pantry ingredients will make your recipes so much better.
Nebraska: Two-Tone Baked Potatoes
One potato…two potato…this recipe is doubly wonderful as far as spud lovers are concerned. I have a reputation at home and at work for trying out new recipes. Everyone is glad I took a chance on this one. —Sherree Stahn, Central City, Nebraska
Nevada: Poutine
The ultimate in French-Canadian junk food, poutine commonly features warm fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. This side dish is quick to fix with frozen potatoes and packaged gravy but has all the traditional greasy spoon comfort. —Shelisa Terry, Henderson, Nevada. Learn how to store potatoes the right way.
New Jersey: Cilantro Potatoes
Fresh cilantro gives exotic Syrian-style flavor to these easy skillet potatoes. They’re a great complement to Mom’s tangy kabobs. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey. These are the 35 recipes everyone should know before 35.
New Mexico: Buttermilk Smashed Potatoes
My family loves this decadent homestyle recipe of buttermilk, potatoes, and butter. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy! —Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
New York: Mama’s Potato Salad
This old-fashioned potato salad recipe doesn’t have many ingredients, so it isn’t as colorful as many that you find nowadays. But Mama made it the way her mother did, and that’s the way I still make it today. Try it and see if it isn’t one of the best-tasting potato salads you have ever eaten! —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York. These are the 50 kitchen mistakes it’s time to stop making.
North Carolina: Cheese Fries
I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn’t stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina
North Dakota: Corn Chowder with Potatoes
I developed this soup out of two others to create my own low-calorie recipe. It turned out so well that I entered it in my county fair and won a blue ribbon. —Alyce Wyman, Pembina, North Dakota. Here are some of the ways to cook everything faster.
Oklahoma: Creamy Hash Brown Casserole
This versatile side dish was dairy-good with the steaks we grilled and is delicious with other meats as well. A creamy cheese sauce and crunchy topping make this potato casserole ever-popular for family dinners and potlucks. —Teresa Stutzman, Adair, Oklahoma.
Oregon: Colcannon Potatoes
Every Irish family has its own colcannon recipe since it’s a classic dish. My recipe comes from my father’s family in Ireland. It’s part of my St. Pat’s menu, along with lamb chops, carrots, and soda bread. —Marilou Robinson, Portland, Oregon
Pennsylvania: Oven Fries
I jazz up my fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a heck of a punch. We’ve discovered the leftovers are even good nibbled cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These are the kitchen mistakes that are costing you money.
Rhode Island: Thanksgiving Stuffed Shells
Leftover turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes make terrific stuffing for jumbo pasta shells. We add cheese and use turkey gravy as the sauce for this crowd-pleaser. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island
South Carolina: Parsley Smashed Potatoes
I love potatoes but can’t stand the work involved in making mashed potatoes from scratch. I came up with this simple side dish that was made even easier thanks to my slow cooker. The best part is I can use the leftover broth for soup the next day! —Katie Hagy, Blacksburg, South Carolina. Here’s how to get dinner on the table faster than delivery.
Tennessee: Hash Brown Nests with Portobellos and Eggs
Hash browns make a fabulous crust for these individual egg quiches. They look fancy yet they’re easy to make. They’ve been a hit at holiday brunches and other special occasions. —Kate Meyer, Brentwood, Tennessee. You’ll wish you’ll have known these brilliant kitchen shortcuts sooner.
Texas: Texas Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These creamy potatoes get their flavor burst from garlic and caramelized onions. Their savory goodness makes any meal better. —Richard Markle, Midlothian, Texas
Utah: Panguitch Potatoes
When my husband was in charge of our large pioneer celebration a few years ago, he decided to multiply our family’s favorite for a crowd. The dish is easy to fix and has become a standby for the event. Here is the original recipe, cheesy and comforting. —Lucile Proctor, Panguitch, Utah.
Vermont: Yankee Red Flannel Hash
Hash is a classic diner dish. With potatoes and pastrami, this one’s easy to make at home. The beets give it fabulous color and flavor. —Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont
Virginia: Simple Au Gratin Potatoes
These homemade au gratin potatoes are always welcome at our dinner table, and they’re so simple to make. A perfect complement to ham, this homey potato gratin also goes well with pork, chicken and other entrees. —Cris O’Brien, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Here are some genius ways to use up leftovers.
West Virginia: Bacon-Cheddar Potato Croquettes
Instead of throwing out leftover mashed potatoes, use them to make this potato croquette recipe. The little baked balls are yummy with ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or Dijon mayonnaise for dipping. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Wisconsin: Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Tired of the same old side dish, I whipped up this new family favorite. We can’t get enough of these loaded mashed potatoes at our house. Often, I’ll prepare this casserole ahead and refrigerate it. Then I bake it just before serving. —Dawn Reuter, Oxford, Wisconsin
Wyoming: Honey-Dijon Potato Salad
No matter which recipe I tried, my potato salad always turned out bland. So I came up with this creamy version that has plenty of pizzazz. It’s so tangy and flavorful, you wouldn’t realize it calls for fat-free honey-Dijon salad dressing. It’s a favorite at picnics. —Kristie Kline Jones, Douglas, Wyoming. Now, learn the one food you have to try in every state.
Originally Published: October 17, 2019
Originally Published on Taste of Home