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How long to boil red potatoes? Try this boiled red potatoes recipe: it comes out perfectly tender, seasoned with butter and chives!
Looking for a classic and delicious potato side dish that requires little effort? Try these Boiled Red Potatoes with Herbs! These tasty spuds might sound basic, but the flavor is anything but. They come out perfectly tender with a creamy flesh that’s ideal paired with fresh chives and butter. It’s a simple side dish that goes with just about anything, from chicken to seafood to vegetarian main dishes.
Types of red potato
Any type of red potato works boiled! You can use whatever variety you can find at the store. Red potatoes are a waxy potato: any type of potato with thin, shiny skin and a creamy flesh. Because they’re low in starch, they hold their shape when boiling. Red potatoes you might find at the store include:
- Baby red potatoes, aka new potatoes
- Red fingerling potatoes
- Red bliss, the most popular variety at American grocery stores, which are medium-sized potatoes
How long to red boil potatoes
How long does it take to boil red potatoes? It depends on how small or large they’re cut. We recommend chopping red potatoes into approximately 1-inch chunks. You can also boil baby potatoes sliced in half or whole. Here’s a rule of thumb:
- Red potatoes cut in approximately 1-inch pieces take 12 to 15 minutes to boil, when dropped into the boiling water. Whole red potatoes take 15 minutes or more.
- The exact timing depends on the size of pieces, so make sure to test early so they don’t get overboiled.
- Test whether the potato is cooked by pricking it with a fork to see if it is tender.
Ways to season boiled red potatoes
Memorize that timing, and you can make boiled red potatoes on repeat! Let’s get to the seasonings. The most important thing to know: make sure to salt the potatoes well. There’s nothing worse than under-seasoned potatoes. Here’s what to know:
- For each pound potatoes, start with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Taste, and add more until the flavor pops.
- Add fresh herbs. Herbs that pair best with red potatoes: try chives, fresh parsley, thyme, oregano, or fresh dill. You can also use rosemary: make sure to chop it very finely and use about half the amount specified in the recipe below.
- Add cheese (optional). Shredded or grated Parmesan cheese takes it over the top. Or try Pecorino Romano cheese, feta, and so forth.
More ways to cook potatoes
What’s better than a side dish of potatoes? Here are a few more of our favorite ways to season potatoes:
- Roast them up with Classic Roasted Potatoes
- Make Parmesan Potato Wedges
- Try tasty Pan Fried Potatoes
- Fire up the grill for Perfect Grilled Potatoes or Grilled Potatoes in Foil
Boiled Red Potatoes (with Herbs)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
How long to boil red potatoes? Try this boiled red potatoes recipe: it comes out perfectly tender, seasoned with butter and chives!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds red potatoes (large or baby)
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives or fresh thyme, oregano, Italian parsley or dill (optional)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more for boiling)
- Other seasonings: Grated or shredded Parmesan cheese, Pecorino cheese, or feta cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil with 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
- Wash the potatoes. Dice them into ¾ to 1″ wide bite-sized pieces if they’re large, or cut them in half if they are small (you can also boil baby red potatoes whole). Once the water is boiling, add the potatoes and boil 12 to 15 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork (you may need longer if boiling whole).
- Drain and remove the potatoes to a bowl. Gently toss them with the butter, herbs, fresh ground black pepper and ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (or more or less to taste: add salt until the flavor pops!).
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
