Mastering Ultimate Crispy Blackstone Smashed Potatoes: A Flavorful Griddle Side Dish

Blackstone smashed potatoes offer a truly irresistible side dish, bursting with incredible flavor and boasting a delightful textural contrast. While traditional smashed potato recipes often call for oven baking, harnessing the power of your Blackstone griddle elevates this dish to new heights. The griddle provides a swift, remarkably even cook, ensuring each potato develops a perfectly golden, intensely crispy crust. Potatoes are renowned for their versatility, serving as the ultimate accompaniment to a vast array of hearty entrees. When prepared on the Blackstone, these smashed potatoes transcend being just a side; they become an incredibly simple yet exciting solution for crafting a well-rounded and memorable meal.

At their core, smashed potatoes represent a culinary fusion, expertly combining the comforting tenderness of a baked potato with the savory crunch of a fried potato. The process begins with a gentle simmer on the stovetop, softening the potatoes until they are exquisitely tender. Following this, they are carefully flattened and transferred to the hot griddle, where they transform, crisping up to golden perfection. The final result is a creamy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside delight, ready to be adorned with your favorite toppings and enjoyed precisely to your preference. This method guarantees a unique texture that’s difficult to achieve with other cooking techniques, making them a standout addition to any meal.

Why You Should Try This Recipe for Smashed Potatoes

• Unbeatable Texture: The texture of these Blackstone smashed potatoes is truly unparalleled and stands as a primary reason to try this recipe. Each bite offers a harmonious contrast: a wonderfully soft, fluffy interior yields to a dark golden, exquisitely crispy crust. This remarkable combination is further enhanced by a vibrant, punchy herb and rich butter flavor that permeates every morsel. The griddle’s direct heat is key to achieving this perfect crispness without drying out the potato.
• Effortless Preparation: Streamline your meal planning with these conveniently easy-to-prep potatoes. You can boil them the night before, allowing them to cool completely and storing them in the refrigerator. This simple step means that when dinner time rolls around, you’re only about 15 minutes away from serving up a batch of incredibly delicious and satisfying smashed potatoes, making busy weeknights much smoother.
• Versatile Perfect Side Dish: These griddle-cooked smashed potatoes are an exceptional accompaniment to nearly any main course. Whether you’re whipping up The Perfect Steak on the Blackstone, preparing a hearty batch of Blackstone Smash Burgers, or even serving grilled chicken or fish, these potatoes make an excellent sidekick. Their adaptable nature also allows you to easily customize their seasoning to perfectly complement the flavors of your main meal, ensuring a cohesive and delightful dining experience.

Essential Ingredients for Blackstone Smashed Potatoes

Crafting the perfect Blackstone smashed potatoes relies on a selection of simple yet potent ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that coveted creamy interior and crispy exterior, infused with rich, savory flavors. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

• 1 pound Yellow Baby Potatoes: These small, tender potatoes are ideal for smashing. They boast a creamy, buttery interior and a relatively thin skin that crisps beautifully without becoming tough or chewy. Their small size also means quicker boiling and more surface area for crisping once smashed, contributing significantly to the desired texture.
• 2 tablespoons Salted Butter: Butter is crucial for imparting a rich, savory depth of flavor to these potatoes. While butter alone has a low smoke point, making it less suitable for direct, high-heat griddle cooking, when combined with olive oil, its smoke point is diluted. This allows the butter to contribute its delicious taste and aid in browning without quickly burning, creating a golden, flavorful crust.
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil: A high-quality extra virgin olive oil not only adds a wonderfully rich, sometimes peppery flavor but also provides the necessary fat and moisture. This helps to keep the potato interiors fluffy and tender while promoting the development of beautifully crispy edges on the griddle. It also helps to prevent sticking and ensures even heat distribution.
• 2 tablespoons chopped Fresh Parsley: Fresh herbs are a game-changer for enhancing any side dish. Chopped parsley brightens the overall flavor profile, adding a subtle herbaceous note and a vibrant splash of color. This improves the visual appeal, making the dish look as good as it tastes.
• 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan: This ingredient delivers a bold, distinct, and deeply savory umami flavor that harmonizes perfectly with the earthy notes of the potatoes. For the best results and traditional flavor, use the dry, finely grated Parmesan cheese typically sold in plastic jars, as it melts and crisps differently than freshly shredded varieties.
• 1 tablespoon Salt: Potatoes are notorious for needing a generous amount of salt to unlock their full flavor potential. This specific amount will be judiciously divided: a portion will season the water during boiling, infusing the potatoes with flavor from the inside, and the remainder will be sprinkled on the potatoes as they cook on the Blackstone, ensuring a perfectly balanced taste.
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper: Though seemingly simple, black pepper is an essential addition that provides a subtle warmth and a gentle bite. It effectively cuts through the starchy richness of the potatoes, offering a perfect counterpoint to the buttery and savory flavors, adding complexity without being overpowering.
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is a convenient yet powerful flavor enhancer. It provides a consistent, robust garlic taste that evenly coats each potato. Unlike fresh garlic cloves, which can easily burn and become bitter on a hot griddle, garlic powder infuses the potatoes with solid garlic flavor without the risk of overcooking, ensuring a pleasant and aromatic experience.

Detailed Instructions for Making Blackstone Smashed Potatoes

Follow these steps to create perfectly crispy and flavorful smashed potatoes on your Blackstone griddle. Precision and patience are key to achieving that ideal balance of tender interior and golden, crunchy exterior.

1. Prepare the Water for Boiling: Begin by filling a medium-sized pot with enough water to comfortably cover your potatoes. Add the yellow baby potatoes to the pot along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. This initial salting infuses flavor into the potatoes as they cook. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat.

2. Boil the Potatoes to Tenderness: Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat slightly to maintain a steady simmer and boil the potatoes for approximately 10 minutes. The goal is for them to become tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork but not mushy, as they will be smashed later. Overcooked potatoes will disintegrate when smashed. Once tender, carefully drain the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. Allow them to cool completely for at least 30 minutes; this cooling step is crucial for preventing them from falling apart when smashed.

3. Prepare and Preheat the Blackstone Griddle: While the potatoes are cooling, prepare your Blackstone griddle. Lightly coat the cooking surface with vegetable oil or a high-heat cooking spray to prevent sticking. Preheat the griddle to a medium-high heat setting. Allow it to heat thoroughly, ensuring an even temperature across the surface, which is essential for consistent crisping.

4. Season the Cooled Potatoes: Once the potatoes are sufficiently cool, drizzle the olive oil and melted salted butter over them in the large bowl. Gently toss the potatoes to ensure each one is evenly coated with the rich oil and butter mixture. This coating is vital for flavor, preventing sticking, and achieving that desirable golden crust.

5. Place Potatoes on the Griddle: Carefully arrange the butter and oil-coated potatoes onto the preheated Blackstone griddle. It’s crucial to leave ample space between each potato, ideally at least 3 inches. Overcrowding the griddle will lower the surface temperature and trap steam, hindering the potatoes from crisping up properly. Cook in batches if necessary.

6. Smash the Potatoes: Using the bottom of a sturdy mason jar, a flat measuring cup, or a robust spatula, gently but firmly press down on each potato. Smash them until they are flattened to about ¼” thickness. Aim for a relatively even thickness across all potatoes to ensure consistent cooking and crisping. This smashing action increases surface area for maximum contact with the hot griddle.

7. Season and Cook First Side: Immediately after smashing, lightly sprinkle the potatoes with the remaining salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder. Continue cooking them on the griddle without moving them until their bottoms are beautifully golden brown and crispy, which typically takes about 5 minutes. Resist the urge to peek or move them too soon, as this can interrupt the browning process.

8. Flip and Cook Second Side: Carefully flip each smashed potato using a spatula. Continue cooking the other side until it too develops a rich golden-brown crust, usually taking an additional 3 minutes. Both sides should be equally crispy and caramelized for the best texture and flavor.

9. Serve Warm and Garnish: Once both sides are perfectly golden and crispy, and the interiors are tender, your Blackstone smashed potatoes are ready. Remove them from the griddle and transfer to a serving dish. Immediately top them generously with the grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Serve these delectable potatoes warm and enjoy their incredible flavor and texture! They are best consumed fresh off the griddle.

Creative Variations and Smart Substitutions

While this recipe for Blackstone smashed potatoes is fantastic as is, don’t hesitate to get creative and customize it to your personal taste or dietary needs. Here are some ideas to inspire your culinary adventures:

• Experiment with Potato Varieties: Feel free to explore different types of potatoes. Petite red potatoes offer a slightly waxier texture and beautiful color, while larger Russet potatoes can be cut into smaller, uniform pieces before boiling for a fluffier interior. Yukon Gold potatoes provide an inherently buttery flavor, and even slender fingerling potatoes can be smashed effectively. The key is to ensure all potato pieces are roughly the same size to promote even cooking on the griddle.
• Infuse with Diverse Herbs and Spices: This recipe is a canvas for flavor experimentation. Beyond parsley, consider fresh rosemary or thyme for an earthy, aromatic touch, or finely chopped chives or dill for a fresher, oniony note. For a different profile, try adding spice blends like smoky Cajun seasoning for a kick, lemon pepper for a bright and zesty alternative, or a dash of paprika for color and a subtle sweet heat. Italian seasoning or a mix of onion powder and oregano can also transform the flavor.
• Elevate with Various Cheeses: While Parmesan offers a fantastic salty umami, the world of cheese is your oyster. For a richer, more decadent flavor, sprinkle with sharp cheddar or a creamy, smoky gouda. Monterey Jack or pepper jack can add a mild heat and gooey texture. For an exciting twist, instead of topping the potatoes after they come off the griddle, sprinkle your chosen cheese on top right before flipping them. This allows the cheese to melt and crisp directly on the griddle, forming an irresistibly golden, lacy crust. Feta or goat cheese crumbled on top after cooking can also add a tangy, creamy element.
• Dazzle with Delicious Garnishes: Let your imagination run wild with topping ideas to make these smashed potatoes uniquely yours. Crispy bacon bits add a salty, smoky crunch that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Chopped green onions or fresh chives contribute a mild oniony bite and vibrant color. A dollop of cool sour cream or Greek yogurt provides a creamy tang that contrasts beautifully with the crispy potato. For a spicy kick, drizzle with your favorite hot sauce or sprinkle with red pepper flakes. A sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning can also add a unique savory crunch.

Expert Tips and Tricks for Perfect Blackstone Smashed Potatoes

Achieving consistently perfect smashed potatoes on your Blackstone griddle is simple with these expert tips:

• Crucial Cooling Time: It is paramount that the potatoes are completely cooled before you begin smashing them. Attempting to smash warm or hot potatoes can cause them to become overly soft and easily fall apart, resulting in a less-than-ideal crispy texture. Cooling allows the potato starches to firm up, ensuring they hold their shape better during the smashing and cooking process, leading to superior crispness.
• Master Griddle Heat Management: The Blackstone griddle can get very hot, very quickly. If you observe that your potatoes are browning too rapidly or seem to be on the verge of burning, do not hesitate to reduce the heat slightly. It’s always better to start with a slightly lower heat and gradually increase it, or maintain a moderate heat, rather than risk scorching your delicious batch of potatoes. Even cooking is key to uniform crispness without charring.
• Time Your Cheese and Herb Additions: Unlike oven-baked smashed potatoes where cheese and herbs can often be incorporated during the baking phase, the intense, direct heat of the Blackstone griddle makes this less ideal. Delicate herbs and cheese can quickly burn or become bitter under such concentrated heat. For the best flavor and visual appeal, it is highly recommended to add your grated cheese (unless you’re doing the crispy crust method) and fresh herbs like parsley right before serving. This preserves their fresh taste and vibrant color.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Griddle: To achieve maximum crispiness, it’s essential to give each smashed potato enough room on the griddle. Overcrowding lowers the griddle’s surface temperature and creates steam, which prevents browning and crisping. Cook in batches if necessary, ensuring each potato has ample space to breathe and develop its golden crust.
• Seasoning in Layers: Remember that potatoes require a good amount of seasoning. By salting the water during boiling and then adding salt, pepper, and garlic powder during the griddle cooking phase, you build layers of flavor that penetrate the potatoes, making them exceptionally tasty.

Related Blackstone Griddle Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoy the ease and flavor of cooking on your Blackstone griddle, you might also like these other popular recipes:

• Blackstone Philly Cheesesteaks
• Blackstone Chicken Fried Rice
• Blackstone Chicken Fajitas