This potato recipe is perfect for those nights that it’s a marathon race to get dinner on the table, or actually its more like a sprint! In my repertoire of quick sides is a quick and easy favorite, Herbed Potatoes cooked in record time in the microwave. I have to admit that I don’t cook a lot with microwave but particularly in the warm summer months, its a great way not to heat up your kitchen. I use the microwave to make popcorn, I reheat things in it, and I do cook potatoes in it when I am in a rush. Hubby doesn’t consider it a meal unless it has meat, potatoes, and at least one vegetable. Any supper that doesn’t include those three is a cop-out in his opinion. This family favorite helps me meet his expectations and meet my often hectic schedule. I also use the same microwave potato method to cook potatoes to use in potato salad, another quick and cool kitchen hack to save the day when I’m in a rush and trying to beat the heat.
My favorite potato variety for this dish is Yukon Gold. You can use most any type of potato but the Yukon Gold has a buttery richness about it and it holds its shape well so the potatoes don’t get mushy and fall apart. You can peel then or leave the skins on as the Yukon Gold has a very thin skin.
You can change the flavor profile by using different herb combinations to change it up. Basil, oregano, and garlic powder give an Italian flair to the dish.  Thyme, sage, and onion powder are great if you are serving the potatoes with poultry as the main dish. I have even used curry powder (my family loves curry) and onion powder. So experiment and have fun, no matter how you flavor it, the cooking method and the time involved remain the same.
Easy Microwave Herbed Potatoes
Quick, easy, tasty, and healthy works for me. Cooking the potatoes in the microwave retains the nutrients that would leach out if boiled in water and is quicker than roasting in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Vegetable
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. of potatoes, cut in 1’inch bite size pieces. Yukon Gold is my favorite but any “tater” will work.
- 2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbs. melted butter
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. thyme
- 1/2 tsp. oregano
- 1/2 tsp. sage
Instructions
- When you prepare your potatoes, you can leave the skins on if you are using a thin skinned variety, but peel if you use a coarser skinned potato like a russet.
- Rinse cut potato pieces in cold water, drain thoroughly and place in microwaveable covered dish.
- Add butter and olive oil and gently toss to cover all potato pieces.
- Mix garlic powder and herbs together in small bowl.
- Pour garlic/herb mixture over potatoes and toss to evenly coat.
- Cook on medium high setting for 9 -10 minutes
- Note: Sometimes I toss the cooked potatoes in a cast iron skillet with a 1 tbs. olive oil and just lightly brown the edges for a prettier look!
May you win all your cooking marathons! Some days being a mom is quite a race to the finish!
Sara @ Magical Mama Blog says
May 22, 2018 at 9:53 AMPinned immediately! There are so many nights that potatoes would be a great addition, but they would just take too long to cook and since I walk in the door at 4:45 and my 18 month old demands food at 5, I could make this happen!
#TipMeTuesday
Sheryl Thompson says
May 22, 2018 at 8:55 PMI know how that goes. In the days when I was cooking for a family of 3 boys I had to come up with lots of ways to get food on the table quickly after a ling day at work. That’s my whole theme of cooking – quick, easy, tasty, and unpretentious.
Mother of 3 says
May 22, 2018 at 7:22 AMThat sounds delicious! I often make herb roasted potatoes but they take so long in the oven. What a great time saving idea. Pinned.
Sheryl Thompson says
May 22, 2018 at 8:57 PMthis recipe has been a lifesaver for me many a night. I also will cook the potatoes in the morning and then let them cool through the day so I can make a quick potato salad in the evening when I get home.
Chas says
May 17, 2018 at 4:41 PMOh my gosh these sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Cydnee says
March 11, 2015 at 10:58 PMYou had me at easy! Microwave means fast, love that too! Thank you very much for joining in the celebration of #purebloglove, we enjoy having you each week. I hope to see you on Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee
Lou Lou Girls says
March 9, 2015 at 5:40 PMI’m loving this! This looks so good. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you tonight at 7 at our party. I can’t wait! Lou Lou Girls
Sheryl T says
March 12, 2015 at 7:46 AMThis recipe has saved me many times when I need to get things on the table quick. My hubby is a meat and potatoes man. For him, it isn’t a meal if he doesn’t see a bowl of “spuds” on the table. Part of it could be that we live in Aroostook County, Maine, where potatoes are king!
Adelina Priddis says
March 9, 2015 at 12:20 AMPotatoes in the microwave! That is a huge time saver. Thanks for sharing this on Weekend Bites!
Kyla @HouseOfHipsters says
March 6, 2015 at 1:11 PMThese sound delicious! BTW, I tried your cabbage rolls. SO GOOD! Thanks for sharing on Found & Foraged!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
November 16, 2014 at 10:52 PMSo easy! Sometimes I just need something I can pop in the microwave because my husband is like yours! “Where’s the meat?” is a common question…. 🙂
Heather @ Divas Run for Bling says
November 6, 2014 at 9:00 AMYummy. Thank you for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.”
Jennifer says
October 29, 2014 at 4:36 PMPopping over from the Homemaking Party. These look great! I have a bag of potatoes on the counter just begging me to try this. Thanks for sharing!