Potatoes O’Brien

Pan fried Potatoes O’Brien make a great country breakfast. Serve these easy breakfast potatoes alongside sausage or bacon for a comforting start to the day. 

So often for dinner we make roasted red potatoes or crispy potatoes in the oven, but when it is breakfast time, we turn to the skillet and allow it to work its magic!

Love potatoes? Read all about potatoes and find our best potato recipes here.

Anytime I ask for weekend breakfast or breakfast for dinner ideas, potatoes ALWAYS are thrown out as a top choice. I love that potatoes can be a basic side dish for just about any meal…but they are especially filling for breakfast or brunch. They pair well with many other breakfast foods.

What are Potatoes O’Brien?

Potatoes O’Brien is an old fashioned potatoes recipe that dates back to the early 1900’s. They are pan fried potatoes that also have green and red peppers. They are served hot alongside just about any other breakfast food.

Why is it called Potatoes O’Brien?

So who is the O’Brien behind Potatoes O’Brien? I could not find a clear answer on this! I’ve found that the recipe is attributed to restaurants both in Boston and Manhattan during the early 1900’s, but I couldn’t find a mention to an O’Brien. If you know the answer I’d love for you to share with us.

What potatoes are best for Potatoes O’Brien?

Red potatoes are a great choice for these potatoes and other pan-fried potato recipes. They are a waxier potato that hold their shape well when fried. You can use russets if you’d like, but they’ll fall apart during cooking causing the potatoes to have more of a “slightly mashed” consistency.

Read about the best potatoes for your recipe in this article.

Can I use frozen potatoes for Potatoes O’Brien?

Yes! If you don’t want to take the time to chop potatoes, buy frozen cubed potatoes. There’s no need to defrost the potatoes. Just heat the oil and butter in the skillet and add the frozen cubes.

What vegetables go in potatoes?

Traditionally, red and green peppers are cooked with the potatoes in Potatoes O’Brien. We also like to add a touch of onion.

How to Make Potatoes O’Brien

Here’s how we make the best potatoes o’brien:

• In a large pan over medium high heat, melt butter and warm oil.

  

• Add in potatoes, onions, and peppers. Saute for 4 minutes.

  

• Stir in chicken broth, parsley, and salt and pepper.

  

• Cover and cook for 10 minutes. (We love this cast iron skillet with a lid!)
• Remove lid after 10 minutes. Stir and continue cooking a few minutes or until liquid absorbs and the potatoes are as tender as you’d like.

  

How Long to Cook Potatoes

The exact amount of time it will take the potatoes to cook will depend on how big you’ve chopped the potatoes. We cut ours in around 1/2″ cubes…no larger. This allows them to cook rather quickly.

Covering the pot also helps the potatoes to cook more quickly than if you leave the pan uncovered.

What to Serve with Potatoes at Breakfast

If you’re thinking of having fried potatoes o’brien for your next breakfast, here are some ideas to pair with it:

• Turkey Sausage
• Bacon
• Sausage Gravy. One of my favorite breakfasts is sausage gravy served over potatoes!
• Buttermilk Biscuits
• Easy Fruit Salad
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• Scrambled Eggs
• Vegetable Frittata

Other Potato Recipes

• Oven Baked Cheesy Potatoes
• Grilled Baked Potatoes
• Buttery Crusted Baked Potatoes
• Christmas Cheesy Potatoes
• Spinach Mashed Potatoes
• Twice Baked Potatoes

Potatoes O'Brien

4.50 from 6 votes

Pan fried Potatoes O'Brien make a great country breakfast. Serve these easy breakfast potatoes alongside sausage or bacon for a comforting start to the day. 

Servings 2

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

 

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 large red potatoes (chopped into small chunks)
• 2 tablespoons onions (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons red peppers (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons green peppers (chopped)
• 3 tablespoons chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons parsley (chopped)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• In a large pan over medium high heat, melt butter and warm oil.
• Add in potatoes, onions, and peppers. Saute for 4 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth, parsley, and salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove lid after 10 minutes. Stir and continue cooking a few minutes or until liquid absorbs.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

The calories shown are based on this recipe serving 2 people. For smaller servings (and therefore less calories), it will serve 3 people. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 1007mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Calories 327

Keyword easy breakfast potatoes, pan fried potatoes, potatoes with peppers

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