This is a variation of our roasted russet potatoes base recipe. Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables around the world, but they are often prepared in unhealthy ways. When you leave the skin on and roast them in the oven, they get crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside – just like a fry – but without loads of unhealthy oil or excess salt. These spicy roasted potatoes are full of flavor and will satisfy your potato cravings!
Three Must-Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in our knife skills 101 course!
Culinary Tips for the Best Spicy Roasted Potatoes
We use weight instead of volume for the potato because sizes can be highly variable. Weigh at the store or use a simple kitchen scale.
For best results when roasting, use our memorable acronym: ROAST WELL.
Right Temp
Set your oven to a high cooking temperature to achieve optimal caramelization. In general, anywhere between 400ºF and 500ºF is considered a roasting temperature.
Oil Generously
Don’t be afraid of oil! Healthy oils add nutrition, satiety, and great flavor to roasted vegetables. Make sure every piece is thoroughly coated with oil; it’s better to use a little too much than not enough. Use oils with high smoke points, such as canola or avocado oil.
Alike Items
If you want to roast an assortment of vegetables at the same time, select ones that are similar and will cook in the same amount of time. Potatoes and carrots are both root vegetables that roast in about the same amount of time.
Skip Pan Liners
For best caramelization and browning, place the oil-coated vegetables directly onto the pan. Although parchment paper and foil make clean-up easier (we get it!), your vegetables won’t be quite as delicious.
Traditional Sheet Pan
When roasting, be sure to use a traditional sheet pan, with no more than a 1-inch rim along the sides. Deeper dishes cause vegetables to steam rather than roast – not optimal when trying to make crispy veggies! A metal pan also ensures browning.
Wash and Dry
You should always wash fresh produce before eating or cooking, but another important step when roasting is to make sure your vegetables are dry. Water generates steam, and again, we want to avoid steam to ensure the vegetables turn brown and crispy.
If you covered the potatoes in water for later use, be sure to drain them thoroughly and then dry them well with a dish towel or paper towel(s).
Even Cuts
It is important to make your pieces approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. Small pieces cook faster than large pieces.
Leave Space
Spread the vegetables out on a sheet pan and leave plenty of space around each piece. If you overcrowd the pan, the vegetables will steam. Are you noticing a trend here? Steam is the enemy when trying to create crisp, roasted veggies!
When in doubt, use two pans. Yes, that might mean more dishes to clean, but we promise that it will be worth it!
Let them Cook!
Cooking requires patience. While it can be tempting to pull the vegetables from the oven once they are soft, make sure that they get that nice, brown exterior. You can stir the potatoes halfway through the cook time to brown on all sides, but it’s not totally necessary.
Learn more about how to roast vegetables in this article!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Russet Potatoes: substitute any variety of potato – Yukon gold, red, fingerling, etc. Just be sure to dice into similarly-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Canola or Avocado Oil: substitute a lower-quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Chili Powder: use any variety. If you don’t have chili powder on hand, check out this substitute!
- Granulated Garlic: substitute ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder. You can use fresh minced garlic, but note that pieces that fall off the potatoes and hit the pan will burn.
- Smoked Paprika: substitute regular paprika.
- Cayenne Pepper: substitute a dash of hot sauce.
We love buying our spices from The Spice House. Click on the picture below to view & try out hundreds of flavorful spices and herbs!
Recipe Variations
Add some chopped fresh cilantro after cooking for more color and nutrition.
Want more roasted potato recipe inspiration?
Use our base recipe as a guide to make it to YOUR taste or check out this variation!
Equipment Recommendations
For recipe success, use the following pieces of equipment:
Is this spicy potatoes recipe healthy?
Americans tend to eat their potatoes as French fries or potato chips. When deep-fried, most of the nutritional benefit of the potato is negated by the unhealthy preparation method. Roasting potatoes is a delicious and nutritious way to enjoy potatoes! These roasted potatoes are loaded with lots of spices for both flavor and nutrition.
Potatoes
Many people think that potatoes are unhealthy, and while we wouldn’t recommend eating only potatoes, they can certainly be a part of a healthy, balanced diet. The potatoes we want to eat less of are those that are highly processed, such as tater tots, french fries, chips, and modified potato starches (found in many packaged foods). Potatoes in their whole, natural form area great source of important nutrients, such as potassium, Vitamin C, and fiber!
After being cooked and cooled, potatoes also develop something called resistant starch which acts similarly to fiber, slowing down digestion, keeping you full for longer, reducing your blood sugar spike, and feeding beneficial gut bacteria.
Canola or Avocado Oil
Canola and avocado oils contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. They also have a high smoke point, making them ideal for high-heat cooking methods, such as roasting.
Spices
Spices and seasonings provide flavor without providing excess calories or sodium. Additionally, many spices contain antioxidant properties which can help reduce inflammation in the body. Cayenne pepper in particular may promote a healthy metabolism and aid weight loss in obese individuals.
Learn more about the health benefits of spices in this article.
How to Serve Spicy Roasted Potatoes
Make a balanced plate by serving these easy spicy roasted potatoes with a green salad and a healthy protein, such as roasted fish or simple turkey meatballs. They also make a great substitute to fries and are perfect alongside one of our healthier burger options!
Storage Tips
Allow spicy potatoes to cool, then store in an airtight container. Leftovers will last for up to 1 week in the refrigerator, but they will definitely lose some crispness as they sit! Reheat in the oven for best texture.
Want more roasted vegetable recipes?
Try out these flavorful favorites!
Spicy Roasted Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 medium russet potato (~10-12 ounces)
- ½ Tablespoon avocado or canola oil
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF.
- Clean and scrub potatoes well. Pat dry. Do not peel. Dice into ½-¾" cubes.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together oil, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Add diced potato. Using a spatula, toss to evenly coat.
- Spread potatoes on a baking sheet in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Roast 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are brown and crisp and easily pierced with a fork. Enjoy!
