Potatoes O’ Brien

Potatoes O’Brien are a classic breakfast side made with crispy diced potatoes, onions, and colorful bell peppers. This easy skillet recipe delivers perfectly golden potatoes with tender centers and just the right amount of flavor from simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.

Whether you’re serving them alongside eggs for breakfast or adding them to a brunch spread, these potatoes O’Brien are quick to make, naturally gluten free, and easy to customize. I’ll show you how to get them crispy every time using a simple stovetop method.

What are potatoes o’ brien?

Potatoes O’Brien are a classic American breakfast dish made with diced potatoes, onions, and bell peppers that are pan-fried until crispy and golden. They’re typically served as a savory side for breakfast or brunch, often alongside eggs, bacon, or sausage.

The dish is known for its combination of tender potatoes with sautéed peppers and onions, which add both flavor and color. While traditionally cooked in a skillet, potatoes O’Brien can easily be made using oven-roasted or air fryer methods for a similar crispy texture.

Potatoes O’Brien are believed to have originated in the United States, with some sources tracing the dish back to Boston restaurants in the early 20th century, though its exact origins aren’t fully documented.

Ingredients You’ll need

To make classic potatoes O’Brien, you only need a handful of simple ingredients, but a few small choices can make a big difference in how crispy and flavorful they turn out.

Potatoes

I like to use red potatoes for this recipe because they hold their shape well after boiling and give you a creamy interior with crispy edges. You can also use Yukon Gold potatoes for a slightly richer flavor, or russet potatoes if you prefer extra crispiness.

Olive Oil

You’ll need olive oil for frying the potatoes and sautéing the vegetables. You can substitute with avocado oil or another neutral oil if preferred.

Bell Peppers

Traditional potatoes O’Brien use a mix of red and green bell peppers, which add both color and flavor. You can swap in yellow or orange peppers if that’s what you have on hand.

Onion

A yellow or white onion works best here, adding a mild savory flavor that pairs well with the potatoes and peppers.

Salt and Pepper

Simple seasoning is all you need. You can always adjust to taste or add extra spices if you want to change things up.

How to make Potatoes O’ Brien

Making potatoes O’Brien is simple, but a few key steps will help you get perfectly crispy potatoes with tender centers.

1. Boil and chill the potatoes

Place the potatoes in a pot of salted water and cook until just fork-tender. Drain well, then let them cool completely in the fridge before cutting into 1-inch cubes.

👉 Tip: Chilling the potatoes helps them hold their shape and crisp up better in the pan.

2. Sauté the peppers and onions

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced bell peppers and onion and cook for about 5–6 minutes, until softened. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Crisp the potatoes

Add the remaining oil to the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add the diced potatoes in a single layer.

Let them cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes, then turn and continue cooking until all sides are golden and crispy.

👉 Tip: Avoid overcrowding the pan — this is key to getting crispy potatoes instead of steaming them.

4. Combine and finish

Return the peppers and onions to the skillet and toss everything together. Cook for another 1–2 minutes until heated through, then season with salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Baked Potato
• Duchess Potatoes
• Spanish Rice
• Fried Rice

Potatoes O’ Brien

Potatoes O Brien are a quick and easy skillet side dish that’s perfect for breakfast or dinner!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Total Carbs: 29 g

Protein: 3 g

Servings: 6

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Ingredients

• 2lbs red potatoes, boiled, chilled, and cut into 1-inch cubes , 900g
• 1/4 cup olive oil , divided
• 1 large green bell pepper , cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 large red bell pepper , cut into 1/2-inch dice1
• large onion , cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Place the potatoes in a pot of salted water and cook until just fork-tender. Drain well, then let them cool completely. Once cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes.

2. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced bell peppers and onion and cook for 5–6 minutes, until softened. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Add the remaining oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high. Once hot, add the potatoes in a single layer.

4. Let the potatoes cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes, then turn and continue cooking until all sides are golden and crispy.

5. Return the peppers and onions to the skillet and toss to combine. Cook for 1–2 minutes until heated through, then season with salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

Nutrition Facts

Potatoes O' Brien

Amount Per Serving

Calories 210 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 417mg18%

Potassium 829mg24%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 970IU19%

Vitamin C 71.8mg87%

Calcium 26mg3%

Iron 1.5mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information on Noshtastic is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.

Author: Sheena Strain

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American