Southern Fried Potatoes & Sausage (2024)

A simplebudget-friendly recipe for a one-pan skillet meal with smoked sausage, onions and southern-style fried potatoes.

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3. MORE SKILLET MEALS TO TRY

I wasn’t sure what to name this recipe. We never actually called it anything. If I was going to tell someone what I was cooking for supper, I’d just say something like fried potatoes and sausage. Around here, most folks would know what I meant.

But cooking for all y’all from the rest of the country has taught me that what we call something here can often mean something entirely different to everyone else.

I’m going to stick the “southern” label on the front of this recipe to try to point everyone’s mental taste buds to what we call fried potatoes and then just hope for the best.

This isn’t exactly like traditional southern fried potatoes because this is cooked with less oil and the potatoes aren’t super crispy all over. The potatoes steam a little first then get a little crispy once the water evaporates.

And to confuse you even more, I might as well tell you our fried potatoes are cut into cubes like this OR they're made from sliced potatoes. Oh, and some people call them home fries. See what tricky business naming recipes can be??

[deep breath in] Anywaaaay... this is just a quick and easy skillet meal that’s simple to prepare and very affordable. You just sauté the smoked sausage, then add onions and potatoes. Once the potatoes cook about halfway, you crank up the heat and let them crisp up a bit.

I like to eat mine with a little hot sauce and diced raw onion on top and the kids like theirs with ketchup. I typically serve this with Pork & Beans (Husband likes to stir the beans in with the sausage and potatoes) or Southern-Style Canned Green Beans.

If you really want to have a carb fest, pull out some fresh stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth white bread, fold a piece like a hotdog bun, load it up with the sausage and potatoes then hit it with a bead of ketchup. It sounds weird but it’s soooooo gooooood.

I feel like people are going to ask about adding cheese. I think this is already so rich and heavy that the cheese wouldn’t add anything. But the good news is I am not the cheese police so you can certainly add some if you’d like!

I haven’t made this with uncooked sausage (like Italian sausage or brats) but I imagine it would be pretty good too. I just like the salty, smokey sausage with the potatoes so much I’ve never wanted to make it any other way.

My very favorite is Hillshire Farm’s Smoked Sausage. I’ve always preferred smoked sausage over kielbasa but use whichever you like best. I’m an oddball who prefers the original sausages over the all-beef varieties (it’s a texture thing) but, again, use what you prefer.

I’ve never made this with “red sausages”. You know which ones I’m talking about?? I think they’re just called “red cooked sausage”. They’re inexpensive, bigger around than traditional smoked sausage, made into links and a distinctly bright shade of red somewhere between hot pink roller skate wheels and illegal firecrackers. I never developed a taste for them so I can’t tell you anything about cooking them, though I know they are often served with potatoes (“taters and reds”).

A FEW NOTES ABOUT COOKING FRIED POTATOES AND SAUSAGE

• You’ll need about 5-6 cups cubed potatoes (around 2 pounds)
• Feel free to use bacon drippings instead of vegetable oil.
• Any type of potatoes will work but I prefer starchier russets in this.
• You don’t have to peel the potatoes. I did in this batch but sometimes I don’t. I like the way the skin crisps up a little but the kids like it better with peeled potatoes.
• I say the garlic powder is optional because I don’t ever remember Mama or Nanny using it in their fried potatoes but I sure like it.
• Kielbasa, andouille or any precooked, smoked sausage can be used in this recipe.

MORE SKILLET MEALS TO ENJOY

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- A quick and easy skillet meal recipe with savory chicken and buttery mushrooms cooked with rice in one pan.

- An old-fashioned country recipe with smoked sausage and onions smothered in stewed potatoes for a simple, hearty homemade meal.

CHICKEN SCAMPI WITH GARLIC PARMESAN RICE - The ORIGINAL quick and easy skillet meal recipe for tender chicken scampi over perfectly cooked buttery, garlic parmesan rice.

Recipe for How to Cook Southern Fried Potatoes Sausage