He stood in the kitchen looking into the oven. The meal he prepared was waiting on this final dish. All it needed was the right amount of browning before taking it out of the oven. Too soon and it would not have that wonderful crispness to it. The aroma of a magical secret southern ingredient filled the air. What is that ingredient? It is bacon grease and the key seasoning in roasted potatoes with onion and bacon.
The man in the kitchen was my dad. He was the one who cooked dinner during the week. His meals were simple and yet very special. He poured love and care into his cooking. And he knew how bacon grease could take something from bland to awesome. My parents saved every drop whenever they fried bacon. It was stored in an old percolator coffee pot. Why? I don’t know other than it had the built-in strainer and you could easily pour out the grease.
Roasted potatoes with onion and bacon is a simple side dish to make. All you have to do is cut up some potatoes into bite-sized pieces and toss them with chopped onion and bacon grease. Roast it until you see the tops of the potatoes are browned and crispy. Scatter cooked bacon pieces over it and serve. My dad did not top his with bacon pieces. That part is what I added to his recipe because I figured if you are going to cook bacon for the grease you might as well use it too.
Which potatoes to use for this recipe? My dad used russets. I use whatever potatoes I have on hand. I used Frieda’s Gourmet Potato Medley (Star Spangled Spuds) for this particular one. The mix of Yukon gold, purple, and red potatoes made it colorful too.
Do you save the grease when you cook bacon? It can be quite a flavor boost. Strain it while it is warm and before storing because the meat bits are the first to go rancid. Store it in the refrigerator if you do not use it often. Oh, and take a look at another one of my dad’s recipes, beef stew, that he also used bacon grease as an ingredient.
Roasted Potatoes with Onion and Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds potatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease melted
- 2 slices bacon cooked and chopped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
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Cut potatoes into small chunks (about 1-inch). Place potatoes and onions in a 8 or 9-inch square baking dish.
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Drizzle bacon grease on top and toss to coat potatoes and onions.
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Spread potatoes evenly in the baking dish.
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Roast for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.
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Sprinkle cooked bacon on top.
Recipe Notes
A recipe for roasted potatoes with onion and bacon. It is a simple side dish to make with potatoes, chopped onion, bacon grease and bacon bits.
Disclosure: I received a bag of Frieda’s Gourmet Potato Medley at no charge. I was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated or contained within a guest post.
Oakley @ Friedas says
I do keep my bacon grease in a jar in the fridge. Most of the time, if I’m cooking bacon already, the grease is usually used for that same dish, but once in a while you can’t use all of the dripping.
On my Meatless Tuesday, I cheated once in a while and use that grease to cook my vegetarian dinner or scramble my eggs for breakfast. LOL
Renee says
I promise I won’t tell anyone about your cheating on Meatless Tuesday. It is funny though. Oh for the love of bacon and bacon grease.
Laura Dembowski says
A poached egg on top of this and dinner would be served. I love roasted vegetables like this!
Renee says
A poached egg would be a perfect topping to these potatoes. Thanks Laura.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
aww! Your dad sounds amazing and so do these potatoes! So crisp and flavorful and delicious!
Renee says
My dad was amazing and I miss him dearly. He was such a great cook (among so many other things).
Anita at Hungry Couple says
Simple and totally yum!
Renee says
Thank you Anita and it is very yum!
Stacy says
Love the reminiscing about your dad cooking, Renee. Those are the roots that make us good cooks, understanding that what makes a dish taste delicious is not only bacon grease but love. (Although I agree with your dad that bacon grease takes the bland and makes it awesome! I also save strained bacon grease but in a jar in the refrigerator.)
Your potatoes are gorgeous! Love that mix of colors and the sprinkling of bacon on top.
Renee says
Thanks Stacy. Some of my most precious food memories are those with my dad.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Mmmm, bacon & potatoes! Sounds amazing! My dad didn’t cook often, but he also put great care into in when he did.
Renee says
Food cooked by dads and made with love is the best!
Roz says
Nothing could be wrong with a potato dish like this . . . perfect timing for St. Patrick’s Day!
Roz
Renee says
I hadn’t even thought of a connection to St. Patrick’s Day. What a happy coincidence.
Baked Potato Oven says
These are so yummy ,Sure i am gonna make it on my breakfast,because it very easy and fast to make in such a fast life!!!
Renee says
Quick and easy for sure. Thanks.
Toni says
I make potatoes similar to your dads but I do them in my large cast iron skillet and they seem to get even crispier. Also if I don’t have bacon or bacon grease I use olive oil.
Renee says
I’ll have to make these in a cast iron skillet. My dad always used a baking pan though.
Roberta Jones says
My mom made the same potato dish but she called them Yankee fries
We love them lots.She cooked them in a fry pan. Thanks for the memories. Roberta
Katie Moseman says
Thanks, Roberta! I’ll have to try them in a fry pan sometime.