My Mom used to make what she called American Fries. She’d pull out the electric skillet (so many things were made in that! Hello Porcupine Balls, I remember you…and not fondly, either) but we were happy to see that skillet it if it meant American Fries. Now me, I think the BEST American Fries are American Fries From Leftover Potatoes.

American Fries From Leftover Potatoes

American Fries are sometimes called Home Fries. I guess it just depends on when/where you were raised, but when I think of Home Fries I think chunky potatoes, not slices. So these American Fires are potato rounds cut and browned in a skillet. And they are delish! But starting with leftover potatoes, especially from Pot Roast makes American Fries that really fry up beautifully crunchy and delish.

About American Fries From Leftover Potatoes:

These American Fries make me love having leftover potatoes. My Baked Potato Hashbrowns do, too, but I usually think of that recipe when I have leftover baked potatoes and this particular recipe when I have potatoes leftover from Pot Roast. First of all, there’s already some flavor infused into the potatoes and American Fries are a great way to refashion those potatoes into something fantastic.

And ya’ll probably know what I mean when I say once the Pot Roast is gone, and the potatoes linger on, no-one really wants to eat them. They’re sad. Sad and grey and cold and they’re just not that great. (Even if there is still gravy which usually makes everything better.) I’m guessing in a lot of households, leftover potatoes like this usually sit around in the fridge and then get tossed.

What makes American Fries From Leftover Potatoes cook up so beautifully is that they’re twice baked just like the best fries are. The first bake, of course, is with the pot roast, the second in the skillet. Let me show you the two pot roasts I make most often with roasted potatoes that potentially generate a few leftovers for these beautiful, crunchy American Fries. There’s That Old Lipton’s Onion Soup Pot Roast (oven or slow cooker) and Campbells Ultimate Pot Roast (instant pot or slow cooker). You can’t go wrong with either of those super simple recipes!

That Old Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

Campbell’s Ultimate Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Roast

Making American Fries From Leftover Potatoes:

This “recipe” is so simple it’s not even really a recipe! Just cut the potatoes into about 1/4 to 3/8″ slices. Add oil to skillet and then the potatoes in a single layer. You might want to use a large skillet or maybe two or pull out the ol’ electric skillet like my Mom used to do. Make sure the oil is good and hot before adding the potatoes and turn only once.

If you have more people than your leftover potatoes will feed, try microwaving a few potatoes, then let them cool, peel if you want and add them to the potatoes you do have. Or maybe you don’t have any leftover potatoes to make American Fries From Leftover Potatoes! Don’t feel sad. Just make as many potatoes as you need in the microwave or oven, then make your American Fries.

Making your American Fries from leftover potatoes not only makes gorgeous American Fries with a fantastic crispy crust, but it’s also a huge time saver over making American Fries from raw potatoes.

These potatoes look like they’ve seen better days – but just wait!

Saving on American Fries From Leftover Potatoes:

Of course, the price of your potatoes depends on what you’ve bought your potatoes for originally. Potatoes are usually cheapest when bought in the larger bags. I just spotted 10 pounds at Aldi for $3.49. And while potatoes are always available most everywhere in the States, they’re in season in late summer to early fall and at their very cheapest. (Unless there’s a great sale around a holiday when the stores want to lure you in.)

Larger bags are often a mix of different sizes. I go through the bag and set aside the larger uniform ones for baking and then use the mixed sizes and shapes in recipes like soup, pot roast, mashed potatoes or any recipe where a uniform size doesn’t matter.

Store your potatoes in a loosely closed bag away from any onions and in a cool place. It’s not unusual to see them next to my back kitchen door in the fall and winter, but in my small kitchen, I have to be creative!

American Fries From Leftover Potatoes

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I’ll be sharing my American Fries From Leftover Potatoes at Fiesta Friday #243, hosted this week by Catherine @ Kunstkitchen’s Blog and Becky @ Bubbly Bee.

I’ll also be sharing at the Lazy Gastronome. Helen posts a weekly link up, What’s for Dinner?