Crispy Smashed Potatoes Are Everywhere Right Now — Here’s How to Make Them Perfectly
The humble potato just became TikTok’s most-filmed ingredient of 2026. If your For You Page looks anything like mine lately, you’ve already seen them: golden, craggy-edged, impossibly crispy little potato discs topped with everything from garlic butter to sour cream and chives. Smashed potatoes are having a serious moment — and honestly, they deserve every view they get.
I finally made them at home last week and I have thoughts. Here’s everything you need to know about the smashed potato trend, plus the exact method that actually works.
What Are Smashed Potatoes and Why Are They Going Viral?
Smashed potatoes aren’t a new invention — home cooks have been making twice-cooked potatoes for years. But TikTok has a way of making familiar food feel brand new, and smashed potatoes check every box the algorithm loves: the satisfying “smash” moment, the dramatic transformation from plain boiled potato to golden masterpiece, and a final result that photographs beautifully.
They’ve seen over 20% year-over-year growth in social posts in 2026, according to food data platform Tastewise. And unlike a lot of viral recipes, these actually live up to the hype.
The Best Potato to Use
This matters more than most TikTok videos will tell you. Here’s the breakdown:
- Baby Yukon Golds — the best choice. Creamy interior, thin skin that crisps beautifully, and they hold together after smashing.
- Baby reds — waxy and a little more firm. Good results but slightly less crispy.
- Russets — skip these. Too starchy, they fall apart when smashed.
Aim for potatoes around 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Too big and the center stays dense; too small and there’s nothing to smash.
The Crispy Smashed Potato Recipe
🥔 Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Serves: 4 | Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 40 mins | Total: 45 mins
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh herbs for topping (rosemary, thyme, or chives)
Instructions:
- Boil potatoes in well-salted water for 20–25 minutes until fork-tender all the way through.
- Drain and let steam dry for 5 minutes — this is important for crispiness.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Drizzle a baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Place potatoes on the sheet and use the bottom of a glass or a flat spatula to smash each one to about ½ inch thick. Don’t go too thin or they’ll fall apart.
- Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the tops. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Roast for 20–25 minutes until the edges are deeply golden and crispy.
- Top with fresh herbs and serve immediately.
5 Topping Ideas to Make Them Your Own
- Classic garlic herb — melted butter, minced garlic, fresh rosemary
- Cheesy — shredded parmesan or gruyère added in the last 5 minutes of roasting
- Spicy aioli — drizzle with sriracha mayo after they come out of the oven
- Greek-style — top with tzatziki, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber
- Loaded — sour cream, shredded cheddar, crispy bacon bits, green onions
Do They Actually Live Up to the Hype?
The one thing TikTok doesn’t tell you: they do not reheat well. These are a “make and eat immediately” situation. Plan accordingly.
Love crispy comfort food? Check out our Korean Beef Rice Bowl recipe — another viral favorite that’s just as satisfying and even faster to make.
Chef Slice is the taste-tester, trend-tracker, and head food nerd behind CookingViral. Always first in line when something goes viral on TikTok — and honest enough to tell you when it doesn’t live up to the hype.