Potato Packets are easy to make, healthy and a weeknight time saver.
Potatoes are truly a parent’s best friend. They’re inexpensive, available year round, super versatile, easy to prepare and just about every kid I’ve ever met loves at least one version of them. When it comes to food and eating, kids tend to love almost anything that’s got a “fun” aspect to it. So, when you’re searching for recipes to cook with your kids, these potato packets are a perfect choice as you can let the little ones doctor them up with as many (or as little) herbs as they want.
Don’t have russet potatoes on hand? You can also use sweet potatoes, asian yams, Yukon gold or anything your family enjoys.
The kids and I had a ball taking the parchment paper and folding them into “books” (Gemma loved that concept), then spreading out the potato slices, layering them with herbs, a touch of butter and a sprinkling of salt. We folded them up, twisted the ends together, placed them in the oven for 30 minutes and “ta-da!”, in minutes they all got to open their own individual potato packet. Remember to be careful opening the packets because you’re going to release some hot steam from cooking, but also enjoy that part as you’ll just love the heavenly smell that comes out!
You might think that a pat of butter is all you need to finish them off, but baking these Potato Packets is only the beginning of the fun. I put out a ton of toppings for the kids to make their own special potato creations. Cinnamon, marshmallows and brown sugar are great for sweet potatoes, while broccoli, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, sour cream and more go perfect with russet potatoes. You want to allow the potatoes to be just the beginning of this interactive side dish and get ready to jazz them up with all of your toppings!
What’s your favorite topping idea for Potato Packets? Tell me in the comments below.
We used this Kyocera Adjustable Mandoline Slicer for this recipe. It’s a game changer!
Potato Packets
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes (russet, yukon gold, or sweet)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Topping Options
- butter
- sour cream
- bacon, diced
- ground cinnamon
- mini marshmallows
- broccoli, cooked and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice potatoes into 1/4 inch rounds with a knife or mandoline.
- Place a 24 inch sheet of parchment (or foil) on a cookie sheet and fold in half (this could also be done in smaller individual packets using smaller pieces of parchment or foil)
- Place potatoes on one half of the parchment, sprinkle with olive oil and salt and toss to combine.
- Fold the top piece of the parchment over the potatoes and twist edges together tightly to completely seal the packets.
- Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes (it’s the same time if you use smaller packets).
- Cut a hole in the top of the packets and serve.
- After potatoes bake top with favorite condiment including butter, sour cream, cooked vegetables, bacon and more.
