5 Ways to Make a Meal with Frozen Potatoes

Frozen potatoes are one of my all-time favorite freezer staples. Unlike corn and strawberries, they’re aren’t just something I buy when potatoes are out of season (especially since potatoes, being well-adapted to long storage, don’t really ever go out of season). I keep diced potatoes in the freezer year-round for the convenience. They can be turned into a variety of different meals, and most of the time they can be used straight from the freezer.

Here are five ways to turn a bag of frozen potatoes into a meal.

Pro tip! When buying frozen potatoes, look for plain diced potatoes. They’re often sold as hash browns. Also, be sure to check the ingredient list and make sure there are no added salt or spices.

As I mentioned above, this is the reason I initially started keeping frozen potatoes around. Diced or shredded potatoes are an easy way to make egg casseroles extra hearty and filing. Best of all they can be added to the baking dish straight from the freezer — no thawing or par-cooking necessary.

• Cheesy Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
  
• Sausage and Greens Breakfast Casserole
  
• Bacon, Potato & Egg Breakfast Casserole

Okay, this isn’t getting too far afield from egg casseroles, but potato casseroles are their own (indulgent) thing. And using frozen potatoes means that you don’t have to peel, chop, and cook potatoes. It’s a shortcut to potato goodness.

Get a recipe: Creamy Cheesy Potatoes

I think that soups have been mentioned in nearly all of these Shop Your Freezer columns, but it’s worth repeating again: frozen vegetables are so convenient for quick weeknight soups and stews. Frozen diced potatoes can be swapped for fresh by stirring into soups and stews in the last few minutes of cooking. Or simmer a bag of frozen potatoes in chicken stock with some garlic and herbs, then purée. Instant comfort.

• 5-Ingredient Family-Friendly Baked Potato Soup
  
• Simple Kale and Potato Soup
  
• Slow Cooker Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew

Diced potatoes and hash browns make a hearty base for hashes and one-skillet meals. It means a shorter cooking time, and unlike fresh potatoes, there’s no need for par-cooking and you can add them straight from the freezer to a hot skillet.

• Fried Potatoes and Sausage Skillet
  
• Salmon Hash with Yukon Gold Potatoes and Herbs

Frittatas are such a great weeknight dinner, but I don’t always have the energy to peel and chop potatoes. Again, frozen potatoes to the rescue.

• Potato, Red Pepper, and Feta Frittata
• Fresh Herb, Potato, and Goat Cheese Frittata

Do you use frozen potatoes? How do they make their way into your cooking?