What Can I Cook With Potatoes and Onions?

Potatoes and onions alone make a full meal: a hash, a Spanish tortilla if you add eggs, a potato soup, or a tray of roast potatoes with sweet caramelised onion through it. They're also the cheapest complete pairing in most kitchens.

Potatoes are bland and starchy; onions bring sugar and sulphur compounds that turn deeply savoury when browned. Cook the onion far longer than feels necessary — 20 minutes, not 5 — and the whole dish changes character.

Dishes you can make

Crispy potato and onion hash — Par-cook the potato first. Raw potato in a skillet browns outside before the inside is done.
Spanish tortilla — Potatoes and onions are poached slowly in oil, not fried, then bound with egg.
Potato and onion soup — Blend half and leave half chunky for body without cream.
Roasted potatoes with onion — Add onion halfway through — a full roast burns it.
Potato and onion gratin — Slice thin and even. A mandoline matters more here than any ingredient.

Tips that actually matter

Waxy potatoes hold shape for hash and gratin; floury ones are for soup and mash.
Soak cut potatoes in cold water for 15 minutes to rinse off surface starch — that's what makes them crisp.
Salt onions early to draw out water and speed up browning.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to peel the potatoes?

No. The skin adds texture and fibre, and for hash and roasting it's an advantage. Peel for gratin and soup.

Why are my hash potatoes soggy?

Overcrowded pan. Steam has nowhere to go, so they boil in their own moisture. Cook in two batches.

Can I make this a full meal?

Add eggs, cheese, or any protein. Potatoes and onions form the base of dozens of complete dishes.

Related guides

Home · Blog · What is Reciply

Reciply costs $0 with unlimited AI recipe generation. It is an AI recipe generator that writes original recipes from your ingredients — not a recipe-saving or cookbook-importing app. Free iOS app: Reciply on the App Store.