These Greek Lemon Potatoes are browned and tender and make a fantastic side dish to all sorts of meals.
Greek Lemon Potatoes are well-loved throughout Greece and beyond for good reason. Not only are they immensely flavorful on their own, but they pair so well with a variety of roasts, fish, and other mains. There are some tips however you should know to get beautifully browned potatoes that are full of flavor.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.

What Are Greek Lemon Potatoes?
Greek Lemon Potatoes (known as patates lemonates in Greece) are among the most popular side dishes in Greek cuisine. They’re potato that have been roasted with lemon juice, olive oil, chicken broth, and sometimes other complementary flavors such as garlic, oregano, and even mustard. The broth mixture absorbs into the potatoes as they cook until they are creamy and vibrantly flavorful on the inside and crisped and golden on the outside.
Which Are The Best Potatoes To Use?
Waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, are an excellent choice for this dish as they remain firm as they soak up the flavorful liquid and crisp up nicely. However, if you prefer a fluffier texture for your potatoes, you might choose a baking potato, such as russet potatoes.
How To Get Crispy Potatoes
In my recipe, we’re browning the potatoes on the stove first, which creates a caramelized crust that the oven just can’t achieve.
Most Greek lemon potato recipes call for a high oven temp with the potatoes swimming in a mixture of stock, lemon juice, and olive oil. The expectation being that the oven will first steam and then brown and crisp the potatoes. In theory, the potatoes absorb the liquid and then the oil that’s leftover will crisp the potatoes.
The problem I’ve found with this method is that not all of the liquid evaporates and so there is always too much humidity in the oven to allow the potatoes to brown properly. Turning on the broiler to finish the job, which is often the solution other recipes call for, only burns the delicate lemon and herbs. (And creates a mess of the pan.)
I’ve tried several recipes, and they just don’t work for me, not even the NYTimes recipe. The sugars and other compounds in the lemon juice become burned and bitter, and garlic and herbs burn as well.
The Solution For Perfect Lemon Potatoes
By only browning one side of the potatoes in the pan on the stove, the other side can soak up all of the chicken stock and lemon juice flavors as they bake in the oven. Best of both worlds – a little crispy and totally tender.
The lemon zest, garlic, and herb mixture that’s added after the potatoes come out of the oven blooms in the warm oil that’s left in the bottom of the pan after baking, bringing a bright lemon flavor (that’s not bitter), and fresh garlic and herb flavor (that isn’t burned) to the dish.
With oregano, it’s Greek lemon potatoes. If you use thyme, it could be considered French. With parsley, Italian or American. Add any fresh herbs, and if you don’t have fresh, dried can be used (sparingly).
Is It Safe To Cook Acidic Food In Cast Iron?
You may have noticed from my photos that I made my Greek potatoes in my trusty cast iron skillet. If you then thought, “oh no, what about the acid from the fresh lemon juice?”, don’t worry.
If your cast iron is well seasoned, this won’t be a problem. The lemon juice is diluted by the stock and won’t be simmering for an extended time. You should store any leftovers in an airtight container and not store them in the pan.
No cast iron skillet? Check that whatever pan you’re using is oven-safe to at least 400°F. Alternatively, you could move your browned potatoes into a baking dish before adding the liquid and baking. But then there’s an extra dish to wash.
What To Serve With Lemon Potatoes
These potatoes pair wonderfully with all kinds of roasts, such as Roasted Leg of Lamb or Air Fryer Whole Chicken, as well as seafood mains like Baked Haddock with Onions and Herbs or Roasted Side of Salmon. In addition, many people like to serve a cool, creamy Tzatziki sauce for dipping.
Make It Ahead
Greek Lemon Potatoes should stay fresh, covered in the refrigerator, for 3 to 5 days. They also reheat rather well: just arrange the fully cooked potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and heat in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until they’re heated through.
Podcast Episode About Lemony Potatoes
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make these potatoes, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Greek Lemon Potatoes
These lemon potatoes get browned on the stove and then cooked in flavorful liquid in the oven to create the perfect side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. salt
- ¾ cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 Tbsp. fresh minced oregano, thyme, or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut potatoes into quarters, set aside.
- Preheat a 12 or 14-inch oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, swirl to coat. Add potatoes, cut-side down. Sprinkle salt evenly over potatoes. Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown.
- Flip potatoes so browned sides are facing up. Add chicken stock and lemon juice.
- Place pan in oven. Bake 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together lemon zest, garlic, and fresh herbs and set aside.
- Remove pan from oven. Sprinkle lemon zest mixture over potatoes, toss to coat. Serve warm.
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Notes
- If you don’t have fresh herbs, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano or thyme can be used instead.
- Find the largest Yukon Gold potatoes you can – it’s not easy peeling little ones. Yes, they need to be peeled; it helps the potato absorb flavor.
Photos by Dawn Viola.

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