Oven Baked Buttery Potato Cups
These easy oven-baked potato cups turn three simple ingredients into a crispy, buttery side dish that looks much more impressive than it actually is. Thinly sliced potatoes are layered into a muffin tin, brushed with melted butter, and baked until the edges are golden and crisp while the centers stay tender.
They are perfect for family dinners, summer cookouts, holiday meals, potlucks, and dinner parties. Serve them alongside roast beef, grilled chicken, burgers, or a fresh green salad for an easy homemade side everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes, peeled
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
How to Make Oven-Baked Potato Cups
- Prepare the oven and muffin tin: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly brush a 12-cup muffin tin with some of the melted butter.
- Slice the potatoes: Cut the peeled potatoes into very thin slices, approximately 1/8 inch thick. Thin, even slices are important because they need to bend easily when forming the cups.
- Season the potatoes: Place the potato slices in a large bowl. Add the remaining melted butter and salt, then gently toss until every slice is coated.
- Form the cups: Arrange overlapping potato slices inside each muffin cup. Press them gently against the bottom and sides to create small potato cups.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the potato edges are deeply golden and crisp and the centers are tender.
- Cool slightly: Let the potato cups rest in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes. Carefully remove them and serve warm.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Only 3 ingredients: Potatoes, butter, and salt are all you need for this simple side dish.
Crispy and buttery: The thin potato edges become beautifully crisp while the centers remain tender and flavorful.
Easy to make: A muffin tin does most of the work, making this recipe simple enough for busy weeknights.
Great for entertaining: Individual potato cups look elegant on a serving platter and are easy for guests to pick up.
Budget-friendly: Potatoes are an inexpensive ingredient that can be transformed into an impressive side dish.
Versatile: Serve them with steak, roast beef, grilled chicken, burgers, or almost any main course.
Tips for Perfect Potato Cups
Slice the potatoes thinly: Aim for about 1/8 inch thickness. A mandoline can help create consistent slices.
Don’t overcrowd the muffin cups: Overlapping the slices is important, but avoid creating an excessively thick layer or the potatoes may not cook evenly.
Use russet potatoes for crispiness: Their texture works especially well for creating golden, crispy edges.
Try Yukon Gold potatoes: For a slightly creamier texture and richer potato flavor, Yukon Golds are an excellent alternative.
Add black pepper: A little freshly ground black pepper adds extra flavor without complicating the recipe.
Finish with herbs: Sprinkle freshly chopped chives or parsley over the warm potato cups before serving.
Add cheese: A little freshly grated Parmesan or cheddar can be added during the final few minutes of baking for an extra savory finish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these crispy potato cups with:
- Grilled burgers
- Roast beef
- Baked chicken
- Steak
- Barbecue chicken
- Green salad
- Sour cream and chives
- Cheddar cheese
- Herbed dipping sauce
Storage and Reheating
For the best texture, serve the potato cups while they are warm and crisp. If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container and reheat them in a 375°F oven until warmed through and the edges become crisp again.
