Crispy Oven-Baked Potato Wedges

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t like potatoes in one form or another. And there are dozens upon dozens of ways to prepare this versatile vegetable (yes, it’s a vegetable, no matter what anyone else says). The spuds can be mashed, baked, roasted, deep-fried, and more. In our opinion, simple is usually the best way to go when it comes to preparing potatoes. They are mild and naturally buttery in flavor, so all they really need is some salt (and maybe a few cracks of pepper).

This recipe for potato wedges is one of the most low-maintenance ways to cook potatoes. All you need is a blazing hot oven and three ingredients to make these potato wedges. The thick pieces are fluffy on the inside and crisp and golden on the outside. They are so simple to cook, making them the ideal side dish for any weeknight dinner.

Best Types of Potatoes for Wedges

When it comes to these baked potato wedges, we land firmly in favor of using russet potatoes. Russets, sometimes labeled Idaho potatoes, tend to be a bit more starchy than other varieties, like Yukon gold or red, which is exactly what we want for this recipe. The starches help keep the moisture in the potatoes as they roast. They also contribute to the crisp texture when the edges come into contact with the pan and the heat from the oven. 

It's a good idea to try to find smaller russet potatoes when you’re doing your grocery shopping–smaller potatoes mean the wedges will cook more quickly and just be overall more manageable. Potatoes vary wildly in size, so choose potatoes that are similar in size so they cook at the same rate.

Potato Wedges vs. Roasted Potatoes

All potato wedges are roasted potatoes, but not all roasted potatoes are potato wedges. Roasted potatoes can technically be any shape you’d like (including wedges), but more often than not, recipes will instruct you to roast potatoes in bite-sized cubes. These potatoes can be roasted on their own, but they can also be used as a bed for meats like chicken, beef, and pork–the drippings from the meat will help flavor the potatoes. 

In addition, roasted potato recipes usually call for a lot more fat than potato wedges. This recipe only uses a little over a tablespoon of olive oil to cook two pounds of potatoes. Since it’s roasted at such a high heat, the potatoes can get away with using less oil.

Potato Wedges vs. French Fries

The differences here also come down to shape and the amount of fat used. Obviously, French fries are deep-fried in oil. They will develop a much more crisp outer crust than potato wedges that are made in the oven. Some French fries are made into wedge shapes, but for the most part, they are cut into long matchsticks.