Step 1

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2

Wash and scrub your potatoes to make sure they are nice and clean, then spread them out to let dry. It doesn't take too long.

Step 3

Slice each potato in half or in quarters, for large potatoes. All the potatoes should be roughly similar in size, for even roasting.

Step 4

Place all the potatoes on a rimmed 11x17 inch baking sheet.

Step 5

Add 3-4 cloves smashed garlic. You can mince the garlic and mix it into the potatoes if you like, but I just leave them smashed and whole.

Step 6

Drizzle the potatoes and garlic with 3 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil.

Step 7

In a small bowl, combine all the spices: 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt, a bit of cracked black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (this adds flavor not heat), and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

Step 8

Sprinkle the spices over the tops of the potatoes. Use your hands to massage the oil and spices into the potatoes. Make sure each potato gets coated.

Step 9

Arrange the potatoes on the pan so that they are cut-side down.* The potatoes should not be touching each other (or they will steam in the oven instead of roasting. We want them nice and crispy!) See photos.

Step 10

Roast the potatoes at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Step 11

Take the pan out of the oven and use a spatula or tongs to carefully flip the potatoes over (so that the other cut-side that is still white is now touching the pan.) If there is any oil pooling in the center of your pan and it's causing the potatoes to not brown, soak up some of the oil with a paper towel and discard.

Step 12

Place the pan back in the oven and continue roasting for another 15-20 minutes (the total roasting time is 45-50 minutes).

Step 13

Take the potatoes out of the oven and serve immediately. Garnish with chopped herbs (such as dill or parsley), and just before serving, toss with 1 tablespoons white wine vinegar. This step is optional, but oh so tasty! It gives these potatoes the perfect zing! Shredded parmesan on top is also a great option.

Step 14

Store leftovers covered in the fridge. Reheat leftovers on a pan in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes. Microwaving them will make them hot but not crispy. Another option is to give them a quick saute in a pan on the stove to reheat.

Step 15

I love serving these potatoes as a side dish with basically any meal, but they are also a great appetizer to serve at parties with a dip. They are as addictive as French fries, but still delicious room temperature. Try it with this Chipotle Mayo, or Garlic Aioli, or Tzatziki Sauce Recipe,  or Creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or Cheese Sauce!