Roasted Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes (Easy Oven Roasted Potato Side Dish)

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Roasted baby Yukon Gold potatoes are an easy oven-roasted side dish with crisp edges, creamy centers, and simple garlic herb flavor. They pair well with weeknight dinners, holiday meals, and roast beef.

A white bowl filled with roasted baby potatoes garnished with herbs sits on a tiled counter. Behind the bowl are a bottle of olive oil, a pepper grinder, and a green cloth.

Why You'll Love This Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes Recipe

You're going to love this easy recipe for roasted Yukon Gold potatoes. Prep is quick, and your hands are free during the roasting phase to prepare other parts of your holiday menu or weeknight meal.

Garlic, thyme, and olive oil lightly coat the potatoes and roast into a simple seasoning that highlights the naturally buttery flavor of Yukon Gold potatoes.

Minimal prep: Baby Yukon Gold potatoes roast whole, so there is no peeling or chopping required.
Naturally buttery flavor: Yukon Gold potatoes have a rich flavor and creamy interior that roasts beautifully.
Crispy edges with tender centers: Roasting at high heat creates golden, crisp skins while keeping the inside soft.
Versatile side dish: These roasted potatoes pair easily with steak, roast beef, chicken, or holiday meals.

A white bowl filled with roasted baby potatoes, garnished with herbs, sits on a dark tiled surface. A green cloth and sprigs of fresh thyme are visible in the background.

Ingredients Overview

This recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients that bring out the natural flavor of baby Yukon Gold potatoes.

Baby Yukon Gold potatoes are ideal for roasting because their medium-starch texture allows them to crisp on the outside while staying creamy inside. If you're unsure which potatoes work best for roasting, see my guide on how to choose the right potato for your recipe.

Garlic, thyme, olive oil, salt, and black pepper provide simple seasoning that lets the flavor of the potatoes shine.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

A bowl of small potatoes, a sprig of thyme, a garlic bulb, a small dish of salt, a pepper grinder, and a bottle of olive oil arranged on a gray tiled countertop.

Should You Cut Baby Potatoes Before Roasting?

Baby Yukon Gold potatoes can be roasted whole if they are small and uniform in size. Whole baby potatoes develop crisp skins while staying creamy inside.

If the potatoes are larger than about 1½ inches, cutting them in half helps them cook faster and allows more surface area to brown during roasting.

For evenly roasted potatoes, try to keep the pieces roughly the same size so they finish cooking at the same time.

How To Make Roasted Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes (425°F Oven)

These roasted baby potatoes are prepared in just a few minutes before going into the oven.

Toss the potatoes with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, then roast them on a sheet pan until they are fork tender and lightly golden.

Pro Tip

For the best browning, spread the potatoes in a single layer on the sheet pan. Crowding the pan traps steam and prevents the potatoes from developing crisp edges.

A white bowl of small potatoes, a glass bottle of olive oil, and a wooden cutting board with chopped garlic, salt in a small bowl, and fresh herbs sit on a tiled kitchen countertop in sunlight.

Preheat the oven to 425℉ Wash the baby Yukon Gold potatoes and place in a bowl or a zipper bag.

Add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, fresh thyme leaves, and cornstarch if using.

A white bowl filled with small potatoes, topped with herbs and spices, sits on a gray tiled surface. Nearby are a pepper grinder, an open salt container, a small glass of salt, and a bottle of oil.

A white bowl filled with seasoned baby potatoes sits on a gray tiled surface, with fresh herbs, a bottle of olive oil, and a pepper grinder nearby.

Add the olive oil to the bowl and mix all ingredients. If using a plastic bag, seal and mix with your hands.

Turn the seasoned potatoes out onto a large rimmed sheet pan or baking dish.

Small whole potatoes coated with chopped herbs and garlic are arranged on a dark baking tray, ready for roasting. The tray sits on a gray tiled countertop with sprigs of herbs and seasoning visible nearby.

A white bowl filled with roasted baby potatoes, garnished with herbs, sits on a tiled surface next to a sprig of thyme, a green cloth, and a bottle of olive oil.

Set the pan in the preheated oven and roast for about 35 minutes, or until the baby Yukon Gold potatoes are fork tender and lightly golden. Remove and transfer to a bowl for serving.

Serving Suggestions

Roasted baby Yukon Gold potatoes are an easy side dish for steak, roast beef, or grilled meats. If you're wondering what to serve with steak, these crispy roasted potatoes pair perfectly with dishes like grilled sirloin steak or a roasted tri-tip.

Serve them alongside roasted meats, grilled steak, baked chicken, or hearty stews. They also make a great side for holiday dinners when you want something simple that cooks in the oven while the main dish finishes.

These potatoes pair especially well with:

Roast beef or roasted lamb
Grilled steak or burgers
Roast chicken or broiled chicken thighs
Irish lamb stew or shepherd's pie
Holiday dinners like St. Patrick's Day or Christmas roasts

A white bowl filled with roasted baby potatoes seasoned with herbs, placed on a tiled surface with a pepper grinder and a green napkin in the background.

Substitutions and Variations

Some useful tips and substitutions when making this recipe:

Use other small potatoes: Baby red potatoes or fingerling potatoes roast well using the same method.
Add extra herbs: Rosemary, oregano, or parsley can be added with the thyme for additional herb flavor.
Use garlic powder instead: If you don't have fresh garlic, ½ teaspoon garlic powder can be used.
Extra crispy potatoes: Toss the potatoes with 1 teaspoon cornstarch before roasting to help the edges brown and crisp.
Add lemon after roasting: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the finished potatoes.

Tips for Success

These small tricks help the potatoes develop the golden edges that make crispy roasted potatoes so good:

Roast at high heat: 425°F helps the potatoes develop crisp skins and golden edges.
Keep the potatoes similar in size: Evenly sized baby potatoes roast at the same rate.
Spread potatoes out: Leaving space between potatoes allows heat to circulate for better browning.
Toss halfway if desired: Turning them once during roasting helps ensure even browning.

Storage Options

Here is how to store leftovers from this recipe:

Refrigerator: Store leftover roasted potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a 375°F oven or air fryer for several minutes to restore crisp edges.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended because cooked potatoes tend to become grainy when thawed.

More Potato Side Dish Recipes

If you're looking for more potato side dishes, these recipes are easy to make and pair well with weeknight dinners, holiday meals, and grilled meats. You can also see all our potato side dish recipes at the hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to peel Yukon Gold potatoes before roasting?

No. The thin skin of Yukon Gold potatoes becomes tender and slightly crisp during roasting, so peeling is not necessary.

Should you cut baby Yukon Gold potatoes before roasting?

Small baby Yukon Gold potatoes can be roasted whole. If the potatoes are larger than about 1½ inches, cutting them in half helps them cook faster and develop more crisp edges.

Why are my roasted potatoes not crispy?

Potatoes may not crisp if the pan is crowded or the oven temperature is too low. Spread them in a single layer and roast at high heat for best browning.

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A white bowl filled with roasted baby potatoes, garnished with herbs, sits on a tiled surface. The potatoes have crispy, golden skin with visible seasoning.

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