Easy Potato Pancakes

Potato pancakes have to be one of the best ways you can prepare potatoes. They are perfectly seasoned with salt, pepper, and onion, and then fried to a perfect golden brown. You can serve these with applesauce and sour cream for a wonderful side dish or meatless main dish.

a stack of potato pancakes on a plate

Growing up I knew it was a special meal when my Mom would make these potato pancakes. I can’t begin to tell you why I find these so delicious. I personally love hash browns, but these are so much better than hash browns.

Perkins restaurant has similar potato pancakes. But you don’t have to go to Perkins because you can easily make them at home.

These famous pancakes have their origin in Eastern Europe. Many countries in Eastern Europe have their own variations of this classic dish.

These potato pancakes are Polish style and are served with sour cream or applesauce. You can also serve them with meat sauce.

Czech potato pancakes are most often made with bread crumbs and seasoned with garlic.

Latkes are also a popular type of potato pancake. They are made during Hanukkah to help celebrate the holiday.

It doesn’t really matter which culture you come from, I think you will find potato pancakes to be very tasty.

I like to make mine with either Yukon Gold potatoes or Russet. I have made these with sweet potatoes, but I am a traditionalist when it comes to my potato pancakes.

For this recipe, I like to use white onions because I find them sweeter than the yellow variety. I don’t bother chopping the onion either. I simply grate the onion. This saves me a little time in the preparation and grated onion works very well.

If you love potatoes, try these:

Here are a few vegetable side dishes to serve along with potatoes:

Be sure to check out more of my easy side dishes and vegetarian recipes.

a stack of potato pancakes on a plate

Potato Pancakes

Enjoy crispy, comforting homemade potato pancakes made with shredded potatoes and onions. 
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Potato Pancakes, Potato Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 268kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds potatoes
  • 1/2 large onion
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup apple sauce

Instructions

  • Peel potatoes and then grate them. Place grated potatoes into a bowl filled with water. Grate onion and also place into a bowl with the potatoes. Soak the potatoes for about 5 minutes or so. Mix together flour and egg in a large bowl until well blended. Season flour mixture with black pepper and salt. Drain water from potatoes and squeeze potatoes dry with your hands.
  •  Stir together flour mixture and potatoes until you have a uniform consistency. Heat a skillet to 350 degrees add a couple of teaspoons of oil. Make pancakes by taking about 1/4 cup of potato pancake mix and patting it out into the pan, cook until browned on one side, flip over, and then brown on the other side. This should take 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Serve with sour cream and applesauce.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 1030mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 27.2mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 8.2mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Russ

    So sorry, but these have very little resemblance to Potato Latkes. Your finished product is practically uncooked. Also, potatoes should be grated on the finest grate so that the onions (also finest grate) incorporate fully. I have rushed Latkes before by using the larger grate size. They taste more like hash browns. We agree on the ingredients, although I use just a bit of baking powder. Thank you.

  2. Wayne

    your thoughts I want to make these is a large batch for a party. Could I make them ahead patty them out and freeze them then when ready deep fat fry them.

  3. Pat

    5 stars
    Perhaps you could find the recipe for Elmer’s potato pancakes in Palm Springs …the best ever
    The restaurant has been around for 40 years and is always jammed with people.
    Their potato pancakes have green onions, bacon, and tilamok cheese

    Thanks..lot your site

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