This easy potato side dish is made with sliced Yukon Gold potatoes, sweet onions, and butter. They’re soft inside and golden on the outside, full of flavor. A simple and classic recipe that works with chicken, beef, or even fish.
Jump to RecipeIngredients Needed:
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 g) Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt, plus more to taste; for table salt use half as much by volume or the same weight
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) distilled white vinegar
- 5 tablespoons (75 g) melted homemade or store-bought clarified butter, divided
- 1 large sweet onion (8 ounces; 225 g), thinly sliced
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, for garnish.
How To Make Lyonnaise Potatoes Recipe?
- Boil the potatoes: Add sliced potatoes to a large pot and cover with 1 inch of cold water. Add salt and vinegar, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 4 minutes until just tender. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the onions: Heat 1 tablespoon of clarified butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions with a pinch of salt and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and lightly browned. Add 1 tablespoon of water and stir to loosen any bits from the pan. Transfer onions to a bowl.
- Brown the first batch of potatoes: Add 2 tablespoons of clarified butter to the same skillet. Place half of the potatoes in one layer and cook for about 3 minutes until golden underneath. Flip and cook another 3 minutes until tender and golden. Move them to the bowl with the onions.
- Brown the second batch: Add the last 2 tablespoons of butter and cook the rest of the potatoes the same way.
- Mix and heat: Return all potatoes and onions to the skillet, gently toss to mix, and cook for 1 more minute until hot. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Transfer to a plate, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve warm.

Recipe Tips:
- Slice potatoes evenly: Make sure all potato slices are the same thickness (about 1/4 inch) so they cook evenly and don’t fall apart or stay undercooked.
- Don’t skip the vinegar: Adding vinegar to the boiling water helps the potatoes keep their shape and not get mushy.
- Use clarified butter only: Regular butter can burn. Clarified butter gives better flavor and can handle high heat when browning.
- Cook onions low and slow: Don’t rush the onions—cooking them slowly brings out their natural sweetness and gives the dish extra flavor.
- Don’t stir potatoes too much: Let them sit and brown in the pan before flipping. This gives that crispy, golden crust without breaking it.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let the leftover Lyonnaise potatoes cool to room temperature. Then place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat with a little butter or oil. Add the potatoes and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring gently until warmed through and slightly crispy.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Total Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 33mg
- Sodium: 570mg
- Potassium: 620mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 2g
- Protein: 3g
Try More James Martin Recipes:
James Martin Lyonnaise Potatoes Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: FrenchDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes18
minutes230
kcalThis easy potato side dish is made with sliced Yukon Gold potatoes, sweet onions, and butter. They’re soft inside and golden on the outside, full of flavor. A simple and classic recipe that works with chicken, beef, or even fish.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds (680 g) Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
2 tablespoons (18 g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt, plus more to taste; for table salt use half as much by volume or the same weight
2 tablespoons (30 ml) distilled white vinegar
5 tablespoons (75 g) melted homemade or store-bought clarified butter, divided
1 large sweet onion (8 ounces; 225 g), thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, for garnish.
Directions
- Boil the potatoes: Add sliced potatoes to a large pot and cover with 1 inch of cold water. Add salt and vinegar, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 4 minutes until just tender. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the onions: Heat 1 tablespoon of clarified butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions with a pinch of salt and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and lightly browned. Add 1 tablespoon of water and stir to loosen any bits from the pan. Transfer onions to a bowl.
- Brown the first batch of potatoes: Add 2 tablespoons of clarified butter to the same skillet. Place half of the potatoes in one layer and cook for about 3 minutes until golden underneath. Flip and cook another 3 minutes until tender and golden. Move them to the bowl with the onions.
- Brown the second batch: Add the last 2 tablespoons of butter and cook the rest of the potatoes the same way.
- Mix and heat: Return all potatoes and onions to the skillet, gently toss to mix, and cook for 1 more minute until hot. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Transfer to a plate, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve warm.
Notes
- Slice potatoes evenly: Make sure all potato slices are the same thickness (about 1/4 inch) so they cook evenly and don’t fall apart or stay undercooked.
- Don’t skip the vinegar: Adding vinegar to the boiling water helps the potatoes keep their shape and not get mushy.
- Use clarified butter only: Regular butter can burn. Clarified butter gives better flavor and can handle high heat when browning.
- Cook onions low and slow: Don’t rush the onions—cooking them slowly brings out their natural sweetness and gives the dish extra flavor.
- Don’t stir potatoes too much: Let them sit and brown in the pan before flipping. This gives that crispy, golden crust without breaking it.