Easy Potato Latkes Recipe

Easy potato latkes take the work out of the classic recipe with a few easy shortcuts. These potato pancakes are a yummy treat around Hanukkah, and make a delicious breakfast or dinner.

While my family doesn’t celebrate Hanukkah, we have several friends who do.

And I have been lucky enough to be included in their festivities from time to time.

Of course, while sharing the holiday with my friends is my favorite part, the food comes in right behind it.

And let me tell you, potato latkes are amazing.

In fact, I look forward to heading to my friend’s celebration each year and dream of those potato fritters long before and after her party.

What’s the difference between latkes and potato pancakes?

Latkes and potato pancakes are pretty similar.

Some people may think that latkes are a special kind of pancake in Jewish cuisine.

While latkes do originate from Jewish cooking, there are a few other differences.

Both potato pancakes and latkes are made of potatoes and eggs, but latkes often include other ingredients as well like milk, baking powder, and matzo meal or flour.

Potato pancakes do not generally have those ingredients.

What do potato latkes taste like?

These potato latkes tastes like crispy shredded potatoes with a mild hint of onion and seasoning.

Ingredients

To make these you’ll need:

• Hash browns– Refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes are the secret time saving ingredient in these easy latkes. This saves you from having to grate the potatoes yourself and worrying about squeezing out all their excess moisture!
• Onion– Grated
• Eggs– Beating
• Flour– White flour or you can sub matzo meal.
• Baking powder– For a little leavening.
• Seasoning– Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper
• Oil– Canola oil for frying

How to Make

To make these,  stir together the hash browns, onions, and eggs in a large mixing bowl to evenly combine them.

In a a second mixing bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together to evenly combine.

Mix the hash brown mixture with the flour mixture to form a batter.

Then, heat 1.5 inches of canola oil in a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium high heat.

Let the oil get nice and hot.

Once the oil’s hot, add 1/2 cup dollops of batter carefully to the oil.

Fry on medium high heat until golden brown and crispy, and then flip and fry until the other side is also golden brown and crispy.

Using a slotted spoon or spider strainer, transfer the cooked latkes to a paper towel lined plate to drain off excess grease.

Repeat this process until all the latke batter has been fried.

Serve warm with cold sour cream or apple sauce.

Storing leftovers

Let the latkes cool and spread them in an even layer in a wide container.

If you have to stack the latkes on top of each other, make sure to separate the layers with parchment paper so they don’t stick together.

Store them covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

I don’t recommend keeping them longer than that as they start to get soggy and sad in the fridge.

Can I freeze latkes?

Yes! These actually freeze really well.

To freeze them, put them in an air tight freezer bag with parchment paper between each latke so they don’t stick together.

They will keep in the freezer for 3 months.

What To Serve With Latkes

Warm latkes are a delicious treat all by themselves, and one we will happily serve & enjoy for both breakfast and dinner.

My kids eat them like pancakes with pats of softened butter and the occasional drizzle of syrup.

I prefer mine topped with thinly sliced green onions and with a heavy dollop (or two!) of sour cream.

Other popular dipping, or drizzling, options include both applesauce and brown gravy.

Tips and Tricks

• You can shape the latkes prior to frying them if you prefer thinner patties and a more uniform shape. You can also leave them in dollops, totally up to personal preference.
• Have leftover roast beef or pastrami? Use it to make latke sandwiches.
• Want to make grating the onion easy?  Use your food processor with the grater attachment.

Other Holiday Potato Recipes

Easy potato latkes are a quick way to make the classic dish. Try them and enjoy!

Looking for other holiday potato recipes? Try these:

• Crispy Parmesan Crusted Roast Potatoes
• Irish Potato Pie
• Leftover Mashed Potato & Stuffing Pancakes
• Honey Roasted Red Potatoes
• Cheesy Garlic Butter Cracked Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Potatoes
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
• Scalloped Potato Gratin Casserole

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