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My Polish great grandmother’s potato pancakes are a family favorite comfort food! Serve the fried pancakes with sour cream or applesauce for a light dinner, or offer them as an easy side dish alongside your favorite entrée. It’s a simple, old-fashioned recipe that stands the test of time!
How to Make Potato Pancakes | 1-Minute Video
Potato Pancake Recipe
Most European cultures have their own version of potato pancakes that have been enjoyed for generations. Whether you’re German, Irish, Polish, or Russian, it’s very likely that these shallow-fried pancakes of grated potato, flour or matzo meal, and a binder such as egg or applesauce are a part of your family’s heritage.
Polish Potato Pancakes
This particular version comes from my Polish great grandmother. My grandmother was the first to actually write down the potato pancake recipe, which she prepared for our family every time she came to visit. I recently found my mom’s handwritten recipe on a 30-year-old piece of paper…and I knew that I needed to share it here! Literally translated in Polish as placki ziemniaczane, these pancakes were a food staple in 17th-century monasteries…and quickly became a part of peasants’ diets by the 18th and 19th centuries.
Potato Pancakes Around the World
Potato pancakes are the national dish of Belarus and Slovakia. In Germany, potato pancakes are a very common menu item at outdoor markets and festivals. You might recognize potato pancakes from these other cultures as well:
- Switzerland: called rösti, this variation never contains egg or flour.
- Germany: German potato pancakes are called kartoffelpuffer. They’re very similar to this Polish recipe, and commonly enjoyed at home or as a popular street food at Volksfests and holiday events like Fasching, Karneval and Christmas markets.
- United Kingdom: the British potato cake consists of flour, eggs, shredded potatoes and onions. Some people add tomato or cheese to the mix as well.
- Ireland: called boxti, these pancakes are similar to those served in Britain, with more starch and often with buttermilk and baking soda.
- Korea: called gamja-jeon, the Korean potato pancake is made by pan-frying grated potato and potato starch in oil. The potato mixture is sometimes mixed with onion, chili, and perilla leaf, and is often seasoned with salt and served with soy sauce.
- United States: hash browns are similar to these traditional potato pancakes, and are a classic breakfast food in this country.
What is the difference between potato pancakes and latkes?
Latkes are potato pancakes that Ashkenazi Jews have prepared as part of Hanukkah celebrations since the mid-1800s, based on an older dish that dates back to at least the Middle Ages. They’re not always made with potatoes, and instead might be made with vegetables, cheeses or legumes. Latkes are typically a bit thicker than potato pancakes, too.
Are potato pancakes the same as hash browns?
While similar, potato pancakes and hash browns are not exactly the same. Potato pancakes are typically held together with egg and flour, while hash browns are usually just shredded potatoes mixed with seasoning and sometimes onion.
Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you’ll need for my great grandmother’s potato pancakes. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Russet potatoes: peeled and then grated. My grandmother always insisted on grating the potatoes by hand (no matter how many pancakes she was making!), but the food processor is a great shortcut.
- Onion: adds subtle savory flavor.
- Egg: gives the pancakes structure and slight lift.
- All-purpose flour: a binder that helps hold the mixture together.
- Salt and pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the pancakes.
- Baking powder: a leavening agent that gives the pancakes a little bit lighter texture.
- Oil and butter: for frying. The butter adds flavor to the pancakes while the oil has a higher smoke point.
How to Make Potato Pancakes from Scratch
The simple, rustic pancakes come together quickly with just a few affordable staples.
- Use a box grater or food processor to coarsely grate the onion and potatoes, then squeeze dry.
- In a large bowl, use your hands to gently combine the grated potatoes and onion with the egg, flour, salt, pepper, and baking powder.
- Scoop about ¼-cup of the potato mixture into a hot skillet that’s coated with butter and oil. Fry each pancake for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. You’ll need to work in batches so that you don’t over-crowd the pan.
Why are my potato pancakes soggy?
If you find that your potato pancakes are soggy rather than crispy, it’s likely because your skillet and oil are not hot enough. The oil and pancakes should sizzle when they hit the pan. Also, do not overcrowd the pan by trying to cook too many pancakes at once. Work in batches. If you put too many pancakes in the skillet at the same time, it brings down the temperature of the oil and the pancakes tend to steam rather than fry.
Finally, remove as much moisture as possible from the potatoes and onions before frying. The extra step of straining off the liquid creates crispy potato pancakes!
How to Serve Potato Pancakes
You can serve the warm potato pancakes as a main entrée for dinner, along with any of these light toppings and sides:
- Sour cream or plain yogurt
- Applesauce
- Chives or green onions
- Maple syrup
- Fresh berries
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Smoked salmon
- Cucumber Salad
- Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onions
The pancakes are also a great side dish that goes well with just about any meat. Here are a few dishes to eat with your potato pancakes:
- Pork Chops
- Crispy Roast Chicken
- Grilled Salmon or Baked Salmon
- Grilled Steak or Pan-Seared Steak
- Virginia Brown Sugar Baked Ham
- Grilled Shrimp
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Prep ahead! To prepare the pancake mixture in advance, grate the potatoes and onion ahead of time and store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Don’t worry if they discolor a bit — you’ll have crispy, golden brown potatoes at the end!
- You can cook the potato pancakes in advance, drain them on paper towels, and then wrap tightly and store in a single layer in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Be aware that leftover, reheated potato pancakes can be a bit heavier than fresh-from-the-skillet pancakes, so cooking at the last minute is always my preference. That said, it’s not necessarily convenient, and that’s when reheating comes in handy!
- Cooked potato pancakes will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. To freeze, cool the pancakes completely, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and cover with plastic wrap. Once frozen, transfer the pancakes to a heavy-duty plastic freezer bag or other airtight container.
How to Reheat Potato Pancakes
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake the pancakes in the oven just until heated through (about 7-10 minutes for refrigerated pancakes or 15-20 minutes for frozen pancakes).
Nutrition
Made with just a few simple ingredients and lightly pan-fried in a small amount of oil and butter, this potato pancakes recipe can be a nutritious addition to just about any diet. Nutrition facts will vary depending on the ingredients that you use (this is just an estimate). Each 2-pancake serving includes about 175 calories, 1 gram of fat, 5 grams of protein and 39 grams of carbohydrates. This does not include the oil or butter that is absorbed in each pancake as it cooks. This particular potato pancakes recipe is not vegan, gluten-free, Keto-friendly or low-carb.
Recipe Variations
- Adjust the salt to suit your taste. I use 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, which is specified in my great grandmother’s recipe. Some folks find that too salty, so you may like to reduce the amount.
- Add extra seasoning, such as garlic powder or paprika. If you like the pancakes spicy, try a dash of cayenne.
- Scale the recipe up or down to suit the size of your family. For instance, cut the ingredients in half for fewer pancakes, or double or triple the recipe to feed a larger group.
Tips for the Best Potato Pancake Recipe
- You want the potatoes and onions coarsely grated. My grandmother always used the largest holes on a box grater, so that’s what I do! You can also use a food processor to make the job quicker and easier, if you prefer.
- Russet potatoes work best in this recipe because they have a high starch content, which helps to bind the pancakes together. I do not recommend substituting with red or yellow potatoes.
- Remove the moisture from the potatoes and onions by draining for a few minutes in a colander after grating. Then, just before combining with the rest of the ingredients, squeeze out any excess moisture with a dish towel. The dryer the potato mixture, the crispier the pancakes!
- Make sure that your pan is hot enough so that the potatoes sizzle in the skillet. Use a combination of butter (for flavor) and an oil that has a high smoke point (such as vegetable oil or canola oil).
More Easy Potato Recipes to Try
- Funeral Potatoes with frozen hash browns
- Make Ahead Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
- Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Southern Potato Salad
- Crispy Seasoned Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Grilled Potatoes
Great Grandmother’s Potato Pancakes
Equipment
- Large skillet (I own and love this Smithey Ironware Co. cast iron skillet)
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes (about 3 lbs.), peeled
- 1 medium onion, peeled
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Kosher salt, to taste (I use 1 tablespoon of kosher salt per my grandmother's recipe, but some folks find that too salty, so adjust according to your taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Butter and vegetable oil, for frying
- Optional, for serving: warm applesauce; maple syrup; chopped fresh chives other fresh herbs or green onions; sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°F. Place 2 nonstick baking sheets in oven.
- Using a box grater or a food processor fitted with a grating disc, coarsely grate the onion. Transfer the grated onion to a colander and set the colander in a sink to drain.
- Next, use the grater or food processor to coarsely grate the potatoes. Add the potatoes to the colander with the onion, and leave the colander in the sink to drain for a few minutes.
- In large bowl, whisk together egg, flour, salt, pepper and baking powder.
- Using a dish towel, gently squeeze excess liquid from the potatoes and onion. Add potato mixture to the bowl with the egg. Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scoop about ¼ cup of the potato mixture at a time, and place it in the skillet. Use a spatula to gently flatten the potato mixture into a pancake. Repeat with the remaining potatoes.
- Fry the potato pancakes until golden brown on each side (about 3-4 minutes per side). Then use a spatula to remove the pancakes from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Once drained, place the pancakes on the warm baking sheets in the oven to keep them warm while you finish frying the rest of the pancakes in batches.
- Use paper towels to carefully wipe out the skillet in between each batch of pancakes, adding 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet with each new batch. Continue frying 3-4 pancakes at a time until you have used all of the potato mixture.
- Serve the pancakes warm with applesauce, maple syrup or sour cream.
Video
Notes
- The potatoes and onions should be coarsely grated. My grandmother always used the largest holes on a box grater, so that’s what I do! You can also use a food processor to make the job quicker and easier if you prefer.
- Russet potatoes work best in this recipe because they have a high starch content, which helps to bind the pancakes together. I do not recommend substituting with red or yellow potatoes.
- Remove the moisture from the potatoes and onions by draining for a few minutes in a colander after grating. Then, just before combining with the rest of the ingredients, squeeze out as much liquid as you can with a dish towel. The dryer the potato mixture, the crispier the pancakes on the outside and more tender on the inside!
- Make sure that your pan is hot enough so that the potatoes sizzle in the skillet. Use a combination of butter (for flavor) and an oil that has a high smoke point (such as vegetable oil or canola oil).
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in February, 2020. The photos were updated in February, 2022.
I’ve been thinking about making my own grandmother’s potato pancakes recipe for a little while now and this post is encouraging me to do so! My grandmother’s recipe is similar although she didn’t add onions but she did add creamed corn! I will add the onion this time which I have been considering. Just haven’t made it in so long! Thanks for all your recipe posts, I’ve been trying some out and makes dinner suggestions easy!
Thank you, Linda! I’m so glad that you’re going to make your grandmother’s recipe (with a few tweaks). Food that brings back good memories is always the tastiest. 🙂 Have a wonderful week, and thanks for taking the time to leave me a note!
I am going to make these today! This recipe is just like my grandmother’s except she left out the onions. We ate them with applesauce or peaches! They were so yummy! Most other recipes I have come across do not have baking powder in the ingredients.
That’s great, Dawn. I hope you enjoy them and think of your grandmother! 🙂
Creamed Corn….REALLY? Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Excellent recipe, I prepared them for lunch and the family asked for them again on the same day for dinner! Thank you so much for sharing it, you’re a great cook 🙂
Yay! So glad that you love them as much as we do, Lubna. Thanks for taking the time to leave me a note!
My mom made my grandmother’s potato pancakes exactly like your recipe, for our family in the 1950’s! We sat at the table eating them as fast as she made them! Wonderful potato pancakes…wonderful memories!
THANK YOU!
That’s wonderful! Family recipes (and the memories associated with them) are always the best. Enjoy!
Perfect in every way. Just like my mom makes, and I also make them this way.
Thank you, Angelina! Mom always knows best! 🙂
One TABLESPOON of salt?! These would’ve been perfection, but the salt was overwhelming.
Simple and yummy! My Slovak grandma made potato pancakes when I was little, but I don’t recall her having a recipe. I forgot to add the baking powder so mine were a little flatter, but they were still very good and I remember my grandma’s being rather flat anyhow. Thank you for the recipe!
That’s awesome, Charissa! I’m so glad to know that they remind you of your grandmother. 🙂
I used 2Tbl Salt for double recipe. Way too much Salt. Had to throw away.
Great base recipe, I used red skin potatoes because thats what I had in the pantry already and boy I was surprised how much liquid I was able to squeeze out of them when shredded. It did seem to take a bit longer of a cook time for a nice deep brown crisp but thats just our families preference. Thank you for the traditional recipe, im sure your grandmother would be proud to know how you carried on her delicious legacy.
Thank you so much, Tina! 🙂
This is almost the same exact recipe that my grandfather used only thing different is no salt or pepper that we added afterwards and we add half of a carrot finely grated. I want to say that this is a local recipe from a small Polish town in Pennsylvania.
That’s so cool! My Polish grandmother was raised in Chicago, so not the same town — but definitely the same great taste. 😉
I’ve been attempting and failing at making my dad’s potato pancakes for years. His recipe is so vague and inexact, it’s nearly impossible to replicate. This time, I decided to consult the internet for help — and came across your recipe. Thanks to you, I’ve made my most successful batch ever! I’ll never tell my dad I cheated on his recipe, but this one is definitely bookmarked. Thank you so much!
That’s amazing, Ali! Such a compliment! So glad that you can now enjoy your “dad’s” potato pancakes in your own house. 🙂
I make these regularly. I top them with brown gravy and my home grown oyster mushrooms.
Oh, yum. That sounds amazing, Mark!
Made these and they were delish
REMEMBER the recipe calls for 1T Of Kosher salt but i figured it was a misprint so changed it to 1 teaspoon and tasted it and added a little bit more
I was searching for a potato pancake recipe, to use up some potatoes & found your blog. These were wonderful-whole family loved them & my husband said they tasted like they were from a restaurant. So glad I found your blog!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Renee. Thank you for taking the time to come back here and leave me a note. 🙂
My husband loves potato pancakes. I made these as a treat for Father’s Day and he said they are some of the best he has ever had and couldn’t stop eating them. Easy to make and so delicious. Thank you for sharing!
That’s so good to hear, Melissa! They’re on my list to make soon, too. I’m glad that your husband approves! 🙂
I don’t have a food processor. What do you suggest in cutting up the potatos?
I have a small veggie chopper, would that work ?
Hi, Anita! I always use a regular grater and grate the potatoes by hand — just like my grandmother used to. It’s the same grater that you’d use for a block of cheese. Hope you enjoy!
I make potato pancakes like I learned growing up. I’m also Polish, but never used baking powder and grated the potatoes on the fine side of the grater, never used shredded potatoes. Never had a recipe either. I use potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Fry them in bacon grease, if available, otherwise oil.
The only thing I do differently is put grated potatoes, onions in strainer over bowl. Push down with spoon or hands to get liquid out. Pour of clear liquid in bowl and then mix in starchy residue in potato mixture. Learned this from Jenny Can Cook.
That’s a great tip, Eileen. Thank you!
I’ve yet to make these but in the past when grating onions they always ended up with a bitter taste. Has anyone else had this problem?
Hi, Marsha! I haven’t had that issue, so I’m interested to see if others might weigh in. 🙂
Where does it sY how to make pancakes potato
Hi Georgia!
You can find the complete recipe for any post in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
I made this for Easter brunch and it was very popular. Next time I’ll use a finer shredder for the potatoes, but this worked as written.
Thank you!
Delicious! This is a keeper recipe! Made exactly as directed. It was, however, a lot for a family of four. And it took forever to grate 3lbs of potatoes and an onion. Next time, I’ll halve the recipe since I didn’t need or want any leftovers. This recipe made about 8-10 pancakes that were approx 4-in wide.
Thank you, Janelle!
How do you half recipe with one egg?
Hi Christine!
The best way to do this is to whisk the egg in a separate bowl, and use just half (roughly 2 Tablespoons) of the mixture. 🙂
These are fabulous and easy! Great served with Swedish meatballs and pea soup.
Sounds like a delicious meal, Margaret! Thank you!
I made these for an impromptu Octoberfest meal for my family and they were a hit. My mom recently had a stroke and couldn’t tell me how to make her potato pancakes but these were just as good. I’m definitely keeping this recipe in my file of favorites. Thank you so much for sharing your family recipe.
Thank you, Donna! I’m so glad that you enjoyed them. It’s nice to have nostalgic recipes to turn to when the craving strikes, so I’m glad that these lived up to your mom’s version!
Excellent recipe. I added a few spices, but otherwise made it as is. It is a great recipe and turned out perfectly. Was a hit! Everyone loved it. I served it with smoked salmon, a poached egg and dill sour cream.
This is exactly what I am looking for and sounds like how my mom would make these. Will definitely try. Glad I found this recipe and thank you
Hope you love them, Christine!
I made this recipe yesterday morning and it is perfect, just what I wanted in a potato pancake. I just cut the recipe in half as Only needed for two people, yummy and thanks again
So glad to hear that, Christine!
Just like my Polish Bushia and mother’s, but we dip ours lightly in sugar probably because sour cream and applesauce wasn’t available to our grandparents. A meal in themselves for Fridays.
We will have to try it that way as well! Thank you for sharing.
I made these for breakfast and they turned out perfect and delicious!
We’re so happy to hear this, Catherine!
My first time making potato pancakes and these were delicious. The only thing I would do next time is fry them over medium heat. Medium high browned them a bit more quickly than I wanted, and I didn’t want to burn them, so the insides could have used another minute, even making them as flat as possible. I’m bookmarking this recipe though!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! They turned out just like those my (Polish) Mother and Grandmother used to make. Until now, I was going by memory and guessing about the ratio of ingredients, so, thank you again for sharing your Great Grandmother’s wonderful recipe.
That’s so good to hear, Emily! There’s nothing better than a dish that reminds us of family.
Curious to know how many pancakes does this recipe make? Excited to try it!
Hi, Alice! I think it’s about a dozen, but that can vary depending on how large each pancake turns out. Hope you enjoy!
This is an excellent recipe.
I cut the recipe in half and added some chopped chives along with the onion.
Served them with applesauce.
It was delicious and definitely a keeper.
Yum! Thank you, Lillie!
I’ve seen lots of recipes and comments but no one has mentioned apple butter as a topping, tangier than applesauce,.
Great suggestion, Judy! We love apple butter, but we’ve never tried it with this recipe. Thank you!
Finally one that works!!
After shredding the potatoes/grating, I rinsed them, several times until the water went clear, and then continued on with the recipe.
We’re so happy these turned out well for you!
Our family has a large gathering in another city. Can these be frozen and reheated?
Hi Maureen,
Yes! Cooked potato pancakes will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. To freeze, cool the pancakes completely, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and cover with plastic wrap. Once frozen, transfer the pancakes to a heavy-duty plastic freezer bag or other airtight container.
When you’re ready to eat, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake them in the oven just until heated through (about 7-10 minutes for refrigerated pancakes or 15-20 minutes for frozen pancakes).
Hope this helps!
Please DO NOT grate the potatoes the day before. Eating dark gray potato pancakes is not appetizing in any way.
We found them to be bland and without a good texture. Just like shredded potatoes plopped on a pan to be made crispy.
We’re sorry this didn’t turn out well for you, Karen. It’s crucial for the pan to be hot enough to allow the potatoes to crisp back up. We hope you try it again and are happy to help troubleshoot, if needed!
Amazing! Just like grandma used to make!
Thanks, Traci. I’m so happy to hear that!
Nice! I will be preparing these today! This recipe closely resembles my grandmother’s, with the exception that she didn’t include onions. We used to enjoy them with either applesauce or peaches, and they were absolutely delicious! Unlike most other recipes I’ve encountered, this one includes baking powder in the list of ingredients> to aalikinfo.com
We hope they taste like your grandmother’s version and you enjoy the recipe, Elon!
Just made them for 2 of us only used 2 large potatoes however kepted the egg mixture the same. Added galuc and parsley.
Thanks for this recipe
Thank you, Bill!
hello there finally a recipe like my gramma and mom made..growing up Fridays were always fish n chips or potato pancakes..also the left over mashed potaoe pancakes another fave .
these were just perfect..had them for supper tonight.. I only had red potoes as rarely have russet..but still so good.. I will pick up some russet next time just for the sake of seeing the difference..tfs..huggzz
Absolutely outstanding recipe. I’ve made them twice, recipe unchanged, and have been asked to open a restaurant and only sell these!
Haha! That’s amazing, RJ. Thanks for letting me know. My grandmother would be so proud!