Ultimate Cheesy Bacon Potatoes: The Perfect Side Dish!

1. Place an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

2. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are just tender when pierced with a fork, about 12 minutes. Drain.

3. Return potatoes to the pot; cover with a lid and shake pot vigorously, about 1 minute. Uncover and cool potatoes until easily handled, about 10 minutes. Peel potatoes and cut them crosswise into chunks.

4. Place bacon in a skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until most of the fat has melted and bacon is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, reserving bacon fat in the skillet.

5. Brush the bottom of a shallow 10×15-inch baking pan with half of the bacon fat and olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper over potatoes and arrange in the baking pan.

6. Roast potatoes in the preheated oven until golden brown on the bottom, about 30 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

7. Turn potatoes over in baking pan. Top with bacon pieces, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and garlic. Drizzle remaining bacon fat on top.

8. Return to the preheated oven and continue roasting until Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Cook’s Notes:

You can roast potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet instead of using a baking pan if desired.

If preparing for a dinner party, the potatoes can be boiled and peeled a day ahead. Chill in an airtight container. Then partially bake them up to 6 hours in advance; cook up to the point where you turn them over in step 7. Take out of oven and let stand at room temperature covered loosely with aluminum foil. Remove foil and top potatoes with cheese, bacon, and garlic 15 to 20 minutes before serving; proceed with step 8.