This is the perfect side dish. Not just because it is delicious, but it is lightning fast to prepare, low-calorie and a good recipe to engage some help from everyone in the family. Four medium potatoes requires only 2 tablespoons of butter and with the addition of either parmesan or Italian bread crumbs they pack a lot of flavor. This recipe has been a standby at home as well as in my classroom and is enjoyed by everyone. There is a trick to making them that many of my students don’t get the first time. Cooking times can vary wildly! All medium potatoes are not created equal so the cooking times can be very different. An overcooked potato is not a pretty site!
Parmesan Pan Baked Potatoes taken from an old microwave oven cookbook
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper ( black pepper can be used)
- 4 medium potatoes , scrubbed
- Paprika
- In a small glass bowl melt butter in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Cover bowl with a damp paper towel in case the butter splatters.
- In a separate bowl or on wax paper mix cheese and seasonings except Paprika.
- Cut potatoes into wedges. First cut in half lengthwise then in half again.
- Dip cut sides into butter then into seasonings.
- Place potatoes cut side up into a microwave safe dish. I use a microwave safe plate or a 2 quart baking dish. Place the potatoes around the edge of the dish. Don’t put any potatoes in the middle. They will not cook. Make 2 plates if you have to and cook them separately.
- Cook on high in the microwave for 7 – 10 minutes. Remember that cooking times will vary wildly. In my classroom I have 6 different microwaves and they all cook differently. Check on the potatoes close to seven minutes. You should be able to pierce the potato with a fork easily.
- Food continues to cook after you take it out of the microwave. This is called standing time. Let the potatoes stand for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the cut side with paprika and serve hot.
Here the potatoes are ready for the microwave oven. Notice the potatoes are in a circle around the edge of the plate. Do not put them in the middle. If you do the ones in the middle will have to be moved to the outer edge to cook properly.
Try them using Italian Bread Crumbs instead of Parmesan Cheese. It’s a different flavor and texture. Very Good!
Happy Cooking,
The Teacher Cooks
The Teacher Cooks 
These are what I call the perfect potato!
All done in the microwave? Amazing!
i learned that for more even cooking you should place the potatoes around the edge of the plate and not put any in the middle
i learned that this potatoe dish can be a low calorie dish you can enjoy and the parmesan cheese gives the potatoe a new texture and flavor
The parmesan pan potatoes were great, I learned that it is quick and easy to make and that sprinkling a little paprika gives it a delicious flavor.
I enjoyed eating these potatoes and this was actually my first time tasing them. I did learn that you arrange the potatoes in a circle before they went into the microwave, that some will cook faster than others.
Its not often that you find something thats low in calories and tastes good too! I was a little sketchy on how the cheese would melt but it turned out amazing. I now know that paprika can change the taste of things a lot, in positive ways.
I didn’t know that there was white pepper, kind of ironic. These look pretty good, probably healthier than greasy, salty french fries!
these were very good.. and they looked like they were easy to make.. i didnt know you could cook potatoes in the microwave.
i learned that , if you put them in a circle around the plate , and leave the middle empty , they will cook faster , and better !!
I learned that if you put the potoatoes in the middle of the plate then thay will not cook in the microwave!!!
I learned when cooking the potatoes in the microwave you need to put them on the edge of the plate, because ones in the middle will not cook all the way through.
i realized that when you put the potatoes around the plate then they will all cook evenly
The potatoes look so good, and by the way you listed the ingredients look very in-expensive. So, you’re eating good and saving money.
I learned that you cannot put things all togther, you have to spread them out for them to cook evenly in the microwave.
I learned that sometimes if you use black pepper that it can look like there is a little dirt in your food. So you can use white pepper and it will not look that way, and you get the same taste.
i never thought that putting potatos in the middle of the plate made them cook longer
I thought these tasted really good! I learned that to add color and add flavor you can season the potato with paprika.
i didnt know there was a thing as white pepper so instead of using black pepper you can use white to make it look more natural
I learned that the way you place the potatoes will determine how fast or slow they cook.
i learned that you should place the potatoes around the edge of the plate and not in the middle for thourough and even cooking
I learned that potatoes in the middle of the plate will not cook.
i learned that these are very quick and easy, you can microwave them, and if you place them in a circle on a plate they will cook faster and evenly.
I thought that you would have cooked the potatoes before you put the butter and seasoning on them, but you cook them with it on them.
I learned that in the microwave food cooks faster on the outside of the plate. It cooks out and works its way in.
i learned you can use either use parmesan or Italian bread crumbs.
I learned that if you want to cook the potatoes evenly in the microwave, you have to arrange them around the edges of the plate and not in the center or they won’t cook!!!!
I larned that a microwave cooks outward-in, so if you put them on the outside they’ll cook faster and more even.
it was delicious! i learned to evenly cook the potatoes, it’s best to place them around the plate instead of in the middle
I learned that if you put them in a circle they will all cook at the same pace.
I learned to put the potatoes on the edge of the plate because you cant put it in the middle or it wont cook evenly !
this was yummy…i learned that this potatoe dish can be a low calorie dish
i didnt know that this could be so easy and you can interchange bread crumbs and paprika
i cant belive you used the microwave for everything! ingenious 🙂
I learned that when you cook things in the microwave, you have to spread them out so they will cook evenly.
the paprika is a great touch, adding color and flavor with one little sprinkle. my grandma makes these for every potluck occasion, but she adds much, much, much more butter… 🙂
My beginning foods students made these today as part of our dry heat cooking method unit. All fifty batches turned out perfectly. Thanks for an easy, great-tasting recipe.
I love hearing that you had such good results!