If you love potatoes, and who doesn’t, then February 8^th is your day because it’s National Potato Lovers Day! How much do Americans love potatoes? Well, more than 45 billion pounds of potatoes are harvested in the U.S. each year, and the average American eats 140 pounds of potatoes per year. Potatoes are actually the most consumed vegetable in the U.S., but they are also beloved all over the world. Just look at these 10 Global Ways to Cook with Potatoes.

Potatoes are also versatile with endless ways to prepare them. They can be mashed, baked, boiled, whipped, fried or scalloped. Check out 10 Things You Can Do with Potatoes and How to Use 10 Different Kinds of Potatoes to Make Simple Meals. Potatoes can be used for appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, sides, snacks and even desserts.

Look at these 8 Delicious Potato Recipes and these Perfectly Comforting Potato Recipes Everyone at the Table Will Love! Need recipes? Try these 26 Summer Spud-tacular Recipes and these Top Ten Vegan Tater Recipes. But while potatoes are usually thought of as one of many ingredients in a dish, for this holiday we’re bringing them out of the shadows. Here are 20 recipes where potatoes take center stage.

1. Smoky Apple and Cheddar Stuffed Baked Potato

No potato takes center stage quite like the stuffed baked potato. This Smoky Apple and Cheddar Stuffed Baked Potato is a flavor bomb of deliciousness. Sweet apples combine with spicy chili powder for an amazing taste. Add the smoky and slight maple flavor of the tempeh to the sweet and spicy apple, and the cheddar flavored cashew cheese, and it’s like an overload of OMG!

2. Greek Potato Stew/Patates Yahni

Made with just five ingredients and one pot in just under an hour, this traditional Greek Potato Stew, or Patates Yahni, is rustic potato perfection. Red ripe tomatoes, fresh parsley, sweet red onions, minced garlic, and yellow potatoes simmered in olive oil combine to create one of the simplest, most authentic and amazingly delicious Greek dishes you will ever enjoy!

3. Creamy Mashed Potato Soup with Melty Cheddah Cheeze Sauce

The only thing better than a big bowl of mashed potatoes is a big bowl of this Creamy Mashed Potato Soup with Melty Cheddah Cheeze Sauce. This soup has all the goodness of mashed potatoes, with a hint of melty, tangy cheddar cheesiness. This will warm you right up on a cold winter’s day! Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes that might need a little extra love.

4. 3-Ingredient Mini Hasselback Fries

Step up your fry game with this recipe and watch everyone’s mouths drop open. These Mini Hasselback Fries are so decadent and impressive that nobody would guess how easy they actually are to make. You can serve them with any type of dip you like, too – they’re tasty with everything!

5. Fried Smashed Potato Patties with Garlic Broccoli Rabe

These Fried Smashed Potato Patties with Garlic Broccoli Rabe are simple to make but stunning enough to serve at a special dinner. The fried patties are crispy on the outside and light, fluffy, and garlicky on the inside. Broccoli rabe sautéed with garlic adds a depth of flavor while cashew milk brings the creaminess. Enjoy these patties on a bed of lettuce as part of a salad, or eat them as a side with spicy sriracha.

6. Potato Leek Soup with Caramelized Tri-Color Carrots

This Potato Leek Soup with Caramelized Tri-Color Carrots is a hearty, flavorful, and colorful soup all at the same time. Aromatics of onion, leeks, shallots, and garlic add tons of flavor to the yellow potatoes. Fresh herbs add lightness and brightness while carrots add beautiful color. Basically, this is everything you could ever want in a soup.

7. Andalusian-Style Potatoes (Papas Alinas)

No tapas bar in Cádiz is a real Cádiz tapas bar without Andalusian-Style Potatoes, also known as “papas aliñás.” This cold and flavorful dish is a perfect recipe for when the heat hits hard. Similar to other popular Andalusian specialties, this is a simple and unpretentious recipe that can be eaten both as tapas or as a starter.

8. No-Dak Doritang (Spicy Korean Potato and Vegetable Stew)

Dakdoritang is a spicy Korean stew usually made with vegetables and chicken (dak). This No-Dak Doritang uses potatoes as the star ingredient. The Korean chili paste and other flavors make this a spicy potato and veggie stew that stands out from the crowd.

9. Mean Green Skillet Roasted Potatoes

These Mean Green Skillet Roasted Potatoes may be a side dish, but they will get all the attention. Fresh kale and herbs are prepared with lemon and vinegar and mixed with garlicky potatoes. The creamy starchiness of the potatoes balances the acidity of the greens and pulls it all together, making this the perfect dish.

10. Mini Rosti (Potato Cakes) with Zesty ‘Tofraiche’ Salad

Set out a platter of these Mini Rosti with Zesty ‘Tofraiche’ Salad and everyone will “ooh” and “aah.” These mini potato cakes are just lovely and so perfect with the zesty, creamy tofu sour cream dressing. Served with a salad of pear, capers, leeks, basil, red currants, and walnuts, this is a colorful and festive dish for any occasion.

11. Life-Changing Chili Cheese Fries

You may be wondering how these Chili Cheese Fries will change your life. Could it be the crispy fries topped with spicy chili and beans? Could it be the creamy vegan cheese sauce and all the yummy garnishes? All we know is that once you taste these fries, the answer will become clear. Life changed.

12. Cheesy Potato Skins with Coconut Bacon

These Cheesy Potato Skins with Coconut Bacon are the perfect appetizer to make for any party or get-together. Crispy oven-baked potato skins are loaded with cheesy sauce, smoky coconut bacon, and topped with additional goodies. Make sure you double up on these for your guests because they definitely won’t last long.

13. Scalloped Potatoes with Seitan Bacon

These Scalloped Potatoes with Seitan Bacon is a beloved comfort food made vegan! The soft, bubbling baked potatoes are cooked in a cheesy coconut cream sauce. Then it’s all topped with crispy seitan bacon … what could be better? We absolutely cannot think of one thing.

14. Super Simple Potato Curry

This Super Simple Potato Curry is called that for a reason. It takes hardly any time and effort to make a dish that’s super delicious, super inexpensive, and big enough to feed a crowd. Warm Indian spices and creamy coconut milk turn humble potatoes into a sensational meal.

15. Spicy Potato Casserole with Tofu Chorizo

If you like baked potatoes topped with chili, you’ll love this Spicy Potato Casserole with Tofu Chorizo. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes are doused in a spicy tomato-based sauce. Adding black beans and tofu “chorizo” increases the protein content and gives lots of texture to a saucy dish. This can feed a crowd, but we bet it will be gone in no time.

16. Pesto Gnocchi with Olives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Mmm, gnocchi … who doesn’t love potatoes that are turned into a big bowl of fluffy little dumplings? These Pesto Gnocchi with Olives and Sun-Fried Tomatoes are a Mediterranean feast. The gnocchi are covered in a beautiful basil-spinach pesto and tossed with black olives and sun-dried tomatoes for an irresistible dish.

17. Vegan Poutine

Poutine is a traditional Canadian dish that is the ultimate comfort food, and this Vegan Poutine is incredible. Perfect oven-baked French fries are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Vegan cheese is melted on top and then it’s all smothered in a rich, homemade brown gravy. This is hot, crispy, gooey, cheesy, and indulgent.

18. Phulkopir Shingara (Bengali Samosa)

Samosa is a beloved Indian treat, and these Phulkopir Shingara are going to steal your heart the moment you bite into the crisp and flaky crust. The gentle cauliflower and potato filling accented with peas, bits of crushed peanuts and lots of bold spices make this an absolutely sublime and sensational creation.

19. Spanish Potato and Chorizo Omelet-Style Quiche

When a vegan quiche crosses with a Spanish-style potato tortilla, you get this incredible Spanish Potato and Chorizo Omelet-Style Quiche. The pastry is filled with potatoes, peppers, green onions, chorizo, and cheese. It’s smooth and creamy with just enough spicy contrast from the sausage. Serve this with a big green salad for the perfect dinner.

20. Vegan and Gluten-Free Potato Blintzes

A beloved dish gets a vegan and gluten-free makeover. These Potato Blintzes are filled with creamy, garlicky potatoes mixed with sweet caramelized onions. The crepes are both vegan and gluten-free and fried until crisp. Serve with vegan sour cream for an updated version of a traditional favorite.

These recipes show that no matter how you cook them, potatoes are a perfect food. Let them have the spotlight in these incredible dishes.

Lead image source: Pesto Gnocchi With Olives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes