The first time you make this breakfast potatoes recipe, you might be tempted to try it without cooking the potatoes first. And trust me, it never works as well! You don't get that creamy inside and crispy outside if you don't par-boil or cook them first. I tend to use the microwave for this as it is quick and simple. Another option is to boil the sliced potatoes in some water until they are tender. This means when you are cooking them in the skillet, they don't take as long and there's less chance they will get too brown and hard