Ingredients
3 c. leftover mashed potatoes
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2/3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. thinly sliced chives
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 egg, beaten
1 1/3 c. panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying
Preparation
Step 1In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes with cooked bacon, cheddar, chives, and garlic powder, and season with salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.Step 2Place eggs and panko in separate shallow bowls. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop 1” to 2” balls of mashed potato mixture. Roll into a ball in your hands, then dredge first in egg and then in panko. Repeat until all mashed potatoes are used. Step 3Heat 3” of oil in a large cast iron skillet until candy thermometer reads 375°. Fry potato balls in batches until golden on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and season immediately with more salt.
Step 1In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, 8 minutes. Drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Crumble bacon into a large bowl and combine with mashed potatoes, cheddar, chives, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper.Step 2Place eggs and panko in separate shallow bowls. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop 1” to 2” balls of mashed potato mixture. Roll into a ball in your hands, then dredge first in egg and then in panko. Repeat until all mashed potatoes are used. Step 3Working in batches, arrange potato balls in a single layer in air-fryer basket. Cook at 375° until panko is golden, about 10 minutes.Step 4Season immediately with salt before serving.
Somehow, these mashed potato balls get even better. You can make them in one of our favorite tools — the air fryer. Both the stovetop and air fryer will give that crunchy, golden coating we’re looking for, but with some slight differences in cooking methods. Frying on the stovetop will have your bites ready to go in 2-3 minutes, while cooking in the air fryer takes around 10 minutes. But, if you’re looking to limit your oil intake — or simply don’t feel like dealing with the process that is deep frying — the air fryer will give you that same crispiness without any of the added oil. Filled with creamy potatoes, crispy bacon, cheese, chives and seasoning, we think these bombs of savory flavor are perfect all on their own. But, feel free to add and experiment! If you like less salt, feel free to add to taste. Throw some fresh herbs or more chives on top for an added green touch. If you want to try dunking these, they’d be great in sour cream, homemade ranch dressing or even our sriracha butter if you want a kick of rich heat. If you tried our favorite leftover mashed potatoes recipe, let us know how it went in the comments below! Editor’s Note: This intro was updated to add more information about the dish on September 8, 2022.
