Mashed Potato Balls

4.51 from 53 votes
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Mashed Potato Balls - crispy fried mashed potato balls loaded with bacon and cheddar cheese. The best recipe to use up leftover mashed potatoes.

Mashed potato balls, ready to be served.
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What Can I Make With Leftover Mashed Potato

We all have those days when we have leftover mashed potato, that’s when you make mashed potato balls.

It’s the easiest way to turn the leftover into a new dish that everyone would go crazy for.

The best thing about mashed potato balls is that you can be creative by adding other ingredients to jazz up the taste.

Fried mashed potato balls served with ketchup.

How To Make Mashed Potato Balls

Close up of potato balls, deep-fried to golden brown.

To make mashed potato balls, first add a few ingredients to the leftover mashed potatoes. I love the combination of bacon bits, cheddar cheese and chopped parsley.

Mix the leftover mashed potato with all the ingredients together and then shape them into bite-sized balls. You can use your hands to shape the balls.

Next, roll them with breadcrumbs. The final step is deep-frying the mashed potato balls until they turn golden brown.


Tips For Crispy Mashed Potato Balls

Mashed potato balls stuffed with bacon and cheddar cheese.

Make sure you chill the leftover mashed potatoes – the mashed potato should be chilled in the fridge before you start working on them.

Use regular breadcrumbs for better results and make sure you don’t over fry the mashed potato balls. As soon as they turn brown, scoop them out from the oil.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories per serving?

This recipe is only 174 calories per serving.

Cheesy mashed potato balls made with leftover mashed potatoes.

What To Serve With Mashed Potato Balls

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

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4.51 from 53 votes

Mashed Potato Balls

Mashed Potato Balls – crispy fried mashed potato balls loaded with bacon and cheddar cheese. The best recipe to use up leftover mashed potatoes. 
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
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Ingredients  

  • 2 cups cold leftover mashed potatoes
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup real bacon bits
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Italian parsley leaves, chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
  • oil , for deep frying

Instructions 

  • Place the mashed potatoes in a large bowl and let them stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the egg, bacon bits, cheddar cheese, and chopped parsley.
  • Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
  • Shape the mixture into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls, rolling them in bread crumbs to ensure they are well coated. Place the potato balls in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes to help them retain their shape.
  • In a skillet, heat 1 inch (2.5 cm) of oil to 375°F (190°C). Fry the potato balls in batches, cooking them quickly. As soon as they turn light brown, remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain. Serve immediately.

Notes

Recipe Source: Taste of Home.
IMPORTANT: make sure your mashed potatoes are not the loose kind, or else the potato balls will get disintegrated while deep-frying. DO NOT over fry, as soon as the breadcrumbs turn light brown, take them out of the oil. They will continue to brown after removing from the oil.

Nutrition

Serving: 6people, Calories: 174kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 42mg, Sodium: 185mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Please rate and comment below!

About Rasa Malaysia

Bee is a recipe developer and best-selling cookbook author, sharing easy, quick, and delicious Asian and American recipes since 2006. With a strong following of almost 2 million fans online, her expertise has been featured in major publications, TV and radio programs, and live cooking demos throughout the United States and Asia.

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Recipe Rating





55 Comments

  1. Kasondre says:

    5 stars
    I love this recipe

    1. Rasa Malaysia says:

      ??

  2. Laura says:

    Might want to make it clear at the beginning of the recipe that instant potatoes donโ€™t work. I went through all the steps and made everything up only to realize once I started frying them that your recipe says at the very end that instant potatoes wonโ€™t work.

    1. Bee Yinn Low says:

      Yes instant potatoes don’t work.

  3. Maria says:

    What dipping sauce did you use?

    1. Bee Yinn Low says:

      I just used ketchup.

  4. Nancy says:

    I noticed in the picture there was a dip that you were putting the potato balls in. Do you have a recipe for a dip?

  5. Kimberly Moreno says:

    I accidentally added the bread crumbs to the potatoes. Then I breaded them again with bread crumbs. Will see how it works out?

  6. Stephanie says:

    What a fun idea! These would be so fun for friendsgiving.

    1. Admin says:

      Thanks.

  7. Sierra Fraser says:

    Can you freeze them after they are fryed and cooled off

    1. Admin says:

      Yes but the taste might not so well.

      1. Shauna says:

        Can you make them up and freeze them before they are fried

        1. Bee Yinn Low says:

          Yes you can!

  8. Peggy K says:

    These sound great. Could they be air fried for those of us older folks who need to cut out fried (in oil) items? If so, suggestions on temperature and cook time.

    1. Rasa Malaysia says:

      I think it’s very hard to air fry but you can try.

      1. Maria says:

        I love watching my friends getting abducted because of the potato balls??

    2. Cruz says:

      My suggestion, after you shaped and breaded chill them , them oil spray on them then put in airfryer just to crisp and-treat it like doing any type of frozen app little mozza sticks

  9. Fran says:

    Can you use instant mashed potatoes?

    1. Rasa Malaysia says:

      I am not too sure, they won’t hold in shapes.

      1. Kathie says:

        Why wouldnโ€™t they work? Mine are as thick and shapeable as real mashed potatoes. Iโ€™ll try it and let you know how they turn out.

        1. Rasa Malaysia says:

          Sure, please let me know.

        2. Maya says:

          Did you ever try it?

        3. Lauranne says:

          Did you try instant potatoes

          1. Sarah says:

            I tried instant, turned out great!! :)

  10. Lynn says:

    Made these last night. Loved them. Turned out perfect. Next time will add more bacon and cheese and maybe sharper cheese. Super yummy!