Got leftover mashed taters? These Easy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside! Perfect as a vegetarian entree or side dish too.
What to do with leftover mashed potatoes
It's happened to you before. You're making a big holiday dinner and you didn't think the 5 pound bag of potatoes would be enough, so you mashed 10 pounds instead.
Now there's 4 extra large Tupperware containers full of this starchy veg and you're screwed because there's no more gravy left.
If this sounds familiar, then keeping on reading, because you need this recipe for leftover mashed potato pancakes in your life.
Uses only 3 ingredients
These mashed potato pancakes are made with only 3 simple ingredients:
- mashed taters
- flour
- an egg
Trust me when I say, you won't even miss the gravy on these taters.
This is a very versatile recipe, as any kind of leftover mashed potatoes will do.
For a side dish, keep it light and use the potatoes as is or add in some fresh herbs or favorite spices.
To make as a main meal, add in shredded cheese and/or a cooked protein.
Recently I found myself in a leftover potato situation after celebrating St Patrick's Day. There was a rather large amount of slow cooker colcannon after our dinner and I knew exactly what to do with it.
Tater cakes to the rescue!
The cabbage and kale vegetables in the colcannon mixture seemed to almost melt into the buttery mashed potatoes and the exterior crunch was absolute perfection.
I shallow fried the cakes in avocado oil and the result was an unbelievably crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, potato pancake.
Served with sour cream and chives, the potato cakes tasted just like a fried baked potato. I love a good crunchy potato more than anything in the world.
Learn how to make potato pancakes
Here are some tips on how to make a successful potato pancake:
- Make sure the leftover mashed potatoes are completely chilled. They should be thick and not too loose.
- The less flour used the better. Flour is used as an important binder in the cakes, but if too much is used, they will taste like flour and not potatoes. I don't like to use more than ½ cup of flour for 3 cups of potatoes. If more flour is needed, feel free to add up to ¾ cup, but be careful with adding any more. Because they are tater cakes, not flour cakes.
- Be creative and add in fresh herbs, favorite spices, shredded cheese, and/or a cooked protein.
- Use a good quality oil for frying and maintain the temperature at 365F/185C degrees.
- Serve the pancakes with sour cream, applesauce, salsa, hot sauce, cheese sauce, kimchi. Basically serve them with whatever you want. Tater cakes don't judge!
So, when you find yourself with lots of leftover potatoes, make these Mashed Potato Pancakes! If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave me a comment below and I truly appreciate sharing the recipe with friends and family.
Easy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups mashed potatoes or leftover colcannon, chilled
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (can subsitute out almond, potato, rice, or other gluten free flour)
- 1 egg, beaten
- oil for frying (vegetable, avocado, etc)
optional additional ingredients to add to potato mixture: any cooked meats or vegetables, cheese, and/or spices.
accompaniments for cooked pancakes: chopped green onions, sour cream, or applesauce.
Instructions
- Place the mashed potatoes in a large bowl (I used leftover colcannon). Gently mix in the flour and beaten egg (and any additional ingredients if using).
- Form mixture into 9 pancakes and place them on a plate. Cover and refrigerate the potato pancakes until ready to use.
- In a large cast iron skillet or suitable frying pan, heat about ½ inch of oil over medium-high heat to 365F/185C degrees. Add 3 pancakes at a time to the hot oil, being careful not to crowd pan. Shallow fry for about 5 minutes on one side, then flip over and cook 5 minutes on the other side, until cakes are brown and crispy.
- Remove the finished pancakes to a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack or paper towels and keep warm in a 200F/93C degree oven. Repeat process with remaining potato mixture until all the pancakes are made.
- Sprinkle the pancakes with the chopped green onions and serve with sour cream, applesauce, etc.
April
Turned out fantastic! Added crispy bacon, scallions, and shredded cheese. Served it with sriracha sauce and a fried egg... thanks!
Karrie
That's a perfect combo of flavors, especially with the sriracha and fried egg! Thank you April and so happy you liked the recipe!
Al
Thank you for this. My mom used to make these and I always thought that she just used flour and egg in with the taters but I never got the recipe from her before she passed.
Karrie
Welcome Al and hope they brought back good memories for you!
David
Yes they do look yummy, and whilst my wife looks down on me, tomorrow is Sunday and I am having your hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon with Blood Orange Foodstore tomato relish and I cannot wait for the night to go😁
Karrie
My goodness, that menu sounds absolutely fantastic David! Please let me know how you like the recipe and hope you and your wife have a wonderful Sunday tomorrow!
Sarah Soles
Thanks! We've taken to not randomly have "left over" mashed potatoes but to plan for it. We are only two, my grandson and I but we plan Friday night dinner with tons of mashed potatoes so we can have potato pancakes the next day. Thanks for this glorious and tasty easy recipe.
Karrie
You are so sweet Sarah! Thank you for making my day brighter and very, very happy you and your Grandson like the recipe!
BJ
Haven't made them yet, but looks really good. Next time I have left over mashed potatoes, I will be using this recipe.
Karrie
Thank you BJ and please let me know how they turn out for you!
Ginger Redlinger
Excellent recipe. I used paleo flour, added chopped, smoked bacon. Yum! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Karrie
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Ginger and so glad you enjoyed it! And a big high five and heck yeah to adding BACON!!!! lol!
Barbara Chun
They Are sooooo Yummy worth making
Karrie
Thank you Barbara and so happy you liked the recipe!
Kathy
I always make an extra huge batch of mashed potatoes just so I can make these potato cakes! They are perfect with everything and I've made them for breakfast and dinner. Thank you!!
Katie Crenshaw
OMG! If these taste as good as they look, they will be my new favorite dish!!! These looks like the best potato cakes ever. I am totally drooling.
Ben
Beautiful pancakes, Karrie! Sometimes I think I like savory pancakes/waffles more than sweet versions.