Leftover Mashed Potato Bites with a Spicy Garlic Aioli Dip, Even Works with Previously Frozen Mashed Potatoes!
If your family is anything like mine, we always end up with leftover mashed potatoes sitting in the fridge, and then suddenly everyone acts like they’ve sworn off potatoes forever. It’s like the second they cool down, they become invisible. Luckily, crispy leftover mashed potato bites exist—aka the easiest way to turn yesterday’s mashed potatoes into a completely new (and way more exciting) snack.
These crispy mashed potato bites are everything you want in an easy potato appetizer: creamy inside, crunchy outside, and fast to make whether you air fry, bake, pan fry, or deep fry. Instead of mixing breadcrumbs into the potatoes, each little potato ball gets rolled in a crispy golden coating that browns beautifully and keeps the center soft and fluffy. They’re perfect for anyone wondering what to do with leftover mashed potatoes, because this recipe gives them a second life that people actually want to eat.
And if you want to go next-level?
Stick a cube of cheese in the middle.
Cheese-filled mashed potato bites >>> regular mashed potato bites.
Just saying. Cheddar, Pepperjack, Mozzarella, Gouda…ALL good choices!
These make a great party snack, after-school bite, game-day appetizer, or last-minute way to use up leftovers before they go to waste. They also pair perfectly with dipping sauces, especially a spicy garlic aioli.
Ingredients You Need
- Leftover mashed potatoes
- Egg
- Shredded cheese or small cheese cubes for filling (optional but delicious)
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Breadcrumbs: panko for extra crunch, traditional for even coverage. A mix works great.
How to Make Crispy Leftover Mashed Potato Bites
1. Mix the filling
In a bowl, combine the leftover mashed potatoes, egg & shredded cheese if you’re using. The mixture should be scoopable and hold its shape. If your mashed potatoes were extra creamy, add 1–2 tablespoons of flour, but keep the texture soft so the inside stays creamy.
2. Roll into balls
Scoop out a spoonful of the mixture and roll it into a ball. For the cheesy version, press a small cube of cheese into the center and seal the potato around it.
3. Coat in breadcrumbs
Mix breadcrumbs, salt, garlic powder, and any extra seasonings you like in a shallow bowl. Roll each potato ball until fully coated. This outer coating is what gives you that crispy crunch.
Cooking Methods
Pan Fry or Deep Fry
If you want maximum crunch, this is the method.
Cook just a few minutes per side until browned and crispy. The centers stay soft and creamy while the outside gets perfectly golden.
Air Fryer
Air frying gives you amazing texture with very little oil.
- Spray lightly with oil
- Air fry at 400°F for 12–15 minutes
- Shake or flip halfway
They’ll turn golden, crunchy, and perfect for dipping.
Oven Baked
Great for bigger batches and still gets nicely crispy.
- Place on a parchment-lined sheet and spray with oil
- Bake at 425°F for 20–25 minutes
- Flip once
- Broil 1–2 minutes for extra crunch
These oven baked potato bites are ideal if you’re feeding a crowd.
Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce-spicy garlic aioli, ranch, buffalo ranch, honey mustard, or anything you love.
Spicy Garlic Aioli
A great sauce for anyone searching for dips for potato bites.
Whisk together:
- 1/2 cup Mayo
- 1 tbsp sriracha, another hot sauce will work to!
- 1 clove grated garlic
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Squeeze of Lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Let sit 10 minutes for the flavor to meld together. It’s simple and adds the best kick. For the full printable recipe post, go here.
Flavor Variations
- Loaded Baked Potato: Cheddar + bacon bits + chives
- Garlic Parmesan: Parmesan in the crumbs + garlic powder in the mix
- Buffalo Ranch: Ranch seasoning in the coating; dip in buffalo + ranch
- Cheddar-Jalapeño: Cheddar cube inside + minced jalapeño in the mixture
Crispy Leftover Mashed Potato Bites
The perfect was to give those leftover mashed potatos a new life! This even works with mashed potatoes that have been frozen.
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
- 1 egg
- ½–1 cup shredded cheese or cheese cubes for cheese filled bites
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko is crunchier, traditional covers better. I like to use a little of each but they'll all work!)
- Flour-if needed
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix mashed potatoes and egg and shredded cheese if using. Mixture should be scoopable and hold its shape. If it's too soft, you can add 1–2 tablespoons flour, but keep it creamy.
- Take a scoop of potato mixture and roll into a ball. Optional, but amazing: Place a small cheese cube in the center, and pinch closed to seal.
- Place breadcrumbs and seasonings in a shallow bowl. Roll each potato ball in the crumbs until fully coated.
- Cook in one of the ways below:
- Air Fry: Spray with oil, Air Fry at 400°F 12–15 minutes Shake or flip halfway They should be crispy and golden
- Bake: Spray with oil. 425°F 20–25 minutes Flip once Broil 1–2 minutes for extra crunch
- Pan Fry or Deep Fry: A few minutes per side until brown and crispy!
5. Serve immediately with your favorite sauce!
Notes
Find more recipes like this at thegoodstuffbakeshop.com
Fun Flavor Variations
- Loaded Baked Potato:Cheddar + bacon bits + chives
- Garlic Parmesan: Mix Parm into the crumbs + garlic powder inside
- Buffalo Ranch: Add ranch seasoning to coating, dip in buffalo sauce + ranch
- Cheddar-Jalapeño: Cheddar cube inside + minced jalapeño in the mixture
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 2Amount Per Serving:Calories: 138Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 338mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is calculated automatically as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Accuracy is not guaranteed as values can vary based on specific brands and preparation methods used.
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