Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky - The Cookie Rookie

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FRIED MASHED POTATO BALLS loaded with bacon, cheese, and onions are perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers! Put those leftover potatoes to good use and fry up some cheesy mashed potato bites. These loaded mashed potato balls make the ultimate appetizer or side dish!

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

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Fried Mashed Potato Balls

Fried Mashed Potato Balls are the perfect way to use up leftovers from Thanksgiving. Fry up some loaded mashed potato bites filled with cheese, bacon, and onions!

These Fried Mashed Potato Balls are coming at you in honor of all those Thanksgiving leftovers. I hope everyone had a fabulous and filling holiday like we did. I’m still stuffed! We had SO MUCH FOOD (Thanks Mom!) and now have SO MANY leftovers. Just the way I like it.

But now…what to even do with those leftovers? There are tons of recipes out there detailing what to do with all that extra turkey, but what about the other stuff? This year we had gobs and gobs (gobbles and gobbles?) of mashed potatoes, and I knew just what I wanted to do with them. Turn them into deep fried mashed potato bites, of course!

These Loaded Mashed Potato Balls are the ultimate appetizer or side dish, and the perfect cheesy way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. Just because Thanksgiving is over doesn’t mean we can’t still eat amazing food!

Deep Fried Mashed Potato Balls are the best way to use up leftover potatoes from Thanksgiving.

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Cheesy Mashed Potato Bites

It’s no secret I’m a HUGE cheese lover, and these Fried Mashed Potato Balls are simply LOADED with cheese. Use good quality shredded cheese, it makes all the difference!

Whether it’s baking a hearty cheese casserole in the winter, grilling up a cheeseburger in the summer, or sharing snacks after school, cheese makes every meal and every moment better. I know it does with these Loaded Mashed Potato Bites. That chunk of cheese in the middle of each bite is just too heavenly!

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

Loaded Mashed Potato Balls

These Deep Fried Loaded Mashed Potato Balls take leftovers from drab to fab in just minutes, and they are SO EASY. to make. Yes, your hands will get a bit dirty, but it’s VERY worth it. When you bite into that cheesy goodness, I know you’ll agree!

What’s in these fried mashed potato balls?

  • Lots and lots of cheese!
  • Bacon
  • Onions
  • Mashed Potatoes (use leftovers or make the mashed potatoes ahead of time)

You really can’t go wrong with these amazing cheesy mashed potato bites! Just like loaded mashed potatoes or a loaded baked potato, but in a deep fried ball. How can you resist, the combination of cheese, potatoes, and bacon? I know I can’t!

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

How to Make Fried Mashed Potato Balls

Deep frying anything sounds intimidating, but these fried mashed potato balls are simple. Start with your leftover mashed potatoes, mix in all the extras (bacon, cheese, onions), scoop the potatoes into balls, dip them in breadcrumbs, then fry them up in a large pot or dutch oven on the stove top.

To fry them, just drop the loaded mashed potato balls into hot oil for about 2-3 minutes, then use a slotted spoon to remove them.

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

I hope you had a delicious Thanksgiving filled with friends, family, and amazing food! Now, on to CHRISTMAS!

Watch the Video and See the recipe card below for details on how to make Loaded Fried Mashed Potato Balls. Enjoy!

If you like these mashed potato bites, try these other potato recipes:

  • Loaded Baked Potato Soup
  • Fried Potato Cakes
  • Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
  • Perfect Baked Potato Recipe
  • Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
  • Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Recipe

Fried Mashed Potato Balls

4.72 from 49 votes

Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 30 minutes minutes

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

Serves8

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FRIED MASHED POTATO BALLS loaded with bacon, cheese, and onions are perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers! Put those leftover potatoes to good use and fry up some cheesy mashed potato bites. These loaded mashed potato balls make the ultimate appetizer or side dish!

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups leftover or pre-prepared mashed potatoes, cold
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 3/4 cup cooked bacon crumbles
  • 8 ounces Colby Jack cheese cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup panko style bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, shredded cheddar, onions, and bacon. Use an ice cream scoop to form 1 inch balls, rolling with your hands to create the shape. Push 1 colby jack cube into the center of each ball, and then re roll the mashed potato mixture around it to make it round again. Place on a plate and repeat with the rest of the mashed potatoes. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.

  • In a shallow bowl, place the egg. In another shallow bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, parmesan, and salt and pepper.

  • Start by dipping each ball into the egg mixture, shaking off the excess, and then rolling in the panko mixture. Pat to make sure the panko adheres well and that the mashed potatoes are fully covered. Set back on the plate and set aside.

  • Heat a large pot or dutch oven with about 2-3 inches of oil to 375F.

  • Carefully drop in the mashed potato balls 3-4 at a time into the hot oil, allowing them to be fully submerged. Use a slotted spoon to lightly stir as they fry to make sure they don't stick to the bottom or sides of the pot. Fry each for 2-3 minutes or until they are fully browned and crispy. Use the slotted spoon to remove from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining mashed potato balls until they are all fried.

  • Serve while hot and enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 392kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 23g (8%) Protein: 21g (42%) Fat: 23g (35%) Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) Cholesterol: 85mg (28%) Sodium: 855mg (37%) Potassium: 208mg (6%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 1205IU (24%) Vitamin C: 1.7mg (2%) Calcium: 445mg (45%) Iron: 1.2mg (7%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

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Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

How to make potato balls deep fried? ›

Directions
  1. Place mashed potatoes in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the egg, cheese, onions and bacon. Shape into 1-in. balls; roll in bread crumbs. ...
  2. In an electric skillet, heat 1 in. oil to 375°. Fry potato balls, a few at a time, until golden brown, 2-1/2 to 3 minutes.
Jun 30, 2023

Why do people add sour cream to mashed potatoes? ›

Sour cream adds a little bit of tangy flavor and a boost of richness to mashed potatoes. It's a fun change from the standard milk or cream and butter combo usually flavoring mashed taters. You can even try your hand at making homemade sour cream from heavy cream!

Is it necessary to boil potatoes before frying? ›

Do I need to boil my potatoes first? Trust us: You seriously don't need to boil these spuds (or pre-cook them at all) before pan-frying. Slicing them thin allows them to cook through in the same amount of time that they need to get brown and crispy on the outside.

What happens if I don t soak my potatoes before frying them? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

Why put a raw egg in mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Instead of regular milk, pro chefs generally use a generous helping of buttermilk and plenty of half-and-half or (even better) heavy cream in their potatoes. If you think the bartenders up front are pouring heavy, they've got nothing on the cooks in the back who are in charge of the mashed potatoes.

What is the liquid in Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes? ›

Let Bob Evans provide the balance, in your balanced meal. Made with fresh real potatoes, butter, and milk, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes tastes like homemade.

Is it better to use cream cheese or sour cream in mashed potatoes? ›

Sour Cream: The sour cream helps keep the mashed potatoes fluffy. Cream Cheese: This adds a bit of creaminess without being too overpowering. Heavy Cream: Increases the creaminess and helps thin out the potatoes a bit.

Why add butter before milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Overworking the potatoes will cause them to get gummy, potatoes should still be light and fluffy. 6. Add the butter first. Adding the butter first helps to coat the starch in the potato, resulting in a creamier potato.

Is buttermilk or heavy cream better for mashed potatoes? ›

Buttermilk mashed potatoes have the same consistency as traditional mashed potatoes. Buttermilk is substituted for the typical milk, half and half, or heavy cream. Buttermilk lends them a slight tang while keeping the overall dish a tad bit lighter, due to its lower fat content.

Is KFC healthier than McDonald's? ›

The result: McDonald's wins

While chicken is an obvious Men's Health staple, KFC's reliance on greasy oils and subsequent sky-high calorific content makes Maccy's an unlikely victor.

What is KFC brown gravy made of? ›

What is the gravy at KFC made of? The restaurant uses a simple combination of gravy powder, water, and – their secret ingredient – chicken crackling. This is a collection of the browned bits and pieces leftover from frying their world famous chicken.

Do potatoes need to be soaked before frying? ›

This step is commonly missed in making homemade fries, but it might be one of the most important! Soaking your fries in cold water helps remove excess starch, which allows for crispy, golden fries! The cold water bath also helps the french fries retain their shape and contributes to a fluffy inside.

Should you dry potatoes before deep frying? ›

When potatoes are cut and exposed to air, they release water and begin to soften. By rinsing them with cold water, you help the cells retain some of their firmness, ensuring a better texture in the final product. Before frying the potatoes, make sure to dry them thoroughly with a paper towel or a clean cloth.

Why are my potato balls falling apart when I fry them? ›

Expert Tip: To prevent the potato balls from falling apart during frying, make sure the mashed potato mixture is well-combined and compacted before shaping into balls.

Should you dehydrate potatoes before frying? ›

Fresh potatoes are about 80% water. Dehydrated slices have the water taken out. If you fry without re-hydrating, the slices will be crispy and crunchy, but not good.

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