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
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.
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!
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!
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.
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 recipes:
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Fried Potato Cakes
- Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
- Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Perfect Baked Potato Recipe
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
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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
I made this and they all fall apart while frying – was the oil not hot enough yet?
Hi Jeanne, it sounds like your potato balls might have been too wet! An easy fix for this is to use cold ingredients and add a little bit of flour to help bind them together.
We loved the recipe, it is definitely a keeper.
Curious is these can be frozen and whether it would be better to freeze after assembly then fry later or fry first, freeze, and reheat later? I have so many garden potatoes that i have no way to store as is so looking for different recipes that can be frozen.
I recommend fry, then freeze!
I haven’t made these, but they look amazing! I’m wondering if they could be done in an air fryer. Has anyone tried this??
We haven’t tried that yet, but we think it would work!