These Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls are super creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside! This is the perfect way to use up those mashed potatoes for a delicious snack or appetizer.
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Check out my Low Calorie Mashed Potatoes and my Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes for more potato recipes!
If you’re looking for something to use up leftover potatoes, this is it! The savory ingredients provide the perfect taste for these delicious potato bites, and the golden brown crispy outer layer gives them the perfect texture. It’s a great way to use leftovers and create something completely different from them!
You can also grab pre-made mashed potatoes at the grocery store.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The best part, is they are cooked in the air fryer which means no deep frying or added oil.
- This delicious recipe is the perfect appetizer or side dish. These are a fun idea to serve with healthier air fryer filet mignon.
- These little bites are great plain or with a dipping sauce on the side.
- Crunchy outside, stuffed with a creamy inside.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Mashed Potatoes: Plain mashed potatoes. You can also boil potatoes in a large pot and make mashed potatoes for this recipe. Russet potatoes or red potatoes will work.
- Cheddar Cheese: I normally use mild cheddar cheese, but you can use whatever cheese you like for these cheesy potato balls. Parmesan cheese is good too.
- Green Onions: Has a mild oniony flavor.
- Cooked Bacon: The chopped bacon bits add flavor and crunch.
- Eggs: Gives extra moisture to the potato balls and works as a binding agent to hold ingredients together.
- Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko crumbs is what makes the potato bites crunchy!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix the potatoes, cheese, green onions & bacon in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Shape potato mixture into balls using a cookie scoop or your hands.
Step 3: Lay the mashed potato balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Whisk the eggs in one bowl and pour the panko crumbs into another shallow bowl. Dip the balls into the egg mixture and then the panko. Lay back on baking sheet.
Step 5: Spray cooking oil in the air fryer basket. Add as many mashed potato balls into the air fryer basket as you can fit without overcrowding and not touching (you have to cook in batches).
Step 6: Cook at 375 °F for 15-18 minutes, checking frequently and shaking up to avoid sticking. Let cool for at least 10 minutes.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Use chilled mashed potatoes. Cold leftover mashed potatoes tend to be a little denser and easier to handle.
- You'll want to do a quick freeze before air frying to help the mashed potato balls hold their shape.
- Use a spatula or slotted spoon to take your potato balls out of the air fryer, otherwise they will fall apart since they are so hot.
- Don't crowd the air fryer. You need to space the potato balls out to allow the hot air to circulate around the potato to perfectly crisp them out.
Variations
- Adding extra seasonings like black pepper, garlic powder or cayenne pepper is a great way to add more flavor.
- You can stuff potatoes with a mix of cheese, mozzarella cheese, cooked chicken, browned ground beef or a mix of veggies. These are all great options!
- Try chives or parsley instead of green onion.
- Place a cube of mozzarella cheese in the center of each potato ball to make cheesy mashed potato bites.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing: Lay the potato balls in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen balls to a freezer safe zip top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F and reheat potato balls for about 5 minutes, or until warm. If frozen, increase the time by 3-4 minutes.
Recipe FAQ's
Sour cream, marinara sauce, gravy, ranch salad dressing, ketchup, and hot sauce are all great with these potato balls.
No. Instant mashed potatoes will be too loose and too smooth, so these mashed potato balls will fall apart when you go to air fry them.
If you want to use your oven to make potato balls, you can easily bake them for 12 to 15 minutes, at 400 °F. Flip them halfway, so both sides get crunchy.
The mashed potatoes might have too much moisture. Add a couple tablespoons of flour to the potato mixture.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups mashed potatoes cold is best so they keep their shape
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 green onions diced
- 6 slices cooked bacon diced
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups seasoned Panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Mix the potatoes, cheese, green onions & bacon in a large mixing bowl.
- Shape potato mixture into balls using a cookie scoop or your hands.
- Lay the mashed potato balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the eggs in one bowl and pour the panko into another shallow bowl. Dip the balls into the egg mixture and then the panko and lay back on backing sheet.
- Spray cooking oil in the air fryer basket. Add as many mashed potato balls into the air fryer basket as you can fit without overcrowding and not touching (you have to cook in batches).
- Cook at 375°F for 15-18 minutes, checking frequently and shaking up to avoid sticking. Let cool for at least 10 minutes.
Notes
- Use chilled mashed potatoes. Cold leftover mashed potatoes tend to be a little denser and easier to handle.
- You'll want to do a quick freeze before air frying to help the mashed potato balls hold their shape.
- Use a spatula or slotted spoon to take your potato balls out of the air fryer, otherwise they will fall apart since they are so hot.
- Don't crowd the air fryer. You need to space the potato balls out to allow the hot air to circulate around the potato to perfectly crisp them out.
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Lay the potato balls in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F and reheat potato balls for about 5 minutes, or until warm. If frozen, increase the time by 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Patricia
How many potato balls make a single 87 calorie serving?