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Air Fryer Potato Pancakes are a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional fried potato pancakes. Made with mashed potatoes, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, and pepper, these crispy and flavorful pancakes are air-fried to perfection. They are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes and can be customized with various fillings and seasonings.
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Check out my Air Fryer Pita Chips and my Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes for more delicious air fryer recipes.
Air fryer potato pancakes are a delicious and easy to make dish. This recipe includes a filling made with sautéed onions, red and green bell peppers, zucchini, and Parmesan cheese. The filling is placed between two potato pancake and air-fried to create a crispy, flavorful pancake.
They can be prepared in just a few steps. With their crispy texture and delicious flavor, these potato pancakes are sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make. This recipe is easy to follow, and the ingredients are simple and easily accessible.
- Healthier option. Using an air fryer instead of deep-frying makes this recipe a healthier option, as it significantly reduces the fat and calories in the dish.
- Delicious. The combination of the crispy outer layer and the creamy inside of the potato pancake makes for a delicious and satisfying dish.
- Leftover friendly. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes, making it a practical and economical meal option.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Mashed Potatoes: This recipe calls for 4 cups of mashed potatoes.
- Salt: Used to enhance the flavor of the mashed potatoes and the vegetable filling.
- Ground Pepper: Adds a bit of heat and flavor to the mashed potatoes and the vegetable filling.
- Breadcrumbs: Used in the potato mixture to add texture and help bind the ingredients together.
- Eggs: Used in the potato mixture to help bind the ingredients together and give the pancakes a fluffy texture.
- Olive Oil: Used to sauté the vegetables.
- Onion: Adds a sweet and savory flavor to the filling.
- Red Bell Pepper & Green Bell Pepper: Adds a sweet and slightly crunchy texture to the filling.
- Zucchini: Adds a tender texture and subtle flavor to the filling.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty flavor to the filling, and also helps to bind the ingredients together.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1:
In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, salt, ground pepper, breadcrumbs, and eggs. Mix well.
Step 2:
In a separate pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, red and green bell peppers, and zucchini. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
Step 3:
Add the cooked vegetables and Parmesan cheese to the potato mixture. Mix well.
Step 4:
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Step 5:
Form the mashed potatoes into balls and lightly press down and form into flat pancakes, approximately ¼" thick. The pancakes will be about 5" in diameter.
Step 6:
Add salt, pepper, breadcrumb and eggs to the mashed potatoes and stir until completely combined.
Step 7:
Add approximately 2 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture to the top of one pancake. Place another pancake on top, forming a sandwich. Press down all the side together so there are no seams showing.
Step 8:
Using a pastry brush, brush tops and bottoms of pancakes with olive oil. Place the potato pancakes in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each pancake.
Step 9:
Air fry the potato pancakes for 10-15 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. Carefully flip halfway through cooking.
Step 10:
Serve the potato pancakes hot. Enjoy!
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Use dry mashed potatoes. Make sure that the mashed potatoes are not too wet, as this can make it difficult to form the pancake patties. If your mashed potatoes are too moist, you can add more breadcrumbs to the mixture to absorb the excess moisture.
- Chill the potato mixture. After you have mixed the potato mixture, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will make it easier to form the potato pancakes and help them hold their shape.
- Cook the filling first. To ensure that the vegetables in the filling are cooked through, sauté them in olive oil until they are tender and slightly browned before adding the parmesan cheese.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Make sure to cook the potato pancakes in a single layer, without overcrowding the air fryer basket. This will ensure that they cook evenly and crisp up properly.
- Flip the potato pancakes. Flip the potato pancakes halfway through cooking to ensure they cook evenly on both sides.
Variations
- Cheese: Add your favorite cheese to the potato mixture or sprinkle it on top of the pancake before serving.
- Herbs and Spices: Add fresh or dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or parsley to the potato mixture for extra flavor.
- Meat: Add cooked bacon, ham, or sausage to the vegetable filling for a heartier meal.
- Vegetables: Swap out the vegetables in the filling with your favorites. Mushrooms, corn, or spinach can be great alternatives.
- Sweet Potato: Swap out the mashed potatoes with sweet potato for a slightly sweeter pancake.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve with a dipping sauce like sour cream, Greek yogurt, or a spicy aioli to add an extra layer of flavor.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: The air fryer potato pancakes can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To store them, let the potato pancakes cool down to room temperature and then place them in an airtight container or cover them tightly with plastic wrap.
Freezing: You can freeze the potato pancakes for up to 3 months. To freeze, let them cool to room temperature, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once they are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
Reheating: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F and place the frozen potato pancakes in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the pancakes are heated through and crispy.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use a different filling for the potato pancakes. Feel free to experiment with different vegetables, cheeses, or meats to make it to your liking.
No, you can also cook the potato pancakes in a non-stick skillet on the stovetop. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the pancakes for about 3-5 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and crispy.
Yes, you can use a different type of potato for this recipe, such as sweet potatoes or yams. Just keep in mind that the cooking time may vary slightly depending on the type of potato used.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
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Air Fryer Potato Pancakes
Equipment
Ingredients
For Pancakes
- 4 cups mashed potatoes skin removed, About 6-7 potatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅓ cup traditional bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs
For Filling
- 2 tablespoon olive oil divided in half
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- 1 small zucchini peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, salt, ground pepper, breadcrumbs, and eggs. Mix well.
- In a separate pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, red and green bell peppers, and zucchini. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the cooked vegetables and Parmesan cheese to the potato mixture. Mix well.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Form the mashed potatoes into balls and lightly press down and form into flat pancakes, approximately ¼" thick. The pancakes will be about 5" in diameter.
- Add salt, pepper, breadcrumb and eggs to the mashed potatoes and stir until completely combined.
- Add approximately 2 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture to the top of one pancakes. Place another pancake on top, forming a sandwich. Press down all the side together so there are no seams showing.
- Using a pastry brush, brush tops and bottoms of pancakes with olive oil. Place the potato pancakes in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each patty.
- Air fry the potato pancakes for 10-15 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. Carefully flip halfway through cooking.
- Serve the potato pancakes hot. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use dry mashed potatoes. Make sure that the mashed potatoes are not too wet, as this can make it difficult to form the pancake patties. If your mashed potatoes are too moist, you can add more breadcrumbs to the mixture to absorb the excess moisture.
- Chill the potato mixture. After you have mixed the potato mixture, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will make it easier to form the potato pancakes and help them hold their shape.
- Cook the filling first. To ensure that the vegetables in the filling are cooked through, sauté them in olive oil until they are tender and slightly browned before adding the parmesan cheese.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Make sure to cook the potato pancakes in a single layer, without overcrowding the air fryer basket. This will ensure that they cook evenly and crisp up properly.
- Flip the potato pancakes. Flip the potato pancakes halfway through cooking to ensure they cook evenly on both sides.
- Storing: The air fryer potato pancakes can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To store them, let the potato pancakes cool down to room temperature and then place them in an airtight container or cover them tightly with plastic wrap.
- Freezing: You can freeze the potato pancakes for up to 3 months. To freeze, let them cool to room temperature, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once they are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
- Reheating: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F and place the frozen potato pancakes in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the pancakes are heated through and crispy.
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.
Noelle
Any excuse to use my air fryer! Loved it, thank you for the great idea.
Carrie Robinson
I am just loving all of the veggies in these! Yum! 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms
I adore my air fryer, but I've never tried making a patty in it before! I am always looking for new things to make in my air fryer though and these are being added to my list! They look fabulous and full of flavour!
Andrea Metlika
I've never had anything like these. They sound so good and I really like the veggies in the middle. Yummy!
kim
Love this recipe! It was so easy and tasty! Will definitely be making again!
Ramona
These look amazing, we love potatoes so I must make these super quick. I do not have an air fryer but will try them in the oven or cook them in a pan.
Gloria
Love my air fryer....and I am a potato fanatic. These would make a great party appetizer. Personally, I would eat these as a stand-alone meal.
Ashley Marie Lecker
These looks delicious and so perfectly browned on the outside. I would love to enjoy these for dinner or maybe a late night munch while I watch a show and unwind!