Description
Okay, so picture this: I had a massive bowl of leftover mashed potatoes sitting in my fridge (because I always make way too much), and I was trying to figure out what to do with them. Then it hit me—what if I turned those boring leftovers into crispy, cheesy, addictive little puffs? And let me tell you, these things are DANGEROUS. Like, hide-them-from-yourself dangerous because you’ll eat the entire batch without realizing it. They’re crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, loaded with cheese, and basically everything you ever wanted in a bite-sized snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Base:
- 2 cups cold mashed potatoes (leftover is perfect, but fresh works too)
- 1 large egg, beaten (helps everything stick together)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (gives structure so they don’t fall apart)
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (the sharper the better for maximum flavor)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (because more cheese is always the answer)
- 2 green onions, finely chopped (adds a nice little bite)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder if you’re lazy like me sometimes)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (taste your potatoes first—they might already be salty enough)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of paprika (for that little smoky something)
For the Coating:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (way better than regular breadcrumbs for crunch)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for the first dredge)
- 2 eggs, beaten (for the middle dip)
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola work great)
Optional Flavor Boosters:
- 2 strips cooked bacon, crumbled (because bacon makes everything better)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you like a little heat)
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened (makes them extra creamy inside)