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Use your leftover mashed potatoes to make these POTATO PUFFS! Such a fun snack, appetizer, or side dish and made with just 4 ingredients! Serve with our easy ranch dip for a fun treat!
I have a thing for mashed potatoes. <— I say that like it’s breaking news or something.
I mean, who DOESN’T have a thing for mashed potatoes? Nobody, basically.
I’ve been on a major kick lately, ever since learning how to make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, I’ve made them so often that I think my family is getting sick of them.
I needed something to do with all those leftovers! That’s where these mashed potato puffs come in. OMG, you guys. These things are addictive! Once you pop one, you can’t stop!!
This is the perfect recipe for using up leftovers, but it’s also a fine excuse for making a fresh pot of mashed potatoes. 😉
Ingredient Notes:
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Mashed Potatoes – You’ll need some refrigerated mashed potatoes! If you are using leftovers plan to use about 2 1/2 cups worth. If you are using a package of pre-cooked refrigerated mashed potatoes from the store get the 24 oz. size!
Potato Puff Ingredients – To make these leftover potato puffs you’ll need to mix in some flour, egg, and cheddar cheese with the mashed potatoes. See below for a few suggested variations.
Easy Ranch Dip Mix – I whipped up a simple ranch dip to serve with these potato puffs! Just a little sour cream, ranch powder, milk, and chives. Total perfection.
What Readers are Saying!
“Love these and have made them with my own mashed potatoes and with the Bob Evans as well. Great recipe…” – Martha
How to Make Mashed Potato Puffs:
Potato Puff Mix: Add your leftover, cold mashed potatoes to a large mixing bowl and heat them for a minute or so in the microwave, just so they are easy to stir and work with. They don’t need to be hot.
Mix in the flour, egg, and cheddar cheese. Stir well.
VARIATIONS!
Make this your own recipe by switching up the ingredients!
- Add some crumbled bacon or bacon bits.
- Diced ham or crumbled breakfast sausage works too!
- Swap the cheddar for something like swiss or Gruyere.
Fill: You’ll need to prepare a mini muffin tin with some non-stick spray and then start adding the mashed potato puff mixture into each muffin well. Try and use exactly 1 1/2 tablespoons for each potato puff.
Mini Muffin Tin
This mini muffin tin gets a workout in our kitchen. It’s perfect for making these potato puffs, but we also use it to make homemade tots and baked quiche bites.
My Favorite Cookie Scoop!
We use cookie scoops for everything from baking cookies to scooping meatballs to easily filling muffin tins. A medium cookie scoop is the perfect size for making mashed potato puffs.
Bake: Pop these in a hot oven for 25 minutes. The tops and edges will get a bit golden brown.
Ranch Dip: The potato puffs are great on their own but even better when you serve them with some of my easy ranch dip! This is a simple recipe: Just whisk together some sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning, and chives and you are ready to start enjoying these leftover mashed potato puffs!
FAQs:
Pretty much what they sound like, little mini bites of potato and cheese that bake together into a poppable little snack or side.
You can freeze the leftover potato puffs. Place them on a baking sheet and flash freeze for one hour before transferring them to a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat in the oven before serving.
Yep, these should keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge depending on how fresh your mashed potatoes were when starting the recipe. You can quickly reheat in the oven or the microwave.
MORE EASY LEFTOVER RECIPES!
- Stovetop Cheesy Rice with Ham
- Leftover Turkey Casserole
- Hot Turkey Sandwich
- Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
- Leftover Turkey Soup
Mashed Potato Puffs
Ingredients
For the potato puffs
- 2 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes see notes
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
For the ranch dip
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon dried ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chopped chives
Instructions
To make the potato puffs
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Liberally spray a non-stick mini muffin tin with non-stick spray.
- Add cold, leftover mashed potatoes to a mixing bowl and heat for 1-2 minutes, just to get them soft enough to work with. They don't need to be hot at this point.
- Add the flour, egg, and cheddar cheese to the potatoes and stir well to combine.
- Scoop 1 ½ tablespoons of the potato mixture into each muffin well. A medium cookie scoop works well for this.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Let cool 15 minutes before running using a small spoon to loosen the edges and scoop the puffs from the muffin tin.
- Serve with the ranch dip.
To make the ranch dip
- While the potatoes are baking, whisk together the sour cream, milk, ranch, and chives. Set aside for serving.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was updated with new photos in December 2021. Original photo below.
Kevin | Kevin Is Cooking says
These would be gone in no time, love these!
karry says
Why can’t I print any of your recipes? When I click the print recipe box it takes me to a review of some nutrition bar that you posted but no recipe — I tried with several different recipes on your site using both laptop mobile and desktop and get the same pop up for a nutrition bar. Can this be fixed so we can print recipes ? Thanks so much!
Karly says
Things should be working now, Karry! Sorry for the technical difficulties – I’ve got some backend work going on and it messed with a few things. 😉
Karry says
Thank you so much for taking care of this so quickly!!! I appreciate it – thank you again
Karry
Courtney says
Can these be made ahead and frozen? I am always trying to get ahead of the game!
Thank you.
Karly says
I haven’t tried it myself, but I do think it would work just fine! 🙂
Kris D Guthrie says
can they be reheated? I am bringing dinner to a church family and they may need to reheat the items. thanks- kris guthrie
Joann says
Courtney, I just asked the same question. Did you try making them ahead of time?
Chels says
Oh, potatoes are one of my love languages! I love how light and airy they look! Which means, I would probably eat a ton! 😉
Karly says
They are a wee bit addictive. 🙂
Marisa says
We are a potato loving family and am always looking for new ways to serve them up. These mashed potato puffs are perfect little morsels!
Karly says
Hope you give them a try!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
I feel like I’ve been living under a rock because I didn’t know refrigerated mashed potatoes even exist. Adding them to my list so I can make these adorable puffs ASAP!
Karly says
Oh my gosh, they are the most convenient thing ever!
Cheryl says
What’s the serving size for these? 900? Just checking
I won’t lie and say I’ll be making these because that’s quite literally how many I would eat. ???
Karly says
Yes, 900. Just be sure you’re home along when you make them or people might try to get in on the action. 😉
Christine says
I’m assuming you blend the flour into the potato mixture. Wasn’t mentioned in the directions.
Karly says
Yes, you do! Sorry about that!
Tina says
My 2 grandkids aged 2.5 and 5 years old HATE potatoes, any way other than French fries. They won’t eat anything with that texture. This recipe will get past that problem and please adults too.
Nancy says
This sounds like a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes also. I always seem to make too many .
Pat Campbell says
I just tried Bob Evans mashed potatoes for the first time a couple weeks ago. They are yummy! I will try this recipe soon.
Karly says
You’ll have to try their mac and cheese too, Pat! It’s just as good! 🙂
Linda says
Sounds like a great holiday appetizer, my family will love these!
sanna says
These look amazing! My daughters love mashed potatoes but I can imagine them loving these even more!
Karly says
They’re SO good! Hope you give them a try!
Jodi says
YUM is all I have to say??!!!!
kim says
I can’t bring myself to buy mashed potatoes. About how many cups are in a tub of the mashed potatoes so I can sub my own potatoes in.
Karly says
The package is 24 ounces.
Julie Evink says
Gah! I’m the same way!!! Although the Instant Pot makes some really delicious mashed potatoes I’ve learned. I LOOOOVE buying them because that’s easier and I’m totally embracing that!
Karly says
Yes, you’re right! I’ve had luck with the IP and potatoes – it makes good potato salad too! 🙂