Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Last Updated on March 31, 2022 by Betty Davies
Cheesy and crispy, these fried mashed potato balls are so easy to cook in the air fryer! Coated with panko crumbs and made with less oil than the traditional method, this is a great way to use up leftover mashed potato.
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If you are looking to mix up your potato side dishes, these crispy air fried mashed potato balls are a tasty way to do it! Made with mash, shredded cheese and green onion and coated in panko breadcrumbs, they are crispy on the outside and soft and creamy inside.
Simple to make, these are seriously good, and because they are air fried, you still get that perfectly crunchy texture with less oil.
This is one delicious way to use up leftover mashed potato from Christmas or Thanksgiving, or, just quickly cook up some potatoes to make fresh.
Perfect as a side dish, but pretty great to serve as an appetizer and dip in ketchup!
Be sure to try my Air Fryer Potato Gratin and Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Simple ingredients: You don’t need a long list of ingredients to make this recipe, you will likely have most things to hand already.
- Easy: Just mix the mashed potato with the other filling ingredients, shape into balls, coat in panko and cook. These are ready to serve in around 20 minutes, plus there’s not hot oil to contend with!
- Healthier: I won’t claim that these are a health food, but they are definitely healthier when compared to traditional deep frying.
- Dietary info: These air fried mashed potato balls are vegetarian.
Ingredients
- Mashed potato: This is a great recipe to use up any leftover mashed potatoes you have. You can also whip up some in a few minutes to use instead.
- Cheese: I like to add some shredded cheddar to the mash, as cheese is never a bad idea!
- Green onions: Some chopped green onions add a nice hint of fresh flavor to each bite.
- Eggs and flour: So that the breadcrumbs stick to the mashed potato balls.
- Panko breadcrumbs: These breadcrumbs add a great crunchy texture to the outside of the balls. You can use plain breadcrumbs, by they won’t come out quite as crispy.
How to make air fried mashed potato balls
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Mix the mashed potatoes with the cheese and green onions (photo 1).
- Roll into balls (photo 2).
- Dip in the egg and flour, then coat evenly in the breadcrumbs (photo 3).
- Place in an even layer in the air fryer basket (photo 4).
- Cook til crispy and golden brown (photo 5).
Recipe Variations
These air fryer mashed potato balls are pretty awesome as they are, but you can easily make them your own. Try mixing in some cooked bacon crumbles, caramelized onions or different types of cheese to the mash. You can use any mashed potatoes you have with different seasonings.
To make these gluten-free, simply use GF breadcrumbs and flour.
Frequently Asked Questions
I used my red skinned potato mash to make these, but any kind will work well. Try them with:
Boursin Mashed Potatoes
Leek Potato Mash
Almond Milk Mashed Potatoes (Whole30, Vegan)
Wholegrain Mustard Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Sure! If you don’t have any leftover mash, you can quickly make some up to use. Be sure to season it well, and it’s best to let it cool in the fridge for 30 minutes so that the potatoes are easy to handle.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can either shallow fry, deep fry or oven bake them instead.
If shallow or deep frying, once you have coated the potato balls in panko, let them chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to and hour before cooking so that they don’t fall apart.
For oven baking, Spray with a little oil and cook in a preheated oven at 400F for around 20 minutes til crispy and golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer mashed potato balls can be served as an appetizer, with some ketchup for dipping. They are a super versatile potato side dish that can be served with favorite mains like:
- Mushroom Goats Cheese Frittata
- Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken
- Air Fried Tuna Steaks
- Apple Maple Pork Chops
Serve these fried mashed potato balls where you would usually serve mash or roasted potatoes
Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating
You can bread the mashed potato balls a few hours ahead of cooking and keep them covered in the fridge. Once cooked, they can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheated in the air fryer at 380F for 3 to 5 minutes til heated through.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- If making the mashed potato fresh for this recipe, let it cool for 30 minutes so that it is easy to handle.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil, and the mashed potato balls when they go in. This will help them not to stick and they’ll get nice and golden brown. If you don’t have an oil spray, you can wipe oil in the basket, and then pour a little oil in your hands to coat the balls.
- For best results pre heat the air fryer. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, let it run at 275F for 5 minutes before placing them in.
- Cook the balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, you will need to cook them in a couple of batches. You can keep the cooked balls in a warm oven til ready to serve.
These air fryer mashed potato balls are one delicious side dish. Wonderfully crispy on the outside and creamy and soft on the inside.
More Potato Side Dishes
- Roasted Turmeric Potatoes
- Garlic Parmesan Potato Stacks
- Individual Potato Gratin
- Parmesan Crusted Roasted Potatoes
If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!
Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups mashed potato (1kg)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (120g)
- 5 green onions
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup flour (70g)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (50g)
Instructions
- Mix the mashed potato, cheese and green onion together in a bowl.
- Scoop the mashed potato (about 2 tablespoons) and roll into balls. Place on a parchment lined baking tin.
- Beat together the eggs in one bowl, add the flour to another and the panko to a third.
- One by one, dip each mashed potato ball into the flour, then the egg and finally coat with the breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375F.
- Oil the air fryer basket and place in the balls in an even layer and not touching (you will have to cook in batches). Spray the tops of the balls with a little more oil.
- Cook at 375F for 10 to 15 minutes til golden brown and crispy. Gently turn them halfway through cooking.
Notes
- If making the mashed potato fresh for this recipe, let it cool for 30 minutes so that it is easy to handle.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil, and the mashed potato balls when they go in. This will help them not to stick and they’ll get nice and golden brown. If you don’t have an oil spray, you can wipe oil in the basket, and then pour a little oil in your hands to coat the balls.
- For best results pre heat the air fryer. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, let it run at 275F for 5 minutes before placing them in.
- Cook the balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, you will need to cook them in a couple of batches. You can keep the cooked balls in a warm oven til ready to serve.
What a great way to take leftover mashed potatoes to a whole new level! This recipe will become a household go to. The instructions are easy to follow and yield perfect results. Going to try the coating system with other items as it yields a satisfying crunch via your everyday air fryer.
Fantastic, EASY and YUMMY.
These are so easy to make and are so good. A delicious huge tater tot filled with potato and cheese. What a great way to use up mashed potatoes. Thank you! Definitely a keeper.