Transform spare spuds into this quick and easy recipe for Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes!
Whether it’s the winter holidays (hello, Thanksgiving!), the spring bashes (hello, St. Patrick’s Day!) or just any night of the week, leftover mashed potatoes no longer have to be a boring re-warmed afterthought on day 2.
Now you can turn those surplus spuds into the ultimate Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes!
What’s not to love about hot, crispy potato pancakes topped with tangy sour cream?
This simple recipe comes together in minutes, and best of all, is wide open to customizations.
Not a fan of cheddar? Swap in your cheese of choice. Got spare turkey, too? Chop it up and add it to the mix. Looking for a hint of heat? Stir in some chopped chipotles in adobo.
And if you’re staring down even more surplus spuds, don’t miss additional recipes for:
- Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles
- Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins
- Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi
- Leftover Mashed Potato Balls
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Find more inspiration for making the most of Thanksgiving leftovers with additional classic and creative recipes.
The Best Leftover Turkey Salad
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Muffins
Leftover Cranberry Sauce and Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 3 cups chilled leftover mashed potatoes
- 2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoons chopped scallions, green and white parts
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil, for pan-frying
- Sour cream, for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the mashed potatoes, cheese, scallions, egg and 3 tablespoons flour until combined. (See Kelly's Notes.) Using your hands, divide the mixture into 12 portions. Roll each portion into a compact ball then flatten it into a pancake about a 1/2-inch-thick.
- Place the remaining ½ cup of flour in a shallow dish and carefully dredge each pancake in the flour.
- Heat 3 to 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. (Add enough oil to thoroughly coat the bottom of the pan.)
- Fry the pancakes, in batches, until they're golden brown and crispy on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Add more oil to the pan as needed between batches. (Do not overcrowd the pan and do not flip the pancakes too soon or they won't develop a crisp crust.) Transfer the pancakes to a paper towel-lined plate and immediately sprinkle them with salt.
- Serve the potato pancakes topped with sour cream and garnished with additional chopped scallions.
Kelly's Notes:
- All leftover mashed potatoes will vary in consistency depending on how much cream, milk or melted butter you added to the original batch. If the mashed potato pancake mixture looks too dry and isn't holding together, add one more egg. If it looks too wet, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is cohesive.
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
Never been able to make these damn things without them falling apart on me. Great recipe. I didn’t have onion on hand but I did have bacon bits. Turned out great, but next time I’m definitely using onion because they need that little extra something.
YUM! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Rob!
So delicious! I have also used leftover tater tots or baked potato. And that worked well too. Just used an extra egg. Perfect bite!
I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Darnell!
This is a wonderfully deliciously delectable way to use leftover mashed potatoes.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Sandie!
Love this recipe! Came out great and everyone loved them! My husband is Ukrainian said they wonderful!
I’m so happy you and your husband enjoyed the recipe!
These are delicious!! Thank you so much for the recipe Kelly! :)
We have made them 2 times now and they both turned our perfectly. No adjustments needed. We make extra mashed potatoes now so we can make these!
Love reading this, Karlee! I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!
Pancakes are the best breakfast! That too with mashed potatoes- could it get any better? I’m going to try these with the organic ghee I got from Milkio instead of that vegetable oil, it’s super healthy and delicious
I hope you enjoy the recipe, Cheryl!
Exactly the recipe I was looking for. I made 10lbs bag mashed potato for xmas dinner and didn’t like the consistency. I drove them and started fresh mashed to serve for xmas and now have the 1st batch of mash to contend with. This is my 1st and my next is to be loaded potato soup
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jewel!
So easy and delicious! I added leftover corn too! Thanks for a great recipe!
You are so welcome, Jacqueline! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Excellent recipe. Add more oil after each batch.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Christian!
Excellent! Loved these! I’ve made them twice, and will again and again! My leftover mashed potatoes had a dollop of cream cheese and butter… so delicious and easy to make. Thank you!
You are so welcome, Toni! I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!
Perfect. Any comments on freezing. I course I have too many.
Hi Marianne! Allow the pancakes to cool completely; once cool, transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet. (If you’re freezing more than one layer of pancakes, use another sheet of parchment paper to separate the layers.) Place the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze the pancakes for at least 6 hours. Once they are completely frozen, you can transfer them to a sealable freezer bag and store them for up to a month.
Delish! I never thought about adding cheese to my potato patties.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Linda!
I made this for family after Thanksgiving and it was hit. I didn’t have any green onions but sauteed chopped onions were a good substitute!
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Linda!
It was an awesome treat to have mashed potato pancakes after Thanksgiving dinner the next morning. Thank you so much for the recipe yours truly Mike.
You are so welcome, Mike! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Delicious way to use up left over thanksgiving mashed potatoes!
Yessss! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Kerry!
The Husband Gives it a Two Thumbs Up! I used one egg to roughly two cups of leftover mashed potatoes. I added 1/4 of a large onion, finely minced plus 1/2 of a large clove of garlic, also finely minced. I added shredded cheddar cheese and maybe 1/4 cup of flour. Mixed it all by hand and it made four large pattie’s. I heated canola oil in a medium size frying pan and cooked the pattie’s probably five minutes per side until they were a rich golden brown. The hubs didn’t want sour cream or applesauce, he was happy with just the way they were and he devoured all four. Make sure before you flip the pattie’s that they’re nice and browned so they don’t fall apart when you flip them. Very pleased with how easy and delicious they were. Thanks for the great recipe.
You are so welcome, Donna! I’m thrilled you and your husband enjoyed them!
I made these this morning.
Thanks for the recipe.
Great use of leftovers!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Brenda!
Could you use corn starch instead of the flour to dredge them in? I’m thinking it would make them crispier.
Hi Cindy – I haven’t tried that with this recipe but it should work!
First time maker…this recipe was FABULOUS❣️ I did squeeze a few drops of lime juice when done, that touch of acid is just a personal preference.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Gracie!
Great recipe! I always had trouble with mine falling apart – your recipe fixed that! Beautiful, yummy potato pancakes!!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Teressa!
I added some diced bacon to mine, and they turned out amazing!
YUM! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Shanon!
Could you use corn starch instead of flour to mix with the potatoes, to make it Gluten-free?
Hi Seanna – I haven’t tried that with this recipe but it should work!