Wasted leftover baked potatoes can almost bring a tear to the eye of a cook who loves them and wants to save money. Throwing out a potato is horrible considering all the wonderful things you can do with them. There are countless ideas you can run with to turn that leftover supper into a special treat the following day.
Remember, left over doesn’t have to be a bad thing. When you reuse your food in a new way… no on will ever know they were leftovers. 🙂 Using your leftover baked potatoes is an easy way to save money and time in the kitchen.
Here are 10 of my favorite ways to use leftover baked potatoes.
1. Make Twice Baked Potatoes
This can be done in a myriad of ways and everyone has a different recipe for them, but head on over here to check out my easy recipe. Mix the potato with chives, onions, cheese, sour cream and whatever else you might like in your twice baked and replace them into their “bowls” of skin. When you are ready to eat them, run them through and bake them again. They are even better the second time around.
2. Make Potato Salad
Warm or cold, that potato will taste awesome in a nice potato salad at your next picnic. Take the time to salvage your baked potato and whip up your favorite potato salad recipe instead of tossing them out!
3. Home Fries
There are few things better on the planet than home fries that were salvaged from leftover baked potatoes. They are so easy to make! All you have to do is trim them into wedges, mix them with some onions and peppers and bake them or fry them until crisp. Your family will be begging for these even when you don’t have baked potatoes left over.
4. Make Potato Soup
This is my personal favorite and it is so easy to make when you have left over baked potatoes. Simply chop up the potatoes, add in onions, chives and whatever cheeses you might like and whip it up into a nice soup. Potato soup is one of life’s special pleasures and is remarkably easy to make from leftover baked potatoes. Don’t waste those precious spuds!
5. Make Hash-browns!
When you have leftover baked potatoes, place them in the fridge. The next day use a potato shredder and you can fry up some delicious hash-browns. YUM!
6. Add Them To A Casserole
Every busy mom will appreciate the quick meal that can be started off the basis of leftover baked potatoes. Simply chop up the potato, mix it into your favorite casserole dish with chicken or turkey, and put it in the fridge for a quick meal the next day. Why toss out something that will be so delicious and easy? Some people love potato casserole all by itself without even adding in a meat
7. Pan fry them!
Oh there isn’t anything more delicious than pan-fry potatoes. Slice your baked potato in thick slices (leave the skin on). Then fry them in a skillet with a little oil until they are crisp on each side. When you use left over baked potatoes these are made in a matter of minutes, so they make the perfect side dish!
8. Make Potato Skins
You can’t really make it any easier when your potatoes are already cooked. Just scoop out the insides and add your favorite toppings. Place in the oven for a few minutes and your potato skins are ready to eat!
9. Make mashed potatoes
You can easily chop up the potatoes, add butter, milk, and salt and make mashed potatoes. My advice though – make sure you heat up the potatoes slightly before trying to mash them. Cold potatoes are harder to mash. 😉
10. Chop them up and freeze the
Potatoes get a bad wrap when it come to freezing because raw potatoes freeze terribly. However, cooked potatoes actually freeze quite well… especially if you are cooking them in soups and casseroles. Chop them up, place in freezer bag, and then freeze them for the next time you need potatoes for your favorite soup.
Baked potatoes are very versatile and keep very well if you take the time to use them. The beauty of the baked potato is that each of these things taste just a little bit different. Your family will never know that second meal was made with left over baked potatoes.
Enjoy the myriad of options I have given you when you realize you cooked too many….you might even find yourself doing it on purpose the next time around. I know that we do. 🙂
By the way, did you know there are 2 very easy ways to cook baked potatoes besides in your oven?
Happy Cooking!
Lydia @ The Thrifty Frugal Mom says
This is an excellent collection of ideas! I’m taking baked potatoes to a family reunion and am scared I’ll have a bunch leftover….this is perfect timing. 🙂
Melinda says
Oh, I needed this one. Thank you!
Heather Hernandez says
So many good ways to use them – makes you want to have lots of leftovers on purpose!
Carrie says
It does!
Carrie says
Thanks Melinda – I hope it helped!
Carrie says
Woohoo! Thanks so much Lydia.
Dick Metz says
What’s the easiest way to peel a cold baked potato?
Carrie says
Generally, I’ll peel them when they are still warm if I know I don’t need the skin for my leftover ones. However, you can use the potato peeler or soak them in an ice bath to assist with the skin coming off. Thanks.
Lynn says
How long can you keep leftover baked potatoes in the fridge? We had them last night, and won’t be using them tonight. Can I still use them tomorrow?
Also, do you freeze with or without skins? Thanks. Lynn
Carrie says
You can keep them left over in the refrigerator for approximately 1 week. I peel mine before freezing. Thanks!
Melva Jo Kimball says
As much as I’ve looked, I can’t find a recipe close to what my Mom and Grandmother made with leftover potatoes. The potatoes were boiled or baked for supper the night before. The next day, they were made into “hacked” potatoes. I suppose that meant they were hacked into pieces. This is my favorite way to use them up. I fry up those potato pieces in butter. Chopped onions can be added to them at this time. Fry until onions are soft and potatoes are lightly browned. Now, add some milk to your skillet, enough to cover the bottom of the pan about a quarter inch. At this time, stir in your seasonings and additions. If I didn’t have fresh onions, I’d use onion powder, plus garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, pepper, leftover ham or bacon, shredded cheese or a few slices of American cheese. Have those additions ready to throw in as soon as you add the milk. Stir, stir, stir until your milk has created a lovely creamy sauce around your potatoes. This is the bomb and so easy to make! When Mom said she was making hacked potatoes, it was announcing a treat!
Claire says
God bless you thank you – I thought of another which is to use on top of a creamy bake with cheese? Xx