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Easy Mashed Potato Cakes is super easy but the best comfort food. Use mashed potatoes and all of your favorite toppings to make delicious leftover mashed potatoes cake.
We always have so much mashed potato leftovers after our holiday meal. We love to use the leftovers to make turkey pot pie and 15 Bean Soup with Ham Recipe. Using the leftover mashed potatoes to make these potato cakes was also a hit.
My kids love mashed potatoes and can eat them with every meal. If you are stuck with a whole container of mashed potatoes make these potato cakes. You can even make mashed sweet potatoes cakes to use up those leftovers.
Ingredients
- Left Over Mashed Potatoes – Try these Best Mashed Potatoes
- Eggs – We used large eggs
- Flour – Helps to bind the ingredients together
- Oil – We used vegetable oil but any with a high smoke point will work.
- Seasonings – I season these with garlic powder or salt to heighten the flavor.
- Electric Skillet – This is the one we use
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Potato Pancakes from Mashed Potatoes
Step 1 – Place the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to break up the eggs.
Step 2 – Stir in the flour, mashed potatoes, garlic powder and salt until well combined.
Step 3 – Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Add the oil to the skillet and spread it around with a spatula.
Step 4 – Spoon the mashed potatoes by ½ cup on the skillet. Flatten the mixture out until it’s approximately ½ inch thick. Cook for 3-4 minutes until browned. Flip and cook the other side.
Mashed Potato Cakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cup left over mashed potatoes
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Place the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to break up the eggs.
- Stir in the flour, mashed potatoes, garlic powder and salt until well combined.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Add the oil to the skillet and spread it around with a spatula.
- Spoon the mashed potatoes by ½ cup on the skillet. Flatten the mixture out until it's approximately ½ inch thick.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
- Flip and smash the potato cake down so it flattens more and the cook the other side for 3-4 more minutes until the other side is browned. Watch them closely while they're cooking so that they do not burn.
- Remove from the skillet. Serve warm topped with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Expert Tips
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- Mashed Potatoes – Feel free to make this recipe with any type of mashed potatoes. They do work best with mashed potatoes without the skin.
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- Shaping Pancakes – You can use a cookie scoop or a measuring cup to shape the pancake mixture. But we find it best to use your hands.
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- Cooking Potato Cakes – Cook the pancakes in an oil of your choice that has a high smoke point. Vegetable oil, avocado oil, canola oil and peanut oil are all great options.
Variation Ideas
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- Additions – Add in Monterrey Jack Cheese, mozzarella cheese, bacon, green chilis or green onion into the potato mixture before frying. Parmesan cheese is also a great addition.
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- Seasoning – Feel free to add in fresh herbs, garlic, chives, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper for added flavor.
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- Veggies – Make veggie packed mashed potato cakes. This is a great way to get your kiddos to eat more vegetables. Try adding bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, onion. They are all delicious.
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- Gluten-Free Flour – Feel free to make this recipe with almond flour. This variation will still taste amazing.
Nutrition Facts
What to Serve with Mashed Potato Cakes
Mashed Potato Cakes are best served warm as soon as they come off the griddle. They are the perfect brunch options served with scrambled eggs, bacon and a homemade blueberry muffins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store you leftover potato cakes in an airtight container in the fridge. They will last about 5 days if stored properly.
When you are ready to serve again, heat oil in a skillet. Then place pancake in skillet and reheat. We do not recommend reheating in the microwave as it will lost the crispiness.
More Easy Potato Recipes
Easy Side Dishes
Pan Fried Potatoes
Easy Side Dishes
Twice Baked Potatoes
Easy Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
We love hearing from you. Make sure to leave us a comment in you make this leftover mashed potato pancakes recipe.
My gram used to make these for me on Good Friday when the rest of the family had at fried potato latkes with applesause cakes. I didn’t like the potato cakes because they always turned pink while they were waiting to be fried. She used to make sure that she burned one side with a really great crust that I would eat with my fingers. Thanks for sharing this recipe – brings back a lot of great memories.