Crispy Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
These Crispy Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls are a fun and delicious way to enjoy a classic comfort food. The air fryer ensures that these potato balls are cooked to perfection with a crispy outer layer and a soft creamy interior. These mashed potatoes are the perfect appetizer or side dish for dinner parties, potlucks, or just as an anytime snack.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll This Recipe
- This easy air fryer recipe is a great way to breathe new life into leftover mashed potatoes and make them into something new.
- It takes simple ingredients, like mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese to make a delicious bite-sized snack that’s sure to please.
- Plus, air frying requires little oil and no heavy greasy mess than traditional deep frying.
- And it’s ready in just minutes! So if you’re looking for an easy snack or side dish that won’t sacrifice on flavor, this air fried mashed potato bites are a great choice.
Equipment Needed
You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this easy recipe. Once you gather these tools, you can enjoy this flavorful side dish.
- air fryer
- large bowl
- ice cream scoop or cookie scoop – optional
Ingredients
To make this air fried recipe you will need few simple ingredients to help you make this crisp side dish. Gather these ingredients and get ready to enjoy this tasty snack.
- leftover mashed potatoes – or you can quickly make fresh ones with the pressure cooker recipe below.
- sharp cheddar cheese
- large egg
- panko bread crumbs
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- russet potatoes
- salt
- garlic powder
- black pepper
- sour cream
- unsalted butter
- half-and-half or milk
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Making these air fryer mashed potato balls is so simple, especially when you use your leftover mashed potatoes that are already seasoned. Just follow the directions below and you will have delicious side dish or appetizer that your whole family will love in no time at all.
Step 1: Make the potato balls
Mix together the mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, egg until combined.
Step 2: Shape into balls
Shape the mixture in evenly sized balls. You can make them as large or as small you want. I like to aim for 1 and a half inch size.
Step 3: Chill the balls
Place potato balls in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Roll the balls into the panko crumbs
Remove potatoes from the refrigerator and roll each ball in Panko flakes and place back on the baking sheet.
Step 5: Add the balls to the air fryer basket
Lightly spray the insert of the air fryer with non-stick cooking spray. Place prepared potato balls in a single layer on the air fryer insert.
Step 6: Air fry the mashed potato balls
Turn air fryer to 375°F and the timer to 10 minutes. After 5 minutes, turn balls over.
Step 7: Garnish
Garnish with diced green onion, diced parsley or chives if desired.
Step 8: Serve with your favorite dipping sauce
Serve with ketchup, ranch dressing.
Oven Baking Instructions:
Don’t have an air fryer? You can make these in the oven as well.
Step 1: Prepare a baking sheet
Place prepared mashed potato balls on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Step 2: Bake until crispy
Put prepared potatoes in the oven at 400°F for 10 minutes or until crispy. Turn balls once.
What to Serve With This Dish
These air fryer mashed potato balls can be served as an appetizer with dipping sauce like blue cheese sauce, ketchup, ranch dressing or ranchero sauce. You could also serve them alongside your favorite meal such as this Slow Cooker Pot Roast or these Sweet and Spicy Pork Chops.
Substitutions and Additions
You can add a variety of ingredients to this easy recipe. Some ideas include:
- Add cooked bacon bits, diced bell peppers or onion, green onions, jalapeno peppers, or even Parmesan cheese to the mashed potato mixture for more flavor.
- You could also try adding herbs like thyme or oregano, garlic powder or onion powder for added flavor.
How To Store
Storage – Leftover mashed potato balls should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating – To reheat, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F until heated through about 15 minutes. Or in the air fryer at 375°F for about 3-5 minutes.
Freezing – I don’t recommend freezing mashed potato balls, as they may become soggy when reheated.
Sandra’s Pro Tips
- Warm mashed potatoes slightly in the microwave or on the stovetop if potatoes are right out of the refrigerator.
- For extra crispy potato balls after coating the potatoes in panko breadcrumbs lightly spray with cooking spray, then roll again in panko.
- Please feel free to experiment with different cheeses, herbs and spices to get the flavors you like best!
- To make sure that you get a crispy exterior be careful to not overcrowd your air fryer basket. If you are using a smaller air fryer you will need to make them in batches.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this potato cheese balls recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this air fryer potato balls recipe.
Yes, absolutely! You can try shredded mozzarella or Swiss cheese for a different flavor profile.
Mashed potatoes tend to become soggy when thawed, so freezing them is not recommended.
The options are endless, you can just make sure that if you are adding protein you will need to add it cooked.
Other Delicious Air Fryer Recipes You May Enjoy
- This Air Fryer Asparagus is a fresh yet healthy side dish that adds a nice pop of color to your family meals.
- The next time you are looking for an easy potato side dish, you can whip up a batch of these Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
- If you are looking for another simple yet delicious air fryer appetizer recipe, then give this Air Fryer Scallops Wrapped with Bacon.
- Add these Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Egg Rolls to your next party. Such a unique and tasty hand held appetizer.
Crispy Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes at room temperature
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 large egg whisked
- 1 cup Panko
- Dipping sauce optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add leftover mashed potatoes, egg and cheddar cheese. Mix until combined.
- With a cookie scoop place potato balls on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or up to an hour.
- Remove potato balls from the refrigerator and roll each ball in panko flakes and place back on the baking sheet.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Spray the insert of the Air fryer with non-stick cooking spray and place the mashed potato balls in a single layer making sure the air can circulate (don't over crowd).
- Turn the air fryer to 375°F and set the timer for 10 minutes. Turn over the potato balls after five minutes. Cook until crispy.
- Place on a cooling rack and serve with dipping sauce or garnish with diced onion, parsley or chives.
Oven Baked Instructions
- Place prepared potato balls on a parchment line baking sheet.
- Put prepared potatoes in the oven at 400°F for 10 minutes or until crispy. Turn balls once.
- Place on a cooling rack and serve with dipping sauce or garnish with diced onion, parsley or chives.
Notes
- My potatoes are leftovers from this Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe. They are already well seasoned with butter, sour cream, salt & pepper and garlic powder.
- Warm mashed potatoes slightly in the microwave or on the stovetop if potatoes are right out of the refrigerator.
- For extra crispy potato balls after coating the potatoes in panko breadcrumbs lightly spray with cooking spray, then roll again in panko.
- Experiment with different cheeses, herbs and spices to get the flavors you like best.
- To make sure that you get a crispy exterior be careful to not overcrowd your air fryer basket. If you are using a smaller air fryer you will need to make them in batches.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.
My granddaughter loves these and lives to help me make them. We have made them about 5 times since I found this recipe.
Oh, thank you so much for this comment. You made my day knowing you shared with with your granddaughter and she loves these mashed potato balls!