This Potato Pancakes Recipe is the best way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. This cheesy mashed potato pancakes recipe is well loved by everyone in our family. This is just about the only way that my kids will eat mashed potatoes and by “eat,” I mean they wolf them down!
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There’s just something about that beautiful cheese pull with each one that makes these completely irresistible. Potato pancakes are quick and easy to make and have the simplest ingredients.
Sometimes the best recipes are the simplest and YES, it’s totally worth it to make mashed potatoes just to have these potato pancakes! P.S. Don’t miss the sweet little taste test with my son at the end of the video!
Watch How To Make Mashed Potato Pancakes:
All that melty cheese! I want these all over again. Seriously my friends, these are GOOD! I love how forgiving these potato pancakes are. We usually wing it and “eye-ball” the recipe except for when we measured everything just for you!
Ingredients for Potato Pancake Recipe:
4 cups mashed potatoes*
2 cups (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 large egg
1/4 cup flour (or up to 1/2 cup flour for creamier potatoes)
2 to 3 Tbsp chives, chopped
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
Light Olive oil or Canola oil to sauté
Sour cream to serve
*This recipe works best with mashed potatoes that are not ultra creamy and buttery, and if they are, you may need a little more flour for them to hold a patty shape. This recipe is not intended for use with instant mashed potatoes.
Time Saving Tip: Use a trigger release ice cream scoop, scraping the scoop against the side of the bowl to quickly and easily create uniform patties.
⬇ Print-Friendly Mashed Potato Pancakes Recipe:
Cheesy Potato Pancakes Recipe (VIDEO)

Ingredients
- 4 cups mashed potatoes, *
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, (8 oz)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, or up to 1/2 cup flour for creamier potatoes
- 2 1/2 Tbsp chives, chopped
- 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
- 2 Tbsp Light Olive oil , or Canola oil to sauté
- Sour cream to serve
Instructions
How to Make Mashed Potatoes:
- Fill a 5 Qt pot with water. Add 1 Tbsp salt and peeled quartered russet potatoes (2 lbs or about 7 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered). Cook until easily pierced with fork. Drain well and mash in 4 Tbsp butter then let cool to room temp. Mashed potatoes can be made 1 - 3 days ahead.
How to Make Mashed Potato Pancakes:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 4 cups mashed potatoes, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup flour and 2 Tbsp chopped chives. Use a potato masher to mash the mixture together until well mixed. If the potatoes are too loose to hold a patty shape, add flour a Tablespoon at a time.
- Place a heaping tablespoonful of potato mixture between your palms and form into a round, 1/3" thick patty. Dredge both sides of the pancake in bread crumbs and set on a cutting board. Repeat with remaining pancakes.
- Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat with enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of the pan. Once oil is hot, add patties in a single layer and sauté 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining patties, adding more oil as needed. I usually have 2 skillets going at once to finish sooner.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
If you try this mashed potato pancakes recipe, let me know!! Oh p.s. you can also use dill if you don’t have chives.
Hi natasha
I was wondering, Will it still taste good if I don’t add chives because we don’t have them, and is it okay if I use a different kind of cheese, lets say like coby jack or something.
Hi Radomir, I have had readers report great results with using cheddar so I think colby jack cheese would work fine 🙂
Hi Natasha,
I’m wondering if I could use my left over boiled potatoes for this🤔? Thoughts?
Hi Lisa, that could work if they are small and have their skins on. The skins help to keep them together when they are smashed.
Hi Natasha!
Can you substitute a different cheese for the mozzarella? I made the chicken fritters, and the mozzarella cheese was a bit overpowering to the chicken and other flavors. Do you think Fontina or Havarti would work?
Hello Jamie, I haven’t used another cheese because my children love mozzarella best but you can definitely substitute!
Hi,Natasha. Today I came across this recipe & decided to try it out,we loved it,my 2 small girls loved it,plus my husband is from Belarus so they love potatoes. Love trying all your recipes.👍☺🌹💖
Hello Olga! I’m happy to hear your family enjoys the recipe as much as mine. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
I tried this recipe and it was great my kids like it. Thank you Natasha. And keep going 👍🏻
My pleasure Mariam! I’m glad to hear the recipe was a hit with the whole family. Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
I added a couple of douses of hot sauce into the mixture and used shredded pepper jack cheese and they were amazing!
Yum, that sounds delicious! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe Alicia. Thanks for sharing your review with other readers!
Hi.. I have a question for you. I cannot print any of your recipes. Can you help?
Hi Debbie. I’m sorry that you having a problem printing our recipes. I have a “print” button at the bottom of each post in the print-friendly section. I would love to troubleshoot this issue with you so please let me know if it’s the problem on the computer or a tablet, also let me know how you tried to print the recipe. I look forward to your response.
Made these today, soooo good!😍
I’m glad you love the recipe Victoria! Thanks for sharing!
I made this pancakes, sooo goood!!!! DELICIOUS!!! I made it for supper, I served them with the Avocado Chicken Salad, both DELICIOUS!!! My family loved this meal!!! Thanks Natasha for sharing this awesome recipes!!!! Blessings!!
You’re welcome Cristina! I’m happy to hear how much you love the recipe. Thanks for following and sharing your excellent review!
Hi Natasha, I really like the recipe but just wondering what kind of ice cream scoop do you use? If you could provide me a link for it would be great. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Dina, I haven’t been able to find the exact one I have (mostly because my husband purchased it years ago as a treasure at a thrift store. lol). It is however very similar to this OXO one (Amazon affiliate link)
Gosh gal I love all your recipes. I could cook all day just using yours. By a way your smile and personality is so awesome. Love the videos!
Thank you Laura! I’m glad to hear how much you’re enjoying the recipes. Thanks for following and sharing your encouraging comments!
We are not fans of non-stick. Would a stainless steel work good if I use alot of coconut oil?
Hi Anastasiya, I think you could make that work 🙂
Hello, Do you think I could use Parmesan Cheese in these?? And Green Onion instead of Chives?? I have Parmesan Cheese at home! Trying to be cheap 😉
Hi Jackie! first of all – LOL – trying to be cheap 🙂 I guess I’m cheap all the time! 😉 I think that would work great. Keep in mind, parmesan is a little saltier so you might use a little less or add it to taste 🙂
Made these last night and my potato-despising husband actually liked them! Thanks! I froze half for another day.
That’s great! I’m so glad to hear that. Thanks for sharing your great review Colleen!
I like recipes like this where you can leave as is, or add a thing or two.
Me too! 🙂
These potato cakes are very tasty. I added cheddar cheese onion powder and paparika with a little garlic. Yummy. Thanks for this great recipe!!
You’re welcome Gayle! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
These look amazing. Could these be frozen for a later date?
Linda, they are freezer friendly 😬
Do you freeze them before or after they are fried? Just my husband and I. So don’t want to make them all at once. I always have leftover mashed potatoes.
Hi Linda, I think it would work either way, just be sure to thaw them before sautéing for even cooking or heating and less splatter.
Can I use cheddar mozzarella in this recipe?
Hi Mary, yes that would work 🙂
So I’ve made these numerous times and Im obsessed. I however just realized I don’t have eggs on hand. What can I substitute to make the patties hold their form?
Hi Jasmine, I’m so glad you like the recipe! I haven’t tried anything else to be honest. One of my readers suggested a vegan egg replacer which might work if you have something like that on hand.
Instead of what other ingredient we can add
Hi Vandana, I’m not sure what you are trying to substitute. Can you clarify?