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.
I would like to learn how to become a better cook cuz my cooking doesn’t come out good, they have times I just want to give up on the cooking an my boyfriend doesn’t like my cooking so I want to learn how to be a better cook.
Hi Alana. Hope my recipes inspire you to become a better cook. Keep on trying and don’t give up.
The best tip my mom ever gave me when I started learning was to have all of my ingredients ready before I started cooking anything. When you have a pan of hot food and have to look for that spice you forgot or that marinade you need to put together, for me, that’s when things burn or go south super fast. Follow the recipes at first and adjust them to your liking later on. That tip has served me well over the years.
Yes! That is a great tip. Most recipes move fast once started. Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Have you ever used pre-made potatoes such as Bob Evans? Would this work even though they are creamier than home made?
Hi Cj, I haven’t tried premade potatoes yet but I imagine it should work too but it won’t be as good as the original potatoes. But if you do an experiment, I would love to know how it goes.
They were amazing….I used the garlic potatoes….just add a little more flour so the aren’t loose…next time we are going to try sour cream and chive potatoes
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback Pam!
Hi Natasha…I had alot of leftover mashed potatoes that were already cheesed up , as I made Perogies a day before. Tonite we were having a beef roast & I found your recipe! Even tho the potatoes were already cheesy with caramelized onions as well…I cut the recipe in half( theres only 2 of us). I followed your recipe & added the motza, egg & flour…along with pepper, and garlic powder. I dipped them into a mixture of seasoned Panko & bread Crumbs & fried them in oil with a tablespoon of butter. These were incredible! Im going to do the remaining half of the perogy mixture…this way instead. So good…I preferred these to the beef roast!! Super Yum!! Thank-you for this recipe!!!
That’s so great Carrie! That sounds like the perfect dinner!
Thank you for recipe! I made especially lots of mashed potatoes so i could make this today. Used Panko breadcrumbs as run out of other one. Delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha, I tried the cheesy potatoe pancake yesterday, needless to say it was hit beyond, I just tweaked it a little with an addition of chilies and fresh corriander. It was quick and easy. Thank you. Oh and the thing I like the most about your videos is your spunk and enthusiasm when cooking.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe & Thank you for that wonderful compliment!
Would they work in an air fryer?
Hi Cindy, I haven’t tried it in an air fryer so I can’t say but please let me know how you like it if you experiment.
Hi. I tried the fried potato patties. Excellent flopping patties in italian bread crumbs. I did fry mine in butter. More patties add more butter.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Jackie!
I was wondering if you could use sweet potatoes instead?
Hi Nancy, I haven’t tried sweet potatoes but I think it could work. Let me know if you test it out – I’m curious!
They came out so wonderful n tasty. Great recipe
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Jack! Thank you for watching!
I’ve made these twice already and soo yummy. What a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes. I’m going to be making breakfast for dinner this Monday night. Making Natasha’s egg muffins along with this and bacon. Delish!!!!! Thanks again Natasha for another fantastic recipe!
You’re welcome! Breakfast for dinner sounds great, Karyn!
Just made them today, super yummy! I had yellow potatoes and they were a bit runny when I added all ingredients. Will definitely make them again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Evana! Thank you for the great review.
I am making this recipe for dinner tonight. My husband is going through chemotherapy and has a poor appetite but loves potatoes. This is a win-win recipe with the protein from the egg and cheese. I am adding finely diced ham as well.
I hope you both enjoyed this recipe, Melissa
It was wonderful. My husband enjoyed them so much he has asked to have them often.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Why can’t I use instant mashed potatoes for this great recipe ??
THANK YOU for all of your delicious posts <3
Hi, instant mashed potatoes are usually too loose and won’t hold together well.
Just tried these and they are just delicious but find them hard to fry very hard to flip over they seem to be a bit mushy? I am Russian and love perogies and this reminds me of them! Thanks
Hi Sally, I haven’t had that happen but I’m more than happy to troubleshoot. Was anything altered in this recipe?
can I freeze them prior to cooking or should I cook then freeze
Hi Joseph, It should work fine to freeze them either way, just be sure to thaw them before sautéing for even cooking or heating and less splatter.
Can these be frozen?
Hi Debbie! These are freezer friendly!
Can I use Panko bread crumbs with these?
Hi Christy, yes Panko crumbs will work for these potato pancakes.
This sounds so delicious and are you Russian
I’m so happy you enjoyed that Monica! We are from Ukraine.
How much shredded mozzarella cheese? The recipe says 2 cups and then it says (8 oz.) please let me know. I would love to make this.
Hi Kathy, 8 oz by weight and 2 cups of shredded cheese on the large holes of the box grater 🙂 I hope you love these mashed potato pancakes!
What would you suggest in place of the egg? My daughter is allergic but it seems like a recipe she would like! Thank you.
Hi Stacy – I haven’t tried it without egg (it might still work just omitting it), One of my readers suggested a vegan egg replacer which might work if you have something like that on hand.
Hey Natasha ,
I just see your recipe of mashed potatoes.I would to try this
Tell me how can i get your shared recipes .
Regards
Hi Anila, you can subscribe to our email updates here. Thank you! 🙂