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.




Are the potato pancakes to be served with anything or as a snack by themselves? They look delicious.
They can be eaten by themselves, or with your favorite roasted chicken or any meat of your choice.
Would like to make these but can I use Bob Evans prepared potatoes
Hi Arlene, we love using fresh ingredients for this recipe. I haven’t tried using storebought mashed potatoes but feel free to try it!
I love this recipe! (and many of the ones you share, Natasha ). I have some leftover rice so I’m going to try it with rice. I hate to throw away food. I’m sure it will work great. I’ll let you know.
Thank you for being such a lovely person and sharing your recipes!
Tosha (from Chile)
Please let us know how it goes, we’d love to hear your feedback!
Plan on making these for dinner. Do I use 1 cup of shredded mozzarella (8 oz.) or 2 cups (16 oz.)? Thanks. They look delicious!
Hi Donna, Great question. Two cups of cheese is about 8oz in weight not volume. If you are measuring with a cup that would be ounces in volume vs weight. Hope this helps 🙂
Hi Natasha, Thanks for your response. I used 2 cups of shredded mozzarella, but I clearly did something wrong. The pancakes did not hold their shape, they melted and stuck to the pan? Honestly, they were still delicious, but I’m not sure why they didn’t keep their shape? I would like to try again, any suggestions?
Planning on making these for dinner. Do I use 1 cup of shredded mozzarella (8 oz.) or 2 cups (16 oz.)? Thanks.
Hi Donna, it’s 2 cups by measuring cup measurement of shredded cheese (with a weight measurement of 8 oz)
Very nice, no complaints other than it needed a small sprinkle of salt. Thanks again for another great recipe!
You’re very welcome. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Served these under Tournedos Rossini instead of bread. A perfect step up taking the Tournedos from great to awesome when combined with the Sauce Périgueux. Thanks Natasha you have hit a home run once again.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Barry! I’m glad this was a hit!
This is not about the pancakes . I would like to know if you ever BBQ ? One other thing, what does salt do for a recipe. You sprinkle it on alot of the food.Just to ĺet you know, I love your blog. I look forward to it èvery day.
Hi Carol, we sure do! You can find some of our favorite recipes HERE.
These were the best! Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside:)
Thanks for your awesome feedback, Vanessa!
I love your take on potato pancakes. Husbands request this morning, loved them! He said no more tossing the leftover ! Wow, he hates leftovers. Thank you
You’re welcome. Glad you both loved this recipe.
Made it tonight and enjoyed this recipe very much. Delicious.
It really is delicious, and I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it, Julie! That’s so great!
My family liked it though my sister are very picky when it comes to cheese what can I do for them
Hi, you could leave out the cheese and just have potato pancakes, but I do think the cheese adds great flavor and a little saltiness to the pancakes.
I made these and they were wonderful. I substituted the mozzarella with cheddar since its expensive in sri lanka but they fried and melted beautifully. Thanks Natasha for these.😀😃
Hello there, great to hear that cheddar worked well too. Thank you for sharing your great review with us!
i stuffed up i put bread crumbs in the spuds still ok when i cooked them l o l
I’m glad it still worked out Peter!
Hi Natasha, can you bake the potatoes instead of frying them?
Thank you
Hi Christine, Some of our readers have baked these and said they enjoyed them that way. One reader wrote: “I sprayed them with cooking spray on each side and I baked them at 400F for about 7-8 mins per side. They were wonderful!” I hope this helps.
We love these! Anytime I have leftover pashed potatoes, kids beg for these!!!
That’s great to hear, Juliya. I hope that you and your kids will love all the other recipes that you will try.
Hi Natasha
I was so excited to try this recipe but it did not turn out for me. It came out very mushy and was falling apart. Still edible though. Could it be because I added milk to your step 1 under the heading how to make mashed potatoes?
Hi Marisa, that is likely the culprit. I would make it as written without substitutions the first time around.
Delicious
I made mine with instant potatoes just needed to add extra tbs flour
Glad you liked it, Rosie. Thanks for sharing!
So glad to hear this! The recipe says to not use instant potatoes, but doesn’t say why you shouldn’t. I was disappointed until I saw your comment. My husband prefers instant mashed potatoes, and I’m glad to hear that they can be used for this recipe.
These were pretty dang good and are now my favorite use for leftover mash potatoes. To improve I’d suggest using sharp cheddar instead of mozz and half the amount, that way you get more flavor and you get more solid pancakes without having to add more and more flower which I found myself doing because the cheese makes the mix really loose. Then use panko breadcrumbs which are long jagged and airy which allows the oil to drain whithout using paper towels or drying rack and its crispier as opposed to regular bread crumbs which just soak up oil. I also added cayenne for an added punch which worked well.
Thank you for sharing your modifications!
The best potato pancakes I’ve ever made OR HAD. Son asks me to make more anytime. Thank you!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!