Description

Delightfully crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these Mashed Potato Cheese Puffs are a perfect way to transform leftover mashed potatoes into an irresistible snack or appetizer. Packed with cheddar cheese and seasoned with garlic and pepper, they bake to golden perfection, offering a comforting and cheesy bite every time.

Ingredients

Scale

Mashed Potato Mixture

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder

Coating

1 cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the cheese puffs.
Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the leftover mashed potatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, eggs, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until you get a consistent mixture.
Shape the Puffs: Using your hands, shape the mixture into small, bite-sized balls, ensuring they hold together well.
Coat with Breadcrumbs: Roll each ball in the breadcrumbs until they are completely covered, which will give them a crispy crust when baked.
Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the breadcrumb-coated balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them apart to prevent sticking.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese puffs turn golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Serve Warm: Remove from the oven and serve immediately while warm and gooey inside.

Notes

You can substitute cheddar cheese with other cheeses like mozzarella or pepper jack for different flavors.
For extra crispy puffs, you can double coat by dipping the balls in beaten egg again before breadcrumbs.
If you want to make them ahead, freeze the shaped balls before baking and bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.
Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and garlic powder, depending on your mashed potato base.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: mashed potato puffs, cheesy potato balls, baked potato snacks, leftover mashed potatoes recipe, crispy cheese bites