Mashed Potato Pancakes - Recipe for Holiday Leftovers (2024)

Do you have lots of leftover mashed potatoes? Try this easy recipe for Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes with Cheese! Made with 4 simple ingredients and ready in just 15 minutes, they make the best quick meal or appetizer.

Mashed Potato Pancakes - Recipe for Holiday Leftovers (1)

Classic German potato cakes are one of my all-time favorite recipes. I don’t make that kind of potato pancakes very often though, because shredding, pressing and draining the potatoes can be quite time-consuming.

I had this sudden idea that I could try making potato cakes from leftover mashed potatoes, and I have to say – they turned out better than the real deal!

They come together in 5 minutes, and they cook in about 10. So basically that’s food on the table in 15 minutes, which is pretty amazing in my books – especially if you’re making these the day after Thanksgiving!

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

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Ingredient notes

Make without leftover mash

I know I’m a big advocate for fresh family cooking. But with little kids at home? I get it,100% from scratch cooking is not always an option.

If you’re looking for a quick finger food so your toddler can eat by themselves while you nurse the baby, these work just as well with instant mashed potatoes.

Cheese

I love cheddar in these, but pretty much any shredded cheese will work. I have made them plenty of times with Gouda or Mozzarella, and they were always a hit.

Add more flavor

You can add chopped chives, finely diced ham, cooked and crumbled bacon, chopped green onions… to the pancake batter, if you like. So many ways to switch up the flavor here, and they come out delicious any way you make them.

How to make potato cakes

Combine all ingredients: Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir them together until smooth.

The amount of flour you need heavily depends on the consistency of your mashed potatoes, so start with the amount given in the recipe, then increase from there if the batter is very runny.

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Shape cakes: I like using a cookie scoop to shape the potato mix into cakes. If your mashed potatoes were very firm, you may need to shape them into discs by hand.

Otherwise just drop them into a sizzling hot skillet with oil and lightly flatten with the back of a rubber spatula.

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Cook cakes: These turn out best when pan-fried.

Just heat some oil in a large nonstick skillet, then cook them on both sides until browned and crispy on the outside and heated through all the way on the inside.

These are best served right away while hot and fluffy!

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Mashed Potato Pancakes FAQs

How long are leftover mashed potatoes good for?

There are differing opinions on this, but I’m a stickler when it comes to food safety, so I never store leftover mashed potatoes for more than 2-3 days in the fridge.

Can you freeze potato cakes?

While these do taste best fresh, they can be frozen for convenience/to save leftovers.

Freezer instructions

To freeze: Let the potato cakes cool completely, then flash-freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer until solid (1-2 hours) before transferring them to a freezer-friendly bag or container. Label with the name and use-by date (freeze for up to 3 months).

To reheat: Take as many potato pancakes as you need from the bag or container and defrost them on the counter for 10-15 minutes. Reheat in the oven at 350°F or in the microwave until steaming hot all the way through.

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Serving ideas

We love these with sour cream, applesauce or cranberry sauce (great to use up those leftovers, too!).

If you want to make these for a St Patrick’s Day spread (kind of a cheat’s Irish Potato Pancake, or Boxty), they go great with Irish Stew! I also have a traditional Irish Boxty recipe, if you’re looking for that in particular.

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I’m sure these leftover mashed potato cakes would work just as well as a side dish or a fun appetizer – at least my toddler thinks these are the best finger food ever!

More recipes for holiday leftovers

  • 30 Minute Stovetop Turkey Tetrazzini
  • Easy Turkey Pot Pie
  • Homemade Shepherd’s Pie
  • Crock Pot Cranberry Pork Chops

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Mashed Potato Pancakes - Recipe for Holiday Leftovers (12)

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Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes

Use your leftover mashed potatoes in this Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes recipe! They go from fridge to table in 15 minutes and make for a super-speedy meal!

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

4.82 from 74 votes

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Recipe details

Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 15 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cold mashed potatoes
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 oz finely shredded cheddar cheese
  • 6 tablespoons flour or more depending on how creamy your potatoes are
  • Oil or nonstick cooking spray, for frying

Instructions

  • Make potato cake batter: Stir the mashed potatoes, eggs, cheese and flour together in a large bowl. Start with 6 tablespoons of flour and add more if needed. You should end up with a slightly sticky, soft dough that can be shaped into disks.

  • Shape cakes: With a cookie scoop, scoop out balls from the potato dough and flatten them into thick discs between damp hands. Making your hands slightly wet will prevent the dough from sticking to them.

  • Cook cakes: Heat the oil or nonstick cooking spray in a large frying pan over medium heat. Place the potato cakes in the hot frying pan and cook them until golden brown on either side, about 3-5 minutes each. Serve hot.

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Notes

Don’t let the cakes stand for too long once their cooked, as they will lose their fluffiness. They are best eaten immediately.

Ingredient notes

  • Pretty much any shredded cheese works, Mozzarella or Gouda are delicious, too.
  • Feel free to add your favorite mix-ins: Cooked and crumbled bacon, finely diced ham, chopped chives, chopped green onion…

Freezer instructions

To freeze: Let the potato cakes cool completely, then flash-freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer until solid (1-2 hours) before transferring them to a freezer-friendly bag or container. Label with the name and use-by date (freeze for up to 3 months).

To reheat: Take as many potato pancakes as you need from the bag or container and defrost them on the counter for 10-15 minutes. Reheat in the oven at 350°F or in the microwave until steaming hot all the way through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 119mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 261IUCalcium: 115mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: European

Mashed potato recipes

I definitely have some mashed potato recipes you can try – a regular and an instant pot variety. Both make great leftovers for mashed potato cakes 😉

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • How to Make Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potato Pancakes - Recipe for Holiday Leftovers (2024)

FAQs

Are potato pancakes good the next day? ›

How to Store Potato Pancakes. Store your leftover potato pancakes in an airtight container (lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil) in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat in the oven or in the air fryer.

What's the difference between latkes and potato pancakes? ›

Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like center, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes, on the other hand, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges. Latkes also aren't hash browns.

How do you make leftover mashed potatoes good again? ›

The Oven Is the Best Way to Reheat Mashed Potatoes

For the ideal oven reheat, move the potatoes to a baking dish and spread them evenly. Add cream, broth, or half and half along with butter, cover them, and then warm up low and slow at 350°F.

How long do leftover mashed potatoes last in the refrigerator? ›

How Long You Can Keep Leftover Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes should easily last three to five days in the fridge if stored correctly and within two hours of cooking. This means ensuring there isn't any moisture buildup under the lid that could encourage the growth of bacteria.

How do you reheat potato pancakes so they are crispy? ›

When ready to reheat, place in a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes (7 if using a convection oven) until heated through just prior to serving. A convection oven setting will produce a more crispy result.

Can you make pancakes day before and reheat? ›

You can make the batter in advance, or make the pancakes ahead of time and freeze them. They reheat perfectly, and super quickly, making them the perfect weekday breakfast.

What culture eats potato pancakes? ›

It is the national dish of Belarus, Ukraine and Slovakia. In Germany, potato pancakes are eaten either salty (as a side dish) or sweet with apple sauce, or blueberries, sugar and cinnamon; they are a very common menu item during outdoor markets and festivals in colder seasons.

Why do Jews eat applesauce with latkes? ›

Tradition says so. Latkes are usually served at dinnertime along with a meaty main, like brisket. Mixing milk and meat at the same meal is a no-no for those who keep kosher, so sour cream would be out as a latke condiment leaving the underdog apple sauce victorious.

Why do mashed potatoes not reheat well? ›

Mashed potatoes, like other starchy dishes that are made with dairy (think creamy casseroles, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes), can develop a dry, gluey texture when reheated for too long, or at a temperature that's too high.

Why do leftover mashed potatoes get watery? ›

If you're staring down at a bowl of white liquid and wondering what went wrong, ask yourself these questions: Did I use soggy potatoes? It's essential to drain and dry your potatoes well after you've cooked them in water. If you don't, all that excess moisture will have nowhere to go once you start mashing.

How do you reheat mashed potatoes and make them creamy? ›

When it's time to warm up the potatoes, place the bowl over a pot of simmering water. Add an extra splash of cream or milk and another pat of butter to ensure the mashed potatoes don't dry out. Stir them a few times until everything is warmed through (Do not over-stir, or the mashed potatoes will have a gummy texture).

Can I eat mashed potatoes after 7 days? ›

Cooked potatoes and other cooked vegetables can be safely kept in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.

Can dogs eat mashed potatoes? ›

Can dogs eat mashed potatoes? Yes, as long as the potatoes are roasted and not boiled and no salt, seasonings, milk or butter is added your pet can enjoy this all-time favourite dish. However, there isn't much nutritional value your dog will be able to get from eating mashed potatoes.

Are week old mashed potatoes ok to eat? ›

Cooked, mashed potatoes can last 3-5 days in the fridge, if stored correctly. Even if there are no visible signs of spoilage, after 7 days, they're no longer safe to eat. If you want to store mashed potatoes for more than 5 days, freezing them is the best option.

Can pancakes be eaten the next day? ›

If you store hot pancakes, they will create condensation which will make your pancakes soggy. You can either wrap pancakes in foil and just stick them in the fridge or store them in an airtight container. Pancakes keep fine in the fridge for a week. If you have a large amount of leftover pancakes, you can freeze them.

Can you leave potato pancakes out overnight? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90°F or above, you should cut that time in half.

How do you keep potato pancakes from getting soggy? ›

Potatoes are typically 80 percent water and 20 percent solids or starch so to avoid soggy latkes, take the potato-onion mixture a handful at a time and literally squeeze the water out. Then add the eggs, flour and salt. Refrigerate covered to avoid exposure to air.

Is it safe to eat pancakes left out overnight? ›

The Two-Hour Rule

Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away. This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products."

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