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    Home » Sides

    Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls

    Published: August 25, 2022 - Last updated: February 8, 2023 by Erika

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    air fryer mashed potato balls pin.

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure.

    These Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls are super creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside! This is the perfect way to use up those mashed potatoes for a delicious snack or appetizer. Impress your guests at potlucks, parties and holiday dinners!

    mashed potato ball with a bite taken out.
    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients You’ll Need
    • Step-By-Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Variations
    • Storing & Freezing
    • Recipe FAQ's
    • More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
    • Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls

    Check out my Sausage And Potato Casserole and my Cajun Mac And Cheese for more comforting meals.

    If you’re looking for something to use up mashed potatoes, this is it! The savory ingredients provide the perfect taste for these delicious potato bites, and the crispy outside gives them the perfect texture. It is always fun taking leftovers and creating something completely different from them!

    You can also grab pre-made mashed potatoes at the grocery store.

    five mashed potato balls on a white plate.

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Cooked in the air fryer to keep the oil to a minimum.
    • Mashed potato balls are a good way of using your leftover mashed potatoes.
    • They’re great plain or with a dipping sauce on the side.
    • Crunchy outside, stuffed with a creamy inside.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    air fryer mashed potatoes labeled ingredients.
    • Mashed Potatoes: You can’t make mashed potato balls without mashed potatoes!
    • Cheddar Cheese: I normally use mild cheddar cheese, but you can use whatever cheese you like.
    • Green Onions: Gives a mild oniony flavor to the potato balls.
    • Cooked Bacon: The chopped bits of fried bacon add flavor and crunch.
    • Eggs: Gives extra moisture to the potato balls and works as a binding agent to hold ingredients together. 
    • Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko is what makes the potato bites crunchy! 

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    four image process making air fryer mashed potatoes.
    two image process making air fryer mashed potatoes.

    Step 1:

    Mix the potatoes, cheese, green onions & bacon in a large mixing bowl.

    Step 2:

    Shape potato mixture into balls using an ice cream scoop or your hands.

    Step 3:

    Lay the mashed potato balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes.

    Step 4:

    Whisk the eggs in one bowl and pour the panko crumbs into another shallow bowl. Dip the balls into the egg mixture and then the panko. Lay back on baking sheet.

    Step 5:

    Spray cooking oil in the air fryer basket. Add as many mashed potato balls into the air fryer basket as you can fit without overcrowding and not touching (you have to cook in batches).

    Step 6:

    Cook at 375 degrees F for 15-18 minutes, checking frequently and shaking up to avoid sticking. Let cool for at least 10 minutes.

    NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

    side view of mashed potato ball cut in half.

    Expert Tips

    • Use chilled mashed potatoes. Cold leftover mashed potatoes tend to be a little denser and easier to handle.
    • You'll want to do a quick freeze before air frying to help the mashed potato balls hold their shape.
    • You can use leftover mashed potatoes or make mashed potatoes just for this.
    • Use a spatula to take your potato balls out of the air fryer, otherwise they will fall apart since they are so hot.
    • Don't crowd the air fryer. You need to space the potato balls out to allow the hot air to circulate around the potato to perfectly crisp them out.

    Variations

    • Finely diced bell pepper is a great addition to the mashed potatoes.
    • You can stuff potatoes with a mix of cheese, mozzarella cheese, cooked chicken, browned ground beef or a mix of veggies.
    • Try chives or parsley instead of green onion.
    • Add jalapeño or red pepper flakes to the mixture to make it spicy.
    • Place a cube of mozzarella cheese in the center of each potato ball to make them extremely cheesy.

    Storing & Freezing

    Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freezing: Lay the potato balls in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.

    Reheating: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F and reheat potato balls for about 5 minutes, or until warm. If frozen, increase the time by 3-4 minutes.

    Recipe FAQ's

    What can I serve with mashed potato balls?

    Sour cream, marinara sauce, gravy, ranch salad dressing, ketchup, and hot sauce are all great with these potato balls.

    Can I use instant mashed potatoes for this recipe?

    No, sorry. Instant mashed potatoes will be too loose and too smooth, so these mashed potato balls will fall apart when you go to air fry them.

    Can I bake the mashed potato balls?

    If you want to use your oven to make potato balls, you can easily bake them for 12 to 15 minutes, at 400 degrees F. Flip them halfway, so both sides get crunchy.

    Why are my potato balls falling apart?

    The mashed potatoes might have too much moisture. Add a couple tablespoons of flour to the potato mixture.

    More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love

    • Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
    • Air Fryer Half Chicken
    air fryer mashed potatoes thumbnail picture.

    Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls

    Erika
    These air fryer mashed potato balls are super creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside! This is the perfect way to use up those mashed potatoes for a delicious snack or appetizer. Impress your guests at potlucks, parties and holiday dinners!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Air Fryer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20 Servings
    Calories 87 kcal

    Equipment

    • Power Air Fryer XL 5.3 Quart

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups mashed potatoes cold is best so they keep shape
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 4 green onions. diced
    • 6 slices of cooked bacon diced
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 cups seasoned Panko

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the potatoes, cheese, green onions & bacon in a large mixing bowl.
    • Shape potato mixture into balls using an ice cream scoop or your hands.
    • Lay the mashed potato balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes.
    • Whisk the eggs in one bowl and pour the panko into another shallow bowl. Dip the balls into the egg mixture and then the panko and lay back on backing sheet.
    • Spray cooking oil in the air fryer basket. Add as many mashed potato balls into the air fryer basket as you can fit without overcrowding and not touching (you have to cook in batches).
    • Cook at 375°F for 15-18 minutes, checking frequently and shaking up to avoid sticking. Let cool for at least 10 minutes.

    Notes

    • Use chilled mashed potatoes. Cold leftover mashed potatoes tend to be a little denser and easier to handle.
    • You'll want to do a quick freeze before air frying to help the mashed potato balls hold their shape.
    • You can use leftover mashed potatoes or make mashed potatoes just for this.
    • Use a spatula to take your potato balls out of the air fryer, otherwise they will fall apart since they are so hot.
    • Don't crowd the air fryer. You need to space the potato balls out to allow the hot air to circulate around the potato to perfectly crisp them out.
    • Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Freezing: Lay the potato balls in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
    • Reheating: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F and reheat potato balls for about 5 minutes, or until warm. If frozen, increase the time by 3-4 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1potato ballCalories: 87kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 220mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keyword Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Enjoy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marg

      January 21, 2023 at 8:26 am

      Looks like a good recipe. Except, you omitted the panko in the directions.

      Reply
      • Erika

        January 21, 2023 at 5:06 pm

        I just fixed it. Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply

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    Welcome!

    I'm Erika! I'm so glad you're here. I live in Arizona where the sun is always shining! I'm a mom of four who loves spending time in the kitchen cooking, baking and eating!

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