Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls

Air fryer mashed potato balls are made with leftover mashed potatoes, crumbled bacon, and chives with a melted cheese center and crispy outside.

This potato bites recipe is so delicious! I don’t know why I haven’t made these before. Yes, they are a little labor-intensive and take some time to bread them, and you have to have leftover potatoes to start with. But wow is it worth the extra effort!

You may also be familiar with these being called croquettes which are often made with potatoes and filled with all kinds of yummy things – ground beef, sausage, chicken, fish, ham, and sauces. So I guess you could call this a potato croquette recipe because it does have all the makings of one.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls

• Leftover Mashed Potatoes
• Bacon
• Block of Cheddar Cheese, cut into cubes
• Breadcrumbs
• Grated Parmesan
• Large Eggs
• Milk
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Cooking Oil Spray
• Garlic Powder, optional

How to Make Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls

• In a medium-sized bowl, mix leftover mashed potatoes with crumbled bacon, chives, or green onion, salt, and pepper. If desired, add garlic powder.

• With floured hands, scoop mashed potato into the palm of your hand. I used a small cookie scoop to get 2″ balls. Flatten into a disk and add a cube of cheese to the center. Carefully form into a ball with the cheese completely covered with potatoes.

• Add flour to a shallow dish. Scramble egg and 1-2 tablespoons of milk in another dish, and add breadcrumbs and grated parmesan to a third shallow dish. Dip each mashed potato ball in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Repeat dipping back into the egg and then breadcrumbs again to give it an extra crispy coating.

• Add a single layer of mashed potato balls to the air fryer basket. Lightly spray balls with cooking oil.

• Cook at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 minutes, shake the basket, spray with additional oil as needed, and continue baking for 2-3 more minutes until golden brown. Be careful not to overcook because the cheese will begin to ooze out of the balls. Serve with ranch dipping sauce.

Variations

If your mashed potatoes do not have any flavors added to them besides the traditional salt and pepper, I recommend turning them into garlic mashed potatoes by adding a ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.

Another great variation is adding a ranch seasoning packet to the potatoes because ranch-seasoned potatoes are to die for!

How Long are Leftover Mashed Potatoes Good For

According to the USDA, cooked potatoes can last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Because of this, I recommend making this potato recipe within a day or two after first cooking the mashed potatoes so that if you have leftovers again, they can be safely stored in the refrigerator with plenty of time to eat them.

Recommended Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs
• Air Fryer Loaded Mashed Potato Wontons
• Easy Air Fryer Lasagna Fritta {Olive Garden Copycat}
• No-Peel Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes