Description
Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls: Crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy on the inside, these air fryer mashed potato balls make great leftovers into a tasty snack or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cold mashed potatoes (best if firm and not too creamy)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Cooking spray or a light drizzle of oil
- Optional add-ins:
- ¼ cup cooked turkey bacon or halal beef bacon bits
- 1–2 tbsp chopped parsley or chives
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix mashed potatoes, cheese, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and roll into balls. Chill in the fridge for 15–20 minutes to firm up.
- Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten egg, and one with panko breadcrumbs.
- Roll each potato ball in flour, then egg, then panko to fully coat.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place balls in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Lightly spray with oil and air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce—ranch, sour cream, or spicy ketchup.
Notes
- Use firm mashed potatoes for best shaping.
- Chill the mixture 15–20 minutes before coating.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if needed.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- If balls fall apart, add a little more mashed potato or flour to bind.
- Leftover balls can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball (approx. 1/15 of recipe)
- Calories: Approximately 90 kcal
- Sugar: 1–2 g
- Sodium: ~180 mg
- Fat: ~5 g
- Saturated Fat: ~2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12–15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4–6 g
- Cholesterol: 15–25 mg
Keywords: Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls, mashed potato balls, cheesy potato bites, air fryer appetizer, crispy potato balls, leftover potatoes