Turn leftover potatoes into a quick and easy appetizer or side dish with this Mashed Potato Bombs recipe. These deep-fried mashed potato balls are sure to please even the pickiest eater.

Three Mashed Potato Balls on a plate, one is broken open so the the melted cheese inside can be seen.

Crunchy on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside, these potato bombs are also perfect as finger food for game day.

Ingredients For Mashed Potato Bombs

The great thing about this recipe is that it uses leftovers and has only five ingredients.

Mashed potatoes. The recipe calls for leftover mashed potatoes, but they can also be freshly made.
Panko. We use seasoned panko for these. If you don’t have seasoned panko, ass a tablespoon of Italian seasoning to the crumbs.
Eggs. Beaten eggs are used as the binder to hold the crumbs to the potatoes. We like to season the eggs with a little hot sauce.
Cheddar. Cut into cubes, cheddar is stuffed into the center of the potato balls. Other types of cheese can also be used, such as gouda.
Vegetable oil. This is used to deep fry these appetizers.

Variations For This Dish

To add more flavor, try adding a few extras to the potatoes.

Finely chopped green onions.
Crisp bacon crumbles.
Grated Parmesan.
Roasted garlic.

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Tips For Making This Recipe

Having room temperature or colder potatoes to make this recipe works best.

If the potatoes aren’t sticking together to form balls, add a little milk to the potatoes to help bind them together.

Does This Recipe Have To Be Chilled Before Frying?

To get the best results, the potato bombs should be chilled in the freezer for at least an hour before frying.

Freezing allows the panko to set and the cheese to freeze slightly so that it doesn’t ooze out of the potatoes while frying.

Can Instant Mashed Potatoes Be Used In This Recipe?

If you don’t have leftover potatoes to use for this recipe, instant mashed potatoes can be used.

A tip for using instant mashed potatoes: Don’t use as much liquid as the package calls for. Start with ¾ of the liquid and mix well. The potatoes need to be thick to make the balls. Add more liquid if needed.

Serving Mashed Potato Bombs

These should be served warm. Allow them to cool slightly before biting in because the middles can be hot enough to burn the inside of your mouth.

Serve this dish with a dip on the side for a game-day snack. We like to dip these in our Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce or our Creamy Ranch Sauce.

Mashed Potato Bombs also make a great side dish for chicken fingers, fish sticks, or with a sandwich.

What To Do With Leftover Mashed Potato Bombs

Leftover potato bombs can be stored in the fridge and reheated in the oven or the air fryer.

These can also be frozen after they are cooled. Place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer for 10-15, or in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

Mashed Potato Bombs can also be made ahead and frozen without cooking first. Freeze on a tray then transfer to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to three months.

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A plate of three potato bombs. The front one is cut in half and the melted cheese is oozing out.

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