Homemade mashed potato tots are a great use for leftover mashed potatoes and a tasty variation on traditional tater tots. Instead of shredded potatoes, these crispy bites are filled with creamy mashed potatoes.
We always have leftover mashed potatoes after Thanksgiving so I like to come up with new ways to use them up. This year, I plan on making a lot of mashed potato tots.
The tater tots I grew up eating are made with shredded potatoes. I’ve made homemade tater tots with shredded potatoes like my Sweet Potato Tots, but the ones I’m sharing today are made with mashed potatoes. When you bite through the crispy coating, you are treated to a creamy filling of mashed potatoes and cheese.
What’s especially great is that you can make a few batches of these and freeze them. Then you can cook the frozen ones whenever you’re in the mood for some mashed potato tots.
More Recipes to Try
Mashed Potato Tots
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup cold leftover mashed potatoes
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- canola oil for frying
- 1 tsp finely chopped parsley
- grated parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add potatoes, egg, cheese, and flour. Mix until smooth and evenly combined.
- Using a 1/2 tbsp measuring spoon, scoop out 1/2 tbsp of mashed potato mixture and gently shape into a cylinder. The mashed potato mixture will be quite soft and sticky. Roll and cover outside of cylinder with panko bread crumbs. Once covered in crumbs, it should be easier to shape. Re-shape gently to resemble a cylinder shape. Set aside and repeat with remaining potato mixture.
- In a skillet add about 1/2 inch of oil. Bring to medium heat. When oil is hot, add a few tots to the hot oil. Fry tots on both sides until tots are golden brown. Repeat with remaining tots.
- Garnish tots with parsley and grated cheese. Serve with your choice of dipping sauce.
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Can these be baked instead of frying? If so, how long? Sounds yummy!
Sorry, we haven’t tried baking them and can’t say how that will work.
Can you freeze these, if so, before or after frying?
You can freeze them after frying.
So how do you thaw them out and also how do you heat them up after freezing
You shouldn’t have to thaw them first – we recommend warming them in the oven to heat them up. Or, if you have an air fryer, you could warm them up that way, too.
Would this work with whipped potatoes ?
It’s more about the consistency of the cold mashed potatoes. As long as you can shape the leftover whipped potatoes it should work fine, so they should be stiff and thickened. If your whipped potatoes are very soft and creamy (can’t hold a shape) it will be difficult to shape the tots.
Happy Thanksgiving leftovers week! Was wondering, can I cook these in an air fryer? Thanks!
that should work!
At what point would you freeze them to have later?
Freeze after they are cooked.