Description
Fluffy Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs — perfect for a quick breakfast or weekend brunch and ideal for meal prep. Makes 18 golden, crispy puffs in 30 minutes with just 7 simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or heat oil in a deep fryer.
- In a bowl, combine mashed potatoes, cheese, eggs, green onions, salt, and pepper.
- Form mixture into small balls and roll in breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 20 minutes or fry until golden.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Refrigerator Storage: Place cooled puffs in a single layer inside an airtight glass container lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Seal tightly and store on a middle refrigerator shelf at 37–40°F for up to 3 days. Avoid stacking the puffs or they’ll lose their crispy coating. For best results according to food storage guidelines, consume within 2 days for peak texture.
- Freezer Storage: Flash-freeze fried or unfried puffs on a parchment-lined sheet for 2 hours, then transfer to a heavy-duty freezer bag with all air pressed out. Label with the date and store at 0°F or below for up to 2 months. Double-bagging prevents freezer burn. Frozen puffs maintain their flavor and structure well because the starch in mashed potatoes stabilizes during freezing.
- Oven Reheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place refrigerated or frozen puffs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet—this allows air to circulate underneath for even crisping. Reheat refrigerated puffs for 10 minutes and frozen puffs for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. The wire rack method prevents the bottoms from turning soggy, a common complaint with sheet-pan reheating.
- Microwave Reheat: Place 3 puffs on a microwave-safe plate with a damp paper towel draped over the top. Heat at 50% power for 90 seconds, then check the center temperature—it should reach 165°F. Microwaving softens the exterior, so follow up with 60 seconds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat to restore crunch. This two-step method takes under 3 minutes total.
- Air Fryer Reheat: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. Arrange puffs in a single layer in the basket—do not overcrowd. Reheat refrigerated puffs for 5 minutes or frozen puffs for 7 minutes, shaking the basket once at the midpoint. The air fryer produces the closest results to freshly fried, with a shatteringly crisp shell and a hot, molten cheese center.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking or Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 potato
- Calories: 218 calories
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 72mg