Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes are the ultimate way to reinvent your holiday leftovers. These golden-crisp patties, bursting with cheesy goodness and savory ranch flavor, are incredibly simple to make. With just 5 staple ingredients and a mere 20 minutes, you can transform a humble bowl of cold mashed potatoes into a culinary delight that will have everyone asking for more. Say goodbye to food waste and hello to your new favorite comfort food!

Ultimate Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes: Crispy, Cheesy, and Flavorful

We’ve all been there: a fantastic holiday meal ends, and while the turkey and stuffing vanish quickly, a significant amount of mashed potatoes often remains. Instead of letting those creamy, starchy leftovers go to waste, why not give them a spectacular second life? These Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes are not just a way to use up extras; they’re a crave-worthy dish in their own right, offering a delightful contrast of crispy exterior and tender, cheesy interior.

Why These Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes Are a Must-Try

Imagine biting into a perfectly golden-brown patty, the satisfying crunch giving way to a warm, fluffy center infused with sharp cheddar and the tangy, herby kick of ranch seasoning. That’s the magic of these potato cakes! They are more than just a leftover dish; they are a culinary triumph that will earn you rave reviews. This recipe truly works on multiple levels:

• Incredible Flavor Transformation: Cold mashed potatoes, often seen as bland on their own, are reborn with vibrant flavors. The addition of sharp cheddar and ranch seasoning elevates them to an exciting new level, making them utterly irresistible.
• Delightful Texture Contrast: Frying creates an undeniably crispy, golden crust that perfectly encases the soft, creamy interior. This textural interplay is a huge part of their appeal, turning a simple potato dish into something special.
• Effortless & Quick: With just 5 key ingredients and a total time of 20 minutes, these potato cakes are unbelievably easy to whip up. It’s the ideal solution for a fast lunch, a savory snack, or a quick side dish when you’re short on time but still want something delicious.
• Smart Food Waste Solution: Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any family gathering often leaves a surplus of mashed potatoes. This recipe provides an ingenious and delicious method to prevent food waste, transforming leftovers into a meal highlight.
• Versatile Serving Options: Whether enjoyed plain, dipped in a favorite sauce, or served alongside a more substantial meal, these cakes are incredibly adaptable. They can be a fantastic appetizer, a hearty breakfast component, or a unique side dish for dinner.

Many families, including my own, find mashed potatoes to be the most frequently leftover dish after big meals. While sweet potato casserole tastes like dessert and stuffing disappears with the turkey, mashed potatoes sometimes get neglected. But with this recipe, they finally get the spotlight they deserve. You might even find yourself purposely making extra mashed potatoes just to have leftovers for these amazing cakes!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Potato Cakes

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and reliance on common kitchen staples. You only need a handful of ingredients to create these flavorful patties. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect taste and texture:

• Leftover Mashed Potatoes: The star of our show! It is absolutely crucial that your mashed potatoes are cold and firm from the fridge. Warm or freshly made mashed potatoes will be too soft and difficult to form into patties, leading to a much messier and less successful outcome. Any type of mashed potato will work, but plain or savory ones are best for this recipe.
• Large Egg: This acts as the essential binding agent, holding all the ingredients together. Without the egg, your potato cakes would likely crumble in the skillet.
• All-Purpose Flour: Flour serves a dual purpose here. It helps to bind the mixture further, ensuring the cakes hold their shape, and it contributes to that irresistible golden-brown crispiness when fried. A little extra flour is used for coating, preventing sticking and enhancing the crust.
• Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix: This is the secret weapon for a burst of savory, tangy flavor with notes of garlic, onion, and herbs. It simplifies seasoning, ensuring a consistent and delicious taste without needing multiple individual spices. If you don’t have a ranch mix, you can create your own blend with dried parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of black pepper.
• Freshly Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar adds a wonderful sharp, creamy flavor and helps to create a gooey, molten center. Freshly shredded cheese melts much better and tastes superior to pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents. You can experiment with other cheeses like Monterey Jack, Gruyere, or even a spicy pepper jack for a kick.
• Salt: Even with ranch seasoning, a touch of salt is necessary to enhance all the flavors. Adjust to your taste, especially if your leftover mashed potatoes were already well-seasoned.
• Black Pepper: A classic seasoning that complements potatoes perfectly, adding a subtle warmth and depth of flavor.

Crafting Your Crispy Potato Cakes: Step-by-Step Guide

Turning a simple bowl of mashed potatoes into these golden delights is surprisingly easy and rewarding. Follow these steps for perfectly crispy and flavorful potato cakes every time:

1. Prepare the Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine your cold mashed potatoes, the large egg, dry ranch seasoning mix, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined. The cold potatoes are key here, ensuring the mixture is firm enough to handle.
2. Incorporate Flour and Cheese: Add the ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour and the ⅔ cup of freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the potato mixture. Stir gently until the flour is fully incorporated and the cheese is evenly distributed. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the potatoes gummy.
3. Form the Patties: Using a regular-sized ice cream scoop (or about ¼ cup measure), portion out 8 equal balls of the potato mixture. Lightly dust your hands with flour, then gently roll each ball in an additional 3 tablespoons of flour (set aside for coating). Flatten each floured ball into a patty, about ¾ inch thick. The flour coating helps achieve that beautiful golden crust and prevents sticking.
4. Heat the Skillet: In a large, sturdy skillet (cast iron works wonderfully here), heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. You want the oil to be hot enough that a drop of water sizzles instantly, but not smoking.
5. Fry to Golden Perfection: Carefully place the potato patties into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. You may need to cook them in batches. Fry each cake for about 3 minutes per side, or until they achieve a gorgeous golden-brown color and are wonderfully crispy.
6. Drain and Serve: Once fried, remove the potato cakes from the skillet and place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet or on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil. This helps maintain their crispiness. Let them cool slightly before serving.

For an unforgettable after-Thanksgiving lunch or dinner, these potato cakes are sublime topped with shredded leftover turkey meat and a generous drizzle of cranberry sauce. It’s a flavor combination that’s truly inspired and an absolute crowd-pleaser!

Tips for Perfect Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes

• Cold Potatoes are Essential: We cannot stress this enough. Cold mashed potatoes are firm and hold their shape, making them easy to mix and form into patties. Warm potatoes will be too soft and sticky.
• Don’t Overmix: Mix the ingredients just until combined. Overmixing can release too much starch, leading to a gummy texture.
• Medium Heat is Key: Frying on medium heat ensures the cakes cook through and develop a crispy, golden crust without burning. If the heat is too high, the outside will burn before the inside is heated through. Too low, and they’ll soak up too much oil and become greasy.
• Uniform Size: Try to make your patties roughly the same size and thickness for even cooking.
• Use a Non-Stick Skillet or Cast Iron: A good quality non-stick pan or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet will prevent sticking and ensure easy flipping.

Creative Serving Suggestions

While these Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes are delicious on their own, they are incredibly versatile and can be paired with a variety of accompaniments to suit any meal:

• Classic Dipping Sauces: Serve them with a generous dollop of sour cream, creamy ranch dressing (if you’re as obsessed as we are!), a zingy dill sauce, or a spicy sriracha mayo.
• Hearty Mains: They make an excellent side dish for roasted chicken, grilled steak, pan-seared fish, or pork chops. For a vegetarian option, pair them with a fresh green salad or roasted vegetables.
• Breakfast Brilliance: Transform them into a gourmet breakfast by serving alongside fried eggs, crispy bacon, or savory breakfast sausage. A sprinkle of fresh chives or green onions adds a lovely touch.
• Soup & Salad Companion: These cakes are fantastic alongside a warm bowl of creamy tomato soup or a crisp Caesar salad, adding a satisfying crunch and richness.
• Holiday Remix: As mentioned, topping them with leftover turkey and a spoonful of cranberry sauce is a revelation. You can also add a dollop of gravy for an extra layer of richness.

Storage and Reheating

Got more leftovers from your leftovers? No problem!

• Storage: Cooled potato cakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating: For best results, reheat them in a dry skillet over medium heat until warmed through and crispy again, about 2-3 minutes per side. You can also pop them in a toaster oven or air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes for optimal crispiness. Microwaving is not recommended as it will make them soggy.
• Freezing: Uncooked patties can be frozen on a baking sheet until firm, then transferred to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2-3 months. Fry directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Cooked and cooled cakes can also be frozen, then reheated from frozen in an oven or air fryer.

More Delicious Potato Recipes to Explore

If you love potatoes as much as we do, you’re in for a treat! Here are a few more fantastic potato-centric recipes that are sure to become family favorites:

If you try this delightful recipe and love it, don’t forget to let me know! Leave a comment and rate the recipe below!

Leftover Mashed Potato Cheddar Ranch Cakes Recipe

Author:
Anna

Leftover Mashed Potato Cheddar Ranch Cakes are the best use for your leftover mashed potatoes. Crispy cakes filled with cheese and ranch seasoning. Just 5 ingredients and 20 minutes is all you need to make them!

4.80 from 5 votes

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Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

Course
Side Dish

Cuisine
American

Servings

8 cakes

Calories

116 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cup leftover mashed potatoes cold
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour + 3 Tablespoons for coating
• 1 Tablespoon dry Ranch seasoning mix
• ⅔ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together mashed potatoes, egg, Ranch seasoning mix, salt and pepper.
2. Add flour and cheddar and stir until all flour is incorporated.
3. Using a regular size ice cream scoop, form 8 balls of dough. Roll each one in additional flour, gently flattening into about ¾” thick patties.
4. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat.
5. Fry each cake on one side for about 3 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and fry the other side.
6. Remove onto a cooling rack or paper towel lined plate.
7. Cool slightly and serve.

Notes

• Mashed sweet potatoes can be used as well. Feel free to add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the mixture for a sweeter profile.
• It is important that the potatoes are cold from the fridge. Warm potatoes will not mix properly with egg and flour, resulting in a sticky, difficult-to-handle mixture.
• Please note that the nutrition value can vary depending on the exact products used. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with for precise calculations.

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal |
Carbohydrates: 15g |
Protein: 4g |
Fat: 3g |
Saturated Fat: 2g |
Cholesterol: 30mg |
Sodium: 366mg |
Potassium: 166mg |
Fiber: 1g |
Vitamin A: 125IU |
Vitamin C: 10.6mg |
Calcium: 75mg |
Iron: 0.6mg

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