Deep-Fried treats don’t get any better than these breaded mashed potato balls loaded with cheese, bacon, and green onions. Serve with sour cream on the side and it’s like a loaded baked potato, only better!
These make a quick and easy appetizer but would also be a great side dish to serve anywhere you might use french fries, tater tots, or mashed potato pancakes.
This recipe was created using leftover mashed potatoes, but if your house looks like mine, there are rarely, if ever leftover mashed potatoes.
Mashed Potatoes
You can use the refrigerated mashed potatoes you can find at the grocery store or make instant mashed potatoes and just let them cool.
Most standard packages of instant mashed potatoes will make 2 cups of mashed potatoes.
Breadcrumbs
You can use panko breadcrumbs if you prefer more crunch, I find panko provides a bit too much crunch for me in this recipe.
Plain bread crumbs are my choice. Panko has its place in my kitchen, I use them for Fried Butterfly Shrimp.
Tips for Breading
I also use the triple-dip method, flour, eggs, then breadcrumbs.
It seems to hold everything in place much better and there is less mess on my oil when things don’t explode while frying.
Filling
I only use bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onions. I leave the sour cream out and use it as a dip on the side.
The best part about this recipe is that you can add more of anything you want and leave out anything you don’t want!
You can truly make these your own creation.
The only requested change I have ever had with this recipe was to add more bacon. Really Larry?
Tips
Do not add any additional salt to this recipe, it has more than enough salt, to begin with, particularly if you are using extra bacon or instant potatoes.
The recipe directions call for putting your triple-dip ingredients into a shallow bowl, I use my wood salad bowls for this purpose.
These can be frozen before deep frying. Reduce the oil temperature a bit when cooking from a frozen state, the outside will brown sooner then the middle is warm and melted.
They can also be frozen after frying. Place them on a cookie sheet or plate, not touching each other. Allow the potato bites to freeze solid before placing into a storage container.
Once these have been fried you can hold them in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
Storing Leftovers
If you’re not using the freezer methods listed above, you can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheating
These can be reheated in a 350°F.
Test one after about 15 minutes, if the center is warm, the oven temperature can be increased to 400 Degrees F for a few minutes to crisp them up if necessary.
You can also microwave them on high in 15 to 30-second increments until warmed through.
Refrying is a great option for getting that crispy coting back. Let them come to room temperature before frying again and watch them closer this time, the coating will go from perfect to nearly burnt in a shorter amount of time.
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Loaded Mashed Potato Bites
Ingredients
- 4 cups cold mashed potatoes
- 8 thick slices bacon diced, cooked until crisp, and drained
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 5 greens onions sliced thinly, using the white and 4 inches of green tops
- 1 cup flour
- 2 eggs slightly beaten
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix mashed potatoes, bacon pieces, cheddar cheese, and green onions.
- Place in refrigerator and allow to rest for at least 1 hour. Longer is fine.
- Prepare a plate for resting uncooked balls by sprinkling breadcrumbs on a large plate. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl add flour.
- In a second shallow bowl add slightly beaten egg.
- In a third shallow bowl add the plain breadcrumbs.
- Using a cookie scoop, or two spoons, scoop some of the mixture into a ball shape.
- Roll the ball in flour and gently shake off excess flour.
- Place ball in eggs and roll to coat with egg. Allow excess egg to drip off. Hold ball gently to avoid smashing it.
- Place the ball into bread crumbs and roll to completely cover with crumbs.
- Place the ball onto breadcrumbs you placed onto the plate earlier.
- Continue repeating the steps above until all of the potato mixture has been turned into balls.
- Heat oil in a saucepan or deep fryer to 350 Degrees F on a thermometer, or until the end of a chopstick produces bubbles when inserted into the oil.
- Drop mashed potato balls into the hot oil without crowding the pan, you will need some room to move them around without smashing them and breaking the seal you created with the triple dip.
- Fry until golden brown. 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels or a cooling rack.
- Serve immediately with sour cream and/or ranch dressing.
Notes
- Leftovers may be refrigerated and quickly re-fried in hot oil or heated in a microwave for 15 to 30 seconds.
- Nutrition provided assumes 1/2 teaspoon bread crumbs, flour, egg and 1/8 teaspoon oil retained per potato bite. Calories provided from these items will vary greatly depending on how much of any one item is retained on the ball prior to and during frying and oil temperature.
Linda
do you think these can be baked instead of fried?
Beth Mueller
Hi Linda!
I’m sure they could be baked and even made in an air fryer. They may flatten a bit as the cheese melts inside and the balls lose structure, but they would still be amazing. I would bake them at 400 degrees F and 390 Degrees F if using an air fryer. Use parchment paper if using an air fryer so they don’t melt through the crisping tray. Hope this helps!
Cheers!
Vicky
I added some diced jalapenos to kick them up a notch.
Beth Mueller
Oh my! That sounds pretty amazing Vicky!
Bet they were delicious.
Cheers!
Robin
I made these and they were great. I halved the recipe and it made 18 just right potato balls.
Beth Mueller
Hi Robin!
Thanks for stopping by and letting us know how it went!
Cheers!