It’s rare that I ever find myself with leftover mashed potatoes. I usually lick the bowl clean (literally). But when I do, like after Thanksgiving dinner when I’m just too stuffed to finish them off, I LOVE using them to make these mashed potato cakes. They’re delicious topped with a simple dollop of sour cream and some chopped fresh herbs, chives, or green onions. I also love them served for breakfast with a fried or poached egg (with a runny yolk, of course!) on top. And best of all? My kids devoured them. AND all the hidden veggies inside of them!
What’s in mashed potato cakes?
Mashed potato cakes (or patties, or pancakes, or croquettes, or whatever you want to call them) are a simple mixture of already-prepared mashed potatoes, an egg, some flour to bind them together, and spices. This version has a bunch of veggies thrown in there as well, for added flavor and nutrition. I added grated carrots, frozen peas, some red bell pepper, onion, parsley, and garlic powder to this version. If I had frozen corn at the time, I would have added that as well. The result was infused with subtle vegetal flavor and tons of nutrition from the healthy vegetables.
Can I add other ingredients to these?
ABSOLUTELY! The possibilities are endless. Here are some of my suggestions for variations on this mashed potato cakes recipe, in place of or in addition to the vegetables:
Use leftover roasted vegetables from Thanksgiving dinner in place of the raw veggies. Cook up some bacon and/or sausage and add it to the mix. For a spicy version, add some pickled jalapeños. Add some cheese– shredded cheddar, parmesan, or mozzarella would be great. Add some fresh herbs to the mix- I love the idea of chopped up fresh dill, cilantro, mint, and/or basil. Cooked black beans would add some protein, making these a viable main course.
Just take a look in your fridge or pantry and see what you have! It’s easy to be creative with such a forgiving recipe.
How to pan-fry potato cakes
When you combine the mashed potato cake mixture, it will be quite sticky. This means you can’t really form these patties with your hands. Here are some tricks to making these patties perfectly every time.
What to serve with mashed potato cakes
I love these mashed potato patties served simply with a dollop of sour cream and some chopped fresh herbs or green onions. But here are some other ideas:
Serve them with other kinds of sauces, such as five minute avocado sauce, cilantro jalapeño pesto, or simple guacamole. Fry or poach an egg and serve it on top for breakfast or brunch. Dress them up with some chopped bacon, onions… or anything you would put on a baked potato. Melt some cheese on top and use it as a veggie burger on a bun or lettuce wrap. Serve them as a side with a classic main dish, like BBQ chicken or pulled pork. Make them mini and serve them as an appetizer. Serve them with classic turkey gravy, especially if you have leftovers from Thanksgiving.
Other cakes, patties, croquettes, fritters, and veggie burgers to try:
Salmon Patties Spinach and White Bean Patties with Yogurt Sauce Shrimp and Zucchini Fritters Sweet Potato and Black Bean Veggie Burgers Quinoa, Mushroom, and Zucchini Veggie Burgers Paleo Tuna Croquettes with Lemon Dill Aioli Easy Crab Cakes
Be sure to check out my recipe for classic mashed potatoes to use for this! You may also like this loaded baked potato soup. Did you make this Mashed Potato Cakes recipe? Please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe!
