Description
Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls are delightfully crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. Made using leftover mashed potatoes mixed with crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese, these bite-sized snacks are perfectly seasoned and dusted with a paprika breadcrumb coating. They require no deep frying—just a quick air fry for a healthier, easy-to-make treat that’s delicious as an appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Mashed Potato Mixture
- 2 cups (400 g) cold mashed potatoes
- ¾ cup (60 g) cooked, crumbled bacon (about 7–8 slices)
- ¾ cup (65 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (70 g) all purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Coating
- ¼ cup (35 g) plain breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Spray oil (for greasing and spraying the potato balls)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cold mashed potatoes, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, flour, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt. Use a fork to thoroughly mix all ingredients until the mixture is well combined and holds together.
- Prepare Coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the plain breadcrumbs and paprika to create a seasoned coating for the potato balls.
- Form Potato Balls: Using a 1.5-inch scoop, portion out the potato mixture and roll each portion into a ball. You should be able to form about 16 balls in total. Roll each ball evenly in the breadcrumb and paprika mixture to coat all sides.
- Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the potato balls in a single layer without crowding. Lightly spritz the tops of the potato balls with spray oil to help achieve a golden crisp finish.
- Air Fry: Set the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and cook the potato balls for 14 to 16 minutes, or until they are puffed up and golden brown on the outside.
Notes
- Grease the basket: Always spray the air fryer basket with oil to keep the potato balls from sticking to the bottom.
- Adjust potato consistency: If your mashed potatoes are too thin, add more flour until the mixture holds together properly. If too dry, add a little milk or cream for moisture.
- Seasoning balance: If your mashed potatoes are heavily seasoned, reduce added seasoning in the mixture to avoid overpowering flavors.
- Sticky hands: Rolling the potato balls can be sticky; wetting your hands or wearing cooking gloves can help.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Air fryer, mashed potato balls, crispy potato balls, bacon cheddar snack, leftover mashed potatoes recipe, easy appetizer
