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We love pancakes, but have you ever tried potato pancakes?

Potato pancakes are such a delicious way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. They have fluffy centers, golden edges, and a little cheese for extra flavor.

They’re great as a side dish instead of mashed potatoes or baked potatoes – but we also love them for breakfast instead of making hash browns. Plus, these have added cheese for a little something extra tasty.

We’ve always loved mashed potatoes and rarely have leftovers, but with this recipe we are sure to try and have some saved so we can make these mashed potato pancakes the next morning.

You could also serve these pancakes as an appetizer alongside Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Spinach Puffs, and Queso Blanco.

Why we think you’ll love it:

  • Use up those leftovers! We love to make extra mashed potatoes to whip up a batch of these potato pancakes.
  • A breakfast, side, or appetizer. This easy recipe is so versatile and can be served any time of the day.
  • Ready in 20 minutes. From start to finish, these pancakes are on the table in no time.
Mashed potatoes, shredded cheese, eggs, and seasonings on a kitchen counter.

Potato Pancake Ingredients And Substitutions

  • 3 cups mashed potatoes – You can use plain mashed potatoes or flavored mashed potatoes, both work well. You can even mix up instant mashed potatoes.
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese or another favorite cheese like Colby jack or pepper jack cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • salt and pepper, to taste – Adjust the amount depending on whether the mashed potatoes have already been seasoned.
  • vegetable oil, for frying – or canola oil, coconut oil, or olive oil labeled for frying
  • optional toppings – sour cream, green onion, bacon bits, extra cheese
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How to Make Potato Pancakes

  1. PREP. Preheat a large frying pan or griddle to medium heat.
    • If your potatoes are cold from the fridge, warm them slightly and give them a second mash so they’re easier to work with. 
  2. MIX. In a large bowl, add mashed potatoes, eggs, flour, cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper (this will depend on how much seasoning was previously added to the mashed potatoes). Mix to combine.
    • Grease the frying pan/skillet lightly.
  3. SHAPE. Form the potato mixture into patties about ¼ cup of batter each. Flatten the patty between your palms.
  4. FRY. Fry on the one side until golden (about 3-5 minutes), then flip and fry on the second side until golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and green onions (optional).
  • Don’t make them too thick; they will take longer to cook through and may burn on the outside before the inside is warm.
  • If the potato pancakes have too much moisture you may need an extra tablespoon or two of flour to keep them from falling apart.
  • We most often serve these as a side at breakfast, but they can also be covered with sausage gravy and served as a heartier main dish, or as a delicious snack or appetizer.
A stack of potato pancakes topped with sour cream and chives.
4.96 from 24 votes

Potato Pancakes

By: Lil’ Luna
Crispy, cheesy potato pancakes use leftover mashed potatoes and are ready in 20 minutes for a perfect breakfast, lunch, or appetizer.
Servings: 12 pancakes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 3 cups mashed potatoes
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste, to taste
  • vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions 

  • Preheat a large frying pan or griddle to medium heat.
  • If your potatoes are cold from the fridge, we recommend warming them up slightly and giving them a second mash or beating with an electric mixer so they're easier to work with. 
  • In a large bowl add the mashed potatoes, eggs, flour, cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. 
  • Stir the ingredients together.
  • Grease the frying pan/skillet lightly.
  • Form the dough into patties about ¼ cup of batter each. Flatten the patty between your palms.
  • Fry on the one side until golden (about 3-5 minutes), then flip and fry on the second side until golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and green onions (optional).

Notes

Recipe Tips.
  • Make extra mashed potatoes and set them aside so you can make these pancakes!
  • Don’t make them too thick; they will take longer to cook through and may burn on the outside before the inside is warm.
  • If the potato pancakes have too much moisture you may need an extra tablespoon or two of flour to keep them from falling apart.
  • We most often serve these as a side at breakfast, but they can also be covered with sausage gravy and served as a heartier main dish, or as a delicious snack or appetizer.
  • If your potatoes were already seasoned quite heavily, you may not need the salt & pepper. 
Store. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. To freeze, wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Place in freezer and store there for up to 3 months. Look at the notes above on how to reheat the pancakes if frozen.
Reheat. Preheat oven to 350°F (or 400°F for frozen potato pancakes). Place a baking rack on a baking sheet, and arrange on top. Bake for about 5 minutes (10 minutes for frozen potato pancakes).

Nutrition

Serving: 12g, Calories: 103kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 57mg, Potassium: 187mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 94IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to store?

To freeze, wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Place in freezer and store there for up to 3 months. Look at the notes above on how to reheat the pancakes if frozen.

How to reheat?

Reheat frozen pancakes in the oven. Preheat oven to 350°F (or 400°F for frozen potato pancakes). Place a baking rack on a baking sheet, arrange on top, and bake for about 5 minutes (10 minutes for frozen potato pancakes).

This recipe was originally published January 2019.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.96 from 24 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




23 Comments

  1. Susan says:

    5 stars
    Made these tonight. Loved them!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yay! So glad you enjoyed the pancakes!

  2. Lark Gibson says:

    5 stars
    My entire family loved these, which is rare! We served them with apple sauce and sour cream.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yum!! Love when I find a recipe the whole family loves! Thank you!

  3. frances thompson says:

    is the flour self raising flour or all purpose flour

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I used all purpose 🙂

  4. Amanda says:

    Can you think of a good egg substitute for this recipe? I normally use flax egg or banana but I wasn’t sure if that would work.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I personally haven’t tried either of those, so I am not sure. I am thinking they’d be ok. I am not normally substituting egg.

  5. Rachel says:

    5 stars
    Ive Made these once before, AMAZING!! Im making these again tonight except im making Gravy as the “syRup”.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      That sounds yum!! I am glad you liked it!

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