My Crispy Mashed Potato Pancake

4.6
(224)

Make crispy mashed potato pancakes that stay fluffy inside in a snap with leftover mashed potatoes. I like to make one large potato pancake and slice it into wedges, but you can make individual-sized potato pancakes, which are easier to flip, if you prefer.

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close up on a plate of crispy mashed potato pancakes
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
4

Put your leftovers to good use with this easy mashed potato pancake recipe. 

What Makes These Potato Pancakes Crispy? 

The secret to these crispy mashed potato pancakes? Potato starch! If you don’t have potato starch on hand, you can use cornstarch. 

How to Make Potato Pancakes from Mashed Potatoes

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade mashed potato pancakes with:

  1. Mix the potatoes, potato starch, egg, seasonings, and a teaspoon of chives in one bowl. 
  2. Heat oil in a skillet, then spoon the potato mixture into the skillet. Press it into an even layer to create a potato pancake.
  3. Reduce heat, cover the skillet, and cook until golden brown around the edges.
  4. Slide the pancake onto a large plate, then invert it onto another greased plate.
  5. Heat the remaining oil, then slide the pancake back into the skillet and cook, uncovered, until golden brown on the other side.

Cook’s Note

To make individual potato pancakes: Shape potato mixture into 8 pancakes. Fry potato pancakes in batches in the skillet until crispy on one side, about 3 to 4 minutes; flip potato pancakes and cook on the remaining side until browned and crisp, about 3 minutes more.

How to Store Potato Pancakes

Store your leftover potato pancakes in an airtight container (lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil) in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat in the oven or in the air fryer. 

Can You Freeze Potato Pancakes? 

Yes! Flash freeze the patties, then transfer them to a zip-top bag or another freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months. Reheat in the oven or in the air fryer. 

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“Very simple,” says one Allrecipes community member. “I added bacon and shredded Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and it held together really well and made the edges crispy. So many ways to change this up.”

“These were so simple to make and are such a good way to use up leftovers,” according to Scott Juryn.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 1 ½ cups cold mashed potatoes

  • 4 tablespoons potato starch or cornstarch

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

  • 2 teaspoons thinly sliced fresh chives, divided

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided

  • cooking spray

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    ingredients gathered to make crispy mashed potato pancakes

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Mix together mashed potatoes, potato starch, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of the chives in a medium bowl until combined. The mixture should be slightly sticky but not loose.

    ingredients combined in a bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot and oil is fragrant. Spoon potato mixture into skillet and press it into an even layer to create a potato pancake about 9 inches in diameter.

    potato mixture spooned into a skillet of oil

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Reduce heat to medium; cover skillet with a lid or flat cookie sheet and cook, giving skillet a 90-degree turn every 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown around the edges and top of pancake feels almost dry to the touch, 8  to 9 minutes.

    potato pancake cooked until edges are golden-brown

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Slide potato pancake onto a large plate. Spray another large plate with nonstick cooking spray and invert the potato pancake onto greased plate.

    potato pancake inverted onto a plate

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to skillet and heat over medium. Slide pancake back into skillet and cook, uncovered, until golden brown on the other side, about 5 more minutes.

    other side of potato pancake cooked until golden-brown

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Slide pancake onto a cutting board and garnish with remaining 1 teaspoon chives.

    potato pancake garnished with chives

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Slice into 8 wedges and serve immediately. Enjoy!

    potato pancake cut into 8 wedges

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Editor's Note:

This recipe was tested in our test kitchen and updated to include potato starch instead of flour, less potato, and 1 less egg based on user reviews.

399 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

204 Calories
10g Fat
24g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 204
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 83mg 28%
Sodium 536mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 414mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.