The best part about the Thanksgiving meal is doing fun, delicious things with all of those leftovers! I had a small tupperware full of mashed potatoes left from the meal yesterday that I wanted to transform. So I decided to turn them into the most incredible potato croquettes. They came together so quickly and easily since the potatoes were already cooked and chilled.
After all 8 of the potato croquettes cooked and cooled for a couple of minutes, I served them immediately! Oh my goodness, they made ordinary leftover mashed potatoes extraordinary. There was loads of flavor and just enough heat from the smoked paprika. The best part was biting through that crispy exterior and getting to the fluffy goodness within. My hubby went absolutely nuts for them. Enjoy transforming your Thanksgiving leftovers my friends! xo
These potato croquettes are the most incredible way to use up leftover mashed potatoes! The exterior is gorgeously crispy with a fluffy, luscious interior.
- 1 2/3 cups leftover mashed potatoes chilled in the refrigerator overnight
- 1/3 cup extra sharp shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary roughly chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried onion
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 whole egg yolk
- 1 whole egg lightly beaten, for breading
- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil as needed for pan frying
- In a bowl, combine the leftover mashed potatoes, cheese, milk, flour, rosemary, dried onion, paprika, salt and the egg yolk in a bowl. Stir it together well until it becomes smooth and uniform. Use a large ice cream scoop to scoop out uniform portions of the batter and form them into croquettes. You should get 8. Have the lightly beaten whole egg set up in a bowl and the breadcrumbs set up in another bowl.
- Dip each croquette in the egg before coating it in the breadcrumbs, then set them on a small platter once they're breaded. Take a large skillet and fill it with about 2 inches of vegetable oil. Heat it up over medium high heat. It will shimmer and start to bubble a little when it's hot enough. Pan fry the croquettes in two batches of four so that the pan doesn't get over crowded. They need to cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side to get golden brown and crispy. Remove them to a plate lined with paper towel to blot them and repeat with the second batch. Once they are all done, serve them immediately and enjoy!
My husband loves potato croquets! Your recipe is so simple and creative! I love cheese, so I try to add it everywhere. The cheese curds in the middle make them especially tasty 🙂
Thanks so much, I appreciate that!!
These bring to mind the potato croquettes that my mom used to make, but these look even better. Is it wrong to say that? 🙂
Ha, your lovely mom does not have to know, shhhh. Thanks very much :-).
You had me at potato. These croquettes look absolutely yummy!
Thank you so much!!
My grandmother used to make potato croquettes. I never got the recipe from her. These look just like hers! I can’t wait to try them. Thank you!
I love that!! Please let me know if they come out like your lovely grandmother’s croquettes if you try them :-).
Omg these are my fave! My mom used to make these for me and I have yet to learn how to make them. I’m so excited I bumped into this post. She’ll love that I’m making it for her for once 🙂
Oh my goodness, this made my heart swell. Please let me know how it comes out making it for her!!