Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs Recipe

Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs are the ultimate comfort food, taking your standard mashed potatoes to the next level by transforming them into golden, crispy, cheesy bites. These puffs are fluffy on the inside with a delightful, cheesy crust on the outside. Whether served as an appetizer, side dish, or party snack, they’re sure to be a crowd favorite.

These little bites of heaven are versatile, easy to make, and incredibly customizable to suit your tastes or dietary preferences. The best part? You can prepare them ahead of time, freeze them, and bake them just before serving. Perfect for busy weeknights, holiday gatherings, or as a fun twist on traditional mashed potatoes.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Mashed Potatoes

1. Peel and Boil the Potatoes
   Peel the russet potatoes and cut them into roughly equal-sized chunks (about 1-inch cubes). This ensures they cook evenly. Place them in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt to the water to season the potatoes as they cook. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
2. Drain and Mash the Potatoes
   Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until smooth. You can also use a potato ricer for an ultra-smooth texture if desired. Add the butter, milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and continue mashing until everything is well combined and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Step 2: Make the Mashed Potato Mixture

1. Mix in the Eggs
   Let the mashed potatoes cool for a few minutes before adding the eggs. This prevents the eggs from cooking in the hot potatoes. Add the two eggs to the potatoes and mix well until fully incorporated. The eggs will help bind the mixture together when shaping the puffs.
2. Add the Cheeses
   Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese. The warm potatoes will help the cheese melt into the mixture, creating a cheesy, smooth texture. If you’re adding any optional ingredients, like crumbled bacon or cooked spinach, mix them in at this point.
3. Chill the Mixture
   To make shaping the puffs easier, transfer the mashed potato mixture to a large bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the mixture helps it firm up, making it less sticky and easier to handle when forming the puffs.

Step 3: Form the Puffs

1. Preheat the Oven
   While the mixture chills, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
2. Form the Potato Puffs
   Once the mashed potato mixture has chilled, use your hands or a small ice cream scoop to form small portions of the mixture into balls (about 1.5 inches in diameter). If the mixture is too sticky, lightly wet your hands or coat them with a bit of flour.
3. Coat in Breadcrumbs
   In a shallow dish, place the breadcrumbs (panko or regular). Roll each potato puff in the breadcrumbs until evenly coated. This will give the puffs a crispy, golden exterior when baked.

Step 4: Bake the Puffs

1. Arrange on Baking Sheet
   Place the breadcrumb-coated potato puffs onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
2. Bake
   Bake the puffs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Flip the puffs halfway through the baking time to ensure even browning.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once your Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, additional grated cheese, or a sprinkle of paprika if desired.

Serve as an appetizer with a dipping sauce like sour cream, ranch dressing, or even marinara sauce for a cheesy potato bite like no other!

Tips for Perfect Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

1. Use Starchy Potatoes
   Russet potatoes are ideal because of their high starch content, which gives the puffs their light and fluffy texture. Avoid waxy potatoes like red potatoes, as they tend to be too dense for this recipe.
2. Let the Mashed Potatoes Cool
   Chilling the mashed potato mixture before shaping it into puffs helps it firm up, making the puffs easier to form and less likely to fall apart during baking.
3. Don’t Skip the Breadcrumb Coating
   The breadcrumb coating is essential for getting that crispy, golden exterior. If you want extra crunch, use panko breadcrumbs, which provide a lighter and crispier texture than regular breadcrumbs.
4. Don’t Overmix the Potatoes
   Over-mashing or stirring the potatoes too much can result in a gluey texture. For the best results, mash the potatoes just until smooth, and then mix in the other ingredients.
5. Try a Cheese Blend
   While sharp cheddar cheese is the star of the show, feel free to experiment with other cheeses. Adding a little mozzarella will give the puffs a stretchy, melty interior, while Gruyère or fontina will add a nutty richness.

Creative Variations

Here are a few ways to get creative with your Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs:

1. Buffalo Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs
   Add a few tablespoons of buffalo sauce and some crumbled blue cheese to the mashed potato mixture for a spicy twist. These would be great served with a side of ranch dressing for dipping.
2. Jalapeño Cheesy Puffs
   Stir in some finely diced jalapeños for a spicy kick. You can also add a touch of lime zest and cilantro for a southwestern flair.
3. Herbed Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs
   Mix in fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil for a fragrant twist on the classic. This pairs especially well with garlic and Parmesan.
4. Vegan Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs
   To make these puffs vegan, swap the eggs for a flax egg and use dairy-free butter, almond milk, and vegan cheese. Nutritional yeast can also be a great substitute for cheese, giving it a cheesy flavor without the dairy.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Puffs Falling Apart
   If your potato puffs are falling apart, it could be because the mixture is too loose. Try adding more breadcrumbs or chilling the mixture for a longer period. You can also add an extra egg for better binding.
2. Under-Crispy Exterior
   If your puffs are not crisping up as much as you’d like, try increasing the oven temperature by 10-15 degrees, or broil them for the last 2 minutes to achieve a crispy, golden exterior.
3. Soggy Puffs
   To avoid soggy puffs, make sure that the mashed potatoes are not too wet before mixing in the other ingredients. If the mixture seems too runny, add more breadcrumbs or let it chill for a bit longer to help firm it up.

Conclusion

Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs are a delightful twist on a classic comfort food, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re preparing them for a casual family dinner, a holiday feast, or a potluck party, these golden, cheesy bites are sure to be a hit. Easy to customize and make ahead, they offer endless possibilities for flavor combinations, dietary accommodations, and serving styles. With just a few basic ingredients, you’ll create a dish that’s both comforting and impressive.

Yield: 20

Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs Recipe

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Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs are the ultimate comfort food, taking your standard mashed potatoes to the next level by transforming them into golden, crispy, cheesy bites. These puffs are fluffy on the inside with a delightful, cheesy crust on the outside. Whether served as an appetizer, side dish, or party snack, they’re sure to be a crowd favorite.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups mashed potatoes (leftover works great!)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a mix of cheddar and mozzarella)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (or chives)
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (Panko works best for extra crispiness)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp sour cream (optional for extra creaminess)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, shredded cheddar, Parmesan, green onions, breadcrumbs, egg, sour cream (if using), garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well-combined. The mixture should be thick but scoopable.
3. Shape the Puffs: Use a spoon or your hands to scoop out small portions of the mashed potato mixture and form them into small balls or mounds, about 1-2 inches in diameter. Place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake: Bake the puffs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden and crispy on the outside. You can flip them halfway through for an even crispiness if you like, but it’s not necessary.
5. Serve: Once they’re done, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or extra cheese if desired.

Notes

Use Leftover Mashed Potatoes: These puffs are a great way to repurpose leftover mashed potatoes. In fact, the texture of slightly drier mashed potatoes will help them hold their shape better during baking.

Cheese Variety: You can mix up the cheese blend depending on your preference. Gruyère, mozzarella, or even some crumbled goat cheese could be delicious variations. Just make sure to use cheese that melts well to get that gooey center.

Add-ins: Feel free to add extras like cooked bacon bits, chopped spinach, or even sautéed onions for more flavor.

Crispier Option: If you want even crispier puffs, you can lightly spray them with cooking spray before baking. Or, after baking, you can give them a quick broil for 1-2 minutes to get that extra golden finish (just keep an eye on them to avoid burning!).