Air Fryer Mashed Potato Pancakes
Air Fryer Mashed Potato Pancakes, are the most delicious side dish or afternoon treat. Potato pancakes from mashed potatoes are the perfect way to use up leftover potatoes in a new way. Crispy outside with a creamy and fluffy center, and not to mention packed with tasty flavors, that leave you reaching for one more potato cake!
Potato fritters is another name for these pretty little Air Fryer Mashed Potato Pancakes. However, you choose to call it is up to you! Regardless, these beauties are going to steal the show at your dinner table. The Air Fryer cooks them up perfectly, so you have crispy outside with a tender inside!
The Best Air Fryer Mashed Potato Pancakes
You will find so many variations on how to make potato pancakes, but let me stop ya from searching, this recipe here is the winner. You have flavor, ease of making, and it is quick. What more could you want?
What goes with potato pancakes?
Top with sour cream, dip in ranch or add a splash of our favorite hot sauce. There is no wrong way to eat a potato cake in my books. Or you might just sprinkle on some salt and eat it plain. The choice is yours!
What do you eat potato cakes with?
Truthfully, we eat these with almost anything. Maybe pair with meatloaf, pork chops, hamburgers, the sky is the limit. We always save leftover mashed potatoes and use it to make potato cakes the next day. Then with whatever our main dish is for the night, we pair it. I will say I do baked beans a lot with potato pancakes, and it tastes amazing dipped in the bean juice.
How to store leftover potato cakes
Place in an airtight container and toss in the fridge. The potato cakes will last 1-2 days in the fridge, and then need to be tossed. Each day you will find they could become a bit more soft and mushy.
How to reheat potato fritters
Warm up your leftover fritters in the microwave or heat them up in the oven at 350 degrees until warmed through. I won’t lie, they are best when served fresh, but they still taste delicious reheated.
Can I make fresh mashed potatoes for potato pancakes
You can make fresh mashed potatoes, but the one thing is your potatoes need to be chilled. The firmness they have when cold helps shape and keep the form as they cook up in the Air Fryer. So if you make fresh, once they are mashed, toss in the fridge to let them chill and cool down.
Once cooled, then you can begin the process of making potato pancakes in the Air Fryer.
As you can see this recipe is easy, quick, and a great way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes you might have. If you have never made potato cakes, you need to try them today! Trust me, you won’t be sorry!
More Air Fryer Recipes You will Love:
Air Fryer Steak Fries, Air Fryer Green Bean Fries, Air Fryer Bagels. Or Even My Air Fryer Egg Rolls.

Air Fryer Mashed Potato Pancakes
Air Fryer Potato Pancakes, are the most delicious side dish or afternoon treat. Potato pancakes from mashed potatoes are the perfect way to use up leftover potatoes in a new way. Crispy outside with a creamy and fluffy center, and not to mention packed with tasty flavors, that leave you reaching for one more potato cake!
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Mashed Potatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 green onion chopped
- 2 strips cooked bacon
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix Potatoes, ( I used cold leftover mashed potatoes) egg, cheese ,bacon, green onion, and flour
- Make into a patty form.
- Coat in panko bread crumbs
- Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to hold form.
- Place foil over your rack on your ninja foodi or air fryer
- Cook on 390 for 10 minutes
- Flip over and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 273Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 624mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 11g
I would have never thought of doing Potato Pancakes in Air Fryer! So excited to try this! We make these all the time. Favorite thing to do with left over potatoes, in fact we always make a bit more than we need, just for Potato Pancakes. Thank you again!
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m wondering if the bacon is absolutely necessary. As in the fat is needed for air frying or something. I’d like to try this but my SO is vegetarian. Will they come out okay without? I say “okay” because I know the revised recipe will be a shadow of the original without the bacon. :o)
No it’s not necessary it’s optional
Can you freeze these and reheat them? I haven’t had luck freezing regular mashed potatoes, but wondering about these since you can buy so many kinds of frozen french fries/potato items.
So easy to freeze separately and bag them. I reheat them frozen 10 minutes at 350° in oven. Same time and temp in the air fryer. My grandkids love them and I always have a side dish!
These potato pancakes were amazing! Even my kids loved them! I am so happy to find another recipe for my air fryer. This one is going in my faves! Thank you for sharing!
Awesome potato cakes!! Made them for lunch with thanksgiving leftover potatoes. Very crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
I made a couple of tweaks. Preheated the fryer to add crunch, left in the freezer 15 minutes for added firmness and added two minutes to the second timed cooking. The second batch was better.
I’m getting ready to make some now from my left over potatoes hope they turn out
My granddaughter and I love this recipe! Simple but you can add spices different flavor cheeses and get a different pancake everytime! Thanks!
Made a few substitutions as I don’t eat pork and try to minimize both gluten and dairy. I also skipped the freezer step and used parchment paper instead of foil in my air fryer oven.
These turned out absolutely perfect!! Not only will I make again and again; am really looking forward to trying out more of the air fryer recipes on adventuresofanurse.com.
Thanks So Much!
You’re welcome glad you liked them
I omit the bacon and add cooked salmon. These are a favorite in our house.
Hi, I just made these without the ham, they were delicious 😋. I made to many, can I freeze them?
Carla thank you for this recipe. It seems very easy and I love using my air fryer.
I have a question please. Other than flavor changes, will these work well with half the cheese and half the Panko you described?
Thank you!
yes!