The Ultimate Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs Recipe: Crispy Golden Bites

Golden, crispy mashed potato puffs upgrade ordinary side dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences.

These delightful bites pack incredible flavor and unexpected textural complexity into each small morsel.

Soft, creamy interiors contrast magnificently with their perfectly golden, crunchy exterior, creating a sensational eating adventure.

Cheese weaves its magical richness throughout these delectable puffs, elevating them from simple potato preparation to gourmet delight.

Home cooks can easily craft these irresistible morsels using basic kitchen ingredients and minimal preparation time.

The combination of familiar comfort food with innovative technique makes these puffs a crowd-pleasing option for any meal.

Prepare to surprise and delight your dinner companions with this clever potato reinvention.

Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs – A Flavorful Twist on a Classic

• Crunch into Cheesy Comfort: These golden potato puffs deliver an irresistible crispy exterior with a soft, creamy interior that melts in your mouth, creating a perfect texture contrast that'll make your taste buds dance.
• Whip Up in a Snap: With just 30 minutes from start to finish, this recipe is a quick and easy solution for busy cooks craving a delicious side dish or appetizer that looks and tastes impressively gourmet.
• Party-Perfect Finger Food: Compact, bite-sized, and packed with cheesy flavor, these potato puffs are ideal for gatherings, game nights, or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer that everyone will love grabbing and munching.
• Customize Your Flavor: Easily adaptable with different cheese varieties, herbs, or spices, these potato puffs let you get creative and make the recipe uniquely yours while keeping the core deliciousness intact.

Key Ingredients for Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

Main Ingredients:

• Cold Mashed Potatoes: Creamy base for the puffs, provides rich texture and core flavor.
• Cheddar Cheese: Adds sharp, tangy cheese flavor and helps bind the mixture.
• Egg: Crucial binding agent that helps hold the puffs together.

• Chives: Fresh herb that brings a mild onion-like flavor and green color.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps to stabilize and create structure in the potato mixture.
• Garlic Powder: Provides subtle, aromatic seasoning throughout the puffs.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance overall taste.

• Parmesan Cheese: Provides a crispy, extra cheesy exterior coating for the puffs.
• Nonstick Spray: Ensures easy release of potato puffs from the muffin pan.

How to Make Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 400°F and grab a mini muffin pan. Give it a generous spray of nonstick cooking spray to prevent any sticky situations.

Step 2: Mix Potato Base

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped chives
• All-purpose flour
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper

Stir everything until it looks perfectly blended.

Step 3: Bind the Mixture

Crack an egg into the potato blend and mix until the entire mixture looks smooth and feels like it wants to stick together.

Step 4: Shape Cheesy Potato Balls

Use your hands to create small, adorable potato balls. Roll each ball through grated Parmesan cheese for an extra crispy, cheesy exterior. Gently press these golden nuggets into the greased muffin cups.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide the muffin pan into the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges turn a beautiful golden brown and look irresistibly crispy.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Pull the pan out of the oven and let the potato puffs rest for a few moments. Serve these warm, cheesy delights and watch them disappear!

Tips for Perfecting Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

• Chill the Potatoes: Use cold mashed potatoes for better binding and easier shaping of the puffs.
• Cheese Selection: Experiment with different cheese varieties like Gruyère or smoked Gouda for unique flavor profiles.
• Consistent Size: Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to create uniform potato balls for even baking.
• Crispy Coating Trick: Pat the Parmesan coating gently to ensure it adheres well and creates a crispy exterior.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the potato mixture in advance and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking for convenient entertaining.

Storing Leftover Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

• Refrigeration: Store leftover potato puffs in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Wrap each puff individually in plastic wrap or place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
• Reheating Oven Method: Restore crispiness by preheating your oven to 350°F. Arrange potato puffs on a baking sheet, leaving space between each piece. Warm for 8-10 minutes until heated through and edges turn golden again. Avoid microwaving, which can make the puffs soggy and lose their delightful crunch.
• Freezing Option: Freeze cooled potato puffs in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe container.

The Best Pairings for Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Choose a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to complement the rich, cheesy potato puffs. The wine's light, refreshing acidity cuts through the creamy texture and provides a delightful contrast.
• Match with Tangy Dipping Sauce: Whip up a quick sour cream and chive dip or a zesty garlic aioli. These sauces enhance the potato puffs' flavor profile and add an extra layer of creamy, herbal goodness.
• Serve Alongside Fresh Salad: Prepare a light, crisp green salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a lemon vinaigrette. The salad's freshness balances the rich, cheesy potato puffs and provides a refreshing counterpoint.
• Complement with Grilled Protein: Pair these potato puffs with a simple grilled chicken breast or herb-crusted salmon. The protein adds substance to the meal and creates a well-rounded dining experience.

Fun Variations of Golden Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

• Herbed Potato Poppers: Swap chives for fresh rosemary, thyme, and parsley, creating an aromatic herb-infused potato puff with Mediterranean flavors.
• Bacon Cheddar Clusters: Fold crispy chopped bacon bits and extra sharp cheddar cheese into the potato mixture, adding a smoky, rich dimension to the classic recipe.
• Spicy Jalapeño Bites: Mix finely diced jalapeños and pepper jack cheese into the potato base, delivering a zesty kick that transforms the mild puffs into a fiery appetizer.
• Mediterranean Veggie Puffs: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped spinach for a Mediterranean-inspired potato puff bursting with vibrant flavors.

Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs Recipe

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4.6 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Crispy golden potato puffs deliver cheesy comfort from simple ingredients. Pillowy morsels combine creamy mashed potatoes, sharp cheddar, and herbs, promising a delightful snack you’ll savor with each irresistible bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 710 ml (3 cups) chilled mashed potatoes
• 240 ml (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
• 120 ml (½ cup) grated parmesan cheese

Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 60 ml (¼ cup) all-purpose flour
• 60 ml (¼ cup) chopped chives
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

Cooking Preparation:

• Grease for the muffin pan

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Instructions

1. Prepare a mini muffin pan by generously coating each cavity with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, blend cold mashed potatoes with sharp cheddar cheese, finely chopped chives, all-purpose flour, aromatic garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, stirring until ingredients are uniformly distributed.
3. Crack a single large egg into the potato mixture and thoroughly incorporate until the texture becomes smooth and cohesive.
4. Gently form the potato mixture into compact, bite-sized spheres approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter.
5. Roll each potato sphere in finely grated Parmesan cheese, creating a delicate, crispy exterior coating.
6. Delicately place the Parmesan-coated potato balls into the prepared muffin pan, pressing them lightly to maintain their rounded shape.
7. Position the muffin pan in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) and bake for 18-22 minutes, watching for a golden-brown, crisp exterior.
8. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the potato puffs to rest for 3-4 minutes, enabling them to set and cool slightly.
9. Transfer the warm, cheesy potato puffs to a serving platter and enjoy immediately while they maintain their crisp texture and molten cheese interior.

Notes

• Elevate leftover mashed potatoes into crispy, bite-sized delights that transform boring side dishes into crowd-pleasing appetizers.
• Customize the flavor profile by experimenting with different cheese varieties like Gruyère, gouda, or blue cheese for unique taste experiences.
• Freeze unbaked potato puffs on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag, allowing quick preparation for unexpected guests or last-minute entertaining.
• Achieve maximum crispiness by ensuring mashed potatoes are cold and well-drained, preventing excess moisture that could compromise the puffs’ texture.
• Perfect for meal prep, these potato puffs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and quickly reheated in a toaster oven for a crispy snack.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Side Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 400 kcal
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 18g
• Cholesterol: 70mg