26 Best Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes (2024)

These leftover mashed potato recipes are a great way to use up last night’s dinner.

From tasty potato cakes to Shepherd’s pie, you can do many things with extra mash.

They’re so tasty, you might want to make extra on purpose!

20+ Easy Ways To Use Up Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Did you go overboard for your holiday dinner? Or maybe you just had a few too many spuds?

Either way, these leftover mashed potato recipes are just what you need.

Just remember, garlic mashed potatoes won’t make the best donuts. But buttery mash is ideal!

1. Mashed Potato Cakes

These are just like the ones grandma used to make! These mashed potato cakes turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a breakfast entree.

Hearty and simple, these cakes are the fuel your body and brain need to make it through the morning.

2. Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins

If potato pancakes aren’t your thing, try these muffins instead.

They’re loaded with leftover mash, cheese, and green onions. Simple, yet oh-so-effective,

You’ll add sour cream for moisture and richness, plus eggs and flour to help bind and hold it all together.

After that, feel free to top them with whatever you like!

3. Turkey and Potato Dumplings

Try this potato version instead of classic chicken and dumplings. Replace lean chicken with white turkey meat and pair it with fluffy potato dumplings.

Send all of this swimming in the irresistible gravy broth, and no one will know you’re using leftovers.

4. Bubble and Squeak

This is a classic way to repurpose your leftovers in Britain. Scramble them all in a cast-iron skillet and then fry them to perfection.

The result is a crispy and savory casserole of all your favorite foods tossed together into one easy meal.

5. Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles

Like waffle fries, these savory waffles are the perfect meal any time of the day.

Top them with melted cheese for a unique and savory side everyone will love!

Put those classic waffle squares to good use and fill them with yummy things like chives or chopped mushrooms.

You could try maple syrup, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.

6. Potato Bread

If you’re ready for the challenge, try making this potato bread.

The flour is replaced with your mashed potatoes for a gluten-free bakery option everyone can enjoy.

Give this recipe a spin on your next rainy Saturday, and pat yourself on the back.

Homemade bread is always an accomplishment, and this unique loaf is extra special.

7. Broccoli Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole

Two southern staples become one in this incredible casserole. Bulk up creamy broccoli and cheese with hearty leftover mash.

This takes comfort food to a whole other level. Combining these two classics gives you a winning side dish everyone will devour.

8. Shepherd’s Pie

Use those mashed potatoes to top a big shepherd’s pie!

You won’t even know you’re eating leftovers when your mashed potatoes are sitting on top of that delicious filling.

Corn, green peas, ground beef, and gravy make this shepherd’s pie phenomenal. It’s all of your favorite foods generously heaped into one dish.

9. Mashed Potato Doughnuts

This may not be your first thought when it comes to mashed potatoes, but boy, do these look good! Start your morning right with some mashed potato donuts.

Roll these beauties in cinnamon sugar for a confectioner’s treat that just might put your local donut shop out of business.

10. Leftover Mashed Potato Croquettes

Croquettes are similar to hush puppies. They’re fried balls of savory dough that can be topped with sour cream, chives, or even melted butter.

Turn your mashed potatoes into a real treat and make yourself some croquettes. They’re the perfect appetizer or entree any day of the week.

11. Mashed Potato Cinnamon Rolls

Again, mashed potatoes make a great substitute for flour in baked goods. Here, you’ll sweeten your mashed potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Bake these rolls in the oven and top with a glaze. You’ll have warm, flaky cinnamon rolls on Saturday morning.

12. Baked Potato Soup

This is a cozy, comforting recipe that has all of your favorite loaded baked potato flavors.

From chives to bacon bits and shredded cheese, this is a baked potato in soup form.

Where do mashed potatoes come into play? Your leftovers are what thickens the broth to the creamy consistency you love in a potato soup.

13. Potato Candy

Potato candy is a classic candy that has been delighting children for generations.

Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a sweet dough that can be rolled around all sorts of fillings.

This recipe calls for peanut butter, but my grandma also makes these candies with chocolate and caramel syrups!

14. Mashed Potato Biscuits

Here’s another baked good that has kicked flour to the curb. Bake your mashed ‘taters into some biscuits for breakfast.

Smother these biscuits in gravy or your favorite preserves, and they’ll taste just like the real deal!

Pair them with scrambled eggs and a side of bacon, and you’ll have a full farmer’s breakfast.

15. Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza

There are so many creative ways to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers, but have you ever thought of pizza?

Pile a frozen crust high with mashed potatoes and bake it to a bubbly finish.

Clean your plate when you get your favorite festive foods in every bite.

16. Cheesy Mashed Potato Pancakes

There’s no better way to enjoy potatoes the morning after than potato pancakes!

This cheesy version adds Mozzarella and bread crumbs for a creamy, crunchy twist.

They fry up perfectly in the skillet, instantly giving new life to last night’s side dish.

17. Tattie Scones (Scottish Potato Scones)

These traditional potato cakes are a quick and easy way to fry your holiday leftovers.

They’re a delicious quick breakfast when you have mashed potatoes to spare.

Traditional in Britain, tattie scones are the hash browns of our friends across the pond. Enjoy them alongside an omelet or by themselves.

18. Mashed Potato Quesadilla

Stuff your mashed potatoes between two tortillas for a mild dish that is as satisfying to eat as it is simple to make.

Nothing goes better with carbs than carbs, and that couldn’t be truer than in this dish. Serve this up as a quick lunch or a last-minute dinner for two.

19. Leftover Mashed Potato Rolls

Turn last night’s starch into another when you make these mashed potato rolls. The result is a soft and fluffy dinner roll your family will fight over.

These rolls are so good, you may not even wait for leftovers. Go ahead and whip up some mashed potatoes so you can enjoy them ASAP.

20. Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

Recreate this iconic candy using your leftover mashed potatoes. Sweeten and flavor them to minty perfection, then coat each patty in rich dark chocolate.

Now that you can make them yourself, you’ll never buy a pack from a drugstore again.

Yours will be creamier and mintier than any packaged candy could ever be.

21. Pierogi

Pierogies are potato dumplings with a subtle onion and garlic flavor.

These are typically dipped in applesauce for a savory/sweet pairing that’s surprisingly complementary.

Enjoy pierogies as an appetizer or serve as the main course. They’re a simple and satisfying food everyone can enjoy.

22. Ham and Mashed Potato Casserole

Turn your leftover mashed potatoes into this casserole for a reinvented dish that will feel brand new!

With juicy chunks of ham and plenty of cheese, this casserole feels like a first-time dish, not repurposed leftovers!

23. Meatloaf Cupcakes

Use your mashed potatoes as a savory frosting for these meatloaf cupcakes! Each little cake is a single serving to put on each family member’s plate.

Cut your cooking time in thirds when you make cupcakes compared to the traditional loaf. The little tins cook so much faster than a large pan!

24. Leftover Mashed Potato Balls

Take your mashed potatoes and roll them into balls for a light and fluffy side people cannot resist!

With the same flavor you know and love, these whimsical balls are the perfect addition to any plate.

25. Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi

Fat gnocchi pasta is an incredible way to enjoy homemade pasta. They’re hearty and easy to shape, so they’re perfect for the first-time pasta chef.

Smother this gnocchi in a homemade pesto or tomato sauce. You can also use a store-bought jar. I won’t tell anyone.

26. Fried Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is unbelievably simple and so delicious. Take your leftover mashed potatoes and fry them up in a pan for a savory side any time of the day.

Pop them on a breakfast plate or save them for dinner. These fried mashed potatoes are the perfect companion for any entree.

26 Best Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes

Course: Dinner, MainCuisine: British

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

368

kcal

Delight in the familiar flavors of this Shepherd’s Pie, where the rustic charm of lamb meets velvety potatoes. This leftover mashed potato recipe is a great way to use up last night’s dinner!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon canola oil

• 1 small red onion, finely chopped

• 1 carrot, finely diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 pound ground lamb or beef

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1/2 cup beef broth

• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes

Instructions

• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrot, sauté for 4 minutes, add garlic, and cook for another minute.
• Increase the heat to high and add the ground meat. Cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
• Reduce the heat to medium and sprinkle the flour over the meat. Stir to coat. Add the Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, and thyme. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Pour in the beef broth, stirring well and scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Add the peas and carrots and simmer until the vegetables are heated through and the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the meat mixture to a lightly greased 9-inch pie dish or equivalent-sized casserole dish. Spread mashed potatoes on top. Use a fork to create ridges on the potatoes.
• Broil at 550 degrees Fahrenheit, about 5 inches from the heat source, for 4-5 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
• Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!

Notes

• Infuse the beef broth with a bay leaf and a sprig of fresh rosemary for added depth.
• Sprinkle a thin layer of grated sharp cheddar or Parmesan on top of the sweet potatoes before broiling for a crispy cheese crust.

Nutrition

• Calories: 368kcal
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Protein: 29g
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 77mg
• Sodium: 1345mg
• Potassium: 861mg
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 5g
• Calcium: 62mg
• Iron: 3mg