Mashed Potato Cakes (Made with Instant Potatoes)

With easy and fun ingredients, these Mashed Potato Cakes are a super quick and easy recipe that comes together in minutes. Eat as a side or an appetizer with your favorite toppings.

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The holidays are approaching quickly, football has started, and this is the time of year when I’m whipping up all my favorite foods, including these mashed potato cakes.

I’m all about the appetizers and side dishes, and these are perfect for either of those. There really is no set time that is perfect to make these, but we love serving on game day or as an appetizer for the holidays.

If I could, I’d just make a huge buffet table loaded with appetizers for a large family get-together. So, taking my love of small bites, I came up with an amazingly delicious, crunchy Loaded Mashed Potato Cake! 

Would it surprise you to know this comes together in a flash, like 9 minutes to be exact? No, I do not want you slaving over a huge pot of boiling potatoes when you have so many other things you have to worry about while making a huge meal. 

That is the beauty of this recipe. They are so good, and you can have them in under 10 minutes. It’s almost unheard of, right? Well, believe me, these do, and they are absolutely amazing and quick with our secret ingredient.

This is one of my husband’s most requested recipes on game days. So, every Sunday, I seem to be making these, and we never get sick of them!

Loaded with bacon and cheese, you really can’t go wrong. Those are the dynamic duo, and when they are paired together in any recipe, they are amazing, especially in these mashed potato cakes.

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Jump to:

• WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
• INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
• HOW TO MAKE MASHED POTATO CAKES:
• FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
• WHAT IS THE BEST CHEESE TO USE?
• WHAT GOES WELL WITH LOADED MASHED POTATO CAKES?
• ANY ADDITIONS?
• ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
• HOW TO STORE:
• DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
• Mashed Potato Cakes

1. With literal minimal ingredients, these come together in no time.
2. You can use leftover mashed potatoes or instant for this.
3. Double this recipe to serve more or have more on hand for guests.

• Instant mashed potatoes (our secret ingredient!)
• Water
• Bacon
• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Scallion
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Unsalted butter
• Vegetable oil
• Sour cream for serving, optional

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1. Place the instant mashed potatoes and water into a microwave-safe bowl, and mix to combine. Microwave for 2 minutes, carefully take out (it will be very hot!).
2. Mix in the bacon, scallions, and cheese. 
3. Take about 1/4 of a cup of mixture and roll it into balls. 
4. Flatten out slightly into 7 patties and press into the breadcrumbs, set aside.
5. In a skillet over medium heat, add the butter and oil. Once hot, add in the potato cakes and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. 
6. Serve with an optional dollop of sour cream and more scallions.

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WHAT IS THE BEST CHEESE TO USE?

These can be a main dish or the perfect side dish and are great with any of your favorite cheeses.

Just think of potato skins and the combination of flavors. Those are essentially what you are getting with these crispy mashed potato pancakes.

So we love to use a nice bold cheese and usually use Sharp Cheddar. It really stands out, and you can taste the cheese through all the other flavors.

Other cheeses that work nicely with these are Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, and other cheddar. Pepper Jack is good for a spicier twist.

Use what you like for this, but our preference is a Sharp Cheddar.

WHAT GOES WELL WITH LOADED MASHED POTATO CAKES?

So you’ve made these but want to know what goes great with them? There are a lot of things that go great with these, some of my favorites include:

1. BBQ Ribs
2. Porcupine Meatballs
3. Meatloaf
4. Steak

There are so many options; you really don’t need to overthink it.

Anything that you would serve regular mashed potatoes with would go great with these.

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ANY ADDITIONS?

Adding other simple ingredients can be a great way to make a dish your own. For best results, experiment!

• Fresh herbs like fresh parsley or fresh chives for a burst of flavor and color
• Mozzarella cheese or parmesan cheese for a different cheesy twist
• Garlic powder for a bit of garlic flavor without the hassle of fresh garlic
• Sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes for a sweet variation
• Large eggs mixed into the batter for added richness and to help bind the cakes together
• Green onions in addition to scallions for more onion flavor
• Cream cheese or crème fraîche for a creamy texture and tangy taste
• Avocado oil for frying, as a healthier option with a high smoke point
• Leftover turkey chopped and mixed into the mashed potato mixture for a post-Thanksgiving treat, I love using up those Thanksgiving leftovers!

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

All my favorite recipes are changeable. These easy mashed potato cakes are a great example.

• Olive oil instead of vegetable oil for a healthier frying option with great flavor
• Real mashed potatoes (leftover or freshly made) instead of instant for a more authentic taste
• Parchment paper on the baking sheet for an easy clean-up if you choose to bake them
• Air fryer method for cooking to reduce the amount of oil needed for a crispy exterior

REFRIGERATOR: These potato cakes recipe can be stored in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator, where they will keep for up to 3 days.

Reheat the next day with a little oil in a pan, the oven, or the air fryer, microwaving them will make them soggy.

FREEZER: Freeze for up to 3 months.

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Want a fun side dish or appetizer that is crispy, flavorful, and everyone loves? Then you have to make these Mashed Potato Cakes!

If you’ve tried these MASHED POTATO CAKES, let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!