By

Jim Markus / Last Modified On May 14, 2024

If there's one recipe I recommend as a weekly treat, it's these gluten-free fried mashed potatoes. They're my favorite crispy side dish. They're popular with my family, and I like how versatile they are as a side dish. Here's how to make fried mashed potatoes. They're absolutely unforgettable.

When I say my gluten-free fried mashed potatoes are versatile, I mean it. The recipe I'm including below includes bacon, a popular addition to many recipes, but it's just as good with a vegetarian zip. Drop in some sauteed jalapenos, and these fried mashed potatoes transform into a spicy treat. And, like my hush puppies, they're a great way to show off a dip.

Pair them with a mayonnaise or hot sauce, and these fried mashed potatoes could win awards. This might be the midwesterner in me, but I'm also a fan of them with ranch dressing. 

Note: If you just want to get started, you can find everything you need at the bottom of this page. I've got ingredients and steps all in one place. Just scroll down or click my "jump to recipe" button at the top of this post.

Why I Love Fried Mashed Potatoes

Fried mashed potatoes are comfort food! Whether they're large patties like you'd see at a diner or smaller bites for growing kiddos, they're memorable for their crunch and perfect for dipping.

They're also easy to make. Boiling potatoes for a mash takes a half hour, and then it only takes a few minutes to mix everything together. Add a couple of minutes for frying, and I have a rack full of crispy mashed potatoes without much extra effort. Looking for more to serve along with your main dish? Check out the rest of my gluten-free sides.

Main Ingredients

To make my fried mashed potatoes, you'll always need these ingredients. 

• Potatoes (surprise!)
• Garlic
• Onion
• Gluten-free flour
• Scallions
• Salt
• Paprika
• Black pepper
• Egg
• Frying oil

Optional Ingredients

I like to get creative with the optional side of this recipe. This is where fried mashed potatoes really shine. My main go-to recipe calls for bacon, parmesan, and cheddar. But they're absolutely delicious (and smell phenomenal) with pancetta, and they're memorable with jalapeno.

• Bacon (Yes, it's gluten-free)
• Pancetta
• Ham
• Parmesan cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Jalapenos
• Fresh herbs (for garnish)

You can get creative here. I know I do! Remember to pay attention to your spices. If you're making this as a gluten-free recipe, don't buy bulk spices.

How to Make Fried Mashed Potatoes

To make fried mashed potatoes, start by boiling your main ingredient. It takes 20-40 minutes to boil potatoes. Plan for 20 minutes on smaller potatoes or 40 minutes on larger cubes of peeled potatoes. That's step one. Once you've got the basic mash ready, start sauteeing your ingredients. 

Then, after you've softened the onions and crisped the bacon, add gluten-free flour and any other optional ingredients to a bowl. This is where I craft the flavor of the patties. Next, mix the ingredients into a rich melange with the mashed potatoes.

When you're happy with the consistency, form them into balls.

Here's what that looks like. Once everything is mixed together, I use an ice cream scoop to create my patties. This helps me maintain a consistent serving size, so the whole recipe makes enough to feed the family as a side dish.

Roll these into patties and you're ready for the fun part. This is where they get their crispness. I fry my mashed potato patties for about two minutes per side. The most important part is the color.

You'll recognize the golden brown as soon as they're ready. Once you see that color on both sides, move them immediately to your cooling rack.

They'll crisp on the wire rack, and that's an important step. If you try to cool them on a plate or flat surface (like a cutting board), the bottoms wouldn't cool properly and could turn out floppy. The crunch is the best part!

Instead, use the wire rack. Then, once the fried mashed potatoes cool to room temperature (or just above that), pop them onto a plate and serve with a dipping sauce. 

Tips for Making Gluten-Free Fried Mashed Potatoes

Here are the most common questions I hear about my fried mashed potatoes. If I missed anything, or if you have anything else you'd like to know, please ask me in the comments. I try to respond to every comment within a day or two.

How do you store leftover mashed potato cakes?

While all potatoes are best immediately after cooking, you can store these in the freezer. Once you thaw your mashed potato cakes, you'll want to lightly fry them again. Just like the first time, this will ensure they turn out crispy.

When I'm planning to serve these in a few days, I avoid leftovers. Instead, I make the mashed potatoes and add the mixed ingredients. You can store that mixture for a few days in the refrigerator, then take it out and fry it prior to serving.

Can I fry the mashed potato balls instead of patties?

Yes, you can fry mashed potato balls. Instead of forming them into patties, you'll form them into balls first. You can fry these in a skillet like you would with patties, but you'll have to pay more attention to make sure they crisp on all sides. When I make fried mashed potato balls, I use a fryer with a basket instead.

What substitutions can I use in this fried mashed potato recipe?

While I've mentioned you can swap out the bacon to make these vegetarian-friendly, you can also swap out the egg and cheese to make them vegan. If you choose to make the vegan version of my fried mashed potatoes, drop the flour from the recipe too. The egg helps hold the flour together, and you won't need that if you remove the flour. You may substitute a few tablespoons of vegetable oil and add some vegan cheese.

Some people ask if they can use panko breadcrumbs to make fried mashed potatoes. That's not something I use. My gluten-free flour blend and egg makes a better crunch.

Can I use leftover mashed potatoes?

Yes! Fried mashed potatoes are perfect for leftover mashed potatoes. Adding egg and cheese revitalizes the dish, and I'm always delighted to transform leftovers into something delicious. 

Continue to Content

Yield: 12 Pieces

Gluten-Free Fried Mashed Potatoes

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Here's my recipe for crispy fried mashed potatoes. As always, it's gluten-free. My version includes optional bacon, which you can omit to make a vegetarian version.

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup chopped bacon (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ½ onion, peeled and minced
• 1 ½ cups mashed potatoes (from fresh, ideally)
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup gluten-free flour
• 1 tbsp scallions, sliced
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp black pepper powder
• 1 egg at room temperature, beaten
• ¼ cup vegetable oil for frying
• (For serving) Hot sauce and mayonnaise
• (For serving) Fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Start by making mashed potatoes (boil potatoes for 20-30 minutes until soft, then mash)
2. (Optional) In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until browned and crispy.
3. (Optional) Remove the bacon from the skillet, take 1 tablespoon of the oil then drain cooked bacon on a pepper towel. Then turn the heat to medium.
4. Saute your garlic and onion until they're soft and fragrant. Then, remove them from the heat.
5. Mix the mashed potatoes, sauteed garlic and onion well in a large bowl.
6. Add parmesan and cheddar cheese, a gluten-free flour blend, cooked bacon, scallions, salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper powder and mix to combine
7. Add the egg and mix until moistened and fairly uniform in texture.
8. Scoop the potato mixture with an ice-cream scoop or large spoon. Roll each portion into a ball between your palms and pat back and forth until you've created the shape of a patty.
9. Heat the skillet over medium to low heat, adding 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil. 
10. Fry the potato patties for about 2 minutes or until golden brown on the underside. Flip them gently.
11. Take the fried mashed potatoes off the heat and let them cool on a wire cooling rack. 
12. Serve with hot sauces and herbs.

Notes

To make vegetarian fried mashed potatoes, omit the bacon. For extra heat, add sauteed jalapeno (diced) with the other ingredients.

Recommended Products

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  OXO Classic Ice Cream Scoop
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  Checkered Chef Cooling Racks
• 
  Pyrex 3-Piece Prepware Mixing Bowl Set

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 394Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 969mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 12g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands used at the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.