13 Clever Uses for Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Hot Beef Sundae in red and white ice cream bowls
Photo: bd.weld

Next time you're mashing a big batch of potatoes, consider doubling the recipe. You can use the leftovers to make some scrumptious (and surprising) dishes. Think potato pancakes, pierogi, quesadillas, and more. Just use a recipe that contains plenty of fat (like our Day Before Mashed Potatoes) to keep leftover mashed potatoes extra creamy.

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Potato Soup

Potato Soup
LApagmom2

Thin those mashed potatoes with broth and milk and you've got potato soup. Set out a fixings bar of chives, shredded cheese, bacon, and sour cream, and let your family customize their bowls.

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Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie VI on a white plate
JustBeachy07

Serve veggies, meat, and leftover mashed potatoes in a one-dish meal. Don't eat meat? Here's a comforting plant-based version.

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Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes

Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes with bacon and fried egg
debbiq

You can't go wrong with a combo like bacon, mashed potatoes, and cheese. Mix them together and drop them into a hot frying pan, then serve these golden patties as a side with grilled meats or as a meal on their own.

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Mashed Potato Quesadilla

Mashed Potato Quesadilla on a red plate with lettuce garnish
Melissa Goff

Leftover mashed potatoes take on a Tex-Mex twist when sandwiched between flour tortillas. Top them with salsa, sour cream, and cheese for a super speedy dinner.

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Tender Potato Biscuits

Tender Potato Biscuits on a napkin
SNOHFLAKE

Fluffy, leftover mashed potatoes add moisture to these delicate potato biscuits. Use a gentle hand when mixing so the biscuits aren't tough.

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Potato Waffles

Potato Waffles on a blue plate
LambsEarie

These savory waffles are a fun use for leftover mashed potatoes. Top them with sour cream and serve alongside grilled fish or chicken.

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Pierogi (Polish Dumplings)

Pierogi on a white plate
Rachmarie

These beloved Polish dumplings traditionally feature potato filling. You can make the filling the night before you stuff the pierogis.

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Norwegian Potato Lefsa

Several pieces of rolled lefse on a plate
AmyKerk / Getty Images

Employ leftover mashed potatoes in this Norwegian flatbread, which you can serve with butter and cinnamon sugar or — for the hard core — lutefisk (aka dried whitefish).

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Cheesy Leftover Ham and Mashed Potato Casserole

Cheesy Leftover Ham and Mashed Potato Casserole in a glass pie dish
bd.weld

Turn leftovers (especially holiday leftovers!) into pure comfort food. Recipe creator bd.weld suggests substituting ingredients based on what you have on hand. In other words, follow the recipe and use your turkey leftovers instead of ham.

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Potato Rolls

Potato Rolls on a baking rack
magicallydelicious

We're not saying mashed potatoes are more comforting than bread. But baking rolls from mashed potatoes does make them even more comforting!

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Hot Beef Sundae

Hot Beef Sundae in red and white ice cream bowls
bd.weld

Serve these savory, state fair-inspired "sundaes" at birthday parties or whenever you're having to persuade your picky eaters to finish their dinners.

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Meatloaf Cupcakes

Meatloaf Cupcakes with pink and cream mashed potato toppings
bernie

Here's another kid-friendly version of a favorite sweet-turned-meaty. Bake meatloaf in muffin pans and pipe mashed potato "frosting" on top. "I put the mashed potatoes in a pastry bag and used the largest tip I had," says reviewer George.

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Chantilly Potatoes

Chantilly Potatoes in a yellow casserole dish
Kim's Cooking Now

Using leftover mashed potatoes in another potato dish makes a whole lot of sense to us too. "I made these exactly as directed using Swiss Gruyère cheese," reviewer Kim's Cooking Now says. "Elegant and sophisticated. I'd gladly serve these at a fancy dinner party. Easy to make too. Loved them!"

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