Transform your holiday leftovers into an extraordinary culinary delight with these incredibly delicious Ham and Cheese Mashed Potato Cakes. Forget serving the same mashed potatoes for days; these savory patties are so good, you’ll find yourself making extra mashed potatoes just to whip up a batch. The classic combination of savory ham, rich melted cheese, and fresh chives perfectly complements the fluffy and creamy texture of the potatoes, creating a dish that’s both comforting and exciting. Prepare to impress your family and friends with this simple yet sophisticated leftover makeover!
Why These Mashed Potato Cakes Are a Must-Try
After a festive holiday feast, you often find yourself with an abundance of leftover mashed potatoes. While delicious on their own, there’s a limit to how many times you can enjoy them plain. This is where these incredible mashed potato cakes come in! They are undeniably the best way to revitalize leftover mashed potatoes, transforming them into a brand new dish that’s quick to prepare and requires minimal effort. Instead of reheating the same old side dish, you can create crispy, golden-brown patties bursting with flavor in under 30 minutes.
The Perfect Marriage of Ham, Cheese, and Chives
Beyond just potatoes, these savory cakes offer a fantastic opportunity to utilize leftover meat from your holiday dinner, particularly ham. My personal favorite pairing with mashed potatoes is undeniably ham, especially if it’s been a succulent glazed ham. The subtle sweetness from a glazed, baked ham wonderfully transfers into the potato cakes, adding a delightful depth of flavor that elevates the entire dish. This savory-sweet balance is truly something special.
To truly complete these delectable patties, a generous amount of shredded cheese is absolutely essential. Imagine gooey, perfectly melted sharp cheddar cheese mingling with the soft potatoes and savory ham – it’s a match made in culinary heaven. You have the flexibility to use pre-shredded cheese for convenience, or you can opt for a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Choosing a block of cheese typically offers a wider range of flavor profiles and better meltability, allowing you to customize the taste to your preference with varieties like sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even a smoky Gouda. The vibrant addition of fresh chives brings a mild oniony bite and a beautiful pop of color, making these potato cakes as visually appealing as they are delicious.
Crafting Your Perfect Mashed Potato Cakes: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Prepare the Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine your mashed potatoes, finely diced ham, shredded cheese, minced chives, eggs, and all-purpose flour. Season generously with salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until they are uniformly incorporated and well combined. This ensures every bite of your potato cake will be packed with flavor.
- Preheat Your Pan: Place a large, non-stick pan over medium heat. Allow it to heat up for a minute or two before adding a couple of tablespoons of avocado or olive oil. Ensuring the pan is properly preheated is key to achieving a crispy exterior without the cakes sticking.
- Portion and Shape: For consistent sizing, use an ice cream scoop to measure out equal amounts of the mashed potato mixture. Lightly grease your hands with a little oil – this will prevent the sticky potato mixture from clinging to your hands, making it much easier to form neat, uniform patties.
- Form the Patties: Take each scoop of mixture and gently press and shape it into a disc or patty, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Alternatively, you can drop the scoops directly into the preheated pan and gently flatten them with a spatula.
- Cook to Golden Perfection: Carefully place the formed mashed potato patties into the hot pan. Cook them for approximately 5-7 minutes on each side. Resist the urge to move or flip them too early! Allow them to develop a beautiful, golden-brown crust, which indicates a crispy exterior and a perfectly cooked interior. Repeat with remaining mixture, adding more oil if needed.
Expert Tips for Flawless Potato Cakes Every Time
- Seasoning is Key: The most crucial step is to taste, taste, taste! Since you’re starting with already seasoned mashed potatoes and ham, always sample the mashed potatoes first, and then the combined potato cake mixture before adding any extra salt or pepper. This prevents over-seasoning and ensures a balanced flavor profile.
- Adjust for Consistency: Mashed potatoes can vary significantly in density and moisture content. If your leftover mashed potatoes are particularly soft, thin, or very moist, you may need to incorporate an extra tablespoon or two of flour into the mixture. This will help bind the patties and prevent them from falling apart in the pan.
- Uniformity for Even Cooking: To ensure all your potato cakes cook evenly and look consistently appealing, always use an ice cream scoop to measure out the exact same amount of the potato mixture for each patty. This little trick makes a big difference.
- Invest in Non-Stick: I cannot stress enough the importance of using a good quality non-stick pan. This is essential to prevent the soft potato cakes from adhering to the cooking surface, which can easily lead to breakage. A non-stick pan will also significantly reduce the amount of oil required for cooking, making for a healthier and easier process.
- Don’t Skimp on Oil (If Needed): If you find your potato cakes are sticking to the pan, it’s a clear sign that you haven’t added enough oil. Don’t hesitate to add a couple of tablespoons more. The oil creates a barrier and helps develop that beautiful, crispy crust.
- Patience is a Virtue: Always preheat your pan thoroughly first, then add your oil, and only then introduce the potato cakes. Once they’re in the pan, resist the urge to move or flip them prematurely. Give them ample time to cook undisturbed on each side – this allows the crust to form properly and prevents sticking.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook your potato cakes in batches if necessary. Overcrowding the pan can lower the temperature, leading to steaming rather than frying, and resulting in soggy cakes instead of crispy ones.
- Embrace the Fresh Herbs: While chives are recommended, feel free to experiment with other fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or even a touch of thyme to complement the ham and cheese.
Dietary Modifications: Making Mashed Potato Cakes Inclusive
How To Make Mashed Potato Cakes Gluten-Free
- This recipe is incredibly simple to adapt for a gluten-free diet, requiring just one straightforward substitution. Simply swap the standard all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Most other ingredients in this recipe should already be naturally gluten-free, but it’s always a good practice to double-check the packaging of all your ingredients to ensure they meet your dietary requirements.
Crafting Lactose-Free Mashed Potato Cakes
- Making these potato cakes lactose-free is also quite manageable! When preparing your original mashed potatoes, opt for lactose-free milk and a suitable plant-based butter. For the cheese, focus on using aged cheddar. Aged, harder cheeses are often naturally very low in lactose or entirely lactose-free due to the cheesemaking process. As with any dietary modification, always verify the product labeling to confirm its lactose-free status.
Freezing and Reheating Instructions for Future Enjoyment
Maximizing Your Leftovers: How to Freeze and Reheat Potato Cakes
- To Freeze Mashed Potato Cakes: First, allow your freshly cooked potato cakes to cool completely to room temperature. This is crucial to prevent ice crystal formation. Line a baking sheet or cutting board with parchment paper and arrange the potato cakes in a single layer on top, ensuring they don’t touch. Freeze them for approximately 2 hours, or until they are solid. (Setting a timer can help ensure you don’t forget them!).
- Once the cakes are individually frozen, transfer them into a large, heavy-duty zip-lock freezer bag. Press out as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it tightly. Label the bag with the date and contents, and you can comfortably freeze them for up to 3 months.
- For added convenience, consider dividing them into several smaller freezer bags, each containing a single serving. This makes it effortless to grab and defrost just what you need, minimizing waste and maximizing ease.
- To Thaw Frozen Potato Cakes: The best method for thawing is a slow thaw. Simply move the freezer bag from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow the potato cakes to defrost overnight. This gentle thawing helps maintain their texture.
- For Quick Reheating: If you’re short on time, you can place the thawed potato cakes on a microwave-safe plate, cover them with a plate cover or damp paper towel, and reheat them in the microwave until warmed through. Be mindful that this method may not yield the crispiest exterior.
- For the Best Reheating Results (Crispy Exterior): To truly recreate that delicious, crispy exterior, reheating your potato cakes in a cooking pan is highly recommended. Place them in a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Because it’s a non-stick surface, generally no additional oil will be needed, allowing the exterior to crisp up beautifully while the interior warms through. Cook for a few minutes on each side until golden and heated through. An air fryer can also produce excellent results for reheating, delivering a wonderfully crispy texture.
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Ham and Cheese Mashed Potato Cakes Recipe
Mashed potato cakes are truly the best way to transform leftover mashed potatoes and ham into a delightful new meal. This easy recipe features savory cheddar cheese and fresh chives, and can be effortlessly prepared in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick dinner or impressive appetizer.
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil (for cooking)
- 3 cups mashed potatoes (leftovers work best)
- 3/4 cup finely diced ham
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup minced chives
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour* (see notes for gluten-free option)
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, diced ham, shredded cheddar cheese, minced chives, eggs, all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Preheat a large, non-stick pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of avocado or olive oil to the pan.
- To ensure uniform size, use an ice cream scoop to portion out the potato mixture. Lightly grease your hands with a little oil, then form each scoop into a patty, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
- Carefully place the potato patties into the preheated pan. Cook for approximately 5-7 minutes per side, or until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown and crispy crust. Cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Serve hot and enjoy your delicious homemade ham and cheese mashed potato cakes!
Notes
- *Gluten-Free Option: To make this recipe gluten-free, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Always check ingredient labels to ensure they are certified gluten-free.
- Lactose-Free Option: If you need a lactose-free version, use lactose-free milk and plant-based butter when making your mashed potatoes. For the cheese, choose aged cheddar, as harder, aged cheeses are naturally lower in lactose or lactose-free. Always confirm with product packaging.
- Mashed Potato Consistency: If your mashed potatoes are very soft or thin, you may need to add an extra tablespoon or two of flour to the mixture to help the patties hold their shape.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 306 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 32g |
Protein: 12g |
Fat: 13g |
Saturated Fat: 4g |
Cholesterol: 80mg |
Sodium: 347mg |
Potassium: 424mg |
Fiber: 2g |
Sugar: 1g |
Vitamin A: 295IU |
Vitamin C: 25.2mg |
Calcium: 118mg |
Iron: 1.4mg
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More Delicious Potato Recipes to Explore
- Homemade Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Crispy Potato Pancakes
- Decadent Sweet Potato Casserole
This delightful recipe was originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in April 2019 and has been updated for clarity and enhanced instructions.