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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch

    Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

    September 6, 2022 • Updated: September 6, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Plated mashed potato pancakes. Pin text overlay reads: Perfect for St Patrick's Day leftovers; Mashed potato pancakes with corned beef.

    These savory mashed potato pancakes are crispy outside and soft inside, and an excellent way to turn yesterday's leftovers into a tasty breakfast, brunch, or easy weeknight dinner. Flexible, adaptable recipe.

    Plated mashed potato pancakes with corned beef.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love this Recipe
    • What Goes into this Recipe
    • How to Make Potato Pancakes with Corned Beef
    • Serving Suggestions
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

    Why You Will Love this Recipe

    Mashed potato pancakes are quick and easy to make, and an excellent way to turn last night's leftovers into today's tasty breakfast or brunch. They also make an easy weeknight dinner, and kids eat them up!

    This recipe for leftover mashed potato pancakes is extremely flexible, and can be used to make countless pancake variations. The basic ingredients are leftover potatoes and meat, plus a few kitchen staples. For the meat, you can use any protein you want, or leave it out entirely.

    One of our favorite times of year to make mashed potato pancakes is the morning after our big St. Patrick's Day celebration. Corned beef potato pancakes with fried eggs and a slice of toasted soda bread is absolutely the best!

    What Goes into this Recipe

    In this post, we detail how to make corned beef potato pancakes, and the ingredient list and images reflect this. However, the basic recipe and process is the same no matter what protein you choose to add.

    Ingredients for making mashed poato pancakes, displayed and labeled on old baking tray.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    ★ Mashed potatoes: Use leftover mashed potatoes of any variety, including instant mashed potatoes.

    Keep in mind, the mashed potatoes provide the flavor base; so if you use cheesy potatoes, for example, you will have cheesy potato pancakes.

    ★ Corned beef: Use any leftover corned beef, diced ⅛-¼ inch.

    Substitutions: You can use ham, chicken, roast beef, hamburger, veggie crumbles, sausage, or anything else that sounds good to you.

    You can also leave out the meat entirely.

    ★ Onion: Use any type of onion. We prefer to use sweet onions for this recipe. Include the onion juice with the grated onions.

    Tip: Roasted garlic is also fabulous in potato pancakes.

    ★ Flour: You can use all-purpose flour; however, we recommend using Wondra.

    Wondra, or instant flour, is finely ground flour that has been pre-cooked and dried. This allows it to dissolve in batters more quickly than all-purpose flour, and alleviates lumps.

    ★ Pepper: We prefer to use white pepper for this dish for its subtler flavor; however, you can use whatever pepper you like. Paprika is also a good addition.

    How to Make Potato Pancakes with Corned Beef

    Prep Diced Meat

    Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the diced corned beef.

    Substitutions: If you use very lean meat in place of the corned beef, add a teaspoon or two of oil to the pan before adding the diced meat.

    Stirring frequently, fry it as you would chopped bacon; until the sides are brown and crispy.

    crockery mixing bowl with mashed potato mixture, with wooden spoon in bowl. Freid corned beef cubes in small bowl to side.

    Make Batter

    In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the egg and then stir in the mashed potatoes and grated onion.

    Sprinkle the flour over the top of the potato mixture, and stir to mix thoroughly.

    Add the fried corned beef to the mashed potato batter and mix to incorporate it evenly.

    People make mashed potatoes differently, and this can affect how the batter turns out. Potato pancake batter should be the consistency of thick, but pourable, pancake batter.

    • If the batter seems too thin: Add flour to the batter 1 tablespoon at a time, until the batter reaches the desire consistency.
    • If the batter seems too thick: Add water or milk to the batter 1 tablespoon at a time, until the batter reaches the desire consistency.
    crockery mixing bowl with mashed potato mixture with corned beef cubes mixed in.

    Fry Potato Pancakes

    Preheat griddle to 325°F | 162°C, or heat a heavy skillet over medium heat.

    When the griddle or skillet is hot, oil the surface as you would for pancakes and pour ¼ cup batter onto the hot surface. Brown on both sides.

    Four potato pancakes frying in a cast iron skillet. Three have been flipped, one has not.

    Serve potato pancakes warm, with sour cream or applesauce on the side.

    Serving Suggestions

    Use these mashed potato pancakes with meat as a side side for savory dishes, or as a main course for a light meal.

    Here's a short list of easy pairings for these savory fried potato patties:

    • Sour cream (a traditional pairing)
    • Applesauce (ditto)
    • Russian dressing
    • Eggs
    • Roast chicken
    • Hearty soup
    • Beef stew
    • Green salads
    • Vegetable salads
    • Sauerkraut or Rotkohl

    ☘️ Best Ever St Patrick's Day-after Breakfast: Corned beef potato pancakes, fried eggs, warm applesauce, and toasted soda bread.

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    Irish Boxty

    Boxty are Irish potato pancakes made from a combination of grated and mashed potatoes. Put a true Irish spin on corned beef potato pancakes by substituting grated potatoes for half of the mashed potatoes in this recipe. (Use 1 cup of mashed potatoes and one cup of grated potatoes. The grated potatoes must be squeezed and well-drained.)

    How do you keep potato pancakes from falling apart?

    Potato cakes usually fall apart because they are too wet, don't have enough flour, or a combination of the two. This most often happens because of variations in how and with what people make their mashed potatoes.

    Correct this imbalance by adding flour to the batter 1 tablespoon at a time, until you get a batter that will hold together when fried.

    Plated mashed potato pancakes garnished with piped sour cream and Russian dressing. .

    Corned beef potato pancakes are particularly delicious with a drizzle of Russian dressing.

    Related Recipes

    • Classic Rueben Sandwich
    • Brown Sugar & Mustard Glazed Corned Beef
    • St. Patrick's Layered Jello
    • Best Classic Shepherd's Pie

    For more recipes and cozy living tips, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

    Plated mashed potato pancakes with corned beef.
    5 from 6 votes

    Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

    Savory mashed potato pancakes are crispy outside and soft inside, and an excellent way to turn last night's leftovers into a tasty breakfast, brunch, or easy weeknight dinner. Flexible, adaptable recipe.
    Recipe details how to make corned beef potato pancakes.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Brunch, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time:15 minutes
    Total Time:15 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 155kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Electric Griddle or large, heavy skillet
    • 1 Spatula
    • 1 wire whisk
    • 1 Mixing Bowl

    Ingredients

    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 cups mashed potatoes
    • ¼ cup grated onion undrained
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • 4 ounces leftover corned beef or ham, chicken, turkey, ground beef, etc.; cubed ⅛-¼ inch

    Instructions

    Prep Diced Meat

    • Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the diced corned beef.
      Substitutions: If you use very lean meat in place of the corned beef, add a teaspoon or two of oil to the pan before adding the diced meat.
    • Stirring frequently, fry diced meat as you would chopped bacon; until the sides are brown and crispy.

    Make Batter

    • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the egg and then stir in the mashed potatoes and grated onion.
      Sprinkle the flour over the top of the potato mixture, and stir to mix thoroughly.
    • Add the fried corned beef to the mashed potato batter and mix to incorporate it evenly.
    • People make mashed potatoes differently, and this can affect how the batter turns out. Batter should be the consistency of thick, but pourable, pancake batter.
      If the batter seems too thin: Add flour to the batter 1 tablespoon at a time, until the batter reaches the desire consistency.
      If the batter seems too thick: Add water or milk to the batter 1 tablespoon at a time, until the batter reaches the desire consistency.

    Fry Potato Pancakes

    • Preheat griddle to 325°F | 162°C, or heat a heavy skillet over medium heat.
    • When the griddle or skillet is hot, oil the surface as you would for pancakes and pour ¼ cup batter onto the hot surface. Brown on both sides.
    • Serve potato pancakes with sour cream or applesauce on the side.

    Notes

    In this recipe, we detail how to make corned beef potato pancakes, and the ingredient list and images reflect this. However, the basic recipe and process is the same no matter what protein you choose to add.

    Corned beef potato pancakes are particularly delicious with a drizzle of Russian dressing.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2pancakes | Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 275mg | Potassium: 318mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Stephanie says

      September 23, 2022 at 7:28 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is much like the one my dad used to make when I was little. Before seeing this post, I haven't thought about how much I loved them too in years. Definitely making them this weekend!

      Reply
    2. Michelle says

      September 23, 2022 at 6:46 am

      5 stars
      Such a comforting and simple way to use up mashed potatoes

      Reply
    3. Tara says

      September 22, 2022 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      Made these pancakes for brunch with friends. The crispy outside and soft inside made it the perfect texture. Everyone really enjoyed it!

      Reply
    4. Tayler says

      September 22, 2022 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      This is my favorite way to use leftover mashed potatoes! And this recipe is the absolute best!

      Reply
    5. Andrea says

      September 22, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      I love how easy these mashed potato pancakes are to make and that you added corned beef to them. Yummy!

      Reply
    6. Emily says

      September 22, 2022 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      This was brilliant! I had never thought to make pancakes out of leftover mashed potatoes - the kids ate them right up. We all loved the crispy outside and soft inside!

      Reply

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