Mashed potatoes are a universal comfort food—a creamy, buttery staple that finds its way onto dinner tables around the world. But what happens when you take those leftover mashed potatoes and give them new life? Enter the Air Fryer Mashed Potato Muffin—a genius way to transform humble leftovers into a crispy, golden, cheesy snack or side dish.
These little savory muffins are a delightful combination of textures and flavors. The air fryer gives them a crispy, golden crust on the outside, while the inside remains creamy and packed with flavor. Whether you’re using freshly made mashed potatoes or leftover ones from last night’s dinner, this recipe is the ultimate zero-waste kitchen hack.
It all started the day after Thanksgiving. Our fridge was overflowing with containers of leftovers: turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, and a massive bowl of mashed potatoes. My family loves mashed potatoes, but no one was in the mood for reheated blobs the next day. I stared at them, wondering how I could repurpose them into something exciting—something that didn’t feel like leftovers.
That’s when I remembered seeing a post about mashed potato “cakes” baked in muffin tins. But instead of firing up the oven, I decided to give my air fryer a go. I shaped the mixture into small muffin-like portions, added cheese, and air-fried them until they were crispy on the outside and soft inside.
The result? A dish so good that no one guessed they were made from leftovers. Now, I make extra mashed potatoes just to whip up a batch of these muffins.
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