Cheesy Mashed Potato Cakes

Potatoes are a favorite side dish but it's also an ingredient that can be pretty versatile. Take for example, mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes can be pretty plain unless you get adventurous and throw in some additional ingredients for more flavor and texture. To take it a step further, why not make potato cakes out of leftover mashed potatoes? These Cheesy Mashed Potato Cakes gives plain old mashed potatoes a whole new delicious style. Made with your favorite creamy mashed potatoes with some fresh green onions or chives mixed in and a little shredded cheese, this side dish will have you making mashed potatoes a whole different way...

Potatoes are another staple ingredient in my pantry, even more so since I've been gluten free. It works out pretty well since my son, Joel, loves {sweet} potatoes. Loves! He gets pretty excited when I have mashed potatoes ready for him so that's one dish that's always available in my kitchen. Although my son can eat mashed potatoes every single day, I need some textural change. These potato cakes allow me to enjoy mashed potatoes with a bit of crunchy and creamy bite. The key to these mashed potato cakes is having the mashed potatoes chilled. They will be able to hold up to cooking better so that they don't just disintegrate as it bakes. Experiment too! Don't be shy about incorporating different mashed potato flavors and mix-ins... and enjoy them in potato cake form!

Cheesy Mashed Potato Cakes
recipe adapted from Food Network

2 cups chilled mashed potatoes
1/4 cup chopped green onion or chives
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten free flour blend), for dredging
1/4 cup crushed potato chips, for dredging
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the chilled mashed potatoes, green onions/chives and cheddar cheese. Divide the mashed potatoes into 8 equal portions. Use your hands to form 1/2-inch thick patties.

Combine the flour and crushed potato chips with the salt and pepper in a shallow dish, such as a pie plate. Coat the potato patties in the flour and crushed potato chip mixture.

Place the potato cakes on a greased baking sheet and spray the tops with a cooking spray. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through. Season with additional salt and pepper and serve hot.