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Home » Appetizers

Potato Cheese Balls

Published: Apr 20, 2024 · Modified: Oct 8, 2024 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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Crispy potato balls with oozing melted cheese are the perfect party appetizer or snack. Freezer-friendly adult and kid recipe that will be gone in minutes.

Next time, try these easy chicken patties.

Potato balls on a odden board with one open showing oozing cheese.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
  • 📝 Ingredients
  • 🥄 Instructions
  • 💡 Amira's Tips
  • 🧺 Storage
  • ⌛ Make Ahead
  • 👩‍🍳 Variations
  • 🍽️ Serve With
  • 💬 FAQs
  • 📣 Related Recipes
  • More Potato Recipes
  • Potato Cheese Balls

❤️ Why You'll Love It

  • Made with pantry staples and simple ingredients.
  • Super versatile, you can stuff those with anything your family will love.
  • Potatoes are an ideal side dish for almost everything and just about everyone's favorite.
  • The perfect way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.

Delicious, crispy fried potato balls that taste like home, this recipe works every time even if I did not stuff them with anything.

📝 Ingredients

Ingredients for this recipe.

📋 Ingredient Notes

  • Potatoes, I like using russet potatoes.
  • Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes.
  • Garlic
  • Chives
  • Parsley
  • Spices like oregano and salt and pepper.
  • Flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.

A collage of 4 images showing how to make potato balls.
  • In a large pot add potatoes and pour enough cold water to cover. Boil potatoes and cook until potatoes are cooked but still firm.
  • Drain potatoes well, let them cool down then mash with a fork or a potato masher.
  • In a large bowl, add cold mashed potatoes, garlic, chives, parsley, and seasoning mix well.
  • Mix everything until well combined, taste to adjust seasoning.
A collage of three images showing how to shape potato balls.
  • Take about 2-3 tablespoons of the mashed potato mixture, make a dent in the middle and place a cheese cube in the center.
  • Close the ball on the cheese gently making sure the cheese stays in the middle of the ball and there are no cracks on the ball.
  • Prepare the breading station. Place flour, breadcrumbs and beaten eggs with a dash of salt and pepper each in a small bowl.
  • Roll the ball in the flour first, then coat with whisked egg, then roll in breadcrumbs.
  • Place mashed potato balls on a plate and continue forming another one until you are done with the whole mixture.
  • In a frying pan heat oil over medium-high heat, and pan fry until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to take them out on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

Air fryer instructions

  • Instead of deep frying you can make these in the air fryer as well. Spray potato balls with oil and air fry for 5-6 minutes on 400F turning them once in the middle of cooking time for even browning.

💡 Amira's Tips

For extra crispy potato balls:
In a wide bowl add equal amounts of flour and corn starch then slowly whisk in water until it forms a thick batter much like pancake or béchamel. Prepare another bowl with breadcrumbs.Roll the balls in breadcrumbs then cornstarch mixture then breadcrumbs again. You can also use panko bread crumbs. Fry as directed above.

  • Do not boil the potatoes for too long as they will become soggy which will make them disintegrate when fried.
  • If you happen to forget the potatoes and they became too mushy, add a couple of tablespoons of flour to the potato mixture to absorb the extra moisture.
  • It will take about 1 minute or less for the potato balls to get to golden brown so do not leave the pan and walk away.
  • Make sure the cheese is in the center or your potato ball, if the cheese is not covered well with potatoes they might leak and come out while frying.

🧺 Storage

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

⌛ Make Ahead

  • Follow directions and do not fry. Place potato balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until hard.
  • Store frozen balls in a freezer bag or container for up to one month.

👩‍🍳 Variations

  • Play a bit with the filling. You can stuff potatoes with any kind of cheese (we like mozzarella cheese), a mix of cheeses, cooked chicken, browned ground beef, or a mix of veggies.
  • You can use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, this will alter the taste of course and make the cheese balls sweeter.
  • Herbs are pretty much to your liking, you can use green onion instead of chives or omit the chives and just use parsley.
  • You might as well use finely diced bell pepper.
  • If you do not have oregano, use any of these Oregano Substitutes.
  • Add some bacon bits for loaded mashed potato balls.

🍽️ Serve With

  • These potato balls are great as a snack or a side dish that goes very well with any meat you have like this kofta kebab, shish kabob, chicken kofta or grilled shrimp.
  • Serve with any dipping sauce you like from tomato ketchup, hot sauce, ranch dip, to this Bang Bang Sauce.

💬 FAQs

Why are my potato balls falling apart?

Your mashed potato mix might have more moisture than needed, add a couple of tablespoons of flour to the mixture. Your oil might not be hot enough or your filling might be too much that it is causing the ball to crack.

Can potato balls be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze potato balls, fried or not. For fried, let them cool completely then freeze on a tray until firm then place in a freezer bag or container. Check the make ahead section of this post for the unfried.

Potato balls on a white serving plate.

📣 Related Recipes

  • Crispy air fryer sweet potato fries are easier made from frozen.
  • These are one of the most easiest phyllo cup appetizers you will ever make, a crowd pleaser for sure.
  • These easy beef empanadas are filled with flavorful ground beef mixture and wrapped in flaky pie crust. They're packed with flavor and surprisingly easy to make!
  • Tossed in bbq sauce and baked up sticky. Delicious and juicy baked bbq chicken wings with crisp skin and a sticky sweet sauce are a classic party snack.

More Potato Recipes

  • Mashed Potatoes Chicken Casserole is a family favorite delectable comfort food that will take your mashed potatoes to a whole new level. Great for a satisfying weeknight dinner or as a side dish for the holidays.
  • Potato shakshuka is an easy hearty dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
  • This chicken and mashed potato is great for dinner and can be made with leftover mashed potatoes as well.
  • Potato Croquettes are crispy, golden brown savory bites. Irresistibly delicious and perfect for any occasion! Serve as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a delightful side dish.
  • Smashed Potatoes with Parmesan are a delicious and easy mealtime favorite side dish. Tender potatoes are smashed and topped with a fragrant blend of olive oil, garlic powder, and grated Parmesan cheese.

If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! Thank you.

A potato ball placed on a wooden surface and cut in half to show oozing cheese.

Potato Cheese Balls

Crisp yet creamy melt in your mouth potato balls with a cheesy surprise in the center. Perfect as an appetizer, snack or a side dish. A great way to use leftover mashed potatoes.
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Armenian
Diet: Halal, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 18 balls
Calories: 78kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds russet potato peeled
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup chives chopped
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley 7g
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 18 Cheddar cheese cubes about ½ inch each

For the coating:

  • 2 eggs lightly beaten with a dash of salt and pepper
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • In a large pot pour enough cold water to cover the potatoes and season with salt.
  • Add potatoes and bring the pot to a boil, continue to cook until potatoes are cooked but still firm.
  • Drain potatoes well, let them cool down then mash with a fork or a potato masher.
  • In a big bowl, add mashed potatoes, garlic, chives, parsley, and seasoning mix well. Taste to adjust seasoning.
  • Prepare three bowls one with flour, the second one with breadcrumbs and beat eggs with a dash of salt and pepper in the third one.

Shaping the potato balls:

  • Take about 2-3 tablespoons of the mashed potato mixture, make a dent in the middle and place a cube of cheese in the center.
  • Close the ball on the cheese gently making sure the cheese stays in the middle of the ball and there are no cracks on the ball.
  • Roll the ball in the flour first then coat with eggs then roll in breadcrumbs.
  • Place ball on a plate and continue forming another one until you are done with the whole mixture.

Frying:

  • In a frying pan pour enough oil to cover the balls (about 2 ½ inch) and heat over medium high heat.
  • When oil is ready, 300-320F , drop the temperature to medium and carefully drop the balls into the hot oil do not cram the frying pan.
  • Fry until golden brown.

Notes

  • Do not boil the potatoes for too long as they will become soggy which will make them disintegrate when fried.
  • If you happen to forget the potatoes and they became too mushy, add a couple of tablespoons of flour to the potato mixture to absorb the extra moisture.
  • Herbs are pretty much to your liking, you can use green onions instead of chives or omit the chives and just use parsley.
  • You might as well use finely diced bell pepper.
  • If you do not have oregano use Italian seasoning or use any seasoning you like instead.
  • It will take about 1 minute or less for the potato balls to get to golden brown so do not leave the pan and walk away.
  • Make sure the cheese is in the center or your potato ball, if the cheese is not covered well with potatoes they might leak and come out while frying.
  • For an extra crispy potato balls with thicker coat:
    • In a wide bowl add equal amounts of flour and cornstarch then slowly whisk in water until it forms a thick batter much like pancake or béchamel.
    • Prepare another bowl with breadcrumbs.
    • Roll the balls in breadcrumbs then cornstarch mixture then breadcrumbs again.
    • Fry as directed above.
  • Storage:
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Make a head:
    • Follow directions and do not fry. Place potato balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until hard.
      Store frozen balls in a freezer bag or container for up to one month.
  • Variations:
    • Play a bit with the filling, you can stuff potatoes with a mix of cheese, cooked chicken, browned ground beef or a mix of veggies.
    • You can use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, this will alter the taste of course and make the cheese balls sweeter.
  • Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.

Nutrition

Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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Hey Y'all, I'm Amira.
I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by!
I send warm greetings from sunny Colorado. This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean.
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