Mashed potatoes can be used to thicken soups or in other recipes.
Mashed potatoes, whether homemade or from a box, are simple to make and serve as a complementary side to many main dishes. Mashed potato recipes often make such a large amount that you find yourself with leftover mashed potatoes. Rather than waste food and throw them away, you can use mashed potatoes as an ingredient in many other recipes and create a new meal with your leftovers.
Instructions
Leftover Mashed Potato Patties
1. Place your leftover mashed potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup bacon bits or crumbled cooked bacon for every four cups of leftover mashed potatoes. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.
2. Mix the mashed potatoes and other ingredients with a wooden spoon until the bacon bits are evenly dispersed throughout the potatoes.
3. Cooking oil makes the outside of your patties brown and crisp.
Heat 2 tablespoons cooking oil in your iron skillet over medium heat. Smear the oil around the bottom of the pan with your spatula.
4. Form your mashed potato mixture into patties similar in shape and size to hamburger patties. Place three or four patties in your skillet and brown on each side for three to four minutes. The patties should be golden brown in color and crisp on the outside.
5. Remove the cooked potato patties from the iron skillet and place on a plate covered with a layer of paper towels. Allow the paper towels to absorb excess oil while the patties cool for a minute. Flip the patties over and change to clean paper towels if you want the oil absorbed from both sides.
Leftover Mashed Potato Burger Casserole
6. Brown 1 lb. ground chicken or turkey and 1/2 cup onion in your cast iron skillet. Cook the meat until no longer pink to ensure it's fully cooked.
7. Mix your ingredients without scratching your pan by using a wooden spoon.
Add 2 cups cooked green beans, your can of tomato soup, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to the cooked ground meat and onions. Stir all the ingredients together until mixed well.
8. Scoop the ground meat mixture into an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
9. Grated cheese makes a tasty topping for your casserole.
Beat one egg in a mixing bowl, then stir in the leftover mashed potatoes. Spread the egg and potato mixture over the ground meat mixture in the baking pan. Top off your mashed potato burger casserole by sprinkling 1/2 cup grated American cheese over the potato layer.
10. Bake your leftover mashed potato burger casserole in an oven heated to 350 F, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Tags: mashed potatoes, leftover mashed potatoes, ground meat, iron skillet, leftover mashed, paper towels