21 Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day

A helping of Parm in the fritters adds richness, while the crème fraiche and smoked salmon take things totally over the top.

Serve them as a side dish or a light lunch, just don’t skip the fixings. You can choose any combination of mix-ins—sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella, anyone?

If you’re dealing with a hefty amount of leftover mashed potatoes, repurpose them into the topping for this traditional, hearty casserole. We added goat cheese, because why not?

They're like mozzarella sticks but better because, well, potatoes. Panko bread crumbs are the key to a light, crispy crust.

Think of these potato cakes like the cool cousin of loaded potato skins. We’re partial to bacon, but you can make them with another protein (like tuna or chicken) if you want.

This comforting dish would be a welcome addition to any holiday spread, but we like it enough to make it on any old weeknight too.

These golden, savory pancakes can be made gluten-free or paleo, if desired. Pair them with a dollop of sour cream or a poached egg if you’re fancy.

The white cheddar has two purposes: It makes the outside crisp and golden-brown, and the inside melty and gooey. (Oh, and it tastes amazing.)

They’re crispy yet creamy and practically melt in your mouth (aka everything we want in an appetizer).

Traditional gnocchi doesn’t contain heavy cream or butter, but when did either of those ingredients make anything worse?

All the creamy, saucy comfort food, with none of the meat.

Parmesan bread crumbs have a way of transforming anything they touch into something magical. (Psst: This can be made up to three days ahead.)

Pierogi ruskie contain a mix of mashed potatoes and cheese. The addition of broccoli isn’t traditional, but it sure is delicious.

They have turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes—like a mini feast in a single bite.

Um, is there anything a waffle maker can’t do? The creamy avocado sauce is vegan, but you wouldn’t know it by taste alone.

Ham on its own? Eh, it's OK. But mix it in with some mozz and buttery potatoes, and now you’re talking.

If you’re not a blue cheese fan, you could swap in another cheese (cheddar or Gruyère, perhaps?). Bonus points if you serve these with a runny fried egg on top.

It looks like your homemade onion rings have a bit of competition. The secret to keeping their shape in the hot oil is to freeze everything before you fry.

These pancakes have “breakfast for dinner” written all over them. You could even add sautéed greens into the mix (you know, for your health).

Behold, your next runaway appetizer hit. These crispy cuties are packed with peas, onion, garlic and ground beef, and served with a savory katsu sauce.

Make this dish a main course by serving it with tomato salsa, beans, rice and tortillas. We can hear those fritters sizzling now.