Skip to Content

Homemade Tater Tots {Leftover Recipe}

Like it? Share it with friends!

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

I’ll admit that sometimes I just can’t with leftovers. At least not more than a day or two. After a couple days I’m so over whatever that food is. Even if it was one of my favoritest foods ever in the whole world. I don’t want to eat it every single day for a week. {Dear Tacos and Cheese, I’m not talking to you. Promise. Love Always, Me.} So when we were stuck with three large containers of mashed potatoes after Thanksgiving we all got tired of eating leftovers pretty fast. Except Nicole. She can eat leftovers for weeks and not get sick of them. Weirdo.

I’ve had tater tots on the brain since the roomie and I watched a movie the other day where they served tots for dinner. And it doesn’t help that this tater tot nacho video thing keeps making the rounds on Facebook. And I have to watch it every. single. time. If you’re gonna be brave and make homemade tater tot you usually use grated potatoes but I’ve never really cared for that texture. Even in the store bought frozen variety.

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Enter gobs and gobs of leftover mashed potatoes. Or really just the rest of the leftover mashed potatoes. Now I’m just wondering when we’re going to make more. Not that we need more any time soon. Seriously, who makes 15 pounds of mashed potatoes for 5 people for Thanksgiving? Crazy people, that’s who.

They come together super quick and fry up even faster. I bet they’d taste great if you fried then froze them for your own frozen tater tots! Then you can just pull them out of the freezer whenever and pop them in the oven. Oooo and make those tater tot nachos! Yes, please!

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Mine are about 1 Tbs but feel free to make them a little smaller if they’re intended for little mouths and not grown ups having a throw back. I think next time I’m going to grate some cheddar cheese in there because everything tastes better with cheese. Oh, and do yourself a favor and make sure your potatoes are salted to your liking BEFORE you add the egg in there, ok? You’ll thank me later.

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

What’s your favorite way to use up leftovers?

Meaghan

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Homemade Tater Tots {Leftover Recipe}

Yield: 24 tots
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes

Homemade tater tots are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 Tbs flour
  • 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 2 Tbs parmesan cheese + more for serving
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Salt potatoes to taste and mix in egg and flour until completely incorporated.
  2. Mix bread crumbs and parmesan cheese in a separate bowl and scoop potato mixture by rounded tablespoon, coating thoroughly in bread crumbs.
  3. Shape into rounded rectangles and lay on a cookie sheet. Refrigerate while your oil heats, about 10 minutes.
  4. Heat oil in a medium sauce pan to 350 degrees. Drop 4-6 tots in hot oil, careful not to over crowed the pan, and fry for 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Allow to drain on a paper towel and sprinkle with coarse salt and parmesan cheese.

 

Faith Elaine

Friday 20th of January 2023

I guess you are using normal flower, I wonder if bread flower would make them puffy?

Meaghan

Friday 20th of January 2023

Flour is just a binding agent in this recipe so the tots don't fall apart when you fry them. Bread flour shouldn't make them puffy since the difference between bread flour and AP flour is the amount of protein which helps with proofing bread.

Melody

Monday 28th of November 2022

Sprinkle these with some shredded colby jack and bacon for loaded tots. Along with a side of ranch for dipping. They are the bomb!!

Hillary Reeves

Thursday 24th of December 2015

OK, when I was in Belgium I had croquettes just like this, but they used almond meal instead of flour. The flavor was incredible. I'm going to borrow your recipe and attempt to recreate!!

Meaghan

Sunday 27th of December 2015

Oh hey. I had no idea I was so close to being that fancy!

~Meaghan

Whitney @ That Square Plate

Wednesday 23rd of December 2015

This is BRILLIANT I tell you. I'm down with fried anything -- and next time I mash some potatoes -- I'll be sure to make extra! YUM.

Meaghan

Wednesday 23rd of December 2015

Amen to that! Fry all the things!

~Meaghan

Paige

Tuesday 22nd of December 2015

I so want a batch of these right now! I'm mixing up mashed potatoes this week...and I'm thinking of putting a little in the fridge just so I can make these :)

Meaghan

Wednesday 23rd of December 2015

I ate the last of our mashed potatoes today without realizing they were the last :( I was fully intending to make these with some cheese mixed in!

~Meaghan