Uses for Leftover Mashed Potatoes

You hate to run out of potatoes for your family's dinner, so you make plenty - and end up with extra. What can you do with all those leftover potatoes sitting in your refrigerator? Plenty of things! Here are some ideas for using tonight's leftover mashed potatoes for tomorrow's dinner the next night.

Shepherd's Pie. To make a shepherd's pie, brown some ground beef in a skillet with a chopped onion. Drain the beef and mix in a can each of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, green beans and corn. Put the beef and vegetable mixture in a casserole dish. Spread your leftover mashed potatoes on top and sprinkle with some shredded cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until the cheese begins to bubble and the pie is heated through.

Gnocchi. Gnocchi is a type of pasta made out of potato dough. This dish shouldn't be made with mashed potatoes that have things added to them, like cheese. For every 2 pounds of mashed potatoes, knead in 1 egg and 1 cup of flour. Divide the dough into several smaller balls and roll each ball into a long strip. Then cut the strip into 1-inch pieces. Drop into salted, boiling water and cook for a few minutes after the gnocchi float to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain and serve with your favorite pasta sauce.

Potato Cakes. I generally make these with grated potatoes, but mashed potatoes will work also. Using your hands, form small "pancakes" out of balls of mashed potatoes. Fry in a griddle with a little bit of vegetable oil. Serve with ketchup as a side dish.

Twice-baked Potatoes. Stir some sour cream, chopped chives, crumbled bacon and salt and pepper into your leftover mashed potatoes. The amount depends on how many potatoes you have leftover. Spread in a casserole dish and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through. This makes a delicious side dish.

Mix Them Up. If you don't mind serving mashed potatoes again the next night but want a little change, why not add some mix-ins into your leftover mashed potatoes? Stir in a few handfuls of grated cheese to the heated mashed potatoes and allow to melt. Or, add ¼ cup of salsa for a nice kick. Another idea is to add ¼ cup of sour cream, a handful of chopped chives and a slice or two of crumbled bacon. Check out my article on Mashed Potatoes Mix Ins for more mix in ideas.