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    Home » Potato Pancakes

    Potato Pancakes

    Published: Nov 3, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These potato pancakes are delicious and easy to make with or without leftover mashed potatoes! It only takes 8 ingredients to make the best potato pancakes!

    6 Potato Pancakes on a plate with sour cream and chives

    One day, the craving for potato pancakes struck me and I couldn't shake it. So I scoured the internet to try to find a recipe for potato pancakes that didn't require leftover mashed potatoes, and had no luck!

    So created this potato pancake recipe and it's so delicious!

    I'll walk through through how to make potato pancakes from scratch without leftover mashed potatoes. Of course, you can use leftover mashed potatoes if you have them, but just in case you don't I have you covered.

    a stack of 3 Potato Pancakes garnished with sour cream and chives.

    Potato Pancakes: Ingredients & Substitutions

    • Yukon gold/russet potatoes. You can also use red potatoes, or even sweet potatoes, but Yukon & Russets are the best.
    • Eggs. there is no substitute for eggs in this recipe.
    • All-purpose flour. You can easily substitute 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour to make this potato pancake recipe gluten-free.
    • Garlic/onion powder. You can use minced garlic and finely diced onions in place of the powders, you will just need to sauté them together with a little bit of olive oil until the onions are soft, then add them to the riced potatoes.
    • Cheddar Cheese. Use your favorite cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, goat cheese, feta, Parmesan, etc.
    overhead view of the ingredients in this Potato Pancakes recipe

    How to make potato pancakes

    Prepare the potatoes

    If you're making this potato pancake recipe without leftover mashed potatoes, begin by cooking the potatoes. To do this, peel 1 lb. potatoes cut them into halves or quarters (depending on the size of the potatoes).

    Place them in a 3-quart pot and cover them with cold water by 2 inches, then add about ½ tsp sea salt to the water.

    Then, bring water to a boil, then boil for 15-25 minutes until fork tender.

    Strain the cooked potatoes in a colander to remove any excess water, let cool in the colander until they reach room temperature.

    Once the potatoes are cooled, rice them into a large mixing bowl using a potato ricer.

    two photos showing How to Make Potato Pancakes, peeling and boiling potatoes

    To use mashed potatoes:

    Substitute about 2 ½ cups of leftover mashed potatoes for the potatoes in the recipe. Then,  skip the steps under "prepare the potatoes" and proceed to "Making the Potato Pancake Mixture." 

    Make the potato pancake mixture

    In a large bowl add the eggs to the riced potatoes or to leftover mashed potatoes, and stir to combine.

    two photos showing How to Make Potato Pancakes, ricing the potatoes and adding egg.

    Then, add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper and stir until evenly distributed.

    NOTE. If using mashed potatoes that are already flavored well then omit salt and other seasonings.

    two photos showing How to Make Potato Pancakes - adding spices and dry ingredients

    Stir in cheddar cheese until it's evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

    two photos showing How to Make Potato Pancakes - adding cheese and then the final mixture

    Cook the potato pancakes

    Next, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted.

    Use a ¼ cup measuring cup to measure out portions of the potato pancake mixture and drop it onto the skillet. Flatten the mixture into a round circle about ½” thick. Repeat with remaining mixture.

    Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, or until the bottom is golden-brown.

    Then, flip and cook an additional 5 minutes until golden-brown.

    two photos showing How to Make Potato Pancakes frying in a skillet

    Serve

    Top with flaky sea salt and serve warm with sour cream, chives, etc. I suggest serving these as a great side along with this turkey cranberry sandwich, balsamic pot roast, or with a delicious kale salad or brussel sprout salad.

    Store/freeze

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    Reheat on the stovetop to restore the outer crispiness, or in the microwave.

    6 Potato Pancakes on a plate garnished with sour cream and chives

    Recipe FAQs

    How do you keep potato pancakes from falling apart?

    The egg and flour in this recipe help bind the potato pancakes and keep them from falling apart. Also, make sure they are fully cooked on one side before trying to flip them over.

    What ingredient keeps pancakes from falling apart?

    The eggs keep the mixture moist while the flour helps bind everything together.

    What's the difference between potato pancakes and latkes?

    Potato pancakes use cooked and mashed potato while latkes use grated raw potatoes. Also latkes use matzo meal while potato pancakes use flour.

    a stack of 3 Potato Pancakes, the top one has a bite taken out of it. Garnished with sour cream and chives.

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Potato Pancakes

    Potato Pancakes Recipe

    Laura
    These potato pancakes are delicious and easy to make with or without leftover mashed potatoes! It only takes 8 ingredients to make the best potato pancakes!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 pancakes
    Calories 97 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • large pot
    • potato ricer
    • 12" Deep Nonstick Fry Pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes (or Russet potatoes)
    • sea salt
    • water
    • 2 large eggs beaten
    • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ cup cheddar cheese
    • 2 tablespoons Butter for frying
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil for frying
    • Flaky sea salt for topping

    Instructions
     

    Prepare the potatoes*

    • Peel 1 lb. potatoes and cut them into halves or quarters (depending on the size of the potatoes).
    • Place them in a 3-quart pot and cover them with cold water by 2 inches, then add about ½ tsp sea salt to the water.
    • Bring water to a boil, then boil for 15-25 minutes until fork tender.
    • Strain potatoes in a colander to remove any excess water, let cool in the colander until they reach room temperature.
    • Once they are cooled, rice the potatoes into a large mixing bowl using a potato ricer.

    Make the potato pancake mixture

    • Add eggs either to the riced potatoes or to leftover mashed potatoes if that was what you’re using and stir until combined.
    • Add flour, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper and stir until evenly distributed.
    • Add cheddar cheese and stir to combine.

    Cook

    • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted.
    • Use a ¼ cup measuring cup to measure out portions of the potato pancake mixture and drop it onto the skillet. Flatten the mixture into a round circle about ½” thick. Repeat with remaining mixture.
    • Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, or until the bottom is golden-brown.
    • Flip and cook an additional 5 minutes until golden-brown.
    • Top with flaky sea salt and serve warm with sour cream, chives, etc..

    Video

    Notes

    *To use mashed potatoes:

    Substitute about 2 ½ cups of leftover mashed potatoes for the potatoes in the recipe. Then,  skip the steps under "prepare the potatoes" and proceed to "Making the Potato Pancake Mixture." 
    If your mashed potatoes are heavily seasoned or salted, you may need to cut back the salt/seasonings in the recipe.  

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Yukon gold/russet potatoes. You can also use red potatoes, or even sweet potatoes, but Yukon & Russets are the best.
    • Eggs. there is no substitute for eggs in this recipe.
    • All-purpose flour. You can easily substitute 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour to make this potato pancake recipe gluten-free.
    • Garlic/onion powder. You can use minced garlic and finely diced onions in place of the powders, you will just need to sauté them together with a little bit of olive oil until the onions are soft, then add them to the riced potatoes.
    • Cheddar Cheese. Use your favorite cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, goat cheese, feta, Parmesan, etc.

    Store/freeze

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    Reheat on the stovetop to restore the outer crispiness, or in the microwave.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 potato pancakeCalories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 5gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 209mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Photos in this post were taken by Jamie from Dishing Out Health.

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

    Click here to read more >>

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