3 Taterrific Mashed Potato Recipes

Whether they're the main attraction or side dish, potatoes are a household staple that we just can't get enough of. Everyone has enjoyed a tasty side of mashed potatoes covered in gravy before, but we wanted to take this classic way of serving potatoes and make it even better. These 3 recipes all start with smooth, creamy mashed potatoes and turn them into something even more delicious! A mashed potato volcano oozing with homemade meat sauce, fried mashed potato cheese sticks, and mashed potato spiral fries – these recipes are going above and beyond to bring you the ultimate in potato dishes. What spudtacular ideas!

1. Mashed Potato Volcano

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

Ingredients:

For the mashed potatoes:

• 4 medium potatoes, peeled & boiled
• ⅓ cup milk, warm
• ¼ stick butter
• salt & pepper to taste

For the meat sauce:

• 8 oz ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 tomatoes, diced
• ⅓ cup tomato paste
• ⅔ cup tomato sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 pinch of sugar
• salt & pepper to taste
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese to garnish

Instructions:

For the mashed potatoes, mash the boiled potatoes with a potato masher, add the warm milk and butter, season with salt and pepper, and mix to combine. For the meat sauce, brown the ground beef in a saucepan over medium heat, stir in the onions, tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and seasonings, and let simmer for 25-30 minutes. Place a tall shot glass in the middle of a deep oven-proof plate, shape the mashed potatoes around the shot glass in the shape of a volcano, and remove the shot glass. Pour the meat sauce into the well of the mashed potato volcano and down the sides and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Transfer the plate to a preheated oven on the broiler setting and cook at 475°F for 10 minutes.

2. Mashed Potato Cheese Sticks

Yield: 14
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate

Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes, peeled & boiled
• ½ cup flour
• ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp potato starch
• 2 eggs
• salt & pepper to taste
• 14 cheddar cheese sticks
• flour + egg + bread crumbs for the breading

Instructions:

Mash the boiled potatoes with a potato masher, add the flour, parmesan, potato starch, and eggs, season with salt and pepper, and mix to combine. Spread half of the mashed potatoes evenly over a baking tray, flatten them, and arrange the 14 cheddar cheese sticks in 2 even rows on top. Line another baking tray of the same size with parchment paper, spread the other half of the mashed potatoes over it, and flatten them. Place this mashed potato sheet on top of the mashed potato sheet with the cheddar cheese sticks, remove the parchment paper, and cut the mashed potato rectangle into 14 equal sticks, with each one containing a cheddar cheese stick. Transfer the baking tray to the freezer and chill for 30 minutes. Dredge the chilled mashed potato cheese sticks in flour, egg, and bread crumbs and fry in hot cooking oil until golden brown.

3. Mashed Potato Spiral Fries

Yield: 9-12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate

Ingredients:

• 3 medium potatoes, peeled & boiled
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp potato starch
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp pepper
• 3 tbsp milk
• ketchup & mayonnaise to garnish

Instructions:

Mash the boiled potatoes with a potato masher, add the egg, potato starch, parmesan, pepper, and milk, mix to combine, and spoon the mashed potatoes into a piping bag. Heat some cooking oil in a pan to 350°F and pipe mashed potato spirals into the hot oil in the pan. Fry the mashed potato spirals on each side for about 2 minutes until golden brown and then let them drain on a cooling rack. Decorate with ketchup and mayonnaise before serving.

These 3 recipes all prove that mashed potatoes are always a good idea. Stuffed, fried, or used as the main course, mashed potatoes can truly do it all!