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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Jan 2, 2025 |

    Leftover Mashed Potatoes Tater Tots

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    Leftover Mashed Potato Tater Tots

    Use up leftover mashed potatoes or colcannon and make a batch of these delicious little tater tots. Perfect for little fingers and using up leftovers.

    Colcannon Irish Tater Tots

    If you were around the other day, you would have noticed my recipe for Colcannon (aka Irish Potatoes). Well, I don’t know how it could be possible, but if perchance you had some leftovers, I am going to share with you my favorite way to use up leftover colcannon or leftover mashed potatoes: tater tots.

    How Easy Is It To Make Homemade Tater Tots?

    The best bit? They freeze really well, and it’s the perfect snack for little fingers.

    This is really easy. Simply:

    • take a loaded teaspoon full of mashed potato;
    • roll it into a little ball;
    • bak;
    • and voila you have your own homemade tater tots.

    Couldn’t be easier.

    Using Colcannon, instead of traditional plain ol' mashed potatoes is a great way to get some extra veggies into little bellies without too much haranguing. Kids tend to love anything that looks like tater tots (at least all the kids I know do), and will happily overlook the green bits hidden within. And I mean, look how delicious those potatoes look:

    Colcannon Irish Potatoes

    Paired with some dipping sauce, these are sure to go down a treat.

    Colcannon Irish Tater Tots

    What If I Have Leftover Tots?

    If you have leftover tater tots too (clearly you have no food monsters living in your house), just roll the balls, pop them onto a baking sheet making sure they don't touch, and then pop them into the freezer until frozen.  Once frozen then transfer to a large Ziploc bag until needed. When you are ready, pull them out and continue from step four, adding about 5-10 minutes to the baking time.

    Otherwise try making this tater tot casserole.

    I can bet there won't be any leftovers though - mine didn't even make it off the baking sheet before my husband had eaten the entire batch.

    Want to change things up a bit? Use some of these wasabi mashed potatoes as a base to give your tater tots a little bit of a kick.

    Colcannon Irish Tater Tots

    More Tater Tots and Bites?

    If you need more tater tot and little bites inspiration, then check these out:

    • Veggie Loaded Tater Tots
    • Ricotta and Cauliflower Tater Tots
    • Baked Zucchini, Feta, and Quinoa Bites
    • 5 Ingredient Cheddar and Riced Broccoli Fritters

    Hope you enjoy. Let me know if the little ones love these leftover mashed potato tater tots. Happy Eating 🙂

    Recipe

    christmas potatoes: Colcannon Irish Potato Tots

    Leftover Mashed Potato Tater Tots

    Whole Food Bellies
    Use of leftover colcannon to make these little tater tots loaded with cabbage, leeks and spring onions. The perfect way to get some extra greens into little bellies.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipes!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Irish American
    Servings 8 serves
    Calories 37 kcal

    Clicking any equipment link above will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups Leftover mashed potato refrigerated (see notes for recipe)
    • 3 tablespoon tomato ketchup for serving (or store bought)
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    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 425
    • Take a heaped teaspoon of leftover mashed potato and roll into a ball shape
    • Pop onto a baking sheet line with parchment paper, and continue until you have as many tots as you want
    • Pop into the oven and bake for 20 mins. Use tongs to flip tots (you may need to give the a bit of a squeeze to re-shape them at this point), pop back into the oven for another 20 mins
    • Serve hot with some homemade tomato ketchup

    Notes

    Colcannon Recipe here.
    To freeze: roll the potatoes into balls and pop onto a baking sheet. Pop into the freezer until firm, and then transfer to a large Ziploc bag. When you want to use them just follow the instructions and bake from frozen, adding 5-10 minutes to the cooking time

    Nutrition

    Calories: 37kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gSodium: 63mgPotassium: 236mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 6.3mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!
    « Dinner Ideas With Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Crystal Harris says

      May 17, 2021 at 12:51 am

      Super easy! Love this. I used a cookie scoop. What a great use of leftover potatoes!

      Reply
      • Donna says

        May 17, 2021 at 9:32 am

        Love the idea of using a cookie scoop!

        Reply
    2. Mel McHelle says

      March 16, 2017 at 7:15 pm

      I think this is a GENIUS idea! I am wondering if, instead of the tots form, could I do the same thing but make potato patties/pancakes instead? And freeze those?

      Reply
    3. Bethany @ athletic avocado says

      March 02, 2016 at 3:04 pm

      WOW these tater tots >>>>>>>>> regular tater tots! What a super creative way to make my favorite finger food!

      Reply
    4. Lisa at celebrate creativity says

      March 01, 2016 at 7:55 am

      Hi Donna, what a fun take on "tater tots". Great idea and your pictures are just delightful. Beautiful food styling.

      My pleasure to browse around.

      Happy day!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        March 01, 2016 at 9:50 am

        Oh thank you so much for your lovely words Lisa 🙂

        Reply
    5. Bam's Kitchen says

      March 01, 2016 at 6:55 am

      These are the cutest little tator tons! My boys are going to love these. It is difficult to find tator tots in HK so looking forward to making yours instead.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        March 01, 2016 at 9:51 am

        That makes to happy 🙂 I hope they love them as much as my little ones do!

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

    Forget about hunting down weird ingredients and making trips to specialty shops.

    We are going to make the most of what is available at the store and farmer's markets all whilst enjoying some delicious meals the whole family (hopefully...if you have fussy eaters I guarantee nothing) will enjoy.

    Pop on that apron and let's get creative in the kitchen!

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