Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
These Air Fryer mashed potato balls have crisp, golden outsides and soft centers flecked with crushed Doritos and parsley. They take 10–15 minutes in the air fryer once the potatoes are boiled, cooled and rolled.
Team them up with some peppercorn mayonnaise sauce or any other creamy dip of your choice!
The Dorito chips go right into the mash, giving each bite a little of their seasoning. Cornstarch helps the mixture hold its shape, and a light spray of oil helps the balls brown.
These are perfect to feature on a holiday snack board along with whipped goat cheese, Turkish cheese rolls and rosemary roasted cashews.
Quick Look: Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
- 🔪 Prep time: 15 minutes of prep, plus time to boil and cool the potatoes.
- ⏲️ Cook time: 10–15 minutes in the air fryer.
- 👪 Servings: 4 servings.
- 📋 Main ingredients: Potatoes, Doritos, cornstarch, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, oil, salt and pepper.
- ♨️ Cooking method: Boil → drain and cool → mash and season → roll → air fry.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy.
- 🥣 Serving ideas: Serve hot with sour cream dill pickle dip, salsa or your favorite dip.
Jump to:
- Quick Look: Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
- What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Recipe Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
- 💭 Top Tip
- Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- How to Serve Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
- Troubleshooting and FAQs
- More Easy Snack Recipes
- Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Crisp outside, soft inside: The air fryer browns the edges while the mashed potato center stays tender.
- Seasoning in every bite: Crushed Doritos and spices are mixed through the potatoes. You can also try using mixed herb seasoning for extra flavor.
- No breading station: Shape the seasoned mash, mist the balls with oil and they’re ready for the basket.
Recipe Ingredients
Potatoes: Peel and cube them evenly so they soften at the same rate. Drain well before mashing.
Doritos: Crush the chips into small crumbs so they mix evenly into the mash.
Cornstarch: Helps bind the potatoes so the balls hold their shape.
Seasonings: I used a mix of red pepper flakes, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. You can use peri peri seasoning too!
Parsley: Chop it finely so it’s spread throughout the mixture. Fresh parsley is best but you can also use dried parsley if that's what you have.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Change the chip flavor: Try a different Doritos flavor or use crushed tortilla chips and adjust the seasoning.
- Make them milder: Reduce or leave out the red pepper flakes.
- Use leftover mash: Cold, firm mashed potatoes can work. If yours are loose or very buttery, chill them and shape a test ball first. I had some leftover after making Aligot potatoes and I used them for this recipe!
How to Make Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Step 1: Cover the cubed potatoes with water and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat and cook until the cubes are fork tender.
Step 2: Drain thoroughly, transfer to a bowl and let the potatoes cool, then mash them.
Step 3: Add crushed Doritos, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
Step 4: Mix until the chips and seasonings are evenly distributed and the mash holds together when pressed.
Step 5: Lightly oil your hands and roll a small portion of the mixture into a ball.
Step 6: Repeat with the remaining mash, keeping the balls similar in size so they brown evenly.
Step 7: Arrange the balls in one layer in the basket and lightly spray with oil. If using an air fryer liner, place it in the basket with the food so it stays weighed down. Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 10–15 minutes, gently shaking the basket a couple of times once the outsides start to firm up.
💭 Top Tip
Drain the cooked potatoes thoroughly and let them cool before shaping. A wet or warm mash is softer and more likely to flatten in the basket.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Keep the crumbs small: Large Dorito pieces can stick out and break the surface as you roll.
- Check the first ball: If the mash sticks to your palms, lightly oil your hands. If it still won’t hold its shape, chill the mixture briefly or add some homemade breadcrumbs to absorb all the extra moisture.
- Leave space between the balls: Cook in batches if needed so the hot air can reach the sides. I did this when I made Air Fryer blooming onion too.
- Wait to shake: Give the balls time to firm up before moving them so they hold their shape.
How to Serve Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Serve them straight from the basket with roasted tomato salsa or garlic habanero hot sauce for dipping. For dinner, add them to a plate with baked honey soy chicken and a crunchy salad.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
The mash may be too wet or still warm. Drain the potatoes well, let them cool and mix the cornstarch evenly through the mash. If it still feels soft, chill it before rolling.
Yes. Shape them, cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook. Spray with oil just before air frying.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours and use within 3 days. Reheat in a single layer in the air fryer until hot throughout and crisp again.
More Easy Snack Recipes
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Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes peeled and cubed
- ½ cup Doritos
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the chopped potatoes to a pot of water and bring it up to a boil. Turn down the heat and cook until soft.
- Take off heat, drain and transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Allow them to cool down completely, then mash using a potato masher.
- Add crushed Doritos, garlic powder, onion powder, chopped parsley, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and cornstarch.
- Mix well until the spices are uniformly incorporated into the mixture.
- Grease your hands with a bit of oil. Portion and roll the mixture into small balls.
- Do this until all of the mixture is rolled.
- Transfer to a lined Air Fryer basket and spray some cooking oil over the balls. Air fry at 380°F for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket a couple of times during the cooking time to get the mashed potato balls golden brown on all sides.
Notes
- Use starchy potatoes like Russets for a fluffy texture, and drain them thoroughly after boiling to prevent the mixture from becoming too wet.
- Let the potatoes cool completely before mashing and shaping, as warm mashed potatoes may be too soft to hold their shape.
- Crush the Doritos into fine crumbs so they mix evenly into the potatoes without creating large pieces.
- If the mixture feels too soft or sticky, refrigerate it briefly before rolling into balls.
- Lightly grease your hands with oil to make shaping easier, and keep the balls similar in size for even cooking.
- Arrange the potato balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them for proper air circulation.
- Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 10–15 minutes, shaking gently once the outsides have firmed up.
- Swap the Doritos for another flavored tortilla chip, or reduce the red pepper flakes for a milder version.
- Serve immediately with your favorite creamy dipping sauce for the best crispy texture.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours and use within 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer until hot and crispy.