Crispy and Savory Potato Cheese Balls
Easy Air Fryer Potato Cheese Balls (Potato Croquettes) – Perfect Beer Snack!
Here’s a beloved snack that’s a must-have with chicken orders – cheese balls! Today, I’m sharing a recipe for delicious cheese balls made with a base of mashed potatoes. Honestly, a meal feels incomplete without cheese balls, and I absolutely love them. This recipe uses mashed potatoes and is incredibly simple, made easily in the air fryer. While deep-frying yields the ultimate flavor, cleaning up oil splatter and disposal can be a hassle. This version involves mashing potatoes, stuffing them generously with cheese, coating them in egg wash and breadcrumbs, and then air-frying them until perfectly crispy. They are ideal as a delightful snack for kids or a fantastic accompaniment to your favorite beer. Let’s get started making these tasty potato cheese balls!
Ingredients- 3 medium potatoes (about 300g)
- 3 mozzarella string cheese sticks
- 3 slices cheddar cheese
- 2 large eggs
- Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- A pinch of dried parsley
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces, roughly 2-3 cm. This ensures they cook evenly and quickly.
Step 2
Place the cut potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in the wrap with a fork to allow steam to escape. Microwave on high for about 7 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Microwaving potatoes is a wonderfully fast and simple way to cook them!
Step 3
Once the potatoes are cooked and hot, carefully mash them using a spoon or fork until smooth. Ensure there are no large lumps. Season the mashed potatoes with 1/2 tablespoon of salt, add 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese for a savory depth, and a pinch of dried parsley for a touch of herby aroma. Mix everything together thoroughly.
Step 4
Now, let’s prepare the cheese filling. Cut each of the 3 mozzarella string cheese sticks in half. Then, cut each of the 3 cheddar cheese slices into 4 equal pieces. Wrap a piece of cheddar cheese around each half of the mozzarella string cheese stick. This creates a delicious cheesy core.
Step 5
Take a portion of the mashed potato mixture and flatten it in the palm of your hand. Place the prepared cheese center in the middle and carefully enclose it with the potato mixture, forming it into a smooth ball. Make sure to seal the edges well so the cheese doesn’t leak out during cooking.
Step 6
Look at these cute, perfectly round potato cheese balls! They already look incredibly appealing, don’t they? Just the sight of them makes you want to take a bite.
Step 7
Next, we’ll coat the cheese balls for a crispy exterior. First, dip each potato cheese ball into the beaten egg wash, ensuring it’s fully coated. Then, generously roll the ball in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing lightly so the crumbs adhere well. Even coating is key for maximum crispiness.
Step 8
Before they go into the air fryer, there’s a crucial step! Lightly brush the outside of each breaded cheese ball with cooking oil. Air frying without oil can sometimes result in a drier texture, but a little oil ensures they turn out beautifully golden and moist inside.
Step 9
Everything is ready for the air fryer! Arrange the coated potato cheese balls in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Cook at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes. Remember to carefully open the air fryer halfway through (around 7-8 minutes) and flip the balls to ensure they cook evenly on all sides and achieve that perfect golden-brown crispiness.
