Potato Croquettes

These Potato Croquettes are loaded with bacon,  and stuffed with two kinds of cheese. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and sure to please anyone and everyone.

Potato Croquettes

So if you’re unfamiliar with potato croquettes, I’m about to completely rock your world. We’re talking mashed potatoes, bacon, stuffed with cheese, and then fried to a crispy golden brown. Yes we’re going there. I don’t often call my recipes sinful, but there’s no better word with which to describe this recipe. It is just delicious layered upon delicious. So get ready to dream of little potato croquettes dancing in your head.

What Are Croquettes?

Croquettes are a versatile little morsel. You can fill them with ground meat, potatoes, veggies, really anything your heart desires. The only rule is they must be coated in breadcrumbs and they must be fried. My version today features salty bacon and gooey cheese wrapped up in mashed potato and crispy on the outside. Let’s get frying!

Ingredients In Potato Croquettes

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Croquettes

• Potatoes – Cubed and peeled, we’re making these mashed potatoes fresh.
• Butter – Unsalted as we want to control the salt level of our dish.
• Milk – Feel free to substitute this for cream if you want extra decadent mashed potatoes.
• Egg – Beaten as the binder for our dish.
• Bacon – Chopped up and fried to incorporate into the balls.
• Cheese – Both provolone and cheddar to achieve those tasty cheese pulls.
• Flour – All purpose is needed to form the balls and ensure it binds well.
• Breadcrumbs – I used panko which is what I recommend for everyone at home although any kind will do in a pinch.
• Seasoning – Some salt and pepper to taste.
• Parsley – It wouldn’t be a Jo Cooks recipe without this herb sprinkled fresh over top!

Dip

• Sour cream – We want some creamy tang in our dip.
• Bacon – Again fried up and diced up fine, we want to carry the bacon flavor through every component of this dish.
• Paprika – Any kind will do but I always reach for smoked paprika when preparing this dip.
• Seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste.
• Parsley – Diced fine and added liberally.

How To Make Potato Croquettes

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Potatoes

• Prepare the mashed potatoes: Place the potatoes in a large pot and fill it with cold water. Add about 1 tsp of salt to the water and stir. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium and cook for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain the potatoes and add them to a large bowl. Add the butter, salt, pepper, milk, egg and mash using a potato masher. Alternatively, you could do all this using a mixer.
• Fry the bacon: While the potatoes boil fry up the bacon and set aside. If you’d like to make the accompanying dip fry up all the bacon.
• Prepare the fry batter: Stir the bacon and parsley into the potatoes. Afterwards prepare 3 shallow plates. Fill one with flour, another with panko, and the last with beaten eggs.

Croquettes

• Roll the croquettes: Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out enough mashed potatoes to roll it into a golf ball size portion. Flatten it in your hand and place a cheese cube in the center. Wrap the mashed potato around the cheese and you can either form it in a ball or a cylinder shape. Place on a plate or cutting board and repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Fry the croquettes: Roll the croquettes first into the flour, then dip them in the beaten egg and finally roll them through the breadcrumbs, making sure they are completely covered. Add vegetable oil to a pot so that it’s at least a couple inches deep and heat it over medium high heat. Fry these in batches and only fry about 4 or 5 at a time. Place them on a paper towel lined plate to cool till ready.

Dip

• Mix the dip: To make the dip, add all the dip ingredients into a small bowl and stir to combine. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips For Making The Best Potato Croquettes

• These can easily be baked on a cooking sheet at 400 F degrees for 15 minutes or till crispy.
• If you want to develop more flavor you can also season the eggs and flour with more salt and pepper. For a bit of a smokiness flavor you could add some smoked paprika to the flour.
• I made my cheese cubes small because I wanted to use both the cheddar cheese and provolone cheese in each croquette. Other cheese work perfectly well such as Monterey Jack or Gouda.
• Usually croquettes are shaped like a cylinder or oval shape, but I found it easier to just shape them into balls, feel free to be as traditional as you like.

Other Ingredients You Can Use In Croquettes

Feel free to have fun with this recipe! I’ve had croquettes before that even used salted cod, so the world really is your oyster here in terms of what tastes delicious in these little morsels. For gluten free, feel free to use gluten free flour and gluten free bread crumbs.

Storing Your Leftover Potato Croquettes

Stored in the fridge these bad boys will keep for 3 – 5 days. Just be sure to place these on a parchment lined baking sheet and reheat in the oven till warm. You can also freeze croquettes. Just be sure you fully thaw them before coating in the flour, egg, and bread crumb and frying. This recipe will keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Craving More Potato? Try These Recipes:

• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole
• Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
• Potato Zucchini Fritters
• Skillet Shepards Pie
• Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs
• Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
• Parmesan Garlic Roasted Potatoes
• Potatoes Au Gratin