1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or onion powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (adjust based on how seasoned your leftover potatoes are)
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Crispy Outer Breading
3/4 cup (45g) Panko breadcrumbs (provides superior crunch compared to standard breadcrumbs)
1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil spray (avocado oil or light olive oil; do not use propellant aerosol sprays that damage air fryer baskets)
Optional Serving Garnishes
1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
Hot pepper sauce or sweet apple compote
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Base Mixture
In a wide mixing bowl, add the 3 cups of chilled mashed potatoes. If the potatoes are straight from the fridge and clumped into a solid block, use a sturdy fork to gently break them apart without overworking them into glue.
