Dinner

Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles Recipe

ByNoah Steele October 15, 2025October 15, 2025

Introduction

Leftover mashed potatoes get a delicious makeover with this easy waffle recipe. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, these savory waffles make a perfect breakfast or snack. Topped with tangy yogurt sauce and fresh garnishes, they’re a tasty way to use up leftovers.

A white round bowl on a white marbled texture holds seven small baked sweet potatoes, each split open to show bright orange soft flesh inside; they are topped with thin slices of pink radish, pale pink pickled onions, fresh green dill sprigs, and creamy white sauce drizzles. A dark grey cloth is placed under the bowl, and on the right side inside the bowl, there are two knives with black and silver handles resting. The colors are natural and fresh, with a simple arrangement that highlights the ingredients. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

8 small sweet potatoes or 4 large (washed and dried)
1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp sea salt
4 tbsp unsalted butter

4 tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream
½ lemon (juiced)

¼ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp sea salt or to taste
1 tbsp dried or fresh green onions (finely chopped if fresh)

Lena’s Kitchen Pickled Onions
Fresh radishes (thinly sliced)
Fresh herbs (finely chopped)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the creamy yogurt sauce by combining Greek yogurt or sour cream, lemon juice, smoked paprika, sea salt, and chopped green onions in a bowl. Mix well and set aside.
Step 2: Rub the washed and dried sweet potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place them in the air fryer with space between each potato.
Step 3: Cook the sweet potatoes in the air fryer at 400°F. Small potatoes take about 12-15 minutes; larger ones need 30-45 minutes. They are done when fork tender.

Step 4: Let the sweet potatoes rest for 5 minutes, then slice them open and add butter inside to melt.
Step 5: Top the baked sweet potatoes with the creamy yogurt sauce, thinly sliced radishes, pickled onions, and fresh herbs. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Tips & Variations

Try using regular Yukon gold or russet potatoes if you prefer a classic flavor.

Add crumbled bacon or shredded cheese to the topping for extra richness.
If you don’t have an air fryer, bake the potatoes in a conventional oven at 400°F for 45-60 minutes until tender.
For a dairy-free option, substitute coconut yogurt for the Greek yogurt or sour cream.

Storage

Store any leftover baked sweet potatoes separately from the toppings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven. The yogurt sauce is best added fresh before serving to maintain its freshness.

How to Serve

A white bowl holds several baked potato halves as the base layer, with brown and orange skin and soft orange inside. The potatoes are topped with thin, pink pickled onion strips and thin white radish slices that have purple edges. Fresh green dill sprigs are scattered on top for garnish. Inside the bowl, to the side, there is a small bowl filled with creamy beige sauce with specks and a silver spoon resting inside. Around the main bowl, there are small white and yellow dishes containing extra garnishes, including more pink pickled onions, fresh green dill, and thin radish slices, all set on a white marbled surface with a folded dark gray cloth nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these waffles ahead of time?

It’s best to make the waffles fresh for the crispiest texture. However, you can prepare the mashed potato base ahead and refrigerate it, then cook the waffles just before serving.