If you want to make something truly special with basic staple ingredients, then this Papas Rellenas recipe is calling your name! These delicious fried mashed potato balls are stuffed with savory ground beef and fried golden, making them fun to make and fun to eat!
Papas Rellenas Ingredients
Mashed potatoes - like my Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipes! ButterGround beefTomato sauceMinced garlicDried oreganoSaltSeasoned bread crumbs
The optional olives and chow mein noodles in the ingredients photo below are if you’re making my Halloween potato balls!
How to Make Potato Balls
Papas Rellenas de Carne
My family loves mashed potatoes and seasoned ground beef in recipes, so combining them into one delicious dish is a no-brainer! This classic recipe for potato balls with meat is my favorite so far. The great thing about this potato balls recipe is you don’t need any fancy equipment to make it! No deep-fryer necessary. I make this more wholesome alternative to typically fried papas rellenas con carne in the oven! It’s so easy and mess-free! This is also a perfect recipe for using up leftover taco meat or mashed potatoes. Give your leftovers a whole new spin and they’ll be the centerpiece of your next meal! Or, for a spooky twist, check out the amazing Halloween themed treat shown below.
Halloween-Themed Spider Potatoes
Everyone’s allowed to have a little extra fun when cooking, and what’s more fun than making a spooky Halloween dinner? I always get so excited to try out new creative ways to add a festive spin to supper, and this is an absolute favorite! After all, Halloween sweets are classics, but why be limited to deserts? How about whipping up some cute and creepy Spider Spuds- I just know your family will love them! They’re as easy as they are delicious, and just so cute! All you need is chow mein noodles to make their tiny little legs, and olive slices (or black sesame seeds!) for eyes. And it’s so quick to do! Just follow the recipe to form and bake the potato balls, then:
Mashed Potato Balls Recipe Tips
These potato balls are perfect for making ahead! Whip up a big batch and then freeze them before baking. They’ll last for up to 4 months in the freezer and just take an extra 15 minutes of baking time from frozen!Cooling your mashed potatoes to room temperature before using them to create the balls will make it SO much easier to work with! Gluten free? Never fear! Just swap out the breadcrumbs for a gluten-free alternative. All sorts of seasonings work for the beef in this recipe, so try out all sorts to make it perfect for your family! Or if you want to be extra adventurous, try a different ground meat entirely!
More Ground Beef Recipes
Puerto Rican EmpanadasGround Beef StroganoffTaco CasseroleGround Beef Enchiladas…Or other amazing ground beef recipes!
Mashed Potatoes Recipes
Riced PotatoesInstant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Potato balls are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes! Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love to hear from you!
📋 Recipe
