Mashed Potato Waffles

Savory mashed potato waffles: the brunch recipe you didn't know you needed! These crispy, fluffy, cheesy, savory waffles are vegan, gluten free and perfectly for loading up with your favorite toppings. Great for entertaining or a holiday brunch!

Just as the title suggest, these are literally waffles made out of mashed potatoes. Genius, right?!

They're crispy, cheesy, savory, comforting, and altogether addictive. Once you try them, you won't know how you made it this far in life without them!

Since first making mashed potato waffles a few months ago for this vegan "chicken" and waffles recipe, we've been totally hooked. They're so easy to make and they're such a fun, naturally gluten free alternative to regular waffles!

Plus, I don't know about you, but sometimes I get sick of sweet brunch/breakfast recipes. It's always nice to throw something savory into your rotation.

These savory mashed potato waffles are great for a crowd. Try them next time you have family or friends visiting, or for an upcoming holiday. (Mother's/Father's Day, anyone?)

You can either make a few specific toppings, or set out a bunch of options so everyone can customize their own waffles. You can even cross into sweet/savory territory with some maple syrup. Sounds weird, but don't knock it until you've tried the spicy syrup in this recipe!

How to make mashed potato waffles

The first step to these mashed potato waffles is to make (yep, you guessed it...) mashed potatoes!

Actually, they're not exactly like regular mashed potatoes. We don't add cream or quite as much butter, because you need a bit more texture to get them nice and crispy in the waffle iron.

To start, peel and boil some Yukon gold potatoes in salted water. Salting the water is an important step – it's the best way to perfectly season the potatoes. Boil until fork tender, then drain and put in a large bowl.

Mash well with vegan (or regular) butter, salt and pepper. Stir in vegan cheddar cheese (optional, but encouraged). If you're not vegan, regular cheese works, too! Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. You could also stir in a few tablespoon of chopped herbs (chives, parsley, dill, etc).

Spoon the potatoes into your pre-heated waffle maker and get them cooking! These savory mashed potato waffles take a bit longer to cook and get crispy than regular waffles. It took our waffle maker about 10 minutes for each batch.

Our waffle maker is pretty big, so if yours is on the small side, it may only take 6-8 minutes.

Once the waffles are cooked, it's important to transfer them to a baking rack to cool. A baking rack is ideal because it allows the steam to get out, so the waffle doesn't get soggy.

If you transfer them directly to a plate, they won't be quite as crispy when you serve them. Of course, if you're eating right away, cooling isn't necessary.

Tips for keeping your waffles intact

Unlike traditional flour-based waffles, these can be a bit tricky to remove from your waffle maker. This especially depends on the type/brand of waffle maker used. We can only give recommendations for our specific waffle maker, unfortunately, so you may have to try a few things on your own.

To keep the waffles intact, make sure not to check the waffles while they are cooking. If you check them before they're ready, they will be more likely to fall apart. They need time to crisp up before removing.

Second, if you're having trouble getting the waffle out, try using a knife or a wooden skewer to gently loosen the edges before attempting to remove the entire waffle. Use a wide spatula to lift them out once the edges are loosened and gently lay on a baking rack.

If you have any specific questions/concerns, please comment below or send me an email!

Toppings for savory waffles

Below are a few suggested options, but feel free to get as creative as you'd like! We're also including a few non-vegan options since our family (perhaps like yours) has multiple food preferences/dietary needs.

• Avocado: my favorite savory waffle topping! Nothing beats a perfectly ripe, sliced avocado. Guac would work too, especially paired with some Southwestern toppings like black beans, sour cream and cheese.
• Cheese: including but not limited to feta, cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, goat cheese or anything in between.
• Eggs: If you're not vegan, fried, poached or hard-boiled eggs are a great option.
• Bacon and or sausage: regular or vegan alternatives both work!
• Herbed yogurt sauce: Whisk together some plain yogurt, salt, pepper, fresh dill/parsley/mint and a squeeze of lemon juice. So good!

• Vegetables: broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pickled red onion, jalapeño, etc.
• Herbs: scallions, chives, parsley, cilantro, etc.
• Butter: is there anything better than mashed potatoes + a big pat of butter?
• Spicy maple syrup: for those that love a sweet/salty combo, heat up some maple syrup and add a dash or two of hot sauce. Don't knock it 'til you try it!

Now that you have a few ideas for toppings, here are a few of our favorite combinations for the perfect savory waffle:

• Avocado + fried egg (optional) + hot sauce
• Broccoli + feta + chives + tomatoes
• Herb yogurt sauce + cucumbers + scallions
• Guacamole + black beans + cheese + jalapeños + salsa
• Bacon (regular or vegan alternative) + cheese
• Sour cream + chives + pickled onion

More savory vegan breakfast recipes

• Southwest Potato and Black Bean Breakfast Skillet
• Vegan Carrot Lox
• Vegan Breakfast Casserole
• Spring Vegetable Frittata
• Spicy Breakfast Potato Tacos
• Scrambled Tofu Breakfast Burritos

If you make these savory mashed potato waffles, we’d love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations on Instagram – tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.

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