Use your waffle maker to make Potato Waffles. They taste very similar to potato pancakes or latkes but are thicker and have a crisp, golden crust that the waffle maker creates.
The waffle maker is an excellent tool to not only make delicious sweet waffles that are more of a dessert, like Belgian waffles, but can be used for delicious savory meals too, like these incredible Potato Waffles. I like appliances that have multiple uses, so using the waffle maker for more than one application is a big plus in my book. If it's going to take up space in my kitchen, it'd better do more than one thing:).
I've used the waffle maker to make both sweet and savory waffles, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches and "paninis" and when I used it to cook up crispy potato pancakes, I knew this would be one of my favorite alternative uses for the waffle maker.
Watch Video of How To Make Potato Waffles
Why Does the Waffle Maker Work So Well To Cook Potatoes?
For the best results, I found that it's best to use freshly grated potatoes. The starch from the potatoes helps to hold the potatoes together as they cook and they don't fall apart. The heat from both sides of the waffle maker cook the "waffles" quickly and get a nice crunch on both sides.
What Potatoes Can Be Used For Potato Waffles?
You can use any kind of potato for this recipe, my personal favorite are gold potatoes, but any potatoes will work. The gold potatoes have a medium amount of starch, which makes them perfect.
I have actually tried using the large holes on the box grater, the medium holes on the box grater as well as frozen hash browns and the medium holes produced the best results. The potatoes were small enough to cook through quickly. Using the large holes on the box grater didn't produce consistent results and sometimes the larger shreds of potatoes weren't cooked though all the way.
Using frozen hash browns worked too, and the potatoes were cooked all the way through, since they are usually partially cooked, but since they didn't have as much starch on them as the raw potatoes, they tended to fall apart more.
How To Cook Potato Waffles:
- Preheat the waffle iron. (This is the one the I use.*) On my waffle iron, I can choose different levels of crispness, so I usually choose the most crisp option.
- In a large bowl, grate most of the potatoes on the medium holes of a box grater. Grate a small portion of the potatoes on the smallest holes of the box grater. (Out of 6 potatoes, grate 1 potato or 2 small ones on the small holes.) The medium shreds of potato will help the waffles hold their shape, as the potato shreds intertwine and cook together. The potatoes shredded on the smalls holes will give the potato mixture a more "batter" consistency and fill in the tiny gaps in between the potato shreds.
- Grate the onion on the box grater as well. The onion is optional, but I highly recommend it. Not only does it add flavor to the waffles, but it also helps to keep the potatoes from oxidizing.
- Add the egg, flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, ground black pepper to the potato mixture. Mix to combine. Use a spoon to remove any excess liquid from the top of the potato mixture.
- Generously grease both sides of the waffle iron with oil, making sure to get oil in all the crevices.
- Fill the waffle iron with the potato mixture, spreading it out to fill most of the surface of the waffle iron. For my waffle maker, I used ¼ of the potato mixture for each waffle, making 4 waffles total.
- Cook until golden brown on both sides.
8. Serve the potato waffles hot, with butter, sour cream, green onions or chives.
Potato Waffles Variations
You can also add grated cheese, cubed ham, sausage, cooked bacon, green onions or other herbs to the potatoes for added flavor and texture.
Potato Waffles
The waffle maker is an excellent tool to not only make delicious sweet waffles that are more of a dessert, like Belgian waffles, but can be used for delicious savory meals too, like these incredible Potato Waffles. They taste very similar to potato pancakes or latkes but are thicker and have a crisp, golden crust that the waffle maker creates.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
2 ½ lbs potatoes (about 6 medium potatoes), grated on box grater
1 small onion, grated
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 egg, beaten
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
oil, to brush on the waffle iron
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron.
- Grate the potatoes and onion on a box grater, most of the potatoes on the medium holes of the box grater and ¼ of the potatoes on the small holes of the box grater.
- In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onion, 1 teaspoon salt, ground black pepper, egg, and flour until evenly mixed. Remove excess liquid from that settles at the top of the bowl with a large spoon.
- Spoon ¼ of the potato mixture into the preheated waffle iron, close and cook until golden and crisp on the outside, 5-8 minutes. You should have about 4 waffles total, if you use a Belgian waffle maker.
- Serve the potato waffles hot, with butter, sour cream and green onions.
Notes
You can also add grated cheese, cubed ham, sausage, cooked bacon, green onions or other herbs to the potatoes for added flavor and texture.
*affiliate link (NOT sponsored post)
This recipe was originally published on November 18, 2019. I have added a video to make it even more easy to follow. Enjoy!
Can you make these ahead and reheat them in a toaster or the oven?
I personally don't do it, but you can give it a try if you like, Sandra. I'd love to hear what you think.
I absolutely loved the potato waffles recipe! They turned out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I added some herbs from my garden, and it took them to the next level. Can't wait to make them again for brunch! Thanks, Olga!
That's great! I'm so glad you enjoyed these potato waffles. They are so fun to make.