- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Prepare the potato mixture. This step is crucial! After grating the potatoes, I wrap them in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Then combine with flour in a large bowl until the mixture holds together when squeezed.
- Form the bombs. This is where the magic happens. Take about a tablespoon of the potato mixture and flatten it in your palm. Place a teaspoon of cheese in the center, then fold the potato mixture around it, sealing completely. Roll into a ball and set aside. Repeat until all ingredients are used.
- Coat each bomb. Dip each potato ball into beaten egg, then roll in panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, about an inch apart.
- Bake to golden perfection. Pop them in the oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. You want them golden brown and crispy all over.
- Make the garlic butter. While they’re baking, whisk together the melted butter, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. The aroma alone will make your mouth water!
- Drizzle and serve. Once the bombs are done, let them cool slightly (just enough so you don’t burn your mouth on the molten cheese!). Drizzle generously with the garlic butter and sprinkle with your choice of toppings.
- Enjoy while hot! Serve immediately while still warm and crispy. I like to set out small bowls of ranch, marinara, or sour cream for dipping.
My Personal Tips
After making these countless times, I’ve learned a few tricks:
- The drier, the better: Really squeeze those potatoes! Any excess moisture will make your bombs soggy instead of crispy.
- Don’t overfill with cheese: It’s tempting to stuff them with more cheese, but they’ll burst while baking if you do.
- Air fryer fanatics: These turn out amazingly in the air fryer! Cook at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through for the ultimate crispiness.
- Make ahead option: You can prepare the bombs up to the coating stage, refrigerate them, and bake just before serving.
These little flavor bombs have saved many of my gatherings when I needed something impressive with minimal effort. The look on people’s faces when they bite into that first crispy, cheese-filled bomb is absolutely priceless!
Trust me on the garlic butter – don’t skip it. It transforms these from delicious to absolutely unforgettable.
Happy cooking!