Nice 😄 Croquettes are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside—total comfort food. Here’s a classic, easy croquette recipe you can adapt to chicken, beef, ham, or potatoes.
Classic Croquettes
Ingredients (Makes about 12–15)
Filling
- 2 cups cooked meat (chicken, beef, ham) or mashed potatoes
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
Breading
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Make the mixture
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in milk until thick and smooth.
- Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in meat or mashed potatoes and parsley.
- Cook 2–3 minutes until thick enough to hold shape.
- Cool
- Transfer mixture to a bowl.
- Cover and chill at least 1 hour (important for shaping).
- Shape
- Form into logs, balls, or patties.
- Bread
- Dip each croquette into egg, then breadcrumbs.
- Fry
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry croquettes in batches until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Serve
- Serve hot with aioli, mustard, gravy, or ketchup.
Popular Variations
- Chicken croquettes: add a pinch of nutmeg.
- Potato croquettes: mix in cheese.
- Ham croquettes: add a little grated onion.
- Cheese croquettes: skip meat, double the cheese.
Tips
- If mixture feels too soft, add breadcrumbs before chilling.
- For extra crunch, double-dip in egg and breadcrumbs.
- Croquettes freeze well before frying.
If you want, I can give you a specific version (chicken, potato, tuna, or beef) or a baked/air-fryer croquette version instead of frying.