Croquetas de Cocido Recipe: Spanish Leftover Stew Croquettes 2026

Homemade croquetas are the ultimate thrifty Spanish dish, the kind of thing almost nobody can resist. This version takes the leftover meats from a cocido or puchero — beef shank, pork rib, pancetta and chicken — and turns them into a silky, deeply savory filling.

The cooking broth from those meats is just as valuable as the meat itself. Rich in collagen, it gives the béchamel extra creaminess and a flavor you simply cannot get from milk alone.

The dough is forgiving and takes all sorts of additions, so a little cooked vegetable or a few chickpeas from the pot fit right in. Any leftovers from your stew work here, so nothing goes to waste.

Ingredients for Croquetas de Cocido

Makes about 30 croquetas, serving 6 as a starter.

• 300 g cooked meats from cocido or puchero
• 50 g butter
• 50 g wheat flour
• 300 ml cocido or puchero broth
• 300 ml whole milk
• Salt
• Nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 150 g breadcrumbs
• 500 ml olive oil

How to Make Croquetas de Cocido Step by Step

1. Chop the stew meats

Finely chop 300 g of the meats from your cocido or puchero and set them aside. Shredding them small helps the filling stay creamy and slice cleanly once chilled.

2. Melt the butter

Melt 50 g of butter in a wide pan over medium heat. Let it foam gently without browning, since this is the base for the béchamel.

3. Sauté the chopped meat

Add the chopped meat and sauté for a couple of minutes over medium heat. This warms it through and lets it pick up the buttery flavor before the flour goes in.

4. Add the flour and cook it out

Add 50 g of wheat flour, mix well and cook the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time. This cooks the raw flour taste away and builds the roux.

5. Pour in the broth gradually

Start adding 300 ml of cocido or puchero broth in batches, stirring well so the dough absorbs all the liquid evenly. Keep the heat moderate and keep stirring to avoid lumps.

6. Add the milk

Once the broth is fully integrated, continue adding 300 ml of whole milk in the same way. The dough will loosen, then thicken again as it cooks.

7. Season and finish cooking

Taste for salt and add nutmeg to taste. Cook the dough over low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring, until it is thick and pulls away from the pan.

8. Chill the dough overnight

Take the pan off the heat and transfer the dough to a container to cool. Cover it, and once it is lukewarm put it in the fridge, ideally until the next day.

9. Set up the egg and breadcrumbs

For breading, beat 2 eggs in a deep plate and put 150 g of breadcrumbs in another. Having both ready makes shaping and coating the croquetas quick and tidy.

10. Shape and bread the croquetas

Using two soup spoons, take portions of dough and shape them; you can also pipe them with a pastry bag or shape them by hand. Once formed, pass each one through beaten egg and breadcrumbs and set aside.

11. Heat the olive oil

Once all the croquetas are breaded, heat 500 ml of olive oil in a deep pan. It needs to be properly hot so the croquetas seal quickly and stay creamy inside.

12. Fry in batches

Fry them in batches of 5 or 6 so the oil does not cool down, turning them so they brown evenly. Drain them well and rest them on absorbent paper.

13. Serve them hot

When all the croquetas are fried, serve them hot. They are at their best freshly made, when the crust is crisp and the filling still molten.

Tips for the Best Croquetas de Cocido

Use the whole stew, not just the meat

The dough accepts all kinds of ingredients, so a little cooked vegetable and a few chickpeas from the pot work beautifully. Any leftover cocido or puchero meat will do, from beef shank and pork rib to pancetta, chicken, lacón, hen or chorizo.

Let the broth do the work

The cooking broth is rich in collagen, which adds creaminess to the dough and an extra layer of flavor. Add it in batches, stirring well, so the dough absorbs every drop evenly before the milk goes in.

Chill overnight and fry in small batches

Resting the dough in the fridge until the next day makes it firm and easy to shape. When frying, work in batches of 5 or 6 so the oil stays hot and the croquetas turn out crisp outside and creamy within.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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