Use up leftover mashed potato and vegetables by turning them into Bubble & Squeak Fritters. Perfect for kids & adults alike!

Hello! Has Santa been?!! I hope everyone has had a very enjoyable Christmas Day.
If you’re like me then you have probably woken up this morning regretting the mountain of food that you consumed over the past couple of days.
I attempted a run this morning to blow the cobwebs away but could literally feel every piece of turkey, cheese, christmas cake and chocolate that I’ve eaten weighing me down!
Leftovers!
And talking about mountains of food, who else is left with a ridiculous amount of leftovers?
I must have thought we were catering for 20 yesterday and I now have plates and bowls full of turkey, ham, potatoes and vegetables in the fridge.
Reheated leftovers can be a little dull. But I have two recipes to share today that will help you to create delicious new meals out of unappealing leftovers.

Bubble & Squeak
Bubble & Squeak is a British favourite. Traditional bubble when I was a kid was always something that we had on a Monday after our Sunday roast dinner.
A way for my mum to use up any leftover mashed potatoes and veggies and was served with the cold leftover roast meat.
Now I have a family of my own, I tend to make slightly different types of meals with our roast leftovers like this Leftover Roast Chicken Risotto.

However when it comes to Christmas Dinner leftovers, you really can’t beat some Boxing Day Bubble and Squeak!
My Bubble & Squeak Recipe
Traditionally bubble and squeak is made by throwing it all in a pan or large skillet together.
But I thought I could make it a bit more appealing by frying it into individual fritters or and serving them in a big stack.
This will hopefully make those veggies a bit more exciting for the kids too!
What Can I Put In Bubble & Squeak Fritters
For the Vegetables, I used:
- mashed potatoes
- carrots
- parsnips
- courgette
The grated courgette is a twist on the classic Bubble & Squeak but it adds a nice bit of texture and freshness to the fritters but feel free to leave it out if you’re not a fan!
Recipe Substitutions
Vegetables
You really can use whatever leftover cooked vegetables you have.
In the past I have used
- shredded cabbage
- brussel sprouts
- broccoli
- sweet potatoes
Flavourings & Seasoning
You can also liven up the flavour of these fritters depending on who you are feeding.
This recipe is perfect for kids but if you are feeding adults you could add chilli sauce or chilli flakes or maybe a spoonful of horseradish.
It’s really up to you!
Gluten & Dairy Substitutions
If you have food intolerances in your family, then you can of course make the following swaps:
- Swap the all purpose flour for gluten free flour
- Swap the half cup of cheddar cheese for a dairy free alternative
- Swap the oil or butter for cooking out for coconut oil

What Can I serve With These Bubble & Squeak Cakes?
What I really love about these fritters is that you could serve them at any time of day.
Breakfast
If I was serving them for breakfast, then a fried egg or poached egg on top and a side a crispy bacon would work perfectly! Or you could try it with some breakfast sausage on the side.
Lunch Or Brunch
For lunch or brunch, top with creme fraiche like I have in this recipe, or even sour cream and a sprinkling of spring onions.
Main Meal
If you are serving these as part of a main meal in the evening, then why not have them with some of the leftover meat from your Christmas dinner!

With food waste being a real problem, and especially so at Christmas and the festive period, I hope that my recipe for these easy bubble fritters has shown you a great way to make the most of your leftovers this year!
If you liked this recipe please do leave me a comment and a star rating below. You can also share your pictures with me on Instagram. I always love to see your creations!
OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
Leftover Turkey & Ham Pasta – Turn leftover Christmas turkey and ham into a delicious and easy one pot creamy pasta dish!
Leftover Turkey, Cranberry & Brie Pie – An easy recipe to use up your Christmas leftovers by turning them into a delicious Turkey, Cranberry & Brie Pie. It even uses up leftover vegetables too!
Print
Bubble & Squeak Fritters
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 6 1x
Category: Main Meal
Cuisine: British
Description
Use up leftover mashed potato and vegetables by turning them into Bubble & Squeak Fritters!
Ingredients
- 1 courgette
- 3 cups mashed potato
- 2 cups cooked vegetables (I used carrots and parsnips)
- 4 tbsp flour (can use gluten free)
- ½ cup cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
- oil or butter for cooking
- creme fraiche and spring onions to garnish
Instructions
- Grate the courgette and press between several sheets of kitchen paper to remove as much water as possible..
- Place the grated courgette in a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well until everything has combined.
- Heat oil or butter in a frying pan and add a large spoonful of the mixture to the pan. Flatten into a roundish fritter shape about ½ inch thick. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. You will need to fry the fritters in batches, depending on how big your frying pan is. I was able to fry 4 at a time in mine.
- Serve warm with a dollop of creme fraiche and some chopped spring onions.

Evelyn Hart says
Absolutely love this. I’ve never been a fan of bubble and squeak but only because of it being served in one pan as a big dish and it tending to therefore be a bit soggy but these little fritters are perfectly crispy on the outside and lovely and moist on the inside. Quite often have these the day after a roast dinner but will be making them on Boxing day this year!
★★★★★
Elissa Robins says
Super easy and yum! I added bacon to mine – kids loved them
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Thanks Elissa!
Dom says
Such a brilliant idea for using up leftovers! We pretty much have this once a week now and it’s so nice not to be wasting as much food.
★★★★★
Katie says
How much oil do I use ,I’m not much for deep fried food