Recipe This | Air Fryer Bubble & Squeak (2024)

Bubble And Squeak. How to make bubble and squeak with leftovers. Using leftover instant pot cabbage and leftover instant pot mashed potatoes, this is an easy way to put together a fast bubble and squeak. You can also mix and match your bubble and squeak with other leftovers too.

Originally published in 2015, updated with fresh photos and more bubble and squeak ideas!

Also, before we dive into this air fryer bubble and squeak recipe, I recommend you check out our free air fryer mini course. It is ideal for air fryer beginners or those that want to get more confident with their air fryer. The free course runs for 5 days with a new lesson delivered each day to your inbox.

Or browse our site as we have 450+ air fryer recipes that are easy to recreate at home and we have been showing people how to use the air fryer since 2011.

Bubble & Squeak

In the summer of 2018, we did a lot of travelling. In fact, we visited 8 European countries in 8 weeks. We did the majority of it in a tent staying on beautiful camp sites. But we did have a few hotel stays along the way too.

When we visited the UK, we stayed at the Premier Inn and enjoyed their all you can eat breakfast.

I am one of those fussy people when it comes to the English breakfast and don’t eat everything that you see on our air fryer English breakfast.

Instead, I will opt for sausages, bubble and squeak, as much black pudding as I can eat and some grilled tomatoes.

No wonder then that we have air fryer sausages, air fryer black pudding and air fryer grilled tomatoes on Recipe This!

Making the Premier Inn breakfast ideal for me. Especially, when I can go back for bubble and squeak seconds.

What Does Bubble & Squeak Mean?

Bubble and squeak is the name given to the British classic of leftover mashed potatoes, cabbage and often meat. Popular for leftovers from a Sunday roast dinner, or special occasions such as Christmas or Mother’s Day.

It is similar to the Irish dish colcannon, or the Scottish dish rumbledethumps.

Instant Pot Bubble & Squeak

I often refer to this as my instant pot bubble and squeak. That is because I originally cooked the mashed potatoes and the cabbage to make bubble and squeak in the instant pot.

In today’s recipe I had some spare potatoes in the pantry. Not enough for a big portion of mashed potatoes (sorry Kyle), but enough to mix up with some cabbage to make a bubble and squeak.

If you are not going down the leftovers route and just want an instant pot bubble and squeak side dish, then follow these two instant pot recipes:

• Instant Pot No Drain Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Steamed Cabbage

Then allow them both to cool before following our bubble and squeak recipe.

Christmas Bubble & Squeak Recipe

Beyond Premier Inn, the only time I have ever eaten bubble and squeak has been part of a Christmas bubble and squeak recipe.

We would have a delicious Christmas roast dinner and would often do extra and then look forward to the Christmas leftovers.

Then the leftovers would go into a bowl and be mixed, and you would have mini bubble and squeak cakes or bubble and squeak fritters.

Dominic would then fry it in a pan as a HUGE fritter and we would all get excited about eating them on Boxing Day.

But this was long before the air fryer existed, and it was replaced with our air fryer leftover turkey burgers instead.

You can do either. You can make a traditional large bubble and squeak cake with your leftovers using an air fryer baking pan, or you can use our other method and make yummy turkey burgers.

Just note that any leftover Christmas dinner goes well in them. In the past I have mushed up the following into mine:

• Yorkshire puddings
• Roast potatoes
• Leftover turkey
• Vegetable bake
• Mashed potatoes
• Cabbage
• Cheese

Just think about that on Boxing Day when you have loads leftover and don’t know what to do with it. Or try our other Boxing Day favourites such as our slow cooker turkey curry or our soup maker boxing day soup.

Syn Free Bubble & Squeak

If you want a Syn Free bubble and squeak, then this is EASY to achieve too. You simply load into a bowl your syn free leftovers and then make into a bubble and squeak ball.

That might be mashed potatoes without butter, turkey breast, leftover vegetables and steamed cabbage.

How To Make Bubble & Squeak With Leftovers?

Making your own ultimate bubble and squeak at home is so easy:

1. Load cold leftovers into a bowl.
2. Mix well with your hands and form into a ball.
3. Push down in a baking pan.
4. Air fry + enjoy!

Note that I mention cold leftovers. This is because you are mixing them with your hands and don’t want super hot cabbage and mash in your hands.

You can also load your leftovers into a bowl as you do the washing up, fridge them and then make into bubble and squeak the next day.

How To Make Bubble & Squeak Stick Together?

I find that the bubble and squeak will naturally stick together because of the mashed potatoes and any other potato leftovers that you are throwing in.

But if you are concerned, I recommend that you squeeze extra moisture out of the cabbage before adding and add in some breadcrumbs.

Or just add in some grated cheese as this helps with it sticking together.

Listen To Air Fryer Bubble & Squeak

Want to learn more about our Podcast? Then click here and you can browse through past episodes and subscribe to the Magic With Gadgets Podcast.

Does Bubble & Squeak Freeze Well?

Yes, it does. My turkey burgers version of my bubble and squeak is also frozen. When I make them at Christmas, I love them so much that I want to still be eating them in February when turkey is a distant memory.

You can load them into freezer bags and then get them out as you need them.

Plus, you can reheat frozen bubble and squeak in the air fryer.

Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!