What do you feel like most in winter? Big jumpers, big stews, big nights in on the sofa licking strings of melted cheese off your fork. Yes, winter is a time when comfort food really comes into its own, huge casseroles emanate their familiar fragrances of herbs and homeliness, rich sauces bubble and spices add heat.
Comfort food can take many forms, it’s up to you what makes you feel warm inside when it’s freezing out. Perhaps you like lots of potato, flecked with herbs and fluffy and golden. Perhaps you want some old fashioned baking ideas, crumpets slathered in butter and dripping with jam. But familiarity seems to be the main draw, the sorts of things we used to eat as children now served up in an adult way. Sausages, batter, cheese. Not necessarily all together but, well, whatever works for you.
And so we've rounded up the best comfort food recipes, modern takes on classic favourites including ideas from Jamie Oliver and Marcus Wareing, from macaroni cheese and bangers and mash, to classic fish pie and minestrone soup. You’re sure to find something here that will warm your soul as you snuggle under a blanket, Netflix and fire both firmly on.
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1
Potato, bacon and greens cheesy bake
This hearty supper dish fills you up and keeps out the cold. You can replace the spring greens in this recipe with any variety of green cabbage. Vegetarians can omit the bacon.
Try this Potato, bacon and greens cheesy bake recipe
Best stew recipes
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2
Fish pie
The ultimate comfort food, this fish pie can be on the table in less than an hour.
Try this classic fish pie recipe
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3
Broad beans, kale and ham
Is it a brunch or is it a lunch? Or even a midweek meal? Whichever you decide it's clear this dish, from the Leon cookbook, is comfort food at its most pure. A rich, runny yolk cascading over the salty flavours of the ham and the soft mush of the broad beans. Glorious.
Try this broad beans, kale and ham recipe here
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4
Classic beef stew
Hearty ingredients, satisfyingly tasty and a real crowd pleaser – add this one-pot wonder to your repertoire.
Try this classic beef stew recipe
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5
Chicken Leek & Bacon Pot Pie
Serve piping hot straight from the oven. No need for vegetables on the side, it comes all in one.
Try this chicken, leek and bacon pot pie recipe
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6
Toad in the hole
James Tanner says: ‘This reminds me of my childhood. Serve hot, with peas, mashed potato and thick onion gravy, or however your mum used to serve it.’
Try James Tanner's toad in the hole recipe
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7
Lamb potato hotpot
This is a classic, hearty lamb dish which originates from Lancashire. Perfect on a cold winter’s evening.
Try this lamb and potato hotpot recipe
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8
Leicestershire Red Macaroni Cheese
Tom Aikens' Macaroni cheese is the ultimate comfort food, which can be on the table in less than an hour.
Try Tom Aiken's Leicestershire Red macaroni cheese recipe
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9
Sausage and Blue Stilton Mash
The cheesy creamy mash, onion gravy, and succulent sausages make for a quick and easy comfort food classic with a twist.
Try this bangers and Stilton mash recipe
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10
Spaghetti carbonara
The classic pasta and bacon combo. Italians frown upon the use of cream in carbonara, preferring an emulsion of eggs, butter and pasta water.
Try this spaghetti carbonara recipe
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11
Cottage Pie
This classic topping of mashed potato is given a twist by adding parsnips.
Try this cottage pie with parsnip mash recipe
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12
Creamed Chicken Broth
There is something rather comforting about chicken soup at any time of the year.
Try Mark Hix's creamed chicken and mushroom broth recipe
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13
Home Made Crumpets
There’s nothing like treating yourself to moist and buttery home-made crumpets on a lazy Sunday morning.
Try this delicious home-made crumpets recipe
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14
Peri peri chicken
Chef Jamie Oliver suggests serving this fantastically flavoursome peri peri chicken recipe with dressed potatoes, rocket salad and quick Portuguese tarts.