Britain’s favourite family meals revealed (2024)

The UK’s favourite family meals have been revealed as the traditional roast dinner, fish and chips, and pizza.

The list of 20 dishes emerged following a survey of 2,000 adults, with other classics such as spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and sausages and mash also ranking highly.

A classic roast dinner topped the list with almost half of the vote, while steak and chips was favoured by nearly one-quarter of respondents.

Another one in five most looked forward to a chicken curry.

Other mealtime classics included shepherd’s pie and chili con carne.

It also emerged that for the majority, a mutual love of these meals brought their family closer together and several of those asked said they have found it difficult to feel close with their family when they were not physically able to share a meal together.

A spokesperson from gravy brand Bisto, which commissioned the poll, said: “These results celebrate the classic dishes that bring families together.

“In these particularly challenging times, the results have shown many long to spend quality time together over one of the top meals, like a roast dinner.

“This is something we will look forward to even more after lockdown restrictions on household mixing is lifted.”

The iconic roast also topped the dishes people in the UK wished they could share with their family this coming Mother’s Day.

For many, cooking has helped families maintain togetherness at a time when they are physically apart, while others have tried to maintain their closeness via video calls.

Many adults miss being able to share the classic dishes with their nearest and dearest as they did before.

It also emerged spending time in person with family has become more important than ever.

Several of those polled said they had sent or received pictures of culinary attempts from other members of the family, talked about cooking on the phone or asked for cookery advice from family members.

It also emerged people believe food tastes better when someone else has made it for you, a feeling no doubt influenced by people having had to cook more than ever since the pandemic began.

The UK’s top 20 family meals

1. Roast dinner

2. Fish and chips

3. Pizza

4. Spaghetti Bolognese

5. Steak and chips

6. Lasagne

7. Chicken curry

8. Sausage and mash

9. Shepherd’s pie

10. Chili con carne

11. Cottage pie

12. Fajitas

13. Pasta bake

14. Stir fry

15. Burgers / veggie burgers

16. Steak pie

17. Stew

18. Casserole

19. Jacket potato

20. Macaroni cheese

SWNS