15 genius banana bread twists to upgrade your baking
Natalie Hardwick – Head of Digital Delivery, goodfood.com
Our classic banana bread is the ultimate comfort bake, but there so many ways to take it up a notch. From chocolate-loaded loaves to sticky toffee hybrids, these simple yet clever twists will transform your go-to recipe.
Banana bread is having a bit of a moment, with Google searches at an all-time high over the last 5 years. And it's not hard to see why - as well as delivering maximum flavour, this classic bake is easy to make, great for using up overripe bananas and beloved by kids and adults alike. It's also one of Good Food's most popular recipes, with over 1 million people visiting it so far this year alone. If you have a few ripe bananas and want to make a banana bread with a twist, check out our best ever versions of this lovely loaf. We even have healthier versions if you’re looking to cut down on sugar, as well as a handy air-fryer banana bread recipe. Squidgy, simple, moreish and good for you – three cheers for banana bread! See our 5-star-rated baking recipes for more tried-and-tested bakes, as well as our chocolate traybakes, all-in-one cake ideas and cupcake recipes. Our best ever banana bread recipes 1. Classic banana bread Our brilliant banana loaf has been positively-rated by hundreds of goodfood.com users. It uses simple ratios, minimal ingredients and is cleverly topped with dried banana chips for crunch. Be sure to check out the images on the recipe page to help you achieve perfect results every time. 2. Chocolate chip banana bread Take a classic banana bread to the next level by studding it with chocolate chips. It's incredibly moreish yet simple to make, with a deliciously light and moist sponge – not to mention a delicious way to use up ripe bananas that are lingering in the fruit bowl. 3. Air fryer banana bread Turn to your trusty air fryer to make this easy banana bread, given a flavour boost by adding pecans and chocolate chips (or try any other nuts you prefer). Try it this weekend for a satisfying bake without any of the hassle. 4. Sticky toffee banana bread Treat yourself to a hybrid bake that combines the timeless might of banana bread with sticky toffee pudding, a dessert that needs no introduction. The toffee sauce is made with brown sugar, butter and double cream, then the nut and banana chip brittle has added sea salt for contrast. This officially lasts two days but we doubt it’ll stick around for that long. 5. Vegan banana bread You won’t need any specialist ingredients to make this free-from cake. Vegetable oil is used in place of butter, and eggs are left out completely to no detriment to the finished loaf. Add your own selection of dried fruit and nuts – most storecupboard favourites can be used. 6. Banana, coconut & cardamom bread We love the taste of cardamom in Swedish-style enriched breakfast buns. Turns out this distinct spice also matches perfectly with banana. Coconut yogurt and oil bring an added point of difference to this beautiful banana bake. 7. Healthy banana bread A few simple swaps transform often indulgent banana bread into something altogether healthier. This smart recipe uses agave syrup rather than sugar and low-fat spread instead of butter, plus wholemeal flour and natural yogurt. The finished bake can also be batch cooked and frozen for a later date. 8. Gluten-free banana bread Everyone at the table can enjoy a slice of this banana bread, substituting self-raising flour for gluten-free flour and almond flour. Boasting a light, moist texture, you couldn't tell if it was gluten-free or not. 9. Brownie banana bread Combine two kid-friendly treats and make our rich brownie-banana bread hybrid. The dark chocolate and banana pairing makes the perfect marriage, resulting in a chocolatey loaf cake that is easy to wrap and transport – perfect for a picnic or birthday party. 10. Slow-cooker banana bread Dig out your slow cooker to make a simple banana bread that's well worth the wait. Enjoy just as it is for afternoon tea, or slather on a little butter for a simple teatime treat. It serves up to ten, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd. 11. Brazil nut banana bread Add texture and crunch to a super soft banana loaf by adding chopped Brazil nuts. Ramp up the nuttiness another notch by using dessicated coconut. Cinnamon adds a touch of warm spice to proceedings. 12. Sugar-free banana bread Want to cut out refined sugar but having major cravings for cake? The natural sweetness of banana and sultanas provide the saccharine elements in this healthier bake. If it’s not quite sweet enough for you, add a drizzle of agave syrup to finish. 13. Toasted banana bread with vanilla ricotta & raspberries This deluxe recipe demonstrates the versatility of banana bread. By toasting slices of the cake and serving it with vanilla-spiked cream and fresh fruit, this humble loaf is transformed into a fancy breakfast dish that’s deceptively simple to put together. Just make the banana bread in advance to allow for a stress-free brunch. 14. Banana, walnut & chocolate chip loaf Paul Hollywood knows his way around a loaf tin – behold his take on banana bread that’s studded with walnut pieces and chocolate chips. Serve warm if you’d like the chocolate chips melty, or at room temperature for added chunky texture. 15. Banana bundt cake A recipe that proves banana bread is so much more than a lunchbox snack. This fancy ring-shaped cake contains dates and walnuts, plus a luxurious honey butter glaze. If you’re baking for a cake sale, this is bound to be the star of the table. More baking recipes Easy baking recipes Easy bread recipes Baking for beginners Quick and easy cake recipes Easy cookie recipes Baking equipment reviews The best stand mixers The best baking trays The best cake tins The best bundt cake tins The best hand mixers Which banana bread recipe do you love? Let us know below...
Refresh your dinner routine this spring with Chetna Makan
Shake up your mealtimes with Chetna’s vibrant, flavour-packed recipes. These seven easy dinners use the best spring ingredients to show how eating seasonally is always a good idea.
Spring is a key time of year for eating seasonally – hello, greenery – and we also know that the Good Food app community come to us every day for quick and easy dinners. This new spring eating plan by Chetna Makan combines the two. Designed for weeknights as well as weekend entertaining, these mix-and-match recipes from Chetna combine incredible flavour, easy techniques and genius new combinations (including an inventive way to use an entire jar of mango chutney). There are overlapping ingredients to avoid waste, and they’re all foods that are easy to find in supermarkets, like new potatoes, asparagus, leek and cauliflower. The recipes serve four but lots make great lunch leftovers if you’re cooking for a smaller household. “I loved developing these recipes for the Good Food app. Spring is one of the best times of year for cooking with seasonal ingredients, and I've picked some of my favourite vegetables and made them star of the show. These easy dinners are the recipes I make for my own family time and again, on the busy evenings when I want to serve up something that has bags of flavour but I don't have the time for fiddly recipes. Lots of these dishes are a case of chucking in lots of spice, or using clever hacks like a whole jar of chutney to flavour chicken and potatoes. I hope you love making them as much as I loved writing them for you.” Chetna Which recipe will you cook first? For more from Chetna, visit her author page. Chetna Makan's easy spring dinners Roast chicken tomato curry "I love a good chicken curry, and there are so many amazing ways to make one. This recipe keeps it simple and uses just a few spices and a couple of cans of chopped tomatoes." Paneer asparagus sabji "Simple flavours, basic spices – this is a whole a new way to eat seasonal asparagus. It can be served on its own with rice or as part of a spread alongside the beetroot dal and chicken curry" Beetroot red lentils "These red lentils, also known as masoor dal, are one of the quickest dishes to cook, and the grated beetroot adds a light sweetness and earthiness. Keep it vegan by making the tadka with oil instead of ghee. As the texture is quite loose, you can also enjoy as a soup, served with some toasts for dipping." Roast cauliflower pasta "When I cook this for myself, I prefer it without any cheese on top, so try it first before adding the cheese, if you like." Sticky & spicy potatoes with sesame rice "This is a meal my kids love eating, and it’s great for a lunchbox too. The sticky spicy potatoes are just so moreish and delicious served piping hot, or at room temperature. You can add more veg to the rice if you like, or if double carbs isn't your thing, you can serve it on its own with eggs, fish or chicken for extra protein." Garlicky leek & prawn rice "A delicious, speedy meal using a simple base of leeks and garlic. Swap the prawns for chopped chicken or cubes of tofu." Mango chutney chicken potato traybake "The mango chutney adds a gentle sweetness, which along with the curry powder gives a nod to coronation chicken (which I love). Serve this with some rice or a crunchy, leafy salad."
Snoring was making me a living zombie. Here are the 8 solutions I tried, and the 4 that worked
Do you rarely wake up feeling refreshed, no matter how many hours of sleep you've had? Find out which snoring solutions worked for a GF team member with a case of chronic snoring
There’s an unfortunate truth about being a chronic snorer: I’ve never in my adult life woken up feeling genuinely refreshed, no matter how many hours of kip I've racked up. Presentable, functioning, pepped by caffeine – yes. But refreshed? Sadly not. It turns out when you spend eight hours fighting with your own airway, your sleep quality suffers. Of course, it’s not just my sleep being ruined. My incredibly accepting partner diplomatically describes my snoring as “like a giant straw finishing the last of a milkshake in one sharp blast”. But according to Dr Sonia Szamocki, sleep expert and founder of Aerox Health, 47% of recently divorced Brits cited snoring as a contributing factor to their marriage breakdown. On top of this, a quarter of singles say sleep-related issues have affected their ability to form or maintain a relationship. Snoring is very much a relationship liability. It’s also a public health concern. "I often see regular snoring as the early warning light on the dashboard," Dr Szamocki told me. "Snoring associated with sleep apnoea is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Chronic snoring fragments sleep for both the snorer and their partner – showing up as daytime fatigue, irritability, low mood and poor concentration." Dr David Garley, GP and director of The Better Sleep Clinic put it even more starkly: one in five car crashes relates to poor sleep, with obstructive sleep apnoea a major factor, particularly among professional drivers. The biggest myth about snoring, he said, is simply that it should be ignored. There’s also a damning bottom line to consider too: a 2026 study found that obstructive sleep apnoea is costing the UK and US economies £137bn a year. If you’re one of the 25% of UK adults who snores regularly and wants to tackle it, what can be done? “I always say the best starting point should be to talk about it with friends and family,” says Dr Szamocki. “There’s still a huge stigma that surrounds snoring, which actually makes people less inclined to get it checked out. Seeing a healthcare professional is next on the list. “For many, the first step would be to make simple but disciplined lifestyle changes. For example, reducing or eliminating smoking and drinking, losing weight and even sleeping on your side can have profound effects on snoring.” However, for those of us who have exhausted those options, more drastic changes might be required. Like lots of my family, I seem anatomically built to snore. Add to this the fact I’m staring down the barrel of menopause – a time when snoring can become more likely due to hormone changes – I feel I'm stuck with my noisy fate. But in the name of investigative journalism and long-term relationship preservation, I set off on a months-long study to track and (hopefully) solve my nightly snoring. The products I trialled to end my snoring To set myself up, I started recording myself using an app called SnoreLab to figure out my baseline snoring level. The app takes a bedside audio recording overnight and gives you a 'snore score' on a range from 'quiet' through to 'epic'. It also samples soundbites for your listening pleasure and it must be said that hearing snippets of myself grunting, creaking and rattling through the night was a genuinely humbling experience. With my typical snoring levels logged, I tested each solution for a minimum of three nights, across a project running several months. I tracked results nightly via SnoreLab, noting any factors that might skew results – things like alcohol, a cold, late eating and exhaustion can make snoring worse. My study was domestic rather than clinical. I am not a scientist, merely a tired woman with a long-suffering partner and a slightly alarming audio archive. 1. Anti-snoring pillow What is it? Anti-snoring pillows are ergonomically designed to position the head and neck in a way that promotes better breathing during sleep. Product tested: Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow, £80 Does it work? A pillow is about as low-stakes a snoring intervention as it gets. The Levitex is firm and structured, which takes getting used to, and in isolation it didn't dramatically alter my scores. The team at Levitex recommended adding a second pillow between the knees to encourage side sleeping – snoring is typically worse on your back, as gravity causes the jaw and tongue to fall backwards – and this combination nudged things in the right direction. Dr Garley gave additional advice on sleep positioning: "We're all very different in the way we sleep. If your snoring is dramatically worse on your back, side sleeping is something you should consider. People tend to roll back because it's more comfortable – so the challenge is engineering a workable side position. A pillow between your legs helps with spine alignment, which keeps you in posture." Score: 7/10 (when combined with side sleeping) 2. Snoring lozenges What are they? Snoring lozenges work by hydrating the soft tissue at the back of the throat, with the aim of reducing the vibrations that cause the snoring sound. They’re cheap, available over the counter, and require no instruction manual or charging cable. Product tested: Snoreeze Lozenges, £9, Boots Does it work? The mildly minty lozenges took a while to dissolve on the tongue, but the results genuinely surprised me. On the nights I used lozenges, I recorded some of my lowest snore scores of the entire study. The SnoreLab data showed snoring substantially quieter in the first half of the night, gradually creeping back as the night progressed – suggesting the lubricating effect wears off by the small hours, but not before doing meaningful work. For £9 and zero effort, the return was strong. Dr Garley offered some useful context: "If it has a decongestant component that opens up nasal passages, that can definitely help. If it reduces inflammation in your airways and opens things up a bit, that will make a difference. It's probably not the solution for a solid, structural snorer, but if you're a borderline snorer – or snoring is worsened by a cold or seasonal allergies – this kind of thing makes sense." Score: 7/10 3. Air purifier What does it do? Air purifiers draw in air via a fan, pass it through filters to remove particles like dust, pollen and pet dander and recirculate it as cleaner air. These particles can cause nasal congestion and airway inflammation – two things a snorer does not need more of. Product tested: Philips PureProtect Mini 900 Series Smart Air Purifier, £119.99 Does it work? As someone with two cats who’s not the most thorough at dusting, I was excited for the general improvement an air purifier would make to my environment. But on top of this, my snore scores for the following nights with the purifier running were consistently good, ranging from 7 to 14 – some of the best results across the whole study. The machine makes a noise, which might trouble light sleepers; as someone who sometimes falls asleep to white noise, I found it actively soothing. One of the more appealing aspects is that its benefits extend to the whole room, not just the snorer. Dr Garley was cautious about overstating its benefits for the general population: "For most people, keeping a clean environment in your bedroom – hoovering, dusting – is probably going to make more difference to your air quality than a purifier. But if you've got particular allergies, a HEPA filter can genuinely help.” Score: 7/10 4. Nasal strips What do they do? Nasal strips widen the nostrils to improve airflow. They’re applied like a plaster across the nose at bedtime. Product tested: Boots Sleepeaze Snoring Relief Congestion Nasal Strips, £13.99 Does it work? The strips claim to allow up to 31% more airflow and wearing one did produce a noticeable sensation of the nostrils widening. Nose-breathing felt marginally easier, and they stayed put through the night. My snore scores, however, showed no meaningful improvement, which aligns with both Dr Szamocki's expert view – nasal strips are among her "repeat offenders" for ineffective over-the-counter remedies, because they don't address the root cause, which is throat collapse rather than nostril width – and the limited clinical literature on the subject. Potentially useful if you have a cold. Less useful if, like me, you are simply built this way. Score: 3/10 5. Throat spray What does it do? Throat spray coats the back of the mouth with a lubricant to reduce vibrations. It’s intended to act immediately and last the whole night. Product tested: Snoreeze Snoring Relief Throat Spray, £9.80 Does it work? Easy to apply, inoffensive in flavour and almost entirely without effect. On one night my snoring was marginally quieter; on others it reached loud and epic without apparent awareness of the intervention. There are no reliable clinical studies backing the efficacy of throat spray, and Dr Szamocki lists it among the interventions she regularly sees patients waste money on. It's a no from me, though at least it's a cheap no. Score: 2/10 6. Olbas oil What does it do? A medicine cabinet classic, this traditional ointment is a blend of essential oils including eucalyptus that acts as a natural decongestant. A few drops on a pillow or tissue are said to open the airways and promote easier breathing. Product tested: Olbas Oil Decongestant Drops, £7.99 Does it work? In measured doses, Olbas oil is a genuinely pleasant addition to the bedtime routine: nostalgic, calming and associated in some hard-wired way with being looked after. It did not, however, make a dent in my snore scores. I had several nights of unusually deep sleep, which I'm tentatively attributing to the aromatherapy effect rather than any genuine airway intervention. Not a snoring cure, but a pleasant addition to a pillow nonetheless. Score: 3/10 7. Zeus anti-snoring device What is it? Developed in collaboration with King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Hospital, the Zeus is a miniature TENS machine worn under the chin. It works via electrical nerve stimulation – tiny pulses activating the throat and tongue muscles to keep the airway open during sleep. It comes with an app and a money-back guarantee if it doesn't work for you. Product tested: Smartech Zeus Anti-Snoring Device, £250 Does it work? £250 demands a certain level of scepticism. Set up involves charging a dock, applying hydrogel pads and finding the correct placement under the chin, which requires initial patience. Once sorted, application each night takes about 30 seconds. The pulses begin around 20 minutes in; they're subtle enough that I fell asleep without difficulty. The results were immediate and cumulative: my scores dropped progressively as I used the Zeus each night. Dr Garley offered his take on the mechanism: "Back in the 90s, if you looked in the Littlewoods catalogue, it always had people with six packs using those electrode pads. It's basically that, but it works on a tongue muscle called the genioglossus – it brings the tongue very slightly forward, giving you the kind of airway tone you have when you're awake. You adjust the power until you can just feel it, then click it back one notch. It won't work for everyone, but I like that you can send it back if it doesn't." For those for whom snoring is significantly impacting health or relationships, this is a serious piece of technology at a serious price point. It means business. Score: 8/10 8. Mouth tape What is it? This is a social media phenomenon. Mouth tape involves sealing your lips shut at bedtime to force nasal breathing, which is claimed to improve sleep quality, reduce snoring and – according to some corners of the internet – define your jawline. Clinical evidence is thin. Some experts warn it could be dangerous. Does it work? I procured the tape. I applied the tape. I ripped off the tape approximately four seconds later in a surge of claustrophobic panic. As a committed mouth breather, the sensation of sealed lips triggered an immediate and visceral anxiety response. I appreciate that some people report good results, and that the evidence – though limited – is not entirely dismissive. But I would urge caution, particularly for anyone who breathes through their mouth out of necessity rather than habit. Dr Garley was unambiguous: "We don't encourage it at all. It tends to be promoted for quite vague reasons – better sleep, nose breathing, various purported benefits – but none of this is properly documented and there's no real evidence. Having your mouth taped during sleep could be claustrophobic. Some people vomit in their sleep. People have strokes in their sleep. You don't want your mouth taped shut.". I’ll pass on this one, thanks. Score: 0/10 So, what actually works? After several months of testing, tracking and a significant quantity of audio recordings of myself at my least dignified, the verdict was in: the lozenges moved the needle at the lowest cost. The Zeus produced the most impressive and consistent results but requires the most investment. The air purifier delivered universal benefits. The pillow and Olbas oil are pleasant without being transformative. Nasal strips and throat spray, despite their shelf presence and bold packaging claims, did little. Mouth tape nearly gave me a panic attack. Both experts are clear that the most effective solutions address the root cause of snoring: partial airway collapse. Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) – custom-fitted mouthguards approved by NICE that hold the lower jaw slightly forward to keep the airway open – are available through dentists and work for both snoring and sleep apnoea. They're portable, require no power supply and, Dr Szamocki notes, tend to see better patient adherence than more invasive treatments. If you snore significantly, or notice pauses in your breathing, gasping, or extreme daytime fatigue, please see a doctor. Sleep apnoea responds well to treatment. CPAP therapy – a device that pumps air through a mask worn during sleep – has, according to Dr Garley, a near-immediate effect: "When you get on CPAP, which very briskly restores quality sleep, you're sometimes looking at a completely new person within two days. It can be really quite dramatic." For home diagnostics, a device called the Acupebble – recently approved by NICE – sits on the neck overnight, records your breathing and sends the data directly to a clinical lab. It has made getting a diagnosis considerably less arduous. If you have any suspicion that snoring is more than just snoring, it is worth speaking to your doctor and starting there. As for my partner: he’s been issued the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds (£129), which use active noise cancellation and AI brainwave audio to block out sound, and an app to track your sleep quality. He rates them highly. Dr Garley called this noise-blocking approach "a diplomatic mission" and "really, really sensible", more validation than I have received for any other decision I made during this project. If the price tag puts you off, our review of the best earplugs for sleeping has options starting at £7.99. And my ultimate snoring cure? I’ve found a combination of actively prioritising better sleep, essential oils, the air purifier whirring, snoring pillow and occasional lozenge or Zeus use are all realistic remedies that at least mitigate my snoring. Do I wake feeling buoyant? Not quite. But my SnoreLab scores are generally lower than they were before my mission, and after decades of snoring that’ll do for me. Enjoyed this? Read more: How to sleep better 10 tips to improve your sleep hygiene How to get to sleep Best sleep earplugs Energy-boosting breakfast recipes All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
Take the guesswork out of weeknight cooking with our spring meal plan for two. Designed to serve a pair, these recipes make it easy to enjoy seasonal cooking without ending up with too many leftovers.
During March and April, spring produce brings a welcome burst of colour and freshness to the kitchen. Tender greens, crisp asparagus and punchy spring onions are at their peak, while British watercress and new potatoes begin appearing in markets. It’s the perfect time to cook lighter dishes that still feel comforting and satisfying after a long day. Our food team has created these recipes to showcase the best ingredients of the season. Peppery watercress brings a fresh bite to broths and soups, while spring onions can be cooked into savoury pancakes and stir-fries. Tender greens like spinach and leeks also provide colour and wholesome balance to traditionally richer dishes, such as lasagne and pizza. The recipes in this plan offer plenty of variety while keeping the cooking manageable when serving two. Baked trout with gnocchi & Dijon cream is a rich yet fresh dinner, while cod piccata with cheesy leek mash delivers bright, lemony flavours. Japanese-style charred spring onion pancakes with beef are bold with deeply savoury notes, and our spring vegetable broth with shredded chicken offers a light reset for the palate. The plan is designed to make the most of ingredients to keep shopping lists streamlined and food waste to a minimum. With seven easy dinners to choose from, it’s a simple way to enjoy fresh, seasonal cooking for two. To keep things simple, use the in-app shopping list to add ingredients from each recipe, then check the My Good Food tab for one clear, organised list before you shop.
Take the hard work out of eating well this spring with our healthy spring meal plan. These vibrant, nourishing dinners will see you through the week and help you make the most of the season’s freshest ingredients.
Along with longer days, spring brings a welcome abundance of crisp greens and delicate vegetables for cooking. It’s the perfect time to refresh your meal routine with lighter, brighter dishes that let those seasonal ingredients shine. This collection of recipes celebrates spring produce at its peak. Sweet peas, prized for their bright colour and delicate sweetness, pair beautifully with herbs, pasta and grains. Spring onions are another seasonal favourite – milder and sweeter than mature onions, they can be eaten raw or lightly cooked in stir-fries, salads and noodle dishes. New potatoes also begin to appear at this time of year, and have a naturally sweet, buttery flavour that is showcased best with simple cooking. These recipes highlight the versatile ways you can incorporate these ingredients into your cooking. The hazelnut-crusted salmon with crushed potatoes is a satisfying, omega-rich fish dish with a fragrant lemon and thyme crumb. The low-cal tandoori trout traybake brings warming spice to a lighter meal, which is balanced with cooling cucumber raita. The plant-based sesame & spring onion stir-fried udon with crispy tofu delivers bold flavours and satisfying texture, while our gochujang roast chicken with spring greens brings a punchy, savoury kick to the weeknight table. The plan is designed to offer variety across the week while making the most of overlapping ingredients to keep shopping lists streamlined and food waste to a minimum. With colourful seasonal produce and a mix of protein options, it’s an easy way to eat well throughout the week. To keep things simple, use the in-app shopping list to add ingredients from each recipe, then check the My Good Food tab for one clear, organised list before you shop.
Take the stress out of weeknight cooking with our spring family meal plan. These comforting, crowd-pleasing dinners are perfect for sharing, while making the most of the season’s freshest produce.
As spring settles in and the days grow longer, cooking tends to shift away from heavy winter dishes towards fresher flavours and lighter dinners. It’s the perfect time to cook simple, seasonal meals the whole family will enjoy, using ingredients like spring greens and sweet new potatoes. Our food team has created these dishes to showcase some of the best ingredients of the season. Wild garlic is a highlight for foragers and home cooks alike at this time of year – look for it in woodland areas or at farmers’ markets; its gentle garlicky flavour works well in savoury bakes, which you can prep ahead for an easy grab-and-go breakfast. Asparagus is another springtime favourite with a famously short season – it's prized for its delicate flavour and tender spears, so it’s best enjoyed while it’s at its peak. The recipes in this plan offer plenty of variety to keep everyone happy. The creamy coconut dumpling traybake is an easy one-pan vegetarian dinner, while miso leek & potato soup with sesame cheese dunkers makes a comforting midweek meal. Cauliflower roasted in anchovy butter with orzo packs in plenty of umami flavour, while the chicken, butter bean & spring greens traybake with herby salsa verde is a hearty family dinner that requires minimal prep. For cosy comfort, the eat-your-greens mac & cheese sneaks plenty of vegetables into a family favourite. Each recipe is designed to complement the others, using overlapping ingredients to keep your shopping list concise and help you cut down on food waste. With seven easy dinners to choose from, keeping the whole family well fed throughout the week couldn’t be easier. To keep things simple, use the in-app shopping list to add ingredients from each recipe, then check the My Good Food tab for one clear, organised list before you shop.
Serve the best of spring with easy meals that make the most of new season produce like asparagus, greens and leeks. Find them exclusively on the Good Food app
Take the hard work out of cooking seasonally by saving our March meal plan. These stunning spring dinners will cover you from Monday to Friday and use the best of the month’s ingredients
As we see the green shoots of daffodils and snowdrops, lighter evenings and sunnier days, March marks the end of winter and the beginning of joyful spring. It's a fantastic month for seasonal produce, with verdant vegetables and foraging favourites making their first appearances of the year. Food editor Ailsa Burt wrote these spring recipes to celebrate the very best of March. Hyper-seasonal wild garlic is popular among foodies and grows in abundance in woodland, particularly around water. It's also available from farmers’ markets or in veg boxes. Spring greens are the first cabbages of the year and these gorgeous green ribbons work well stirred through soups, stews and stir-fries. Asparagus is a beloved delicacy for good reason, while cauliflower and spinach are hugely versatile and packed with nutrients. Ailsa’s recipes showcase these beautiful spring vegetables in inventive dinner recipes that can be served during the week. The spiral wild garlic borek uses ready-made filo pastry and can be made in advance and frozen – it looks super impressive but is simple to assemble. The chicken traybake, pepped with punchy salsa verde, is simple to prep before the oven does the work. The cauliflower with orzo and spinach pizza show how simple storecupboard ingredients can be used to great effect, while the asparagus panzanella was made to be eaten outdoors – fingers crossed for good weather! The plan is designed to offer variation across the week while using overlapping basic ingredients to keep shopping lists trim and food waste to a minimum. There’s no excuse for midweek dinner fatigue when you’re armed with these amazing ingredients and five easy recipes to make with them. To keep things simple, use the in-app shopping list to add ingredients from each recipe, then check the My Good Food tab for one clear, organised list before you shop.
We've rounded up our best app-only baking recipes, including easy cakes for beginners, advanced bakes and family recipes that everyone can help with.
Celebrating St Patrick’s Day? Check out our drinks recommendations and Irish-inspired recipes, from a dauphinoise-style Irish potato bake to Guinness chocolate puddings
St Patrick’s Day has a reputation as a roaring celebratory holiday – thousands of pints of stout will be poured and street parties will buzz all over the world. If you’re raising a toast to the patron saint of Ireland, do so with our favourite Irish-inspired celebratory recipes. Find more inspiration in our St Patrick's Day menu and St Patrick's Day recipe collection. What is St Patrick's Day St Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Northern Ireland and Ireland which celebrates Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. The holiday, sometimes known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, also celebrates Irish heritage and culture in general. When is St Patrick's Day? St Patrick's Day takes place annually on March 17, which in 2026 is a Tuesday. How is St Patrick's Day celebrated Street parties and parades – Countries around the world celebrate St Patrick's Day by throwing parades full of Irish dancing, music and food. Dublin's five-day festival culminates with a large parade on March 17. Dancing – Dancing is a key feature of St Patrick's Day celebrations, more precisely the lively and folky Irish jig. Food and drink – Eating and drinking is an integral part of festivities, with those celebrating enjoying traditional Irish dishes such as colcannon and Irish soda bread. Wearing green – Those celebrating St Patrick's Day often wear green as a sign of luck, as well as a nod to Irish heritage and culture. What drinks to serve for St Patrick's Day Stout Three million pints of Guinness are brewed at the company’s Dublin base every day, in order to satisfy an annual global thirst for 1.8 billion glasses. Beyond large-scale producers such as Guinness and Murphy’s, smaller craft breweries are currently experimenting with traditional stout recipes. Old methods using milk, oatmeal or coffee are being adapted for contemporary palates, with demand also rising for stronger imperial stout. What to pair with stout Whichever version you plump for, try matching stout with food – we recommend it with shellfish, game or chocolate. You could also try cooking with stout. These black velvet baby cakes even mimic the aesthetic beauty of a glass of the black stuff. Stout also works perfectly in marinades, batter and soup. If you prefer an elegant flute to a tankard, combine stout with champagne to create a black velvet cocktail. We also have five quick and easy Guinness cocktails that can be mixed up in minutes. Whiskey Not to be confused with Scotch or bourbon, Irish whiskey (don’t forget to add the ‘e') can be more accessible in flavour than its peatier relatives on the other side of the Irish Sea. There are only a handful of distilleries operating in Ireland, but their spirits are widely available – popular brands include Bushmills and Jameson, and the Irish craft whiskey scene is thriving. Irish whiskey is the star of this brown derby cocktail, blended with pink grapefruit and honey – a refreshing tipple to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Fans of an old fashioned will like this revised recipe, which uses elderflower cordial in place of the usual orange. Or, for a non-alcoholic option, try our non-alcoholic Irish cream liqueur, boasting all the indulgence of the classic, minus the booze. If you're looking for the perfect bottle to help you celebrate St Patrick's Day, check out our tried-and-tested review of the best whiskies from Ireland and beyond. Whiskey can be served at room temperature, with ice or in cocktails. We also like to cook with it – try adding a dash to creamy desserts or in a sticky glaze for meat. Irish coffee Celebrations would not be complete without a glass of classic Irish coffee at the end. Made with Irish whiskey, cream and coffee, this warming brew is great served after a St Patrick's Day dinner party for a decadent ending. For more of a kick, make a round of coffee-flavoured shots using Irish cream and coffee liqueur to create cocktails that look just like mini pints of Guinness. Top 10 recipes for St Patrick’s Day Irish stew The basic components of an Irish stew are a lamb or mutton base with carrots, onion and potatoes. Irish chef Richard Corrigan's version is big on flavour, with a homemade lamb stock adding a delicious depth, while Barney Desmazery's take on the one-pot classic offers a way to stretch the budget without compromising on taste. Mussels steamed with cider and bacon Ireland’s many miles of coastline guarantees a decent seafood haul. Native oysters, Dublin Bay prawns and Atlantic salmon are just some of the top catches you can expect to see glistening in the windows of Irish fishmongers. Perhaps most famed are the “cockles and mussels” from the Molly Malone shanty. Pay homage to these black-shelled beauties by steaming them with leeks, thyme and bacon as a St Patrick’s Day starter. Soda bread Soda bread, in its various forms, can be found alongside loaves of sliced white on supermarket shelves across Ireland. At its most rustic it comes as a craggy cob, its rocky surface and rough texture a result of the bicarbonate of soda added to the dough in place of yeast. Our soda bread recipe adds buttermilk and oats to the mix, and we also created a sweet soda bread with mixed spice and dried fruits. Common in Ireland but rare elsewhere are soda farls, where the dough is flattened into a circle and divided into four triangular ‘farl’ segments. Soda farls have a smooth surface and texture not dissimilar to English muffins. Salmon & potato cakes Falling somewhere between spongy bread and potato patties, these Irish ‘cakes’ have a pancake-like quality. They’re also a great way of using up mashed potatoes. Similar to Scottish tattie scones, the cakes are fried in a dry pan until golden. Top them with cheese, bacon and tomatoes for a take on the traditional fry-up, or serve with Irish smoked salmon and soft cheese for a starter or brunch. Irish cider It’s worth seeking out smaller cider producers, some of whom have been in operation for more than 100 years. This coddled pork dish is ideal for showcasing Irish cider of any kind – it’s best served with a generous portion of colcannon or champ. Discover more ways to cook with cider. Irish cheese Acres of rural land make for some excellent farmhouse cheeses. Some of the more widely available varieties include strong Cashel blue and hard, cheddar-like Dubliner. We like St Gall, similar to mountain cheeses like Swiss gruyère; it's nutty, velvety and great to cook with. Try it in a dauphinoise-style potato bake with parsnips, onions and rich double cream (pictured above). Champ, or colcannon The Irish excel in the field of mashed potato, and there are two well-known versions ideal for serving as a side dish. Champ is made from spring onions and butter, while colcannon has cabbage and bacon folded into the fluffy pillow of potatoes. Try our deluxe ham hock colcannon, topped with a brunch-friendly fried egg. Chocolate Guinness cake Round off your St Patrick’s Day menu with this Guinness-infused chocolate sponge cake, made with sour cream and finished with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Or consider using ingredients like beetroot to take your stout bakes to the next level. Alternatively, bring these easily shareable (and bright green) rainbow cupcakes to your St Patrick's Day party. Coffee & Irish cream semifreddo wreath Complete your St Patrick’s Day celebrations with this elegant semifreddo wreath. This Irish cream-flavoured frozen pud can be made up to two days ahead, leaving you with more time to celebrate with your guests. For the morning after: boxty brunch Continue the party with a hangover-busting breakfast of Irish boxty. These potato pancakes are a little like hash browns, making them ideal morning-after fodder. Serve with grilled vine tomatoes, protein-packed eggs and bacon. Discover more boxty-inspired dishes including these potato & spring onion breakfast pancakes and brown butter blinis. Discover more Irish recipes in our St Patrick’s Day collection. We’d love to hear how you celebrate Ireland on 17 March – share your recipe ideas and party tips in the comments below.