Our 20 most popular dinner recipes
Stuck for dinner inspiration? Discover what our readers turn to with our most popular dinners of 2024, from healthy one-pots to cheap curries, speedy pasta bakes and more
Are you in need of a hit of dinner inspiration? Looking to boost your midweek repertoire with shiny new recipes? Fret not! We delved into our website stats to discover a hit-list of 20 dinner ideas which the whole family will enjoy. These common dinner meals have been visited thousands of times and rated highly by the bbcgoodfood.com community. Which one will you make? Don’t forget to register for a My Good Food account so you can save the recipes for a later date – you can organise them into your own collections for easy access.
These popular dinner stalwarts will become your new favourites, with recipes catering to meat, vegetarian and vegan diets. Expect crowd-pleasing pasta bakes, budget-friendly curries, one-pots galore and more!
20. Next level chicken pie
In at number 20 is is our greatest chicken pie. This popular recipe is perfect for weekend feasting, serving up to six people. We use an easy one-pan filling, and bake it in a cake tin so it can be easily turned out and cut into neat wedges.
Discover more pie recipes.
19. Air-fryer salmon
It's no surprise to see an air-fryer recipe make the top 20, as this energy-efficient mod-con becomes a permanent fixture in our kitchens. In this super easy recipe, salmon fillets cook beautifully in the air-fryer for as little as 10 minutes. Coat the fillets in a simple herb seasoning, then serve with your choice of greens and grains to turn into a satisfying dinner.
For more speedy dinners see our healthy air-fryer recipes.
18. Sweet potato & peanut curry
In 18th place, with more than 900 star ratings, it's our thrifty vegan curry. It's a great way to boost your veg intake, boasting two of your five-a-day, while staying under 400 calories per portion. Cook tonight for an easy family dish which is ready in under an hour.
Discover more meat-free curries with our best vegan curry recipes and best vegetarian curry recipes.
17. Beef stroganoff
This year, our audience are big lovers of classic comfort food, as evidenced by this high-rated beef stroganoff. It's made with steak and mushrooms, garnished with parsley then served on pappardelle pasta or rice for a tasty midweek meal.
See more stroganoff recipes.
16. Easy sausage casserole
At number 16, it's a dish which sings comfort: the classic sausage casserole. This hearty one-pot features spicy chorizo, smoked paprika and plenty of vegetables, so it's perfect for a flavour-packed, filling family meal. This recipe makes up to six portions, and any leftovers can be frozen.
Find more casserole recipes.
15. Chicken & chorizo jambalaya
This chicken & chorizo jambalaya is one of our all-time greatest dinners, with a whopping 2,500+ star ratings and 900+ comments from our audience. This Cajun-inspired dish sees rice combined with spicy sausage, sweet peppers and tomatoes, resulting in a healthy one-pot which the whole family can enjoy. Try it for yourself and watch it become a family favourite in no time.
For more riffs on this recipe see our vegan jambalaya, prawn jambalaya and microwave jambalaya.
14. Lasagne
Our audience are returning to traditional comfort food this year, and little is more satisfying than cooking a classic to perfection – this recipe for homemade lasagne shows you how to make the béchamel and meat sauce from scratch, so this one's better suited to leisurely weekend cooking.
If you're looking for a lasagne with shortcuts, see this easy lasagne.
13. Easy chicken curry
At number 14 is our easy staple chicken curry. A fantastic recipe for family dinners, it's made with a handful of ingredients and is enriched with creamy yogurt. It's a budget winner, too, using chicken thighs – a cheaper cut of meat – alongside storecupboard staples.
See more chicken curry recipes.
12. No-fuss shepherd's pie
A classic comfort food for a reason, our simple and straightforward shepherd's pie is at number 14. This recipe sees succulent lamb mince and veg topped with a fluffy layer of mashed potato, so it's a dinner which the whole family can get behind.
Try this popular veggie shepherd's pie for a meat-free version.
11. Easy fish pie recipe
You can't go wrong with a fish pie for supper. This family-favourite is quick, easy to prepare and serves up to six people – cook in a big dish for the perfect family meal. Alternatively, cover and freeze the pie ready for future meals.
See more fish pie ideas.
10. Chicken pasta bake
Our most popular pasta bake, with more than 600 star ratings, this gooey cheese and chicken dinner is perfect for when only a pasta dish will do. Serve straight from the dish with a green salad on the side.
Like the look of this? Dive into more bubbly pasta perfection with our best pasta bake recipes, freezable pasta bakes and vegetarian pasta bakes.
9. Leek & potato soup
Of the winter soups, leek and potato is one of the most comforting and familiar. This classic flavour combination has proven a big hit with audience members this year, boasting almost 400 star ratings.
Try more winter soups and vegetarian soups.
8. Slow cooker beef stew
Our recipe for slow-cooker beef stew has made it into the top ten, praised by members for its rich flavour and tender meat. If you're running short of time, you can put everything except the cornflour and parsley in a slow cooker without frying it first and simply switch it on. It won’t have quite the same depth of flavour, but you will still have a delicious beef stew.
Find more family slow cooker ideas.
7. Best ever macaroni cheese
There are few things more satisfying than digging your fork into a hot bowl of macaroni cheese and our audience tend to agree, naming this popular dish a 'family favourite' as well as praising its ease.
Check out more macaroni cheese recipes.
6. Toad-in-the-hole
Toad-in-the-hole is a classic for a reason. With a concise ingredient list and simple method, it’s easy enough that kids can help make it. Serve with plenty of gravy and your favourite veg for a comforting family dinner.
Try more toad-in-the-hole recipes.
5. Air-fryer baked potatoes
In fifth place, it's our air-fryer baked potatoes. The process is quicker and can be more energy-efficient than using the oven, plus you'll still achieve a crisp skin and fluffy centre – it's a win-win!
See our air-fryer recipes for beginners for more easy ideas.
4. Cottage pie
Our freezable meat and potato pie makes the top five, loved by our audience as a great value dinner and guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This cottage pie serves up to ten, plus it freezes well, so it's ideal for batch-cooking.
Check out more cottage pie recipes.
3. Ultimate spaghetti carbonara
In third place, it's our traditional spaghetti carbonara. This Italian pasta dish combines a silky cheese sauce with crisp pancetta and black pepper, without the cream. It's a simple but satisfying dish that's on the table in roughly 30 minutes, so it's a great one to have saved for weeknight cravings.
See more Italian meal ideas and spaghetti recipes.
2. The best spaghetti bolognese recipe
It's no surprise to see this Italian staple make it into our top two, with almost 1,000 star ratings from our audience. Its simple combo of meaty, chilli sauce and spaghetti has kept families fed and satisfied for many years – serve it with parmesan shavings and crusty bread to wipe plates clean.
Find more family favourites with our best cheap and healthy family meals, including our popular vegetarian enchiladas.
1. Chilli con carne recipe
Our best-ever chilli con carne takes the top spot for 2024, with a whopping 2,500+ star ratings and 1400+ comments from our audience. It's a dinner classic that's perfect for serving to friends for a casual get-together. This has been followed many times by our audience, who praise it as a 'delicious crowd pleaser' that's easy to adapt to your own preferences.
Chilli con carne is a great way to use up storecupboard ingredients – find more ways with our best storecupboard recipes.
