Classic British Meals for Students & Recipes

Classic British Meal Ideas and Recipes for Students

Are you keen to learn more about the UK’s culture whilst living at Chapter student accommodation? Exploring the local cuisine is a great place to start. When it comes to traditional recipes, each part of the UK has its regional specialities, but there are some classic British meals associated with every corner of the country. Below, we’ve listed some easy meals for students that will give you a taste of British cuisine. 

Roast Dinner 

Typically eaten on Sundays, the roast dinner is a traditional meal with roots in medieval times. Several stories report its origins, but they all have one thing in common – the meal brought people together after attending the Sunday church service. It consists of roasted meat – typically chicken, beef, pork or lamb – served with roasted or mashed potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire puddings (more on those below) and gravy. As such, it’s beloved in British culture for being a comforting, hearty meal shared with loved ones. 

Find traditional roast dinner recipes here.

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is believed to originate from Ireland and part of northern England. It’s thought that farmers’ wives created it to use up leftovers from the Sunday roast. Made with minced lamb – hence the ‘shepherd’ in the name – vegetables and gravy and topped with mashed potato, Shepherd’s Pie is the definition of British comfort food. You may also hear it called Cottage Pie; however, some people argue this version is made with minced beef instead of lamb.

Find an easy Shepherd’s pie recipe here.

Fish and Chips

Fish and chips is a traditional British meal synonymous with seaside resorts in the UK, but it’s enjoyed in towns and cities across the country. The origins of the dish go back to the 19th century when fish and chip shops first started to appear – today, they’re a mainstay of UK high streets. Consisting of battered and fried fish, thick-cut chips and mushy peas, the meal is believed to be inspired by the fried fish dish Pescado frito, which was introduced to the UK by Spanish and Portuguese Jewish immigrants in the 16th century. 

Find a classic fish and chips recipe here.

Full English Breakfast 

Also known as a ‘fry up’, the full English breakfast is a morning meal consisting of bacon, sausage, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans and toast. The UK’s countries all have variations of the dish. For instance, it’s served with black pudding, haggis, Lorne sausage and tattie scone in Scotland, laverbread and cockles in Wales and soda farls and potato bread in Northern Ireland. As there are lots of elements involved in cooking a full English breakfast, so you may want to try it first by ordering it at brunch.

Find a full English breakfast recipe here.

Yorkshire Puddings 

As their name suggests, Yorkshire puddings originated in northern England. They’re a side dish served with roast dinners, made from a batter of eggs, milk and flour. Once baked, they have a golden, crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.

Mary Berry, a culinary cultural icon in the UK, is a highly respected baker and one of the original judges on The Great British Bake Off. Her recipe is considered foolproof for cooking authentic Yorkshire puddings.

Find Mary Berry’s Yorkshire pudding recipe here.

Toad in the Hole

Despite what its eclectic name suggests, there is no toad involved in Toad in the Hole. In fact, this dish consists of sausages baked in a Yorkshire pudding batter, most often served with vegetables and gravy. The dish was created in the 18th century when batter puddings became a popular way of making smaller cuts of meat go further.

Find a simple Toad in the Hole recipe here.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

We couldn’t share these meal ideas for students without including a popular British dessert: sticky toffee pudding. This rich sponge cake is made with dates, served with toffee sauce and usually accompanied by vanilla ice cream. It originated in the 20th century and became popular in the 1970s. Today, it's widely served across the UK. 

Find an indulgent sticky toffee pudding recipe here.

All these meals offer an easy way for university students to discover the flavours and cooking techniques found in British cuisine. At our private student accommodation, you’ll have kitchen facilities to try these recipes. Learn more about living at Chapter by exploring our London properties.