Winter warmer recipes

A traditional braised beef casserole with thick, rich gravy and chunky veg – an ideal recipe for cheap cuts, as slow-cooking guarantees a tender dish

Mary Cadogan's aromatic broth will warm you up on a winter's evening - it contains ginger, which is particularly good for colds.

Make sausages and mash with love and you're in for a real treat. We’ve perfected this recipe to make it the very best it can be

This warming vegetarian chilli is a low-fat, healthy option that packs in the veggies and flavour. Serve with Tabasco sauce, soured cream or yoghurt.

Of the winter soups, leek and potato is one of the most comforting and familiar. This easy Vichyssoise recipe by Darina Allen makes the most of seasonal, local veg

When it's cold outside, treat yourself to a healthy homemade vegetable soup, packed with immunity-supporting vitamin C and four of your 5-a-day

Rustle up this chicken pot pie for an easy dinner. A family favourite, it can be made ahead and even frozen for another day to make mealtimes easy

A little bit of this winter root mash goes a long way - make it a day ahead and cut the stress on Christmas Day

Sure to be a family favourite, this warming winter one-pot has gently simmered sausages, hearty cannellini beans and a crunchy breadcrumb topping

Stretch a pack of sausages and feed the whole family with this cannelloni. The meaty ragu sauce is bulked out with nutrient-dense winter greens

This hot, gooey chocolate pud, with dark chocolate and fresh pears, can be made ahead and frozen – a perfect no-fuss dinner party dessert

A mix of sausagemeat and chestnut chunks creates a rich and nutty pasta sauce, lifting this from an everyday dish to something special

Make this hearty soup on cold winter days. One of those holy grail recipes, it’s both deeply flavourful and easy to make with a few seasonal ingredients

Use whatever small pasta shape is your favourite for this comforting bowl of minestrone soup – just amend the cooking time according to pack instructions

This vegetarian main course is packed with festive flavours and wrapped in flaky butter puff pastry - a real Christmas treat

Blend leeks and butter beans to make this filling winter soup. Top with crispy chorizo and rosemary for a final flourish and serve with crusty bread

Have this creamy rice pudding cooking in the oven while you make dinner and round off your meal with a comforting pud. Serve with jam for a feel-good treat

Do something different with a pack of tortellini. This filling soup is full of fibre and veg, plus it's low in fat. The perfect lunch or supper

Keep warm with our hearty cauliflower soup that can be decanted into a flask for a car or train journey. Top with the croutons before serving

Combine meat and veg in these crowd-pleasing beef rissoles – they make a filling and family-friendly supper when served with mash and peas

Add depth of flavour and chunky texture to cottage pie by using ox cheek – this makes it worthy of a special occasion. Enjoy with your favourite greens

Use your slow cooker to make this beef stew so it will be ready for when you get home after a long day. Nothing says winter warmer quite like a stew

Try this simple dish on a cold, wintery evening when only comfort food will do.