27 Very British Recipes Even Ted Lasso Would Love

published Mar 27, 2023
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Graphic collage with Ted Lasso surrounded by British foods like Scotch eggs, a plate of fish and chips, and his character's biscuits
Credit: Photo (from top to bottom): Joe Lingeman, (Ted Lasso) ©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection, Ghazalle Badiozamani, Laurel Randolph

Happy return of Ted Lasso to those who celebrate! If you like to pair each new episode with something to eat, you’ve come to the right place. Naturally there are the hallmark foods of our favorite Apple TV+ comedy. Ted Lasso’s shortbread is a no-brainer (we scored the official recipe!). A cup of strong black tea is a choice if, unlike Ted, you don’t think of it as “hot brown water.” In the same way that Ted won over many naysayers who had at first rejected him as an American fish out of water, I’m willing to bet Coach Lasso’s diet in his transplant city of London, England, has come to embrace all types of classic British fare. 

What (probably) started as a decrease in his Kansas City barbecue sauce supply was made up for overtime by the hearty dinners he and Coach Beard tuck into at The Crown & Anchor Pub, the homemade comfort food Higgins butters him up with, the many Biscuits with the Boss sessions with Rebecca, and the links to Nigella Lawson recipes that Roy Kent stoically but lovingly texts him (for context, in one episode Roy told Keeley that Nigella said if you butterfly the chicken for chicken cordon bleu, it’ll be more moist – he gets it).

You don’t need to be new to England to get acquainted with pillowy Yorkshire pudding, succulent beef Wellington, or a bright and zesty lemon drizzle cake. Read on for 27 of our most flavorful English recipes that are so good, they could win over almost anyone. Hopefully your back pocket is empty because every dish in this collection of British pub food, comforting homestyle meals, and stunning bakes are so easy to love, you’ll want to keep them on heavy rotation.

British Pub Food

How to enjoy proper pub grub without traveling abroad, let alone ever leaving your house.

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One-Pan Beef & Ale Pie

With a luscious ale gravy and a hearty filling of beef and vegetables, it’s no wonder this hearty pie is a staple enjoyed at British pubs, by football teams and college students alike. Using cheap pre-made ingredients like puff pastry and a can of beer, this pie is easy to assemble and can feed a group for days.

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2 / 7
Crispy Beer-Battered Fish

Fry white fish in a beer batter with rice flour for the crispiest beer-battered fish you can make at home.

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3 / 7
Yorkshire Pudding

Here's how to make perfect, pillowy Yorkshire pudding in whatever type of pan you please.

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4 / 7
Sheet Pan "Half English" Breakfast

This no-fuss recipe delivers a traditional English breakfast — straight out of the oven. Equipment wise, you need nothing more than a sheet pan.

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5 / 7
Mushy Peas

The quintessential British sidekick to a platter of fish and chips.

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6 / 7
Scotch Eggs
Boiled eggs are wrapped in seasoned breakfast sausage, then breaded and fried until crispy.
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7 / 7
Ham Welsh Rarebit

This classic British dish is made of toasted bread covered in a fondue-like sauce of melted cheese and dark ale, and we’ve taken the liberty of adding a few slices of ham to it too.

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British Comfort Food

Carby, meaty, warm, and really homey. British comfort food is in a class of its own.

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Cheese on Toast

For a quick and easy way to enjoy a British bite, cheese on toast is the answer. It's basically an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, but with plenty of Worcestershire sauce drizzled on top.

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Cottage Pie

Cottage pie is often considered the MVP of British comfort food. Simple and warm, it's made with ground beef and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.

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3 / 10
Bangers and Mash

Get ready to tuck into an ultra-cozy plate of pan-fried British (or Irish) sausages and creamy mashed potatoes.

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Beef Wellington
A showstopper entrée of tender beef wrapped in mushroom paste and crispy, buttery puff pastry.
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Sticky Toffee Pudding

Sticky toffee pudding is a classic English pudding of a moist sponge with a tender crumb draped in a generous layer of toffee sauce. The Brits love to pair a hot and gooey slice with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or custard.

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6 / 10
Sausage Roll

Sausage rolls are like pigs in a blanket, but far more flaky.

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Bubble and Squeak

The origins of bubble and squeak are unknown — so don't ask Ted Lasso — but it is firmly established in British culinary traditions. The quirky name likely stems from the bubbly and squeaky noises that the dish makes while being cooked. Because of how it makes use of leftovers, bubble and squeak is the perfect comfort meal after a hectic holiday.

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8 / 10
Pikelets

If a silver-dollar pancake, English scone, and a crumpet had a baby, it would be a pikelet.

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Individual Beef Wellingtons

Here we have single servings of the traditional English meat dish starring tender filet mignon perched on prosciutto and mushrooms, all bundled up in buttery, golden-brown puff pastry. Perfect for feeding a hungry football team.

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10 / 10
Bacon Butty

The bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel is America's favorite hangover cure. Across the pond, the quintessential morning-after sandwich is none other than the bacon butty. It's composed of two slices of soft white bread stuffed with crispy bacon, butter, and HP sauce (a British “brown sauce” akin to steak sauce) or ketchup.

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Great British Bakes

Is a meal ever complete without something sweet? The Brits would say no. 

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The Official Ted Lasso Biscuits

Coach Lasso's knowledge of European football falls short more often than not, but his biscuit recipe definitely has the English stamp of approval. We got Ted's recipe for classic, buttery shortbread biscuits — straight from the powers that be at Apple+.

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2 / 10
Pavlova

Completely gluten-free (no flour needed!) and rather uncomplicated to whip up (as long as you have a clean mixing bowl!), this plate-sized meringue is crisp on the outside and very marshmallow-like on the inside. It's simply divine served with whipped cream and fresh fruit on top.

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3 / 10
Battenberg Cake

Fans of the Great British Baking Show will have seen this cake in many a technical challenge. While it looks stress-inducing, Battenberg cake is actually quite easy. How easy? All you need is one square baking pan!

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4 / 10
Millionaire's Shortbread

A euphoric rhapsody of flavor and texture, this beloved English confection is an indulgent stacking of buttery shortbread, chewy milk caramel, and a thick top hat of chocolate.

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5 / 10
Victoria Sponge Sandwich Cake

Is it a sandwich or a cake? However you see it, this British bake is a classic best served at teatime. In between the two layers of tender vanilla cake is a swoosh of your favorite berry jam and a puff of thickly whipped cream.

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6 / 10
Easy Lemon Drizzle Cake

If you want to gift a treat for a lemon lover or someone with a general zest for life, this tender lemon cake with tangy lemon glaze is an easy bake to pull off.

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7 / 10
Easy Strawberry Eton Mess

Think of Eton mess as a deconstructed strawberry shortcake. Crunchy meringue cookies stand in as a delicious alternative to cake, and instead of stacking you get to toss everything together.

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8 / 10
Banoffee Pie

Make no mistake — this British classic pie is a sweet slice, and one that will make you fall back in love with toffee flavors and ripe bananas.

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9 / 10
Mixed Berry Shortcake Trifle

Buttery shortcakes, syrupy berries, and whipped mascarpone cream all collide in this marvelous layered dessert.

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10 / 10
Easy Madeira Cake

This lemon pound cake is the sort of baked good that seems basic, but instead turns out to be exceptionally moreish. You're lying if you say you aren't mesmerized by that crackly sugar crust topping!

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