A report from HelloFresh, the UK’s leading recipe box provider, reveals how British dinner tables are becoming increasingly globally inspired, with data showing that in 83% of countries worldwide, the most-cooked dish of the year was not native to that market.
Plate of the Nations analyses close to a billion meals sold across 18 countries, showing that UK households are increasingly favouring bold, international flavours, with ‘sticky beef with rice and pepper’ ranking among the UK’s most-cooked dishes of 2025. The findings reflect a wider shift currently underway in tastes, as Asian-inspired dishes now vie for top spot in the favourite cuisine ladder, challenging Italian cuisine’s long-held lead (47% for Italian recipes versus 45% for East Asian recipes in the UK).
The inaugural global trend report also found that in almost every country analysed, international recipes featured in the top three favourite dinners, underlining how global flavours have firmly entered the everyday home-cooking rotation.
The report also shows that cooking is increasingly being used as a way for families to explore new cultures together, with 70% of families saying they use food to discover different cultures from their kitchens and 78% saying they are excited to try dishes from different cultures as a household. This appetite for exploration is reflected in what people are cooking, with many of the most popular meals identified as fusion dishes, a trend the report highlights as one to watch for in 2026.
Younger generations are leading this shift, with Gen Z (79%) and Millennials (81%) the most adventurous in the kitchen, compared to 58% of Baby Boomers who prefer familiar favourites. Social media has become the number one source of meal inspiration, with 70% of people turning to short-form content to discover new recipes, trends and techniques, while recreating dishes enjoyed on holiday (38%) and traditional recipe books (35%) remain important.
Digital inspiration is also helping to drive interest in global cuisines, with African food set to grow significantly in 2026, fuelled by chefs and social creators and rising interest in West African and Caribbean flavours across multiple HelloFresh markets. Almost a quarter (23%) of respondents say meal kits such as HelloFresh encourage them to try more adventurous recipes than they would have otherwise.
Alix McCaffrey, senior director of product at HelloFresh, said: “The HelloFresh report proves that home cooks don’t want to settle for safe choices anymore. Culinary tourism is expanding, and people are no longer waiting for a holiday to discover new food. They are bringing those flavours into their kitchens and recreating the dishes they love at home.
“In the UK test kitchens, we recognise this, and we’re always looking for ways to surprise and excite our customers, ensuring they’re consistently provided with a variety of both international cuisines, classic dishes and family favourites that are easy to create and above all, delicious.
“International cuisines have now fully moved into the mainstream, with a third of people actively wanting to cook and eat more adventurous dishes, and that appetite for exploration is only going to grow.
“One thing is certain: 2026 promises even more culinary creativity, and HelloFresh will be there as the ultimate sous-chef helping households travel the world through food.”
Dining and Cooking