UK's Favourite Pies Revealed for British Pie Week

Pies are one of the UK’s national dishes and to celebrate British Pie Week 2023 (6th-12th March) we have revealed the UK’s top 10 favourite pies. Why not choose a HelloFresh pie in your food box this British Pie Week?

The UK's Favourite Pies 2023

Analysing the average number of searches per month for each type of pie, the data revealed that cottage’s pie is ranked as the UK’s favourite pie with 74,000 monthly searches, followed by cottage pie at 60,500 and fish pie with over 27,000.

Cottage pie 74,000

Shepherd's pie 60,500

Fish pie 27,100

Chicken and leek pie 14,800

Chicken pie 14,800

Chicken and mushroom pie 12,100

Steak pie 9,000

Cheese and onion pie 8,100

Pork pie 8,100

Steak and ale pie 8,100

Cottage Pie and Shepherd's Pie

Cottage pie came out on top as the UK's favourite pie with over 74,000 monthly searches. With a mashed potato topping and delicious beef filling, cottage pie is a traditional meal that has been around for hundreds of years. Shepherd’s pie (which topped the charts last year) came a close second, with over 60,000 average monthly searches. The difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie being that shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb, whereas cottage pie is made with beef.
Dating back to the 1800s, these classic dishes were a way of using leftover roasted meat and vegetables. Our shepherd's pie recipe is full of flavour and makes for the perfect, family-friendly dinner option.

Fish Pie

Fish pie was the only pie on the top 10 list containing fish, however it did make it into the top three most popular pies in the UK. Similarly to shepherd's and cottage pie, fish pie includes a layer of mashed potatoes as the topping and a creamy fish and seafood filling.
According to sources, the fish pie was likely created for Lent and made up of scraps of fish. Nowadays the dish is made from fresh and smoked fish or seafood in a white or cheddar cheese sauce made from the milk the fish was poached in. Our family fish pie recipe is a hearty meal to enjoy with your family as an evening meal.

Top 10 Vegetarian Pies

cheese and onion pie 8,100
homity pie 6,600
vegetable pie 2,900
vegetarian shepherd's pie 2,900
vegetarian cottage pie 2,400
leek and potato pie 1,900
spinach and feta pie 1,600
mushroom pie 1,300
spinach and ricotta pie 210
winter vegetable pie 110

Cheese and Onion Pie

Topping the list of vegetarian pies in the UK is the humble cheese and onion pie. This pie, also known as a pasty, was traditionally a very popular food for the working classes of Northern England, especially Yorkshire and Lancashire, as it’s easy to make and the ingredients are reasonable compared to meat fillings. Far from its humble beginnings, it’s now one of the most popular pies in the whole of the UK!

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Coming joint third on the top 10 vegetarian pies is a vegetarian version of the UK's favourite. Shepherd's pie ranked number two in the UK for favourite pies so it's no surprise there are people wanting to try a veggie version.
Perfect for those who don't eat meat or those who want to try something new, our Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie recipe is full of colourful vegetables and topped with a creamy mash, the perfect comfort food after a long day!

Homity Pie

A popular veggie choice, leek and potato pie is a go-to when looking for a flavour packed meal. Leek and potato pies come in all sorts of varieties, one of which is the homity pie which ranked second on the top 10 vegetarian pies.
Homity pie is filled with potato, leek and onion and is believed to be from Devon as some call it a ‘Devon pie’. Homity pie became a go-to dish when vegetarianism started to gain popularity in the 1960s. You can create our version of a leek and potato pie with this Leek and Potato Filo Scrunch recipe that is a crispy and delicious crowd-pleaser.

Mimi Morley's Top Pie Tips

HelloFresh Recipe Development Manager, Mimi Morley, has shared her thoughts on Britain's favourite pies: “It’s no surprise shepherd’s pie and cottage pie are still so popular as a staple comfort food. If you want to boost your vegetable intake try incorporating root vegetables in your potato topping for added nutrients or swap normal potatoes for sweet potatoes.

For a change on a traditional pie, try adding an Indian-inspired twist on a classic with a curried paneer pie. For a vegetarian take on shepherd’s pie, replace minced lamb with lentils and your favourite vegetables for a delicious dinner packed with protein.”