Matt Preston gets cosy with one of his favourite comfort food recipes.

We’ve taken this Scottish classic of minced beef and mashed potato and turned it into a handsome pie, perfect for cooler nights. 

This easy recipe is perfect for a cold winter’s day when you feel like lasagne but don’t feel like waiting. On the table in 35 minutes, it’s super-comforting, with silky sheets of pasta, tasty meatballs and gooey melted cheese.

This easy mushroom pie is the perfect warming meal for any day of the week. Ideal as a vegetarian pie option, this delicious savoury pie delivers on all fronts.

There's nothing saintly about this beauty of a dish – it's all decadence. The rich, sweet-and-savoury sauce coating these melting lamb shanks makes every mouthful a memorable one, especially when served over an impossibly smooth and buttery Paris mash. Prime your ovens, people – you're going to be making this one all winter long. You'll need to start this recipe 3 hours ahead.

"There are a million ways to roast a chicken. I like to sprinkle it with salt on the morning of the day I want to cook it, or a day in advance, if I’m organised. Before that, I leave the chicken, uncovered, in the fridge, even if I don’t intend to cook it for another 3-4 days. This helps to dry out the skin. The drier the skin going into the oven, the more golden-brown the chicken will be coming out. Probably the most important factor is the quality of the bird. An organic, heritage-breed chicken is always going to be tastier, so if you can afford the extra money, you will be rewarded." - Danielle Alvarez

"Frozen paratha (South Asian flatbread) has become a freezer staple in my kitchen. Crisp and flaky, they make every saucy curry that little more delicious. Here we’ve popped them over an easy chicken curry to make this weeknight dinner a little more fun." - Lucy Nunes

“Nothing screams comfort like a cheesy lasagne, and this one gives you extra ragu for another day. My best tip for less-waste, less-fuss cooking is to make a double batch. You’re going through the process anyway, so put twice as much in the pan.” – Tom Walton

There's comfort food, and then there's this goulash potato bake. Crispy-thin slices of buttery baked potato over a melt-in-the-mouth base of rich and tender beef cooked low and slow with herbs, spices, and all the good stuff. It's so simple, yet so utterly delicious. You’ll need a 30cm round shallow casserole with a lid for this recipe.

This dish combines comforting saucy risoni and tender chicken with a crispy golden skin. Toasting the risoni gives it a nutty flavour and a chewy texture. It’s well worth the extra step.  You’ll need a deep, flameproof 3L-capacity baking dish for this recipe (or see recipe notes).

“Adding ground dried mushrooms to this dish gives the sauce an irresistibly rich, umami flavour.” – Lucy Nunes. You’ll need a 30cm x 22cm baking dish for this recipe.

“You can’t eat lamb without mint sauce,” says Matt Moran of this recipe for his signature lamb shoulder. You’ll need to start this recipe a day ahead. The flavours of the slow-roasted lamb develop beautifully over time, so it will make great leftovers the next day. Bring lamb to room temperature before shredding, and toss through salad leaves, using the mint salsa as a dressing.

Switch the chicken stock for vegetable stock to make this classic side vegetarian.

Craving something comforting but short on time? This quick and easy butter chicken soup nails the brief. Ready in 30 minutes, this sweet and creamy soup is the perfect midweek dinner to make for the whole family.

With buttery flaky golden cornbreads on top, this easy one-pan Mexican dish is comfort food at its best. We’ve added chopped pickled jalapenos to the cornbread for a quick flavour hit, but you can leave them out, or serve alongside.