International dishes gaining popularity, says HelloFresh

The research, which analysed close to a billion meals across 18 countries, revealed that UK households are moving towards international flavours, with ‘sticky beef with rice and pepper’ ranking among the top UK cooked dishes in 2025.

East Asian recipes are now gaining popularity in the UK, compared to Italian cuisine’s long-held lead.

The report also found that in almost every country studied, international dishes were part of the top three favourite dinners.

Younger generations are leading the shift towards trying different recipes, with 79% of Gen Z and 81% of Millennials being the most adventurous in the kitchen compared to 58% of Baby Boomers who prefer familiar favourites.

Almost three quarters (70%) of people turn to short-form content on social media to find new recipes, trends and techniques, while recreating dishes from holidays and traditional recipe books account for 38% and 35%, respectively.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents said that meal kits such as HelloFresh encouraged them to try more adventurous recipes than they would have otherwise.

Alix McCaffrey, senior director of product at HelloFresh, said: “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.

“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.”