Enjoy this gooey cheese and chicken pasta bake for the ultimate weekday family dinner. Serve straight from the dish with a dressed green salad

Bake this festive fruit cake in advance of Christmas and feed it regularly with rum, brandy or whisky to build the flavour and keep it moist

Upgrade cheesy tomato pasta with gnocchi, chorizo and mozzarella for a comforting bake that makes an excellent midweek meal

This deliciously moist alternative to the traditional pudding was conjured up by combining sticky toffee pudding and carrot cake

An easy-to-make alternative to traditional Christmas cakes which requires no beating

Love crinkle cookies? Try our extra-festive version for Christmas, with orange zest, mixed spice and cinnamon – and not forgetting the classic fudgy centre

Cross a Christmas pudding with a cheesecake and what do you get? A fantastic alternative festive dessert with a crunchy ginger base and creamy filling

Oven-cook your favourite soft cheese until gooey for this last-minute crowd-pleaser. An easy recipe for a dinner party or when entertaining at Christmas

Cook this simple storecupboard risotto in the oven while you get on with something else – the result is still wonderfully creamy

Bake a satisfying vegetarian loaf with lentils, chestnut mushrooms and cheese to go with all the classic roast dinner trimmings.

Substitute eggs for chia seeds in this vegan take on a traditional Christmas cake. The coconut oil adds a great background flavour and keeps the cake moist

Combine a few key Christmas flavours here to make a pie that both children and adults will adore

Combine the best bits of a Christmas dinner in one moreish bite with these canapés. Ideal for a festive buffet

Take a fresh look at broccoli with this creamy pasta bake

Combine two favourites – bolognese and stuffed pasta shells – to make the ultimate pasta bake. Serve bubbling from the oven for true comfort food

Make this easy baked chicken arrabbiata with tomatoes, peppers and spinach for a simple midweek meal, then freeze any leftovers. Serve with pasta

No need to choose between tangy tomato or creamy cheese sauce – this easy bake, with turkey mince and mascarpone, has the best of both

A great way to get kids to eat spinach, this comforting sausage supper dish is also perfect for a hungry crowd

If you're sick of the same old Christmas sides, perk up your parsnips with some celeriac

Transform ratatouille into a bake with a layer of cheese sauce and you won't look back. It makes a great late summer dish and delivers three of your 5-a-day

Mix up your festive main with this fabulous Christmas dinner Wellington. A make-ahead meal in one, it incorporates stuffing and cranberry sauce, so all you need to think about on the big day is the veg and gravy

A homemade Christmas pudding is easy to make, then it just needs time in the steamer to turn it into a glorious, rich, fruity dessert. A festive classic

Serve this budget-friendly baked gnocchi with tomatoes, mozzarella, capers and olives for a delicious midweek family meal when you're short on time

A comforting veggie main packed with rich Italian flavours

Whip up this cheap treat using storecupboard ingredients, tinned tuna and sweetcorn

Combine red peppers, tomato, orzo and olives in a casserole dish to make this easy vegetarian one pot. The bubbling mozzarella topping is particularly special

Switch up your traditional Christmas pudding with this sticky toffee version. It's a great modern twist on the classic festive dessert

Mix dried fruit, nuts, cranberries and maple syrup on Stir-up Sunday for this crowd-pleasing Christmas cake that improves as it keeps

A simple but very impressive pud, light enough to have a slice to finish a big meal

This dish can be assembled ready for baking a good few hours ahead - and it's all cooked in one pan