KNORR AND THE HAIRY BIKERS LAUNCH SEARCH FOR BRITAIN’S BEST BOLOGNESE

Spaghetti Bolognese is one of the most cooked dishes in the UK, made over 500 million times a year2, with 20% of Brits claiming they do it better than Italians according to new research from Knorr1. However, the nation remains divided on the right way to make Spag Bol.

Despite Spag Bol’s status on the global stage, research reveals some shocking criticism, with almost two thirds of those polled believing the British Spag Bol is bland or boring (63%)1, and one in 10 Brits not knowing the best way to add flavour to the dish1.

In a bid to remedy this, Knorr is teaming up with The Hairy Bikers to get Spag Bol-loving Brits to share their take on the humble dish and be in with a chance of participating in a live ‘Cook-Off’ style competition. The winner will be crowned Britain’s Best Spag Bol by The Hairy Bikers and have their recipe featured on Knorr’s Beef Stock pot on store shelves nationwide next year. If you think you have what it takes, submit your entry via the Knorr website.

Hairy Biker, David Myers, says: “We’re chuffed to be working with Knorr on its search for Britain’s best Spag Bol, or as I like to call it, Spag Bog! There will be some vital things we’ll be looking for in the winning recipe – whether that’s with a unique ingredient or a family recipe that’s been passed down through generations. We want the dish to have that perfect balance between flavour and originality.”

Brits have admitted to adding some very unusual and unique ingredients to their Bolognese in an attempt to bring that extra flavour twist, including most popularly mushrooms (31%), followed by chilli powder (16%) and soy sauce (11%). Almost a quarter of Brits (23%) say they opt for stock as their secret ingredient1.

Hairy Biker, Si King, says: “The two secret ingredients I swear by is firstly, popping a Knorr beef stock into the sauce to simmer, and then the rind of my parmesan cheese! Together they add cracking flavour to the dish and always have me going back for seconds. I’m excited to see the interesting ways Brits like to make their Spag Bols and can’t wait to taste all the different variations of the dish.”

There is more to Spag Bol than being just a reliable mid-week meal; every Brit has a different way of creating the dish, with each recipe holding its own special story. It’s revealed that over a third (35%) of the nation use a family recipe that has been passed down through generations1, with almost half of Brits (44%) reminiscing on being taught how to make their first Spag Bol by a family member 1.

Taking a deep dive into the dish’s popularity among households, the research reveals that Brits cook Spag Bol three times a week1. For younger Brits, recipe inspiration largely comes from online and social platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram (42%)1 with Gen Z eager to discover exciting and unique flavours3. In fact, mentions of Spaghetti Bolognese is up 32% from last year, with over 52.9m uses of #spagbol on TikTok4.

Inna Elwell, Senior Marketing Manager at Unilever UK&I, says: “At Knorr, we are passionate about scratch cooking and helping home cooks bring extra flavour to their everyday dishes. We all know Brits love a Spag Bol, but the fact that it’s cooked 3 to 4 times a week is a true testament to the nation’s obsession with the dish. What better way to celebrate than to bring together the best home cooks from all over the country to compete in a competition cook-off and give them the recognition they deserve. Together, with The Hairy Bikers, we are on a mission to uncover the ultimate Spag Bol and show the nation just how easy it is to elevate their everyday favourite meal with Knorr.”

To enter the competition and find recipe inspiration that’ll give your everyday favourite dishes more flavour, head to https://www.knorr.com/uk/BritainsBestBol.html or pick up a Knorr stock pot at your nearest retailer. All terms and conditions of entry are included online.