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Bangers and Mash

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Succulent sausages nestled on a bed of buttery mashed potatoes and drenched in a rich onion gravy, Bangers and Mash has been ranked as Great Britain’s #1 most popular comfort food.   This bangers and mash recipe is the ONLY one you’ll ever need!

Serve your bangers and mash with our homemade Onion Gravy and a side of authentic British Mushy Peas!

bangers and mash recipe best authentic traditional homemade how to make sausages onion gravy

Having lived for 7 years in England I was able to tour around the UK and enjoy a lot of delicious home-style pub food.ย  We go back every year to visit and one of the meals we always make a point of ordering is Bangers and Mash.ย  For home-style comfort food itโ€™s really hard to beat those succulent savory sausages embedded in a pile of creamy mashed potatoes and drenched in a rich onion gravy.ย  We’ve already shown you how to make the best homemade bangers and the richest onion gravy and today we’re going to put them together to create the BEST Bangers and Mash recipe that will make your taste buds sing!

What Is Bangers and Mash?

Bangers & Mash is a dish consisting of sausages served with mashed potatoes and onion gravy.  Also known as sausages and mash, it’s a quintessential British dish that’s served throughout Great Britain, traditionally in pubs, and a survey a few years ago ranked it as Britain’s most popular comfort food.

Bangers is slang for sausages and can refer to any number of sausage varieties.  The term surfaced during WWI and became even more widespread during WWII when meat rations were low and sausages had to be made with other inexpensive fillers like rusk or breadcrumbs and a large ratio of water that would result in the sausages bursting with a “bang” when fried.  The term “bangers” stuck and has continued to be used since, specifically in conjunction with the dish known as “bangers and mash.”

While the term “bangers” can refer to a variety of different sausages, in the homemade sausage-making world the term “bangers” has come to be associated with a particular blend of seasonings and key ingredients, including ground mace and breadcrumbs, giving them a unique flavor and texture.  That said, any number of sausage varieties can be and are served with bangers and mash including one known as Cumberland sausage.

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How To Make Bangers from Scratch

Whether you’re a beginning or an expert sausage maker, making your own homemade British bangers is well worth the effort.

Check out our full picture tutorial on how to do it and get our Homemade British Bangers recipe!

bangers recipe homemade english sausages

How To Make Onion Gravy

The other key ingredient in Bangers and Mash is onion gravy.  We’ve had bangers and mash in many a pub and restaurant throughout the UK and have experienced some truly excellent onion gravies as well as the very worst that tasted little more than salty brown water.  Here is a truly excellent, incredibly rich and flavorful onion gravy recipe that we’re confident you’re going to love and it will take your bangers & mash to the highest level possible!

Check out our recipe for the BEST Onion Gravy!

onion gravy recipe best

How To Make the Mash

The final ingredient you’ll need to create your Bangers & Mash is the mash, or mashed potatoes.  Don’t cut corners on this essential part of the dish because texture and flavor are key.  Below are some tips to help you achieve those perfect mashed potatoes.

Which Potatoes are Best?

Different potatoes are best suited for different purposes.  For mashed potatoes that are soft, smooth, creamy and flavorful you’ll want to choose a variety that is high in starch (floury/mealy), but not too high (more on that shortly).  High-starch potatoes will mash more easily and quickly which is important because the more you mash the potatoes the gummier in texture they will become.  The science behind that is that potatoes have starch cells that swell during boiling and when you mash them those starch cells rupture; the more cells that are ruptured, the gluier in texture the potatoes become.

However, if the potatoes are too high in starch they will absorb more water meaning less flavor and non-fluffy, water-logged texture.  While some people use russets for mashed potatoes, they have the highest starch content and are more ideal for baking than for mashing.

On the other side of the starch spectrum are the low-starch potato varieties (i.e., firm, waxy potatoes).  They hold their shape better after boiling and so require more mashing – this leads to overworked potatoes that too often result in a gluey, gummy potato paste.  So avoid low-starch/waxy potatoes.

For the best results, many chefs recommend using medium-starch potatoes such as Yukon Gold.  Not too high or low in starch, Yukons also have a great buttery flavor.  They have a uniform, dense flesh that is resistant to absorbing water and becoming grainy or mushy.  If you’re still partial to russets, you can use half and half.

best potatoes for mashing

ย Pro Tips for the Best Mashed Potatoes:

  • Choose the right variety of potato (see above).
  • Cut the potatoes into large pieces, not small.ย  Small pieces enabled more water to get into the potatoes negatively impacting both texture and flavor.ย  Another option is to boil the potatoes whole with their skins on and peel them while they’re still hot.
  • Avoid overcooking the potatoes.ย  This is one of the most common mistakes.ย  The potatoes end up water-logged and sticky and won’t fluff up properly.
  • Thoroughly drain the potatoes.ย  This is another common mistake and will have the same result as overcooking them.
  • Avoid over-mashing the potatoes (see above for explanation).
  • Mash the potatoes while they’re still hot.
  • Mash your potatoes by hand.ย  Avoid using an electric mixer or food processor which too often results in overworked potatoes.
  • Add the butter first, then the milk.
  • Use hot milk, not cold.
  • Add the liquid gradually to give the potatoes time to absorb the liquid.
  • For the best possible texture pass the potatoes through a ricer or food mill before adding the butter and hot milk.

Bangers and Mash Recipe

And now with your homemade bangers (or quality store-bought sausages), your incredibly delicious homemade onion gravy, and your perfect mashed potatoes, you are ready to sit down to the BEST plate of Bangers and Mash EVER!

To make Bangers and Mash simply:

  • Portion the mashed potatoes out onto plates.
  • Top with a couple of bangers.
  • Pour the onion gravy over everything.

For a traditional side you can serve this with authentic British Mushy Peas.ย  For dessert try our Sticky Toffee Pudding or Treacle Tart! Or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, make our traditional Lardy Cake!

Enjoy!

bangers and mash recipe best authentic traditional homemade how to make sausages onion gravy

For more authentic British dishes, be sure to try our:  

bangers and mash recipe homemade traditional authentic best onion gravy

Bangers and Mash

Succulent sausages on a bed of buttery mashed potatoes and drenched in a rich onion gravy, Bangers and Mash has been ranked as Great Britain's #1 most popular comfort food!ย 
5 from 104 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Entree, Main Course
Cuisine British, english
Servings 4 servings
Calories 891 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 8 high quality pork sausages (pork is traditional but if you don't eat pork you can use chicken sausages, etc)
  • Homemade British Bangers Recipe (highly recommended)
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold or other medium-starch potato , peeled and cut into large (2 inch) uniform chunks (or boiled whole in skins and peeled while hot)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3/4 to 1 cup hot milk (we recommend whole but you can use 2%)
  • 1 batch BEST Homemade Onion Gravy

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Make the onion gravy in advance. See our recipe for the BEST onion gravy.
  • To Make the Mash: Place the potatoes in a pot of water and add the salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a steady simmer and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until they potatoes are just tender when pierced with a knife. Be careful not to over-boil them.
    Thoroughly drain the potatoes and place them back in the empty pot set over very low heat just to maintain warmth. If using a ricer or food mill (this creates the most optimal texture), run the potatoes through it now while they're hot. If using a hand masher mash the potatoes while they're hot. (Avoid using an electric mixer or food processor. See blog post for explanation.) Mash the potatoes until fluffy and you've reached the desired degree of smoothness. Be careful not to over-mash or the potatoes will become gluey.
    Use a spoon to stir in the butter. Once melted stir in the hot milk gradually, allowing time for the potatoes to absorb the liquid after each addition. Add more hot milk as needed to achieve desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • To Prepare the Sausages: While the potatoes are boiling place the sausages in a baking dish with a little oil and roast the sausages for about 10 minutes on each side or until nicely browned. (Alternatively you can fry the sausages but baking them creates an especially nice crispy outer shell with a juicy interior.) For sausage-making enthusiasts we highly recommend our Homemade British Bangers.
  • To serve, place a mound of mashed potatoes on each plate, lay the sausages on the mashed potatoes and top with onion gravy. Peas are a traditional side.

Nutrition

Serving: 2sausages with mash and gravyCalories: 891kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 45gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 41gCholesterol: 197mgSodium: 1771mgPotassium: 1557mgFiber: 9gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1321IUVitamin C: 36mgCalcium: 174mgIron: 12mg
Keyword Bangers and Mash
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet October 31, 2019

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, Iโ€™m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




5 from 104 votes (62 ratings without comment)

86 Comments

  1. I’ve had bangers and mash in England, Scotland, Ireland, and in several states within the U.S. but I have never had them as good as this. Kimberly, you deserve an award for your onion gravy. But at the very least you have my highest praise. Now I’m off to gather up the ingredients to make another round for a games night I’m hosting later this week. Because when you find something this good, it has to be shared.

  2. Absolutely the BEST bangers and mash I’ve ever had. The onion gravy is a true work of art. A big thank you from the whole family.

  3. This was absolutely exquisite! The onion gravy exceeded my expectations and this was hands down the best I’ve had!

  4. I made your onion gravy with some locally sourced bangers and mashed potatoes and it was hands down the best bangers and mash I’ve ever had. This onion gravy is a total game changer. I just need to pick up the casings and next time I’ll be making the homemade bangers. Can’t wait.

  5. You made me a star at the dinner table tonight, Kimberly. Rave reviews from everybody. The onion gravy was absolutely stellar.

  6. Absolutely phenomenal. I was hoping to find a recipe that was a good as the bangers and mash I had in several restaurants in Ireland and England and instead I found one that tastes even BETTER. The onion gravy is a showstopper.

  7. I adore this recipe. I’ve made it several times and its on repeat in my house. Perfect! The Onion Gravy is everythng!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. Fantastic recipes. I bought English bangers from a local butcher.

    The onion gravy is amazing. I am a good cook. have been cooking for decades and I improved my mash potatoes and gravy with these recipes.

    I highly recommend

  9. With apologies, I don’t know what kind of sausage you normally use, but I tried your baking suggestion and the bangers I used not only didn’t brown, after 20 minutes they weren’t completely cooked. I ended up just frying them.

  10. You have to make your gravy in the same pan you fried the sausages. This is absolutely vital. Otherwise the gravy will not be any good.

  11. Delicious. I don’t usually follow full instructions, but I did on this, and was impressed. I crave bangers & mash about once a year but live in Dallas. It’s not good at restaurants here. This was on point to satisfy my craving!

  12. My parents gave me a pack of bangers, which I had never eaten before. I had no idea how to cook them, or if I would even like them, but Iโ€™m always willing to try new foods. I found this recipe and decided to give it a try, considering all of the positive reviews. I made them exactly according to the recipe. I also used the recipe for the onion gravy that was attached to this recipe. Everything was amazing! I normally hate gravy, but even that was delicious. I will definitely be making this again (if I can figure out where to buy more bangers)

  13. Absolutely amazing gravy! This whole dish was a huge hit with everyone and I expect I will be making it many more times in the future. Did go to a market that sold really good sausages.

  14. This was very good, even tho I didn’t have real British bangers. There is something so comforting about meat and potatoes, in this case with a wonderful gravy. I used bratwurst and that worked well, but I’m wondering if pork breakfast sausages might work even better? Served along with some frozen green beans. An inexpensive, soul satisfying, easy and economical meal. Thank you, Kimberly!