75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (2024)

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (1)

Had a bad day? Feeling under the weather? Missing home? We’ve ALL been there. What you need is a little comfort food. We’ve got everything from classics like meatloaf and casseroles to cold weather favorites like chili and soup, and lots in between (like the Internet-famous baked feta pasta). We’ve even got some recipes you can make in one of your trusty kitchen appliances, like your air fryer or Instant Pot (comfort is practically synonymous with convenience in our book). Check out our 75 comfort food recipes for ideas—they’re sure to soothe your soul and nourish your body.

When it comes to comfort food, it’s really all about personal preference. Some of these recipes will speak to you, and some won’t—that’s okay! That said, there are a few tried and true shortcuts to that perfect warm and cozy feeling that comfort food should bring. The first is obvious—if you’re looking to feel all warm and cozy, go for foods that are (literally!) served piping hot, like soups and stews. We’ve included some of our favorites, like our lasagna soup, our white bean chicken chili, our beef stew, or our chicken matzo ball soup, but really, any will work. Weight of the world got you down? Making foods you loved as a kid can help remind you of simpler times and help take the edge off, if even just over dinner. Try our , our goulash, our sloppy Joes, or our copycat Hamburger Helper—we bet you’ll feel a little more relaxed in no time.

Want more comfort food ideas? Check out our favorite slow-cooker recipes, our top pasta recipes, and our favorite desserts too (sometimes all you need is a little sweet treat to pick up your mood!).

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1

Chicken Pot Pie

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (3)

Truly comfort food at its finest, chicken pot pie represents the addictive marriage of a flaky, buttery crust with diced chicken, onions, carrots, and peas in a creamy sauce. While it's a dish that you can easily find pre-made in almost any grocery freezer aisle, we strongly believe that making your own is worth it.

Get the Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

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2

Classic Meatloaf

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Meatloaf is an old-school recipe that everyone should know how to make. It might not be the sexiest piece of food, but beauty is in the eye of the behold and damn, is it comforting—especially in a sandwich the next day OR with a fried egg on top.

Get the Classic Meatloaf recipe.

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3

Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup

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Cozy and nourishing, we crave matzo ball soup pretty much year-round. Although schmaltz (AKA chicken fat) and chicken broth are typically included in this classic Ashkenazi Jewish soup, it’s not hard to swap in vegetarian-friendly ingredients.

Get the Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup recipe.

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4

Copycat Hamburger Helper

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Though we went above and beyond by making fresh pasta and grinding our own meat here, Hamburger Helper is all about the convenience, so you can easily swap in store-bought pasta (pick a shape that will really hug the sauce) and pre-ground beef.

Get the Copycat Hamburger Helper recipe.

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5

Beef Stew

Beef stew is a comfort food essential. It's a perfect meal all on its own, but we also love beef stew served over some al dente egg noodles. Want something a little heartier? Try ladling a bit of stew over some garlic mash.

Get the Beef Stew recipe.

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6

Southern Baked Mac & Cheese

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Chef Millie Peartree's baked is famous for many reasons, the top of which is that she puts an ENTIRE layer of extra cheese in between two layers of (already cheesy) macaroni. Game. Changer.

Get the .

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7

Sloppy Joes

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This homemade sloppy Joe recipe is the ultimate comforting weeknight win. Particularly if you find yourself asking, how far can I stretch this package of ground beef? Six servings, one skillet, and it’s on the table in 30 minutes.

Get the Sloppy Joes recipe.

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8

Spaghetti and Meatballs

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If you're looking for a super-simple, comforting, no-frills bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, you've come to the right place. And if you're feeling adventurous, it's also a great jumping-off point to make your own version of this classic dish!

Get the Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.

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9

Cheesy Baked Burritos

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The exact origin story of the wonderful and beloved Mexican burrito is unknown, but it's believed to have first appeared on an American restaurant menu at El Cholo Spanish Cafe in LA during the 1930s. Today, it takes many forms—from egg-filled breakfast burritos to deep-fried burritos (aka chimichangas) to smothered, "wet burritos." This is the latter.

Get the Cheesy Baked Burritos recipe.

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10

Chicken & Waffles

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Making fried chicken and waffles at the same time is quite a feat, but this soul food classic is worth the effort. We think the best course of action is to get your chicken in a buttermilk brine, whip up your waffles and pop 'em in a 200° oven to stay warm. THEN take out your chicken, bread, and fry.

Get the .

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11

Tater Tot Casserole

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This casserole is a total guilty pleasure. If you're trying to lighten it up, ground turkey or chicken would be a delicious swap out for the beef. If green veggies are more your thing (we're impressed!), top the casserole with zucchini tater tots in place of the potato variety.

Get the Tater Tot Casserole recipe.

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12

French Onion Soup

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Our recipe is special for two reasons: Firstly, we use white wine or sherry instead of red wine, and secondly, we use a combo of chicken stock and beef stock. Nothing beats the warm comfort of caramelized onions, toasty bread, and melty Gruyère.

Get the French Onion Soup recipe.

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13

Perfect Buttered Noodles

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Buttered noodles are the perfectly simple and always comforting dish of our childhood that we never grew out of. For those nights when you need something fast and have no time or energy to cook, keep it a relaxed affair: A bowl of these noodles will feed you in under 30 minutes from start to finish.

Get the Perfect Buttered Noodles recipe.

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14

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (29)

You know what’s great? Mashed potatoes. You know what’s even better? Roasted garlic mashed potatoes! That extra-savory flavor from melty, roasted garlic adds the perfect kick to classic mashed spuds. (We also add a splash of tangy balsamic vinegar to kick them up a notch.)

Get the Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

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15

Classic Lasagna

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (31)

We took a couple shortcuts for this recipe by using store-bought marinara and boxed pasta sheets. Trust us, it saves a ton of time without sacrificing any flavor.

Get the Classic Lasagna recipe.

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16

Massaman Curry

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A fusion between Thai, Indian, and Malaysian cuisines, this mildly sweet curry features tender braised beef, potatoes, and onions simmered in a richly spiced, aromatic coconut broth. Served over rice, there’s nothing more satisfying and delicious.

Get the Massaman Curry recipe.

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17

Green Bean Casserole

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (35)

For this recipe, we ditched the canned cream of mushroom soup, and went for fresh instead. By sautéing mushrooms with thinly sliced onion in butter, you're building a base with some serious depth of flavor. Cook the mushrooms enough that they get a little caramelized, and you'll really be good to go.

Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.

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18

Classic Cheeseburger

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There are about a million ways to top a hamburger, and we're not here to tell you what goes onto your patty. It is our duty to make sure that you're cooking burgers as best as you possibly can. Our golden rules: Be sure to let the meat come to room temperature and season generously with salt and pepper before you grill up.

Get the Classic Cheeseburger recipe.

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19

One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (39)

Looking for a hearty, comforting weeknight dinner? Our smoky vegetarian chili mac is here to save the day! It all comes together in one pot, and it's SUPER versatile. Throw in your favorite bean and pasta shape, melt in your favorite cheese, and top with whatever you like, as long as it's crunchy.

Get the One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac recipe.

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20

Loco Moco

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (41)

This Hawaiian comfort food dish represents the greatest parts of breakfast, lunch, and dinner—it’s generally a pile of rice with a hamburger smothered in brown gravy, all topped off with a fried egg.

Get the Loco Moco recipe.

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (2024)

FAQs

What's your go to comfort food best answer? ›

Fried chicken: a classic comfort food because of its crispy texture and the positive memories of picnics and gatherings. Mac and cheese: macaroni noodles in cheese sauce are simple to cook and perfectly balance carbs and proteins.

What are comfort foods when feeling down? ›

Comfort foods, the study found, actually do make us feel less sad. So what were the top seven items on my poll? Mac and cheese hit the No. 1 spot, followed by beef stew, apple pie and ice cream, chicken and dumplings/chicken pot pie, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, bread pudding and fried chicken.

What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

As of Q3 2022, hamburgers, mashed potatoes, and cheeseburgers were the most popular American dishes in the United States. About 84 percent of respondents had a positive opinion of each of the three dishes.

What is most peoples favorite food? ›

Pizza is certainly one of the most popular foods in the world, and the survey proved that Americans love it the most. The most popular toppings on pizza in the U.S. are pepperoni, extra cheese, mushroom, and onions. According to Hungry Howie's, “62% of pizza lovers prefer meat while 38% prefer veggies.”

What's America's favorite food? ›

Hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, barbeque, steak, macaroni and cheese, and apple pie are a few of the most well-known foods in American cooking.

What are the top five comfort foods? ›

Some popular American comfort foods include:
  • Macaroni and cheese.
  • Fried chicken.
  • Mashed potatoes and gravy.
  • Meatloaf.
  • Pot roast.
  • Chicken and dumplings.
  • Chili.
  • Grilled cheese sandwich.
Mar 8, 2011

Why do people love comfort foods? ›

But what exactly makes them so irresistible? According to research, our cravings for comfort food are deeply rooted in psychology. These foods often trigger feelings of nostalgia and emotional comfort, providing a sense of security and familiarity in times of stress or sadness.

Why pizza is your comfort food? ›

Eating pizza can cause a real good-feeling chemical, dopamine, to be released in our brains. This chemical helps us feel pleasure and reward when eating delicious food like pizza.

What foods do you crave when sad? ›

Many people crave carbohydrates -- especially cookies, candy, or ice cream -- when they feel upset, depressed, or tired. "Carb craving is part of daily life," says Judith Wurtman, PhD, a former scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet.

What to make for dinner when you're sad? ›

Here are 6 super easy meals that get you those key nutrients that can help with managing anxiety and depression:
  • Goats Cheese and Bean Salad. Goats Cheese and Bean Salad. ...
  • Spaghetti Bolognese. ...
  • Haloumi and Mango Salad. ...
  • Salmon with Asian Greens and Rice. ...
  • Toasted Smoked Salmon Wrap. ...
  • Toasted Pine Nut and Chicken Pasta.
May 15, 2023

What are Southern comfort foods? ›

What is Southern comfort food? my idea of Southern comfort foods: biscuits, cornbread, collards, ham, fried chicken, turkey and dressing, field peas and rice, fried green tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, 16 layered chocolate (or caramel ) cake .

Is pizza a comfort food? ›

One thing that all comfort foods have in common is that they fill you up. Have you ever heard of a comfort food that leaves you feeling slightly unsatisfied and a little hungry? Of course not! Pizza is a fantastic comfort food because it's hot and delicious, but it also fills you up completely.

What is the best food for dinner in USA? ›

american dinner
  • Chicken Thighs with Creamy Bacon Mushroom Thyme Sauce. ...
  • Skillet Chicken Thighs with Creamy Tomato Basil Spinach Sauce. ...
  • Creamy Balsamic Skillet Chicken - Lovely Little Kitchen. ...
  • Pan Seared Italian Chicken Thighs. ...
  • Garlic Shrimp and Quinoa. ...
  • 6-Ingredient Mexican-Style Quinoa Salad.

What foods are feel good foods? ›

Here are 9 healthy foods that may boost your mood.
  • Fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential fats that you must obtain through your diet because your body can't produce them on its own. ...
  • Dark chocolate. ...
  • Fermented foods. ...
  • Bananas. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Nuts and seeds. ...
  • Coffee.
Feb 5, 2020

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