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

75 Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants (19)

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 is America's #1 comfort food? ›

Become a Jetsetter
  • 1 Chicken and Waffles.
  • 2 Spaghetti and Meatballs.
  • 3 Chicken Fried Steak.
  • 4 Mac and Cheese.
  • 5 Hotdish.
  • 6 Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.
  • 7 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
  • 8 Matzo Ball Soup.
Mar 1, 2020

What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

Here is the top 10:
  • Pizza.
  • Burger.
  • Ramen.
  • Paella.
  • Pierogi.
  • Moussaka.
  • Boeuf Bourgignon.
  • Eisbein.
May 24, 2023

What are some American comfort foods? ›

Exploring Nationwide Favorite Comfort Foods

In fact, some restaurants across the country have built entire menus around customizable grilled cheese masterpieces. Other comfort foods that were popular across many states were fried chicken, chicken and waffles, chili, and pot roast.

What is America's favorite food? ›

According to a recent poll, pizza is officially America's favorite food.

What is the most loved food? ›

Pizza has rightfully earned its place as the world's most beloved food. This Italian creation has become a staple in numerous countries, with endless variations to suit every taste bud. Whether you prefer thin crust or deep dish, classic Margherita, or loaded pepperoni, pizza has something for everyone.

What do Mexicans eat when they have a cold? ›

In fact, it is common for people in Mexico to make a strong garlic tea when they get sick. Garlic is great for preventing and fighting flu and cold viruses.

What do Mexicans eat when its hot? ›

We look at a few but savory Mexican dishes that would make perfect summer cuisines.
  • Ceviche. ...
  • Tacos Al Pastor. ...
  • Carne Asada. ...
  • Grilled Fajitas. ...
  • Mexican-Style Street Corn. ...
  • Shrimp and Chorizo Sausage. ...
  • Guac and Tostadas. ...
  • Brisket.
Apr 28, 2021

What food do Mexicans love? ›

Even though we sometimes crave pizza, sushi, pasta, or sandwiches, we Mexicans LOVE tacos, tortas, enchiladas, scrambled eggs, broths, quesadillas, and homemade stews, provided they're prepared with love and our national seasoning.

What are the top 5 comfort foods? ›

We hope you all enjoy some of the following dishes, as these are our all-time favorite comfort foods.
  • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. ...
  • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
  • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
  • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
  • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
  • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
  • 8 of 20. Fries.
5 days ago

What are some happy food? ›

12 Mood-Boosting Foods: Eat Your Way to Happiness!
  • Dark chocolate. Rich in flavonoids, dark chocolate has been linked to increased serotonin levels which may help alleviate symptoms of depression. ...
  • Bananas. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Oily fish. ...
  • Nuts and seeds. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Avocados.
Oct 12, 2023

What are Southern comfort foods? ›

Some favorite Southern comfort recipes
  • Quick Hoppin' John Soup.
  • Brunswick Stew.
  • Ham with Redeye Gravy.
  • Great-Grandmother Steinbeck's Johnnycake (Cornbread)
  • Chicken and Dumplings IV.
  • Grandma Oma's Pickled Okra.
  • Southern Style Holiday Greens.
  • Oklahoma Cheese Grits.
May 20, 2021

What is a comfort food when you are not feeling well? ›

From toast to grilled cheese to peanut butter & jelly, simple sandwiches are a popular comfort food when sick. Bread is part of the BRAT diet. The BRAT diet consists of easily digestible, doctor-recommended foods that you may eat when you have an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

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 are comfort stress foods? ›

Examples of comfort foods include items like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, chili, pizza, and ice cream. “In early human development, life-threatening stressors were frequent, and food was scarce,” explained Dorsey. “The uptake in energy storage while under stress may have had adaptive features at this time.

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