62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (2024)

    Just gonna leave this right here.

    by Hannah LoewentheilBuzzFeed Staff

    Look, I'm not going to tell you that a comforting meal can fix the state of the world. But really, when has a big bowl of mac 'n' cheese ever NOT made you feel even just a *little* bit better?

    Here are a whole bunch of cozy recipes that will boost your spirits during uncertain times, dreary weather, an exhausting election, a global pandemic, the list goes on...

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (2)

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    Julie's Eats and Treats / Via julieseatsandtreats.com

    Fluffy, buttery, and chocolate-y, these pancakes check all the boxes for the perfect treat-yourself breakfast, or breakfast for dinner.

    Recipe: Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes

    Cooking For My Soul / Via cookingformysoul.com

    Opt for challah in order to make the chewiest, eggiest, most decadent French toast. This version is filled with a light and airy strawberry and whipped cream mixture, but you can always leave it un-stuffed.

    Recipe: Stuffed Challah French Toast

    Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

    Grab a bag of tortilla chips, some eggs, canned black beans, and a jar of store-bought salsa verde or red enchilada sauce for this Mexican-inspired breakfast.

    Recipe: Chilaquiles (Verdes or Rojos)

    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    The secret to light and silky soft boiled eggs is to cook them over low heat super slowly, stirring constantly until they're just barely set.

    Recipe: Soft Scrambled Eggs

    Lemon Tree Dwelling / Via lemontreedwelling.com

    Start with store-bought biscuit dough to easily whip up this new take on the classic BEC breakfast sandwich.

    Recipe: Bacon Egg and Cheese Monkey Bread

    6. Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (3)

    Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com

    For the best French toast, use stale white bread. It soaks up just enough of the egg mixture but still manages to get nice and crispy on the outside.

    Recipe: Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

    7. Breakfast Pizza With Kale Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (4)

    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    If there's an egg on it, it counts as breakfast. That's the rule!

    Recipe: Breakfast Pizza With Kale Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes

    8. Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

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    Chew Out Loud / Via chewoutloud.com

    Made with thick cut bacon, ground sausage, eggs, sharp cheddar, and frozen tater tots, what else could you want in a breakfast casserole?

    Recipe: Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

    9. Eggs in Purgatory With Chile Butter and Feta

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    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    Look, we're not going to say the chile butter is a waste of time, but this dish still tastes heavenly without it if you're looking for a minimal effort recipe. Make these spicy baked eggs for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

    Recipe: Eggs in Purgatory With Chile Butter and Feta

    Laughing Spatula / Via laughingspatula.com

    Poaching eggs can be a pain, but this casserole is an easy way to enjoy all the flavors of eggs Benedict without all the effort. Just don't skimp on the hollandaise sauce — it's the icing on the cake (or the drizzle on the casserole, so to speak).

    Recipe: Eggs Benedict Casserole

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (7)

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    Life in the Lofthouse / Via life-in-the-lofthouse.com

    This cozy casserole comes together with just five ingredients: egg noodles, ground beef, condensed cream of mushroom soup, store-bought French onion dip, and fried onions.

    Recipe: French Onion Beef Casserole

    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    There's nothing tricky about making lasagna from scratch. Just layer lasagna noodles, browned ground beef, tomato sauce, and the ricotta mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly.

    Recipe: Classic Meat Lasagna

    Life Made Simple Bakes / Via lifemadesimplebakes.com

    This from-scratch pad Thai sauce comes together with sugar, tamarind concentrate, soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and red pepper flakes. If you don't want chicken, swap in your favorite protein like shrimp or tofu.

    Recipe: Homemade Pad Thai

    Dinner at the Zoo / Via dinneratthezoo.com

    This Eastern European-style recipe is basically beef and rice meatballs that are wrapped in cabbage leaves and baked in a bright and tangy tomato sauce seasoned with sugar and red wine vinegar.

    Recipe: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

    16. Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (8)

    Daily Appetite / Via dailyappetite.com

    Make a big batch of slow cooker meatballs and you can freeze them for future meals. Toss a few meatballs into a hotdog bun with some melted cheese for an effortless sub sandwich.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

    Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com

    If you have the time, try slow cooking the meat sauce. Just let it simmer for two to three hours over low heat and the Bolognese will become super tender and flavorful.

    Recipe: Spaghetti Bolognese

    Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

    While beef stew takes a while to cook, the only cooking skill required here is patience. Just add the ingredients to your slow cooker and let dinner make itself.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stew

    Oh Sweet Basil / Via ohsweetbasil.com

    If you need to cut down on cooking time or want to save some effort, store-bought biscuit dough makes a perfectly delicious pot pie crust.

    Recipe: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

    The Cozy Cook / Via thecozycook.com

    Keep a can of cream of mushroom soup on hand for easy recipes like this crowd-pleasing casserole. You basically just dump all the ingredients into a baking dish and let it cook.

    Recipe: Chicken Noodle Casserole

    21. 15-Minute Udon and Vegetable Stir Fry

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (9)

    Seasons and Suppers / Via seasonsandsuppers.ca

    You can find fresh, vacuum-packed udon noodles at most grocery stores, and swapping these guys for basic spaghetti or instant ramen seriously upgrades your average stir-fry.

    Recipe: 15-Minute Udon and Vegetable Stir Fry

    Mom On Time Out / Via momontimeout.com, Mom on Time Out / Via momontimeout.com

    Once you've tried this from-scratch version, good luck ever going back to the boxed stuff. There's something about the combination of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheese beneath the crispy bread crumb topping that is pretty irresistable.

    Recipe: Baked Mac 'n' Cheese

    Diethood / Via diethood.com

    You'll want to plan ahead when making this hearty French onion soup because it takes the majority of the day to slow cook. That being said, once you add the ingredients to the Crock Pot, all you really have to do is wait.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

    The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com

    Chicken cutlets get dredged in eggs and breadcrumbs, pan-fried until golden and crispy, then baked beneath a heaping spoonful of marinara sauce and lots of mozzarella cheese.

    Recipe: Crispy Chicken Parmesan

    25. Homemade Meatloaf

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (10)

    Whisk it Real Gud / Via whiskitrealgud.com

    Meatloaf may not be the sexiest dinner, but it just always tastes like home. For the most flavor, avoid using lean ground beef.

    Recipe: Homemade Meatloaf

    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    These Japanese-style chicken cutlets are breaded in panko and sooo delightfully crispy. Serve them over rice with some cabbage and ponzu sauce.

    Recipe: Crispy Chicken Katsu

    Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com

    Store-bought ravioli is your dinnertime secret weapon. Tossed in a simple sundried tomato cream sauce, you've got a meal fancy enough for date night.

    Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Ravioli

    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    If you like buffalo wings, you'll love these easy meatballs. Serve them on a big bed of rice or on a salad with blue cheese and celery.

    Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

    Yellow Bliss Road / Via yellowblissroad.com

    Making restaurant-quality enchiladas at home is surprisingly easy. Just roll up seasoned beef in tortillas, then top with cheese and enchilada sauce and pop it into the oven. You can also swap the beef for ground chicken, turkey, or even a mix of black beans and sweet potato.

    Recipe: Ground Beef Enchiladas

    Foodie's Terminal / Via foodiesterminal.com

    You can make this take-out classic in your own kitchen using egg noodles or spaghetti and whatever veggies and protein you have on hand.

    Recipe: Chicken Lo Mein

    31. Vegetable and Tofu Thai Green Curry

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    Monsoon Spice / Via monsoonspice.com

    The best thing about curry is that you can customize it with your favorite ingredients. Add chicken or shrimp or load it up with different veggies.

    Recipe: Vegetable and Tofu Thai Green Curry

    32. Crispy Baja Fish Tacos

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (12)

    Cooking For My Soul / Via cookingformysoul.com

    The secret ingredient in these battered fish tacos is beer. It gives them that crispy, light, and airy texture.

    Recipe: Crispy Baja Fish Tacos

    33. One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (13)

    Cooking Classy / Via cookingclassy.com

    Don't worry about splurging on a fancy cut of steak for this family-friendly dinner. Affordable, quick-cooking ground beef will do the trick.

    Recipe: One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

    34. Pork and Hominy Stew (Pozole Verde)

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (14)

    Homemakers Habitat / Via homemakershabitat.com

    This Mexican-inspired soup is made with boneless pork shoulder, hominy, chicken broth, salsa verde, and lots of spices.

    Recipe: Pork and Hominy Stew (Pozole Verde)

    35. Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (15)

    Jo Cooks / Via jocooks.com

    Tender chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon, and spices is cooked in diced tomatoes, cream, and a whole lot of spices. Serve it with store bought naan and basmati rice for a fan-favorite meal.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    If you have time to make the wontons from scratch, you won't regret it. You can make a big batch at once and freeze the extras for future meals.

    Recipe: Pork Wonton Soup

    A Simple Plate / Via asimplepalate.com

    You don't need a fancy pizza oven or even a pizza stone to make incredible 'za at home. All you need is a sizzling hot cast iron skillet, pizza dough, and your favorite toppings.

    Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

    Striped Spatula / Via stripedspatula.com

    Sweet and spicy and sticky and chewy, this Chinese-inspired chicken is a restaurant favorite for a reason. With the help of a few sauces and seasonings —like soy sauce, black vinegar, and sesame oil — you can make it right at home.

    Recipe: General Tso's Chicken

    The Baker Mama / Via thebakermama.com

    Nachos get a little fancy thanks to shredded chicken, canned black beans, and all your favorite toppings. Toss on jalapeños, diced tomatoes, red onion, and lots of cheese.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken and Black Bean Nachos

    40. Italian Wedding Soup

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (16)

    Spoonful of Flavor / Via spoonfulofflavor.com

    If you're pressed for time, go ahead and use your favorite frozen meatballs. No judgement here!

    Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup

    Julie's Eats and Treats / Via julieseatsandtreats.com

    Beef stew can be very time consuming, but this skillet supper makes things simple thanks to ground beef, frozen veggies, and store-bought biscuits.

    Recipe: Skillet Beef Pot Pie

    42. Tonkotsu Ramen

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (17)

    Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com

    Start with store-bought tonkatsu broth and load up your bowl with all your favorite ramen toppings — from pork belly to soft-boiled egg.

    Recipe: Tonkotsu Ramen

    Confetti and Bliss / Via confettiandbliss.com

    This recipe calls for rice, chicken, sausage, and shrimp simmered in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and lots of spices. It's really, really good.

    Recipe: New Orleans-Style Jambalaya

    A Spicy Perspective / Via aspicyperspective.com

    When it comes to the world of pasta, cheese-filled tortellini reigns king.

    Recipe: Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup

    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    Roasting pork shoulder in the oven for carnitas can be very time-consuming, but your handy Instant Pot makes it easy. Shred the pork with forks then add it to burritos, tacos, and more.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas

    46. Classic Baked Ziti From Scratch

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (18)

    Budget Bytes / Via budgetbytes.com

    There's pasta... and then there's baked pasta nestled under a thick layer of gooey, melted cheese. Serve this baby with garlic bread for good measure.

    Recipe: Classic Baked Ziti From Scratch

    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    Minimal clean-up is always our M.O, which means we can never have too many solid sheet pan dinners in our arsenal. This one is worth making on repeat.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    The best thing about fried rice is that you can make it with just about whatever is left in your fridge. Grab some rice, frozen veggies, and last night's shredded chicken, the leftover bacon, or some frozen shrimp, and turn it into a satisfying meal.

    Recipe: Easy Bacon Fried Rice

    Life as a Strawberry / Via lifeasastrawberry.com

    Start with your favorite potato, cauliflower, or sweet potato gnocchi. This 30-minute meal comes together in a single pot, which makes it a good option for busy or lazy nights.

    Recipe: Parmesan Spinach Gnocchi

    50. Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (19)

    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    Three words: grilled cheese croutons. Need I say more?

    Recipe: Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

    Spices in my DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com

    This classic Roman pasta gets a little autumnal twist thanks to wild mushrooms that get sautéed in oil until nice and crispy.

    Recipe: Tagliatelle Carbonara with Crispy Mushrooms

    The Stay At Home Chef / Via thestayathomechef.com

    Make this decadent eggplant dish for meatless Monday... or any day. It's so hearty and satisfying, you won't realize it's totally vegetarian.

    Recipe: Baked Eggplant Parmesan

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (20)

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    Just So Tasty / Via justsotasty.com

    When your sweet tooth kicks in and you don't have time to make a big production, this single-serving microwave chocolate cake is a godsend.

    Recipe: Chocolate Mug Cake

    The Bewitchin Kitchen / Via thebewitchinkitchen.com

    If you use store-bought apple pie filling and crescent roll dough, this festive fall dessert calls for just two ingredients.

    Recipe: Two Ingredient Apple Turnovers

    55. Pecan Pie Brownies

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (21)

    Real Housemoms / Via realhousemoms.com

    Can't decide what you want for dessert? How about these sticky, fudgy pecan pie brownies that combine two decadent sweets into one?

    Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies

    What Molly Made / Via whatmollymade.com

    We all know the best part about baking cookies is eating the dough. This eggless cookie dough is totally safe to eat raw, so you can devour it by the spoonful.

    Recipe: Edible Cookie Dough

    Tastes Better From Scratch / Via tastesbetterfromscratch.com

    There's something so nostalgic about banana pudding. You don't even need to turn on the oven to make this dessert from scratch. The vanilla wafers, bananas, and custard filling sit in the fridge for up to two days until soft and spongy.

    Recipe: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding

    58. Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (22)

    Life Made Simple Bakes / Via lifemadesimplebakes.com

    Ditch the hot cocoa packets and whip up this decadent and seriously rich version from scratch. You won't want to leave out the whipped cream and salted caramel sauce.

    Recipe: Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa

    Cookies and Cups / Via cookiesandcups.com

    Walnuts and chocolate are the ultimate cookie combination. Every bite is the ideal amount of sweet, savory, nutty, and buttery.

    Recipe: Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

    The Gunny Sack / Via thegunnysack.com

    With a buttery graham cracker crust, rich and creamy filling, and a final layer of blueberries, these three-layer dessert bars are worthy of a special occasion but easy enough to make on a weeknight.

    Recipe: Blueberry Cheesecake

    Simply Whisked / Via simplywhisked.com

    You can use whatever milk you like best to make this chocolate pudding. For a dairy-free version, try using oat milk. It's so rich, you won't believe there's no heavy cream involved.

    Recipe: Dairy-Free Salted Chocolate Pudding

    Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

    If you like Reese's cups, you'll love these no-bake cookies that are made with just five ingredients: butter, graham crackers, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and confectioner's sugar.

    Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

    62 Comfort Food Recipes You Definitely Need Right Now (2024)
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