25 Simple and Delicious Comfort Food Recipes

Maria Robledo

There’s nothing like the pleasures of simple, delicious comfort food on a cold winter night. Here are 25 hand-picked recipes sure to warm your hearts and bellies this season.

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Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower

Maria Robledo

This twist on mac and cheese contains (don’t tell the kids) chopped cauliflower, which adds a nutty essence.

Get the recipe: Macaroni and Cheese With Cauliflower

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Meat Loaf With Bacon

Maura McEvoy

Before popping it into the oven, top a meat loaf with strips of bacon to make it extra juicy and flavorful.

Get the recipe: Meat Loaf With Bacon

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Chicken and Vegetable Potpie

Maria Robledo

This potpie’s velvety smooth sauce is a blend of olive oil, white wine, and low-fat milk.

Get the recipe: Chicken and Vegetable Potpie

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Baked-Potato Eggs

William Meppem

Twice-baked potatoes, topped with an egg and mixed with butter and Parmesan cheese are sinfully rich.

Get the recipe: Baked-Potato Eggs

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Creamed Spinach

Maria Robledo

This all-time favorite is less indulgent―it’s made with low-fat milk and reduced-fat cream cheese―but no less sublime.

Get the recipe: Creamed Spinach

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Chowder

David Prince

Loaded with sweet potatoes and broccoli, this satisfying chowder can be also be made with chicken or pork.

Get the recipe: Salmon, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli Chowder

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Beef Stew

Susie Cushner

A savory combination of beef, red wine, and thyme makes this dish worth the wait.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Classic Beef Stew

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Drunken Cheesy Bread

Marcus Nilsson

This one-pot casserole looks a bit wild, but its combination of Gruyère and ham is scrumptious.

Get the recipe: Drunken Cheesy Bread

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Seafood Gumbo

Susie Cushner

A staple of Louisiana Creole cuisine, gumbo has a mix of full flavors, like bacon, thyme, and okra.

Get the recipe: Seafood Gumbo

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Pizza Margherita

Maria Robleda

The ingredients are unremarkable: chewy crust, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella. But what they add up to, topped with basil and baked until the cheese is good and melted, is anything but.

Get the recipe: Pizza Margherita

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Burgers

Christopher Baker

Another indisputable comfort food classic that proves there’s no need to get complex.

Get the recipe: Beef Burgers

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Stuffing

Marcus Nilsson

The turkey may be the star, but would it be the same without stuffing? (Which wins too, hands down, in the coveted leftovers category.)

Get the recipe: Herb Stuffing

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Three-Cheese Calzone

Kan Kanbayashi

Three cheeses―Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta―melt together in this oozy delight.

Get the recipe: Three-Cheese Calzone

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Lamb Chops

Kan Kanbayashi

A meal that’s elegant enough to serve to company can still be comfort food, as is the case with these mint-infused lamb chops.

Get the recipe: Lamb Chops With Potato-Carrot Pancakes

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Corn Chowder

Lisa Cohen

Hearty corn chowder made with russet potatoes and bacon seems as though it were invented to warm you on a chilly day.

Get the recipe: Corn Chowder

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Pot Roast

Susie Cushner

A long simmer in a slow cooker with mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and wine gives pot roast some Tuscan zest.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Dana Gallagher

A dash of nutmeg accents the natural sweetness of these creamy mashed potatoes.

Get the recipe: Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Chili

Rob Howard

Thick with beef, peppers, beans, and tomatoes, a lager-spiked chili is a meal in every bite.

Get the recipe: Chili for a Crowd

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Corn Spoon Bread

Sang An

Pair that chili with corn spoon bread. Or, it’s good enough to eat by itself, baked until golden and warm from the oven.

Get the recipe: Corn Spoon Bread

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Baked Beans

Quentin Bacon

Yes, they’re a first-class side, but stir smoky bacon into molasses and brown-sugar flavored baked beans, serve with slabs of dark buttered bread, and they stand on their own.

Get the recipe: Baked Beans

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Crispy Chicken and Greens

Maria Robledo

No roundup of favorite comfort food would be complete without fried chicken and greens (though, here the chicken, coated in multi-grain cereal, is actually baked).

Get the recipe: Crispy Chicken and Garlicky Collards

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Beef Stroganoff

Maria Robledo

This robust beef-and-noodle combo seems especially substantial on a brisk winter night.

Get the recipe: Beef Stroganoff With Yogurt and Dill

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Roast Beef

Con Poulos

For a thoroughly satisfying meal, you can’t go wrong with thick slices of roast beef flavored with the distinctive tang of onions.

Get the recipe: Roast Beef and Onions

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Turkey and Gravy

Tina Rupp

Sage. Turkey. Gravy. Together, a combination that winningly evokes memories of home-cooked meals.

Get the recipe: Sage-Roasted Turkey Breast and Gravy.

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Mashed Potatoes

Mikkel Vang

In the realm of comfort food, what is more quintessential than mashed potatoes? These are made extra-rich with butter, cream, and buttermilk.

Get the recipe: Mashed Potatoes With Caramelized Shallots

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25 Simple and Delicious Comfort Food Recipes

1 of 25

Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower

1 of 25

2 of 25

Meat Loaf With Bacon

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Chicken and Vegetable Potpie

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Baked-Potato Eggs

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Creamed Spinach

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Chowder

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Beef Stew

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Drunken Cheesy Bread

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Seafood Gumbo

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Pizza Margherita

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Burgers

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Stuffing

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Three-Cheese Calzone

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Lamb Chops

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Corn Chowder

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Pot Roast

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Chili

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Corn Spoon Bread

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Baked Beans

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Crispy Chicken and Greens

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Beef Stroganoff

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Roast Beef

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Turkey and Gravy

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Mashed Potatoes

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