34 Simple and Delicious Comfort Food Recipes

Feeling stressed? Come and eat, honey.

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Photo:

Greg DuPree

Cozy season has arrived, which means it’s time to cook up some comfort food. During these chilly months, we prefer warming, hearty meals like pizzas, soups, and braises. It doesn’t have to be loaded with butter and cream to be comfort food (although we love butter and cream!); comfort food is whatever makes you feel nourished and happy.

From mac and cheese to pot pie and lentil soup, this recipe roundup covers all the comfort food bases and has something for everyone. Here, our top 34 hand-picked recipes to warm your hearts and bellies this season. 

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Instant Pot Beef Ragù With Pappardelle

Instant Pot Beef Ragù With Pappardelle

This deeply savory beef ragù tastes like it’s been cooking all day, but it actually only cooks for about 30 minutes in an Instant Pot on high pressure. Serve over pappardelle, polenta, or whichever grain you prefer.

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Shrimp and Brown Butter Grits

Shrimp and Brown Butter Grits
Antonis Achilleos

As far as we’re concerned, brown butter makes everything better, and the same is true for shrimp and grits—a comforting classic. With grape tomatoes and smoked paprika, this version of shrimp and grits tastes both bright and rich.

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Creamy One-Pot Mashed Potatoes

7 Mashed Potato Mistakes Everyone Makes
Greg DuPree

Our go-to mashed potato recipe comes together in a single pot with no fuss. Half-and-half, sour cream, and butter give the mash a creamy, luxurious finish.

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Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce

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Greg DuPree

A grandma pie is simply a pizza that gets cooked on a standard baking sheet, making it easy for anyone to whip up at home. This variation includes melty mozzarella, crispy pepperoni coins, red onion, and creamy red sauce.

05 of 34

Decadent Mac and Cheese

Decadent Mac and Cheese
Jen Causey

Three types of cheese—Gruyère, cheddar, and American—get added to this decadent macaroni and cheese recipe, making it the ultimate creamy-dreamy comfort food dish. Instead of béchamel, you'll use a bit of evaporated milk to thicken your mac and cheese.

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Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon

Citrus Recipes: Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon
Caitlin Bensel

This velvety red lentil soup soothes and satisfies with plenty of fresh vegetables and spices, plus a bit of harissa for heat. We promise it's worth the extra step of transferring the soup to a blender to get a super-silky consistency.

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Green Curry Noodle Bowls With Tofu

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Antonis Achilleos

These vibrant, veggie-packed curry tofu noodle bowls will warm you up from the inside out. Thanks to coconut milk, jalapeño, green curry paste, fresh ginger, cilantro, basil, and lime, this dish is bursting with refreshing, comforting flavors. Best part? In 20 minutes you can have dinner for four on the table.

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Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde

Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Enchiladas are comfort food at its finest. The chicken filling is rich and satisfying, while the sauce is tart, savory, and creamy. Cover the enchiladas with cheese, and you've got yourself the ideal one-dish dinner.

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Chicken and Vegetable Potpie

Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie
Maria Robledo

This potpie's velvety smooth sauce is a blend of olive oil, white wine, and milk. Make things easy for yourself by using store-bought pie crust, which you’ll cook until it’s golden and crispy.

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Macaroni and Cheese With Cauliflower

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. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs for a nice crunch.

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Parmesan Meatloaf

Parmesan Meat Loaf
David Prince

Meatloaf can get a bad rap, but this one is tender and rich, and only requires a handful of ingredients. Look for high-quality ground beef with a higher fat percentage to prevent dryness.

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Baked-Potato Eggs

Baked-Potato Eggs
William Meppem

Fill these twice-baked potatoes with egg, Parmesan, butter, and sausage for a rich, comforting meal. These stuffed potatoes work just as well for brunch as they do for dinner.

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Spanakopita Creamed Spinach

Spanakopita Creamed Spinach in a white bowl
Jennifer Causey

This recipe takes cues from a classic Greek appetizer and an old-school American side. The result is a cheesy, flavorful spinach dish that pairs well alongside any protein, from grilled lamb chops to baked white fish.

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Smoky Corn Chowder

Smoky corn chowder is served in blue and white bowls.
Con Poulos

Corn chowder gets a smoky upgrade in this recipe thanks to the addition of bacon and smoked paprika. Shower with sliced scallions before serving for a bright, fresh component.

15 of 34

Slow-Cooker Classic Beef Stew

Slow-Cooker Classic Beef Stew
Susie Cushner

A savory combination of beef, red wine, and thyme makes this dish worth the wait. The hands-on time for this recipe is very minimal; you just need to allot enough time to let the slow cooker work its magic.

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Drunken Cheesy Bread

Drunken Cheesy Bread
Marcus Nilsson

This one-pot casserole looks a bit wild, but the combination of Gruyère and ham is scrumptious. We love serving this cheesy skillet alongside some tomato soup.

17 of 34

Gochujang Gumbo

Gochujang Gumbo
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Gumbo is a Creole soup from Louisiana, and this untraditional variation includes gochujang—a spicy-sweet Korean chili paste. Top with sliced scallions and minced red Fresno chiles for even more flavor.

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Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita
Maria Robleda

The ingredients are unremarkable: dough, tomato, and mozzarella. But what they add up to, topped with basil and baked until the cheese is bubbling and melty, is anything but.

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Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo

Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo and Avocado
Greg DuPree

These turkey burgers are super flavorful thanks to onion and chili powder. Layered with bright ingredients like lime mayonnaise, lettuce, and avocado, the burgers are balanced and satisfying.

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Sausage and Sage Stuffing

Sausage and sage stuffing
Grant Cornett

Stuffing is comforting and delicious any time of year, and doesn’t need to be reserved for the holidays. Infused with sausage and sage, this hearty stuffing has an Italian feel.

21 of 34

Three-Cheese Calzone

Three-Cheese Calzones
Kan Kanbayashi

Three cheeses―Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta―melt together in this oozy delight. Pre-made pizza dough makes at-home calzones a breeze.

22 of 34

Lamb Chops With Charred Asparagus

lamb Chops with Charred Asparagus
Caitlin Bensel

A meal that's elegant enough to serve to company can still be comfort food, as is the case with these hearty lamb chops. Charred asparagus, tossed with a bright, herby sauce, makes for a perfect, easy side dish.

23 of 34

Gabriella’s Pot Roast

October 2020 Recipes: Gabriella’s Pot Roast
Caitlin Bensel

Embrace your inner Italian with this warm, comforting pot roast. Two hours of gentle simmering results in tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef.

24 of 34

Cheesy Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Cheesy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Marcus Nilsson

If you’re a salty-sweet fan, these cheesy spuds are for you. A topping of melted fontina and Parmesan is the perfect contrast to the candy-like sweet potato flesh.

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Chili for a Crowd

Chili for a Crowd
Rob Howard

This hearty, lager-spiked chili is the ideal dish to serve to a crowd of people. Full of beef, peppers, and beans, it’s flavorful and filling, and everyone can add whatever toppings they’d like.

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Corn Spoon Bread

Corn Spoon Bread
Sang An

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

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Cheesy Baked Beans and Tomatoes

Cheesy Baked Beans and Tomatoes Recipe
Victor Protasio

This recipe transforms basic pantry ingredients into a bubbling, pizza-like vegetarian main. Serve with crusty bread to sop everything up, and a fresh green salad to balance everything out.

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Crispy Chicken Cutlets With Artichoke Dressing

Crispy Chicken Cutlets With Artichoke Dressing Recipe
Greg DuPree

What would a comfort food recipe roundup be without fried chicken? These chicken cutlets are weeknight friendly, and easy to make at home. The artichoke dressing offers a bright, briny component to the meal.

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Quick Beef Stroganoff

Quick Beef Stroganoff
Kana Okada

With this recipe, you’ll be able to make a satisfying beef stroganoff in 30 minutes, start to finish. Mushrooms, dry sherry, chicken broth, and sour cream make for a creamy, umami-rich sauce. Serve with rice as the recipe suggests, or with any kind of noodle.

30 of 34

Roast Beef

Roast Beef and Onions
Con Poulos

You can't go wrong with thick slices of roast beef flavored with the distinctive tang of onions. If possible, season your beef the day before to let the salt work its magic overnight.

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Smoky Maple Turkey

Smoky Maple Turkey
Victor Protasio

Great for the holidays or any big gathering, this make-ahead turkey is smoky and sweet, thanks to smoked paprika and maple syrup. Smeared with butter, the bird gets crispy, golden skin while its meat stays tender.

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Savory Baked Feta

Savory Baked Feta
Heami Lee

A block of warm, creamy feta screams comfort food to us, and we love it in this Greek-inspired recipe with olives, oregano, and red onion. Make sure you have plenty of bread or pita crackers to scoop up every last bit.

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Lemon-Coriander Roasted Chicken With Leeks and Squash

Lemon-Coriander Roasted Chicken With Leeks And Squash

Roast chicken is comfort food at its finest, and what makes this rendition special is a compound butter with cilantro, ginger, coriander, and lemon zest. Roasted over squash and leeks, this chicken is a whole meal unto itself.

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Charred Broccoli Rabe Pizza

charred broccoli rabe pizza

Jennifer Causey

Hear us out: bitter broccoli rabe on pizza, with a healthy drizzle of hot honey. The combination of bitter and sweet, with plenty of melted mozzarella, is a total game changer.

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