25 Dishes to Warm the Heart

There’s nothing like the pleasures of simple, delicious comfort food.

Start Slideshow

Maria Robledo

1 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Macaroni and Cheese With Cauliflower.

Maura McEvoy

2 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Meat-Loaf.

Maria Robledo

3 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie.

William Meppem

4 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Baked-Potato Eggs.

Maria Robledo

5 of 26

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 for Creamed Spinach.

Salmon, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli Chowder

David Prince

6 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Salmon, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli Chowder.

Susie Cushner

7 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Slow-Cooker Classic Beef Stew.

Marcus Nilsson

8 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Drunken Cheesy Bread.

Susie Cushner

9 of 26

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

Get the recipe for seafood gumbo.

Maria Robleda

10 of 26

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 for pizza margherita.

Christopher Baker

11 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Beef Burgers.

Marcus Nilsson

12 of 26

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 for herb stuffing.

Kan Kanbayashi

13 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Three-Cheese Calzones.

Kan Kanbayashi

14 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Lamb Chops with Potato-Carrot Pancakes.

Lisa Cohen

15 of 26

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 for corn chowder.

Susie Cushner

16 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Slow-Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast.

Dana Gallagher

17 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Rob Howard

18 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Chili for a Crowd.

Sang An

19 of 26

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 for Corn Spoon Bread.

Quentin Bacon

20 of 26

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

Get the recipe for baked-beans.

Maria Robledo

21 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Crispy Chicken and Garlicky Collards.

Maria Robledo

22 of 26

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

Get the recipe for Beef Stroganoff With Yogurt and Dill.

Con Poulos

23 of 26

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 for roast beef and onions.

Tina Rupp

24 of 26

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

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

Mashed Potatoes With Caramelized Shallots

Mikkel Vang

25 of 26

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 for Mashed Potatoes With Caramelized Shallots.

Replay gallery

25 Dishes to Warm the Heart

1 of 26

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

2 of 26

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

3 of 26

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

4 of 26

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

5 of 26

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

6 of 26

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

7 of 26

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

8 of 26

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

9 of 26

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

10 of 26

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.

11 of 26

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

12 of 26

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

13 of 26

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

14 of 26

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

15 of 26

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

16 of 26

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

17 of 26

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

18 of 26

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

19 of 26

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

20 of 26

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

21 of 26

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

22 of 26

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

23 of 26

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

24 of 26

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

25 of 26

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

Share the gallery

Up Next

Share the gallery