75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (2024)

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (1)

We’ve all been there — bad days, breakups or just feeling a little bit down, it happens to everyone! Luckily, there is an easy (and delicious!) way to cure any case of the blues: Warm and cozy comfort food. We rounded up our best comfort food recipes that soothe the soul with hearty portions, nourishing ingredients and lots (and lots!) of cheese. From easy comfort food casseroles — cheesy baked pasta, chicken pot pie and all the lasagna — to classic Southern comfort food (our best-ever fried chicken, lots of BBQ and gooey mac n’ cheese), we’re sharing all of our favorite mouthwatering mains that will turn even the grumpiest frown upside down. Ready to get in a great mood?

There’s just no reason to be sad when slurping on a bowl of steaming hot chicken pho or ultra creamy risotto (both of which you can make in the Instant Pot!). Just try getting upset while biting into any one of our classic American comfort food recipes, whether it’s a melty Philly cheesesteak or a cheesy patty melt. Browse through our examples of main dishes to find something delicious to make for dinner tonight; we guarantee that you’ll find your new number one comfort food.

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1

Crispy Pork Noodles

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (2)

Inspired by Szechuan cuisine, this recipe features ramen noodles tossed in a creamy peanut sauce and topped with crispy, pan-fried pork.

Get the recipe for Crispy Pork Noodles »

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2

Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Pizza

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The mushrooms and Brussels sprouts are tossed in balsamic vinegar before topping off this restaurant-worthy pie.

Get the recipe for Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Pizza »

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3

Instant Pot Pho With Chicken

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Pho, traditional a Vietnamese soup, usually takes hours to simmer on the stove. In this recipe, the Instant Pot does all the work for you, creating a warm and comforting bowl of noodles, chicken and broth in no time.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Pho With Chicken »

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4

Lemon-Thyme Butterflied Roasted Chicken

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (5)

Learn the simple steps to spatchco*cking (a.k.a. butterflying) a chicken, and you’ll become an expert at perfectly roasting the bird— in a lot less time than it normally takes.

Get the recipe for Lemon-Thyme Butterflied Roasted Chicken »

RELATED: 60+ Chicken Breast Recipes That Are Anything But Boring

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5

Mushroom Chicken Skillet With Herbed Cream Sauce

The sauce made from white wine, chicken broth, miso (for extra umami) and heavy cream makes a silky pairing to crispy chicken thighs.

Get the recipe for Mushroom Chicken Skillet with Herbed Cream Sauce »

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6

Lasagna With Meat Sauce

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Save loads of time by simply baking dry lasagna noodles in this easy ground pork meat sauce. Make this casserole ahead of time or on any weeknight — it's ready in just one hour.

Get the recipe for Lasagna With Meat Sauce »

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7

Philly Cheesesteak

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (8)

Sandwiches for dinner are the best. Pile Italian bread high with freshly sautéed steak, peppers, and onions, and top with gooey cheese for a real family favorite.

Get the recipe for Philly Cheesesteak »

RELATED: 40 Easy, Delicious Family Dinner Ideas For Any Day of the Week

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8

Chicken Mole

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This version of chicken mole features succulent, dark-meat chicken simmered in a rich, savory sauce of onions, tomatoes, chili powder and a touch of chocolate (yes, really!).

Get the recipe for Chicken Mole »

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9

Chicken Suizas Nachos

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (10)

Shredded chicken and salsa verde make a fresh — but plenty cheesy— version of your typical nachos.

Get the recipe for Chicken Suizas Nachos »

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10

French Onion Soup

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Cheese-topped bread broiled until melty makes the ultimate topper to this deeply flavorful soup.

Get the recipe for French Onion Soup »

RELATED: 34 Best Fall Soups for Chilly Autumn Nights

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11

Chicken Bolognese

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Instead of marinara sauce, this simple pasta dish gets tossed in white wine and chicken broth, then flavored with lemon zest and spicy red pepper flakes.

Get the recipe for Chicken Bolognese »

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12

Mussels

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (13)

Learn the simple steps to cooking mussels and you'll add it to your regular dinner rotation. Don't forget to serve it with crusty bread for dunking in the delicious white wine sauce.

Get the recipe for Mussels »

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13

Instant Pot Risotto With Parmesan

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Easiest-ever risotto, here we come! Just cook onion, garlic and rice in your Instant Pot with white wine and broth, close the lid and let your hands-off dinner happen.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Risotto With Parmesan »

RELATED: 22 Best Instant Pot Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

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14

Classic Patty Melt

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It's a mashup of grilled cheese and a cheeseburger— does it get more comforting than that?

Get the recipe for Classic Patty Melt »

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15

Triple-Cheese Skillet Shells

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The secret to this grown-up macaroni and cheese? We caramelize chopped onions to use as the base of this velvety, rich sauce.

Get the recipe for Triple-Cheese Skillet Shells »

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16

Creamy Lemon Pasta With Chicken and Peas

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Introduce the kids to a more refined pasta shape with gemelli, which is coated in creamy pan sauce. They'll love chasing peas around their plate as they spear this spiral-shaped pasta.

Get the recipe for Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken and Peas »

RELATED: 30 Best Kids' Dinner Ideas for When Your Picky Eater Just Won’t Try Anything

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17

Traditional Chicken Curry

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Our Indian-style chicken curry is savory and complex: Garlic, ginger, onion and spices all contribute to the flavor, yet you can still get it on the table in 30 minutes.

Get the recipe for Traditional Chicken Curry »

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18

Roasted Cauliflower Pizza

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You just need a few ingredients — pizza dough, cauliflower, onion, parsley and Gruyère cheese— to make this pizza night favorite.

Get the recipe for Roasted Cauliflower Pizza »

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19

Chicken, Sausage and White Bean Stew

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (20)

Great for cozy Sunday afternoons, this warming stew comes together in one pot.

Get the recipe for Chicken, Sausage and White Bean Stew »

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20

Totchos

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Here's an idea for comfort food in a pinch: Roast up store-bought tots with dried spices and a generous sprinkling of cheese for the easiest app ever.

Get the recipe for Totchos »

RELATED: 51 Easy Appetizers and Snacks to Get the Party Started

75 Ultimate Comfort Food Recipes To Eat When You're in the Mood for Something Cozy (2024)

FAQs

What are comfort foods when feeling down? ›

Comfort foods, the study found, actually do make us feel less sad. So what were the top seven items on my poll? Mac and cheese hit the No. 1 spot, followed by beef stew, apple pie and ice cream, chicken and dumplings/chicken pot pie, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, bread pudding and fried chicken.

What to eat when you want comfort food? ›

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.

What is the ultimate comfort food? ›

For instance, the flank steak with cheesy hash brown waffles will be an immediate favorite, along with the pierogi and meatball skillet, French bread pizzas, and creamy cauliflower soup. For Ree Drummond, chicken pot pie is the one comfort food that just can't be beat.

What is the best comfort food of all time? ›

Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
  • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 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.
Apr 29, 2024

What food calms your mood? ›

Research consistently supports the idea that a healthy, balanced diet benefits our mood and mental health. One example, the Mediterranean diet, includes a diverse range of plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats, like those in extra virgin olive oil and avocados.

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 are some soothing foods? ›

Research has linked foods like avocado, oranges, or oysters to reduced feelings of anxiety. Drinks like water and 100% fruit juice can also be beneficial if you have a lot of anxiety and stress. Those foods and drinks contain antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that help alleviate anxiety symptoms.

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.

What is Gordon Ramsay's comfort food? ›

Potato and Butternut Squash Gratin with Crispy Shallots

Butternut squash lends an autumn twist to this comforting, classic dish. Steeping the cream in aromatics imparts an exciting depth of flavor, while Gruyere cheese leaves a nutty, savory finish to this creamy, decadent dish.

What is the most loved meal in the world? ›

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

What food is loved by everyone? ›

Nearly as versatile a food as rice, potatoes are loved by everyone no matter where they live. They can take many forms: from French fries to mashed potatoes to gnocchi, potato lovers can rest easy knowing their favorite delicacy is incredibly easy to find and eat.

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

Proteins like chicken and turkey and carbs like noodles and rice provide the energy you need to fight illness. The best comforting soups include: Chicken Noodle Soup. Matzo Ball Soup.

Why do I crave comfort food when sad? ›

Many individuals rely on comfort foods when they're depressed, anxious, or simply in need of a little mood boost. Comfort foods can evoke coziness and comfort as they are frequently linked to carefree memories.

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