12 Comforting Recipes to Snuggle Up to This Week
Whether we’re trying to beat the winter blues or looking for a pick-me-up at the end of a long week, we always reach for the same thing: comfort food.
And while the idea of “comfort food” might vary from person to person, one thing is true: it should make you feel cozy and safe—and it should taste like home.
Below, we’ve rounded up 12 of our favorite, most comforting dishes, each brimming with nostalgia and coziness. Enjoy!
Hungry for more? Explore our recipe library for ideas and inspiration for your next meal!
Classic Extra Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese with Crunchy Crumb Topping
Let’s be real, we couldn’t start a list of the most comforting comfort foods without talking about the coziest of them all: mac ‘n’ cheese.
This recipe ups the ante with a whopping 3½ cups of cheese and a buttery, crumbly topping that adds just the right amount of crunch. And with a whole pound of pasta packed into this one, feel free to enjoy and indulge all week long.
Classic Fudgy Brownies
Ah, brownies.
There was nothing better as a child than coming home after school to a plate of warm, fudgy, homemade brownies—baked with love, of course.
This twist on mom’s classic uses both semisweet and unsweetened chocolate, ensuring every bite is ooey, gooey chocolate bliss.
Brown Butter Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
Banana bread is the unsung hero of comfort foods. Heck, it’s so satisfying, it was the thing everyone was baking during lockdown.
And what’s not to love? It has swirls of gooey cinnamon, nutty brown butter and sweet, ripe bananas all baked into a warm loaf. Top your slice with some homemade cinnamon nut butter for a truly magical bite.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Potatoes. Butter. Bacon. Cream. Cheddar cheese.
It’s pretty clear what makes this soup so comforting just by reading those ingredients. The best part? It’s all made in one big batch, which means you can indulge in cheesy, bacon-y, comforting goodness all week long.
Classic Pizza Margherita
We wholeheartedly believe that pizza should be its own food group.
Try this recipe with melty mozzarella and rich tomato sauce atop a homemade pizza dough that’s as perfectly chewy as it is crispy. While these steps guide you through making a classic Margherita pizza, you can customize it with your favorite toppings for a slice that’s truly unique.
Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry
Listen, we talk a lot about “homemade” this or “from-scratch” that, but nothing conjures up quite the same nostalgia as those frozen chicken pot pies from a certain famous pie maker (if you know, you know).
And while those will always hold a special place in our hearts, we think this homemade version topped with flaky puff pastry might just have the frozen ones beat. Plus, they’re baked in individual mini cocottes, which makes them the perfect midweek, Netflix-binge meal.
Freshly Ground Sirloin Burgers Stuffed with Cheddar
There’s something about a simple, classic cheeseburger that takes us back to those childhood summer days spent by the pool, with not a care in the world (not even to reapply sunscreen, eek!).
This recipe takes that American classic and adds a gooey, yummy twist: stuff the burgers with the cheese. It sounds messy, and it surely is, but trust us, every bite is worth it.
Get the Freshly Ground Sirloin Burgers Stuffed with Cheddar recipe!
Roast Chicken with Lemon and Herbs
When the weather outside is frightful or we’re just feeling a little blue, there’s nothing we love more than the simple comfort that comes from a roasted chicken.
And this recipe is ideal for those gloomy days—it uses bright lemon and four sprigs of fresh herbs that will make you feel like sunny days are right around the corner.
Salty Dark and Milk Chocolate Skillet Cookie
There’s no denying that chocolate chip cookies are one of the best cookies around. Gooey chocolate, hints of vanilla and brown sugar, warm butter… ah, bliss.
So of course, the only thing better than a bunch of small chocolate chip cookies is one large chocolate chip cookie baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with vanilla ice cream. It truly is what Friday nights with no plans were made for.
Get the Salty Dark and Milk Chocolate Skillet Cookie recipe!
Chili Honey Grilled Cheese
Just when you thought grilled cheese couldn’t get any better, this recipe has you cooking it in a bacon-grease-and-butter mixture and adding a homemade chili honey sauce. Yeah, our mouths are watering too.
Sure, frying food in bacon grease may sound like a callback to your grandparents’ era, but they are called the “Greatest Generation” for a reason—because they knew how much better everything tasted with bacon grease.
Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Nothing beats a good, hot, hearty bowl of chili. From cookouts and county fairs to frigid football games and blustery evenings at home, there’s a chili for every occasion!
And this one is no exception. This recipe uses autumn’s most comforting ingredient, pumpkin, and warming spices for a bowl that’s good to the last bite.
Chef’s Note: Pumpkin might be hard to find year-round. Both butternut squash and sweet potato are a great substitute, with nuttier flavors that will complement the pepitas seamlessly.
Pasta Alla Carbonara
At this point, we’re pretty sure the only thing a dish needs to be “comforting” is bacon, cheese and some sort of carbohydrate. Which is why we love this carbonara recipe.
It’s a true classic, using a mixture of egg yolks and Parmesan combined with a ½ cup of pasta water to create that signature creamy, silky, salty sauce that we know and love.
Get the Pasta Alla Carbonara recipe!
Hungry for more? Explore our recipe library for ideas and inspiration for your next meal!
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