75 Comfort Food Dishes That Are Perfect for Any Time of Year
No matter the season, these cozy recipes are good for the soul.
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.
Crispy Pork Noodles
Inspired by Szechuan cuisine, this recipe features ramen noodles tossed in a creamy peanut sauce and topped with crispy, pan-fried pork.
Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Pizza
The mushrooms and Brussels sprouts are tossed in balsamic vinegar before topping off this restaurant-worthy pie.
Instant Pot Pho With Chicken
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.
Lemon-Thyme Butterflied Roasted Chicken
Learn the simple steps to spatchcocking (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
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 »
Lasagna With Meat Sauce
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.
Philly Cheesesteak
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
Chicken Mole
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!).
Chicken Suizas Nachos
Shredded chicken and salsa verde make a fresh — but plenty cheesy— version of your typical nachos.
French Onion Soup
Cheese-topped bread broiled until melty makes the ultimate topper to this deeply flavorful soup.
Chicken Bolognese
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.
Mussels
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.
Instant Pot Risotto With Parmesan
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
Classic Patty Melt
It's a mashup of grilled cheese and a cheeseburger— does it get more comforting than that?
Triple-Cheese Skillet Shells
The secret to this grown-up macaroni and cheese? We caramelize chopped onions to use as the base of this velvety, rich sauce.
Creamy Lemon Pasta With Chicken and Peas
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
Traditional Chicken Curry
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.
Roasted Cauliflower Pizza
You just need a few ingredients — pizza dough, cauliflower, onion, parsley and Gruyère cheese— to make this pizza night favorite.
Chicken, Sausage and White Bean Stew
Great for cozy Sunday afternoons, this warming stew comes together in one pot.
Totchos
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.
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