Next Up

101 Easy Comfort Foods You’ll Want to Dig Right Into

Updated on February 07, 2024

Whether you’re in the mood for something warm, cheesy or full of carbs, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re craving.

1 / 101
Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher

Our Best Comfort Food Recipes

We all have our own ideas about what makes a dish comforting. For some of us it’s the meltey, cheese-topped goodness of chicken Parmesan or macaroni and cheese; for others, the stick-to-your-ribs feeling you get when you tuck into a pile of potatoes. There’s one thing we can all agree on, though—and that’s the idea that comfort food shouldn’t be a hassle. That’s why we love these no-fuss recipes. They’re flavorful and satisfying (and exactly what you want to eat when you’re in the mood for some good, old-fashioned comfort) but they’re also completely doable. From baked pasta and meatloaf to fried chicken and pizza, you’ll be cooking up all your favorites in no time. Looking for a place to start? We recommend chili mac. This version is inspired by the flavors of Texas chili—cubed beef, chiles, spice and no beans. Traditional Texas chili takes hours to achieve its super-tender beef and famous long-simmered flavor, so we turned to the pressure cooker to help bring it together quickly. We also brought in that creamy queso-dip secret ingredient, processed cheese, for a perfect velvety finish to our dish.

get the recipe

More photos after this Ad

2 / 101

Scalloped Potatoes

For the most-comforting side dish ever, layer some sliced potatoes, butter and half-and-half — with a hint of nutmeg for warmth — and bake until bubbling and golden brown.
get the recipe

More photos after this Ad

3 / 101
Photo: Renee Comet

Fried Chicken

What's better than juicy, buttermilk fried chicken? How about a pile of crispy, golden-fried goodness that's ready quick and with only a handful of kitchen staples?

get the recipe

More photos after this Ad

4 / 101
Photo: Lucy Schaeffer

The Best Chicken and Dumplings

This is pure comfort food at its finest. Tender chunks of chicken and vegetables come together in a creamy, richly-flavored sauce with pillowy dumplings baked right on top. It's hearty but not too heavy and comes together from scratch in about an hour.

get the recipe

More photos after this Ad

Next Up

We Recommend