All-Star Comfort Food Ingredients

Whether it's sharp cheddar, creamy Brie or always-versatile cream cheese, cheese is a staple of many favorite comfort foods. Crispy, creamy mac and cheese, Gruyere-capped French onion soup and buttery grilled cheese are just a few of the countless dishes that show off this all-star ingredient. Cheese also hits the spot all by itself or on a cheese plate with crackers and condiments.

For many a sweet tooth, chocolate is the ultimate comfort food. It amps up the decadence of just about any baked good and makes a deliciously satisfying mousse, pudding or sauce. It's even great in savory dishes like mole or chili, where it adds complexity and richness. Of course, eating it straight up is also more than acceptable!

Bread is a comfort food that's often taken for granted — it shows up in so many of our favorite dishes that it's easy to overlook. French toast, bread pudding, stuffing and, of course, sandwiches of all kinds take advantage of this wonderfully comforting carbohydrate. Even simple bread (or toast) with butter is a comfort food we all know and love.

Scrambled, fried or beaten into a rich custard, eggs satisfy many a comfort craving. Don't limit eggy favorites to morning meals: Try a frittata, quiche, breakfast casserole or strata for a comforting dinner.