20 Easy, Comforting Recipes To Make When You're Sick

The holidays are the perfect time for pomp, circumstance and cheer — but after all that celebrating, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a cold. And, even though we know you've been bundling up in your scarves and sweaters (and sipping on warm, soothing beverages), you're going to need a few easy recipes to nourish yourself while you rest and recover. So, we've rounded up some of our favorites. From healthy, homemade soups to warming stews that put the slow cooker to good use, there's something warm and comforting for everyone, young and old, this winter.

Take, for instance, the Pioneer Woman's chicken noodle soup. Relying on a classic mirepoix, a bowl of this soup is chock-full of classic, homestyle egg noodles and mild flavors and comes together in 30 minutes (or less!). There's really no better 'sick-day-soup' than this one — we think Ree would agree with us here.

NOLA residents swear by this concoction to get them through late nights in the French Quarter and on Bourbon street. It nourishes them through hours of merrymaking and keeps them warm, all winter long.

While many popular iterations of this dish are often cooked with ham hocks or, honestly, some sort of meat, especially in its city of origin, Robert Irvine's twist is (almost) vegetarian-approved. Sure, he uses chicken stock to cook his rice, but that's a pretty easy swap to make for plant-based foodies looking for a simple snowstorm supper that packs a protein punch.

Give it a spin — it's a great thing to have on-hand, especially when snowed in, sniffly, or both.

Name a meal that makes you feel like a kid again. Wait, we'll go first — mac and cheese. Now, we'd take pizza, grilled cheese and chicken nuggets as acceptable answers too, but think about a meal you make as an adult that would've thrilled your five-year-old self? The answer's probably mac-and-cheese, and there's a good chance it came out of a blue box and showed up in dino shapes.

Of course, now you're all grown up and, well, you've got to at least pretend to be mature and dignified, right? Not always. This recipe is for when you've got the sniffles, it's too cold to run to the grocery store and you need something that feels like your mom's hugs. Just...covered in cheese.

Luckily, this mac and cheese stays good in the fridge for up to three days after it's made, so really, no one's judging you if you let it nourish you (and heal you) all week long.

In our books, there's never a bad time for pasta. But when your throat is scratchy, your body's tired and you want to sip on something salty, sumptuous and simple, carb-loading with a plate of spaghetti doesn't always sound the most-appealing.

That's where tortellini soup comes into play. Similar to its heftier cousin, lasagna soup, it pairs pasta with something sippable and soothing to give you the perfect meal to nourish your mind, body and soul. The nice thing about tortellini soup, though, is the way the delicate tortellinis bob around in broth: not too heavy and well-seasoned, it uses low-sodium stock, premade tortellinis and a few simple spices — not to mention a smattering of Parmesan — to make you feel like you were being fed at your nonna's.

Eating plant-based? No problem: just swap out the chicken broth for your favorite veggie alternative.

Now, we've shouted out one of our favorite comfort carbs a fair bit in this gallery: it's rice, of course! But we might've been a bit unfair, making it play second fiddle to the family of soups, stews and rice-inclusive dishes that rely on a fair bit of moisture to make the rice palatable...or even edible.

Really, though, rice is the cornerstone of so, so many dishes and cuisines globally. It's the base for a comforting congee breakfast and in certain parts of the world, rice is the staple grain upon which almost all dishes are based! So we'd be fools to not pay it its due, and who better than Jet Tila to do the honors with one of his most well-known recipes, fried rice?

Jet's version packs a two-for-one protein punch with some eggs and a smattering of bacon (or ham, whatever you have on-hand), but you can totally go with one or the other to make your favorite bowl of nourishing, life-saving, reinvigorating fried rice.

Now, we've given you lots of slow-cooker specials — and have a few more up our sleeves — to prep overnight and really just, let them do their thing, the less babysitting the better (especially when you're sick). But sometimes — okay, a lot of the time — it's hard to think that far ahead and, well, when you get home from work and are sneezing up a storm, you just want to satisfy your sudden craving for something cozy and comforting. Of course, something that would soothe that scratchy cough in the process wouldn't hurt, either.

That's where the Instant Pot comes into play. And sure, this dish still takes a little over an hour from start-to-finish, but luckily only about 30 minutes of that involves your hands-on expertise. The rest of the time? That's for the Instant Pot to work its magic. So whether you want to brew some healing tea, take a refreshing shower or cuddle your furry friend, this gives you time to do that while whipping up a restorative beef stew to heal you from the inside-out.

By now, you've probably realized that here at Food Network, we like pasta. Actually, we don't just like pasta...we love pasta. Like, a lot. And this recipe is testament to that.

How, you may ask? Well, it's predominantly pasta...and not much else. Therein lies its brilliance, you see. Sure, the sauce comes from a hefty dose of canned, crushed tomatoes and some heavy hitters like sun-dried tomatoes, four cloves of garlic and some briny capers — a la the Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro — this recipe is definitely one for the pasta aficionados at home.

It's what we'd call a slightly more refined — or perhaps strong — bowl of noods. And sure, maybe the ricotta seems excessive but just go with it — it's worth the splurge, we promise.

There's nothing like feeling sick to get you down in the dumps. And honestly, no better time to treat yourself: whether it's cozying up with your partner and binge-watching your favorite show, there's no better excuse to hunkering down for a night than being sick.

And while tummy upsets can call for something bland, sometimes, a cough or a cold needs to be kicked in the pants with something spicy. Or should we say...swicy?

Luckily, Trisha's Chicken Tortilla Soup fits the bill, no matter what you're looking for. And while it's packed with protein, courtesy of some simple chicken breasts, it leans on a can of 'cream of chicken soup' for a flavor-packed punch that doesn't disappoint.

Us '90s kids here at Food Network might be into New Year's cleanses and mastering downward dog for our New Year's resolution to join daily yoga or pilates, but we can't deny the trends that seem to be coming back in fashion — including the love that exists for hamburger helper.

It's a burger-meets-pasta creation in what sounds like the best way possible! While our take on it is slightly more respectable than the boxed version, it still leans on those classic flavors like ketchup, Dijon and good ol' ground beef that'll make you feel like you're eating the same, nostalgic dish...just a little...better. (And homemade).

We're about to make the joke we know you've heard a million times. You ready for it?

Our pesto is really the best-o.

Sorry, we couldn't help ourselves! But the difference is that when it comes to us, we mean it. Don't believe us? Try swirling it into a bowl of our easy, peasy, Minestrone soup. It'll have you foregoing Olive Garden's for your very own: Mamma Mia!

Mexican rice is, to many, a mystery: why is it colored? Or scented? And what makes it Mexican?

Well, luckily Ree answers a lot of those questions in her simple, yet stunning, Mexican-inspired rice casserole. What we love most about this dish is that like most good casseroles, it's mostly just a process of mixing things together, topping it off with a truckload of cheese, and waving goodbye as it goes into the oven for a final bake!

Now, we know Ree suggests topping yours with fresh cilantro but if you also have the gene that makes it taste like soap, feel free to leave that off and garnish your bowl with a dollop of sour cream instead.

When you're sick, most of the time, bland is best. But as you recover and reemerge into reality, so do your tastebuds, and the craving for something seasoned. Whether it's spicy, salty, sour, you name it — you're craving something delicious.

It's times like these when we recommend leaning on this Thai Chicken Soup. A tom kha-esque recipe, it's creamy from the coconut milk base and chock-full of power-packed flavors from ingredients like green curry paste and fish sauce. And you won't miss the carbs with this recipe, that packs it in in the form of rice noodles that ooze of comfort! Go ahead, dip your spoon in while showing off your chopstick skills with those noodles — there's no right (or wrong) way to slurp these up.

Chicken and rice, seems very very nice! Especially when you're sick, don't you think? With an easy-to-digest carb like rice providing sumptuous sustenance, this soup even looks the part: loaded with fresh dill, thyme and bay leaves, this bountiful soup sings of a chilly autumn breeze that gives way to cozy nights by the fire.

It's mild enough to share with the kids and nuanced enough to impress the in-laws with, we promise. And if the brown rice is a bit too virtuous for you? Swap it out with some good ol' Uncle Ben's white rice. (Don't worry, we won't tell if you won't!).

Us Midwesterners, we're a unique bunch that often make the most cliche of stereotypes ring true. For instance, we live up to the Midwestern stereotype that everything is better with ranch — especially, pizza. And no, we're not just talking about the crust.

So while we also will never say no to any type of mac and cheese, this recipe is the first one made us light up with excitement. And sure, it uses all the right fresh herbs and flavors that make ranch into its magical, mystical self, but if we're feeling particularly lazy, we might sub that for some good ol' ranch seasoning. Works like a charm.

In this gallery of recipes, we think we've officially given you chicken & rice in every possible way you can spin: from a soup, to a stew, and now, in a casserole. Because truly, there's hardly a more comforting meal than a casserole. It's why it forms the basis of so many meal trains and is the perfect gift to give someone who's celebrating, grieving, and everything in-between.

Casseroles have the unique ability of being able to nourish the soul, the spirit and the stomach, all in one magical bowl. And this one's no different. Sure, it's a little out there with its use inclusion of what some may think is a copious amount of dill havarti cheese and a gut-busting, fiberful two cups of broccoli, but as we say with most recipes: these are merely guidelines.

Give it a couple tries and play with it how you like: we can almost guarantee that no matter how you spin it, it's bound to be cozy, comforting and scrumptious.

Nothing screams 'comfort' more than chili. Think about it — picture a heaping bowl of chili, and what do you think of? Perhaps, the weekend NFL game. Perhaps...nachos! But often times, when we think of chili, it's the meal we want to cozy up to after we've spent the afternoon outside shoveling snow or embroiled in an intense snowball fight.

And while you may not think of it at first, chili is also the perfect bowl of grub to fight off a winter cold. It's often packed with protein that helps you heal, dosed with a dash of spice that fights against that pesky cough, and loaded with fiber in the form of veggies, beans and/or legumes or, in this case, both, to keep you movin' and groovin,' if you know what we mean.

If you're used to a beef or turkey-based chili in the wintertime, give this chicken version a try: who knows, you may find a new favorite weeknight meal!

Now, no one likes being sick: it makes you grumpy, sniffly, achy, and well, it's just not cute. But many of us wrongly assume that if you're under-the-weather, then everything goes for a toss, even your food choices! Suddenly, you're diving into bowls of oatmeal, gulping mug after mug of tea and spending a week in sweats, sitting down to your mom's latest concoction that she swears by to 'cure the common cold.'

And sure, most of that might be true, but we'd like to think that there's an iteration of sick, somewhere, where we'd still like to maintain our dignity: you know, the kind where we still feed ourselves well and eat meals that are, well, tasty! Delicious? Perhaps even a little fancy?

This one-pot pasta is for those nights: the nights when you and your roommate are both starting to come down with something, don't want to admit it, and still want something yummy to sit down to. Luckily, Ree knows how you really feel, so this one-pot wonder really only takes 30 minutes — okay, 35 — to throw together. And we can guarantee that it tastes like it's been simmering away at your favorite Italian haunt for hours...nurtured on the stovetop.

In this dish, we've given you the best winter comfort meal: chili. Perfect for game day, perfect for the flu, it's really a multipurpose dish. Especially when paired with everyone's favorite carbohydrate: rice. It's hearty, wholesome and sings of home.

After all, that's what makes Guy's 'Chili Rice' such a hit .It's customizable enough that you can make it how you'd like it, opting for ground beef or turkey (or going meatless, if that's what you prefer), using long-grain rice that holds its own against the beans, and full of all the essential chili spices like chili powder, but also like paprika! This recipe proves that you should never underestimate the power of some staple pantry ingredients and every recipe's must-haves: salt and freshly-ground black pepper.

If you're looking for a soup to fit into your next Halloween-themed party, well boy, have we got the soup for you! Luckily, if you're looking for a bowl of beta-carotene to nurse yourself back to health and need a break from the bounty of butternut squash that overwhelms you each winter, we've got the (same) soup for you.

The secret is in the carrots. And sure, many other ingredients are involved in making Rachel Ray's bowl of comfort a secret success, but really, is there any better way to eat a bowl of baby carrots? We can't think of one. Especially when it's decorated with a spiderweb of sour cream!