18 Rainy Day Recipes You Can Make With (Mostly) Just the Basics

Spring showers might bring summer flowers, but first, they make you want to stay indoors! A rainy day is the perfect excuse to curl up on your couch with a good book — and some cozy food to warm you up from the inside out.

Whether you're craving a hearty stew, heaping helpings of pasta or some other tried-and-true comfort food, these recipes are sure to come in handy. They come together with little more than pantry staples and kitchen basics (no need to make a trip to the store in the rain!) — and they taste great. They're just want you want to keep you company during those April showers.

First up, this wonder that relies on cans from your pantry (precisely 3 of them: tomatoes, beans and mixed vegetables) along with some signature seasonings and spices that you probably already have on hand. To give the soup extra body and a creaminess without adding dairy, mash some of the beans directly in the can. The result is a satisfying meal with minimal effort — that's chock-full of fiber and flavor.

Who said rainy days were only solved with tureens of soup and mugs of hot chocolate? Rainy days indoors deserve dessert just as much as fun, summer days in the sun. Maybe even more so!

Ree's Chocolate Cake in a Mug is akin to a luxurious molten lava cake. But instead of messing with textures and temperatures or trying to create a souffle that's bound to collapse the minute the oven door pops open, just mix together some pantry staples — flour, sugar, cocoa powder, milk and chocolate chips — to create a dessert that college-you would be proud of....and able to make in the confines of your dorm room. Pro-tip: top it off with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, right after you pull it out of the microwave.

When you're thinking of rainy day comforts, piping hot bowls of soup and gooey grilled cheese sandwiches, meant to warm your insides, come to mind. And, if you're anything like us, your mind jumps to rice, too.

Jet Tila would tell you that after a long night out, there's nothing more rejuvenating and comforting than a 2-for-1 special on bacon (and egg) fried rice. Egg fried rice is standard, sure, but bacon and egg fried rice? Well, you're in for a good time. It's also just warm and comforting enough to save you from the outdoor gloom and doom.

Recently, we've become big fans of hashbrown casserole — especially Kardea's version. It's a hat tip to her love of hashbrowns. When crispy and served alongside her favorite style of eggs, they're hard to beat — but recently, shes gone rogue, combining them with other ingredients like a sharp yellow Cheddar, luscious sour cream and pungent alliums to create a baked delight that serves as the perfect salty start to the day.

Are you jonesing for a bowl of something sinful, indulgent, and piping hot to dunk your spoon into? Are you looking for a magical cure to soothe your soul as the rain pitter-patters against your window, the wind slamming against the doorway with a forceful 'thud' that makes the dogs howl in despair? Well, look no further than this hybrid of two of the world's richest recipes: French Onion Soup and Macaroni and Cheese.

We won't lie — this soupy surprise is a labor of love, but each step takes you closer to the foods that you know and love. The best part? Instead of croutons topped with Gruyere cheese, the mac and cheese acts as the crust that you must break into and bypass to reach your prize: the umami bomb that is French Onion soup. And we know the recipe says to use beef broth, but in case you're vegetarian or saving one of your plant-based friends from the chilly outdoors, feel free to swap that out for your favorite veggie broth or stock. With all the cheesy goodness that lies underneath, they won't even be able to tell the difference!

Going out for noodles is one of our favorite pasttimes. Whether we're visiting our favorite chain restaurant or heading to our local Thai spot, there's something so comforting about tucking into a big plate or bowl, cooked just the way we like them.

But, for those occasions when you're stuck indoors? We came up with these Shortcut Dan-Dan Noodles. With little more than those forgotten packets of instant ramen in your pantry and some bread and butter pickles from the back of your refrigerator, you can have an inspired version of the Chinese dish ready to enjoy in a matter of minutes. Give 'em a roll — they might be just what you need to face the week ahead (and succeed!).

When you think of comfort, what comes to mind? Fluffy pillows, cozy comforters, sleeping in past noon...and lasagna. Well, if you're Garfield, that is. If your life isn't luxurious enough to afford you the time needed to layer and bake a lasagna, don't worry — we've got a way to give you all the soul-soothing perks without the work. It's lasagna soup!

Using easy, no-boil lasagna noodles, spiced Italian sausage and a melange of Italian cheeses, you can create the essence of lasagna without the hassle of creating perfect layers. Instead, this one-pot recipe tastes exactly like the beloved dish.

Tuna Noodle Casserole: not the most visually appealing of casseroles, we'll admit. That is, until it's topped off with a healthy helping of Monterey jack cheese and some toasty breadcrumbs for some texture (and pizzazz!).

This version allows you to nourish your mind, body and soul (while in the eye of the thunderstorm that rages outside) by bringing together basics like hearty egg noodles, canned tuna and a handful of spices and condiments that are probably in your kitchen right now. You really can't go wrong with with this homey, satisfying dish.

Never fear, the Instant Pot is here! If you thought that cozy comfort required hours of simmering and stirring over a hot stovetop, think again! This chicken noodle soup, the epitome of comfort, takes 45 minutes from start to finish and for half that time, the Instant Pot is working its magic.

So sit back, relax and get ready to dive into a bowl of your favorite comforting soup — we've heard this recipe rivals even your mom's secret recipe...but shh. We won't tell if you won't!

You say 'po-tay-to' and we say 'po-tah-to,' but really, no matter which way you say it, you're in for something delicious.

Sure, the scalloped potato might seem like somewhat of a lost art — after all, when do you see someone bring a tray full of potato slices swimming in a mixture of heavy cream, as much cheese as your heart can handle and knobs of butter? Probably only around the holidays.

Well, this recipe holds good year-round. Damaris begins with a basic roux that gets thinned out with some milk of your choice, before layering the steeped potato slices in a casserole dish, interspersed with slices of some of her favorite meat: country ham. Top it off with a generous showering of mild, nutty Gruyere and voila: you've got a staple side that screams of comfort and keeps you warm on the rainy, chilly days.

Green bean casserole is often the neglected casserole child of the bunch — but Ree's found a way to make it undeniably cool again. She starts with fresh green beans that are loud in flavor, lovely in texture and luscious in mouthfeel. Add to that a hearty helping of panko breadcrumbs (for a superb crunch) and it's time to chow down!

Talk about iconic food combinations, and so, so many perfect pairings come to mind: bread and butter. Peanut butter and jelly. Pasta and sauce. And the coziest of them all: grilled cheese and tomato soup!

What could be better than dunking a crisp, golden-brown sandwich into a piping hot bowl of, essentially, thin marinara sauce? Well, we've found the answer: instead of requiring you to dunk your sandwich (and potentially your sleeve) in the process, we've turned your sandwich into a soup topper! It's the perfect singular crouton that packs a doubly cheesy punch — and the perfect contrast of creamy and crunchy to satisfy your craving.

All of us here at Food Network love s'mores. After all, what's not to like? Rich chocolate, cloud-like marshmallows and the toastiness of a graham cracker. What more do you need?!

Then again, s'mores for a crowd can be tricky — so the (S'mores) Sandwich King himself came up with a solution: a dip, made in a cast iron skillet. It's perfect for gathering around, dippers in hand. If you have a child (or guest) with a nut allergy, just be sure to leave the walnuts out. The dip is just as good sans nuts as it is with them. And, while the recipe suggests dipping those graham crackers into the dip, as is tradition, it would make for a great party dessert, especially if you use an array of fresh fruit like crisp apple slices and juicy strawberries for dipping.

Sunny's noodle bowl is a relatively simple yet genius creation that pairs a comforting pot of stir-fried ground beef and ramen noodles with a spicy beer and gochujang broth for a pantry dish that's truly one-of-a-kind (and a delight to both your tastebuds and tummy). It's ready in a matter of minutes and doesn't require many ingredients, making it the perfect pick when you're staying home and out of the storm. Thanks, Sunny — sincerely, yours truly.

When we think of sweet potato casserole, we also think of Thanksgiving. The two go hand-in-hand since the dessert-like preparation provides a nice foil to fatty meats and savory stuffings. But really, there's no rule saying that sweet potato casserole can't be eaten at any time of the year! Especially this one.

Topped off with a roasted nutty crumb topping, it gives you textural contrast that keeps you coming back for the next bite. The best part? You can assemble the casserole — without the topping — and refrigerate it ahead of time. When you're in a rush and need an easy, warming side after trudging through the outside chill, simply sprinkle on the crumbly topping, bake and enjoy, space heater by your side. It's no bowl of soup — it's better.

As children, it was hard to find something as comforting, as magical, and as basic-yet-brilliant as a bowl of buttered noodles. Even as adults, buttered noodles hold their draw — but if you're looking for something with a bit more protein and punch, something heartier, this beef stroganoff will do the trick. Studded with a generous portion of mushrooms — any kind will do! — the dollop of sour cream on top is enough to bring it all together...just as comforting on a rainy day as that bowl of buttered noodles you remember.

This noodle kugel is deceptively simple, using fewer than ten ingredients and coming together mostly in one bowl. Pour into a casserole dish and then the oven does most of the work from there on out.

It's a little sweet, a little savory (maybe even reminiscent of bread pudding for some) and ultimately very satisfyng, especially when it's keeping you company along with the pitter-patter of rain outside. So, cuddle your pet and your bowl of kugel — and you'll have a happy day indoors!