The Pioneer Woman's Best Comfort Food Recipes

When only creamy, cheesy, hearty dishes will do, look no further than Ree Drummond's most-comforting recipes.

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Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

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Basic Pepperoni Pizza and Four-Cheese Pizza

Once you prep Ree's go-to pizza dough, it's up to you to decide how to build your pie. Her no-fail pepperoni pie is a tried-and-true favorite, while the four-cheese pie is a creative twist on a classic, featuring a fresh mixture of grape tomatoes and basil atop layers of pesto and a mixture of mozzarella, fontina, goat cheese and Pecorino.

Get the Recipe: Basic Pepperoni Pizza and Four Cheese Pizza

Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs

This all-in-one dinner is blanketed with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs

Cajun Veggies and Grits

Ree combines not one but three cheeses to make the richest, creamiest grits ever.

Get the Recipe: Cajun Veggies and Grits

Chuck's Enchiladas

Named after her father-in-law, Ree’s cheese enchiladas have earned a glowing five-star rating from fans.

Get the Recipe: Chuck's Enchiladas

Mac and Cheese Primavera

Ree puts a springtime spin on classic mac and cheese by adding tons of bright-green veggies.

Get the Recipe: Mac and Cheese Primavera

Cheddar and Apple Grilled Cheese

Crispy bacon boosts the savory decadence of this classic sandwich, while brown sugar-caramelized onions and Granny Smith apples deliver the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

Get the Recipe: Cheddar and Apple Grilled Cheese

Beef Noodle Skillet

Minimize the mess with Ree’s big-batch skillet supper. This is a true one-pan recipe since the egg noodles cook right in the pan with the ground beef.

Get the Recipe: Beef Noodle Skillet

Meatball Subs

Before building the subs, Ree smothers the rolls with mouthwatering garlic butter and quickly bakes them for toasty, golden-brown edges.

Get the Recipe: Meatball Subs

Carrot Cake French Toast

This might be the closest you'll ever get to eating dessert for breakfast. The Pioneer Woman combines your favorite things about carrot cake (the cinnamon, the brown sugar and the pecans), and bakes them with a custard-soaked bread for the ultimate morning treat. And yes, there's plenty of creamy cheese glaze too.

Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake French Toast

Chicken Wings with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these juicy wings boast a sweet-spicy sauce that gets its bold flavor from a combination of molasses and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Wings with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Shepherd's Pie

Spiked with horseradish cream, the buttery mashed potatoes atop Ree's savory beef-stew filling turn this shepherd's pie into an especially comforting dinner.

Get the Recipe: Shepherd's Pie

Best Tomato Soup Ever

The beauty of Ree's quick-fix soup is that it comes together with cans of diced tomatoes, which means that you don't have to wait for tomato season to begin to enjoy it. Just before serving, stir in cream and fresh herbs for a luxurious, flavorful finish.

Get the Recipe: Best Tomato Soup Ever

Chicken-Fried Steak with Gravy

Don't let the name fool you — this beefy plate is made with cube steak, not chicken. Ree coats the meat in a bold paprika-cayenne mixture, then cooks it in butter until it's golden brown. Round out the meal with mashed potatoes and a simply seasoned gravy for stick-to-your-ribs results.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

"This is ultra, ultra-rich," Ree says of her cookie-crusted pie, which boasts a fuss-free peanut butter filling made with only four ingredients.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Macaroni and Cheese

Though this timeless dish may have been a favorite meal when you were a kid, there's no reason not to indulge in it as a kid at heart. Ree's gooey recipe gives you the option of enjoying the mac and cheese straight from the stove, or baking it for next-level results.

Get the Recipe: Macaroni and Cheese

Pizza Rolls

The cheesy decadence of a slice of pizza gets rolled up in an easy dough with both marinara and pesto sauces for a hearty skillet supper.

Get the Recipe: Pizza Rolls

Salted Caramel Frosted Brownies

Ree's homemade Salted Caramel Sauce, made with salted butter and laced with a splash of vanilla, adds over-the-top decadence to her fluffy buttercream frosting, which complements the rich chocolate brownies.

Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Frosted Brownies

Mini Meatball Sandwiches

Ree's moist meatballs are simmered in ready-to-go marinara sauce and served on hearty rolls with mozzarella cheese.

Get the Recipe: Mini Meatball Sandwiches

Chicken Pot Pie

With a rich filling of tender chicken and bright vegetables in a white wine-cream sauce and a buttery, herbed pastry topping, Ree's top-rated pot pie boasts layer upon layer of richness.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

Baked Ziti

Ground beef and Italian sausage make up the hearty meat sauce in Ree's big-batch baked pasta. She creates a creamy three-cheese mixture of mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan to add welcome creaminess.

Get the Recipe: Baked Ziti

Crazy Chocolate Shakes

When concocting a milkshake of this magnitude, layering becomes key. Ree starts with swirls of ganache inside the glass, plus along the rim, so candies can stick to the chocolate. After that, she opts for a base of chocolate ice cream, then she piles on the toppings, including caramel bars for over-the-top dessert decadence.

Get the Recipe: Crazy Chocolate Shakes

Orange Chicken

Skip delivery tonight and make your favorite takeout dinners right at home. Ree's crispy fried chicken is tossed in a craveworthy mixture of orange juice, soy sauce and brown sugar for bright, tangy results.

Get the Recipe: Orange Chicken

Knock-You-Naked Brownies

With a name as wowing as this, you can be sure that Ree's caramel-filled brownies deliver the ultimate in sweet-tooth-satisfying comfort. Since the brownie base and topping come together with a boxed cake mix, this recipe is as easy to make as it is decadent.

Get the Recipe: Knock-You-Naked Brownies

Meatloaf

Not only is Ree's hearty meatloaf blanketed with slices of salty bacon, but it's also finished with a sweet, tangy sauce starring ketchup and brown sugar.

Get the Recipe: Meatloaf

Homemade Glazed Doughnuts

Soft and sweet, Ree's 5-star doughnuts are quickly fried and then dunked in a silky vanilla glaze.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Glazed Doughnuts

Beef Pot Pies

Who says chicken is the only protein fit to cook under a buttery crust? The filling in Ree's top-rated pot pies boasts beef cooked in a red wine sauce, plus crispy bacon for a subtle smoky taste.

Get the Recipe: Beef Pot Pies

Alfredo Sauce

When it seems like there's no time to make dinner, chances are that there's time to prepare this 15-minute sauce, which comes together with plenty of nutty Parmesan cheese. Just add your favorite pasta and dig in.

Get the Recipe: Alfredo Sauce

Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread

Good news: Ree takes advantage of store-bought buttermilk biscuits when prepping this sweet-tooth-satisfying dessert, which means it's a cinch to put together.

Get the Recipe: Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread

Chicken and Noodles

Cozy up to Ree's easy-to-make soup, featuring tender shredded chicken in a thyme-laced broth.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Noodles

Patty Melts

You don't have to go to the local diner to indulge in a tried-and-true patty melt, which Ree layers with sweet caramelized onions and plenty of gooey Swiss cheese.

Get the Recipe: Patty Melts

Penne alla Vodka

In just 25 minutes, you can transform everyday tomato sauce with vodka and cream for an easy dinner.

Get the Recipe: Penne alla Vodka

Beef Stew with Root Vegetables

Complete with carrots, parsnips and turnips, plus tender stew meat and a savory beer broth, Ree's fan-favorite stew is an all-in-one meal that can serve a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Beef Stew with Root Vegetables

Heavenly Creme-Filled Cupcakes

After baking a batch of buttery chocolate cupcakes, use a pastry bag to fill them up with a fluffy vanilla cream, then cover the cupcakes with a bittersweet chocolate ganache for an over-the-top finish.

Get the Recipe: Heavenly Creme Filled Cupcakes

Want More of The Pioneer Woman?

Check out Food Network's The Pioneer Woman headquarters for more recipe inspiration, plus an insider's tour of Ree's ranch.

More: The Pioneer Woman

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