What is Comfort Food? The answer will be different for everyone — and for many very good reasons. Mood, weather, personality, memories, family, and friends are some of the many things that play into what your comfort foods might be.
What is comfort food?
Why exactly do we grab for a particular food in our pantry, or cook a certain recipe at a certain time?
It’s Soothing
Some people think of comfort foods as something soothing when they’re sad or upset.
You know, like if you’ve had a really rough day, so you stop on your way home for a pint of coffee ice cream, that you hope to have while you watch mindless TV? Not that I know who that would be. 😉
It can Evoke Feelings
For others, a comfort food is something that might evoke a nostalgic or sentimental feeling. For example, you love making waffles on lazy weekends because you remember your dad doing the same when you were growing up. (Also me.)
Comfort Food: A Category of its Own
And then, there’s simply a group of foods or meals that seem to have created their own special category called “Comfort Foods.” These are typically foods that roast, simmer, or braise for a long time. (Why do you think slow cookers and crocks pots are so popular?)
Typically served warm or hot, think saucy and creamy, warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom are a few) or melting cheese. “Soups and Stews” might as well change their category name to Comfort Foods, as they can be all of these things. Foods in this category are generally cooked in the cooler months of fall and winter. After all, they warm us up and they’re cozy. They simply make us feel good.
Common Themes
- A food that can be calming.
- Foods that might bring you back to a pleasant childhood memory.
- Something that will warm you up in cold weather.
- A meal that might help mend a broken heart.
- A food that simply makes you feel good, for no particular reason.
And the list goes on. And on.
From left to right in the image above, these are some of the best comfort food recipes. In my humble opinion, of course. Hopefully there are enough to keep you warm and feeling good for the next several weeks.
Off we go . . .
The Best Comfort Food Recipes
Cuban Chicken Stew Recipe 
Spicy Sriracha Spaghetti and Meatballs
Braised Brisket Stew
Hatch Chile Cornbread Casserole
Black Garlic Pappardelle Pasta
Smoky Three Pepper Corn Chowder
Smoky Breakfast Nachos with Eggs
Vegetarian Cassoulet
Sardinian Pasta Recipe
Spiced Chicken Butternut Squash Lasagna
Brisket Chili with Bacon and Chipotles
Dubliner Panini with Blueberry-Bacon Caramelized Onions
Tomato Balsamic Braised Chicken
Cheesy Pancetta Brussels Sprouts Bake
Vegan Spiced Carrot Coconut Soup
Roasted Butternut Squash Chili
A lovely, hearty vegetarian Chili that’s perfect for fall and winter. 
Curried Tomato Beef Stew
Skillet Spiced Sweet Potato Braised Chicken
So what is comfort food for you, and what do you think are the best comfort food recipes?
I want to know so please tell me in the comments!
camille kane says
you had me at cuban stew!!!
valentina says
I hope you try it, Camille. It’s high on my comfort food list!
Janet M. says
My favorite is grilled cheese and tomato soup. It was the Saturday lunch when I was growing up and just one bite takes me back.
valentina says
This is a very popular combination on this comment list. Not surprised at all, as it’s FABULOUS!
Arthur Martin says
Kale Soup. It reminds me of my childhood. Once the weather started to turned cold it was soup time. My mother made this with kale, meat, potatoes, onions, garlic and some seasonings in a wonderful tasting broth. Always had nice crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth. This is what we called a stick to your ribs meal.
Bob Heck says
Hi Valen,
Growing up my family got hooked on Pasta as a comfort food. Not with marinara sauce but butter, salt and sometimes garlic. My wife and I would get up at 2:00 a.m. hungry or we thought we were hungry, just wanting a bowl of noodles and butter.
Still works today, many year later for me and my girls.
Bob
valentina says
BUTTER! There’s nothing better to have with pasta, as far as I’m concerned. So delicious!
valentina says
Arthur, this soup sounds so incredible. Hearty, packed with flavor and good for you! I love it!
Char Slovenz says
Mashed potatoes.. I guess because they are soft and warm and remind me of home .
valentina says
Sounds perfect, Char. 🙂
Patt Montgomery says
I love pozole soup. I can eat it everyday almost.
valentina says
LOVE it!
Ken Downing says
My fave comfort food is a curried chicken stewp I make. It’s a soup, but it’s thick like a stew, so it’s a stewp! Chunks of chicken thigh meat, lots of veggies, and a mild curry seasoning to give it extra ‘healing power’
valentina says
I must add the word “stewp” to my culinary dictionary. It’s excellent. 🙂
Darlene Nelson says
Macaroni and Cheese. It’s warm, comforting and reminds me of my childhood.
valentina says
How is mac & cheese not in my 20 in this post!? It really should be on every comfort food list. YUMMY!
Linda McThrall says
Black-eyed peas and cornbread. My grandmother had an enormous garden. Each summer we would visit, pick peas, shell peas, cook peas to go with homegrown tomatoes, fried okra and cornbread. Now my mouth is watering. Thanks, Valentina!
valentina says
What a lovely memory, Linda. 🙂
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
I vacillate between spaghetti and chicken pot pie… and then there is a steaming bowl of homemade chicken soup that never fails to please.
valentina says
Deb, all of these are right up my alley, too. Wishing I had them at this very moment.
Deanna Smith says
Meat loaf – Great as a meal. Makes Fantastic sandwiches.
valentina says
True & true!
mike w says
shrimp wiggle . . . mashed potatoes w/shrimp, peas and butter. it’s good and …… i like to say the name
valentina says
who wouldn’t love it with a name like that!? 🙂
Jennifer says
Comfort food to my husband and son, would probably be chili simmering in my iron pot on the stove. But for me, It would be ANYTHING in a crock pot that I put together in the morning and came home to in the evening- a finished dinner for my boys!!!!!
valentina says
crock pots = comfort foods!
Alison H. says
My favorite comfort food is Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans!
valentina says
Makes perfect sense to me, Alison. Delicious!
Jodi B says
Picking just one is hard, but if forced I would say chili!
valentina says
Yes, chili is one of the best comfort foods. So rich and filled with spicy flavors!
Diana Fox says
Meat loaf with ketchup, molasses, and tobasco served with mash potatoes. Then sandwiches the next day. MMMMM
valentina says
Yes please!
Richard Reed says
Ham Bone and white Navy bean soup. It was served over sweet corn bread and topped with ketchup. Soak the beans over night. Drain the excess water off the beans. Put in a large pot add an onion (diced), garlic to taste a ham bone with some meat still attached, water to cover and cook until the beans are soft. Remove bone, salt and pepper to taste. Serve over sweet corn bread sliced horizontally, place in the bottom of a large bowl, top with ketchup to taste and enjoy. My parents were from the South and this was comfort food for them and our entire family
valentina says
Sounds so delicious, Richard. You’ve succeeded in making me starving! 🙂
Kara Kraus says
Oh, so hard to decide between:
“Beef Mushroom Burgundy” (melt in your mouth tender)
OR
“Smoked Gouda Rigatoni” (rich and creamy grownup version of Mac and Cheese)
Both are bursting with flavor and absolutely the best ever comfort food on a cold winter night!
valentina says
I simply wouldn’t decide — both should be on the menu.
Sue Dabrusky says
There are so many”comfort”foods. One of my all time favorites is Mac and Cheese it’s hot and cozy and fluffy and fuzz around the edges and a great reminder of my childhood, what could possibly top that. Another favorite is Cholent great beef and beans cooked for hours until the beans are soft and the meat is so tender it literally melts in your mouth! YUM, YUM!!!!!!! Great childhood memories in every bite that you never want to end!
valentina says
Slow cooking something for hours usually means comfort. A memory in each bite — I love that!
Sippitysup says
It’s interesting how many chicken recipes qualify as comfort to so many people. Must mean something. GREG
valentina says
So true, Greg. Must be that whole roasting business. 😉 xo
Bobbie Bramstedt says
Macaroni & Cheese ….. All that cheesy goodness just makes you happy 🙂
valentina says
It sure does!
Brian says
Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup would have to be my go-to comfort food. Always loved coming inside to this after shoveling the driveway as a kid. Thanks Mom.
valentina says
Moms are the best! Best combo ever!
Brian says
You said it Valentina! Hi Mom!
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought says
Grilled cheese and tomato soup. My mom would always make me that when I was home from school sick.
valentina says
Cathy, this combo is ranking very high in the comfort food department. Go figure. 😉 YUM!
Kelly @ Tasting Page says
Can I pick any one of your amazing recipes on this post as my favorite comfort food? I’d be very comforted with any of these!
valentina says
Yes! 😉
Frances Foster says
My favorite comfort food is a puerto rican dish pollo gizzado ( chicken stew). It has a tomato sauce base, potatoes, chicken, green olives, and spices it goes over white rice. It always reminds me of my mom and is just so comforting and so good, makes you feel better no matter what. Everyone who tries it loves it even if they cant say it so they just call it that puerto rican chicken stew you make that I love. Just spreading my moms love around.
valentina says
That sounds amazing! And it doesn’t get much better than spreading a moms love around!
amo says
Home made Chicken Noodle Soup Primavera. Egg noodles swimming in a fragrant broth bursting with lightly sauteed zucchini and garlic … the aroma alone is enough to transport you to nirvana. Then the bonus, you get to eat it. Heaven.
valentina says
I love this!
Sarah Morales says
My favorite comfort food is roast chicken… reminds me of my Mom, it was my favorite growing up.
valentina says
The world of comfort foods would be incomplete without roasted chicken. It’s one of my favorites!
Linda M says
I would say Fried Chicken with Cream Gravy. My Grandmother’s fried chicken and cream gravy was so good. I rarely fry, so to have it now would be a big treat. Our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is a table full of comfort too. All the recipes handed down from generation to generation.
valentina says
You had me a fried! Oh, and cream! 😉
Donna Currie says
It’s a tossup between mac ‘n cheese and meatloaf with mashed potatoes right now. But that buttermilk roasted chicken you have up there looks pretty darned fabulous.
valentina says
Thanks for visiting my site, Donna! I think your two are at the top of most comfort food lists. And with good reason! 🙂
Sharyl Wolter says
Mac and cheese for me. Love, love the creamy pasta cheesy dish.
valentina says
Creamy & cheesy — what could be better!? 🙂
afoodobsession says
pasta with Sunday Sauce, meatballs, sausage, braciole with ricotta and lots of pecorino..this was the meal growing up that took on the most importance, the Sunday meal, eating it is like getting a big hug from my deceased parents and when I make it for my family it’s like an extention of my youth..and makes me feel safe, secure, and all sorts of warm inside…and i make it on Sundays or during the week…and when I need a “(( hug))…”
valentina says
I absolutely LOVE this! Thanks so much for re-posting your FB comment here. Not only does this sound incredibly comforting and delicious, but it’s such a lovely description of the power of food.
Lyndsey says
Comfort food to me is that which reminds me of home, of safety, of security, of love. Things like spaghetti and meatballs, tuna casserole, Malt-o-Meal, pork chops with mushroom gravy.
valentina says
Lyndsey, all of these sound yummy and comforting.
Linda K. says
My favorite comfort food is cream of mushroom soup.
valentina says
Oooh, I love that — especially mixed with rice and chicken. 🙂
Joan says
My comfort food is either mac and cheese or potatoes.
valentina says
I’m thinking potatoes came to be for comfort. 😉
Linda S. says
Eggplant parmesan, or risotto with porcini mushrooms.
valentina says
I could eat risotto everyday! YUM!
Nikki says
potato pancakes because they taste amazing and just make you happy lol
valentina says
Potato pancakes are high on my list, too. Reminds me of my mom and Aunt cooking for the holiday’s when I was a kid. And you’re right, they can make a person happy! 🙂
Trish says
A bowl of my mom’s broccoli soup….with a delicious chicken broth and melted cream cheese, this is one of the best winter soups from my childhood.
valentina says
Sounds delicious, Trish. And pretty healthy, too boot!
Melissa M says
The best comfort food to me was my mother’s chicken and Dumplings. They just warm you from the tummy out! And anything my mother cooked was always best.
valentina says
I love that, “from the tummy out.” 🙂
Kate @ Babaganosh.org says
My favorite comfort food is mashed potatoes. This might sound weird, but in my Russian family, mashed potatoes were part of Sunday breakfast, and it is also the dish my mom made for me when I was sick… so it brings up happy Sunday breakfast memories as well as makes me think about being taken care of 🙂
valentina says
I really love this Kate. One food with two lovely memories. 🙂
cat says
good old Mac and cheese
valentina says
Which ironically never gets old! 😉
deana c says
My favorite comfort food is homemade mac and cheese because my mother used to always make me this on my birthday. It makes me think of her.
valentina says
I think Mac & Cheese way up on the comfort food lists! 🙂
Barb says
My favorite comfort food is french fries with different toppings ,its my favorite because there is a topping for every mood ,when i am super upset i put french fries on a fried balogna sandwich
valentina says
Barb, fries on a sandwich — I LOVE it! 🙂
Daniel M says
my fav comfort food is lasagna, it always cheers me up
valentina says
Lasagna is a great one! Love lasagna!
Sandy says
One of my favorite comfort foods was such a simple treat. When I was very young my mother would stew ripe garden tomatoes and onions with a little water,salt ,pepper and a touch of sugar. This was always enjoyed when I was sick. Mom would serve it on hot buttered toast. This was the only time I was allowed to eat in bed , so for me it was a double pleasure. It was made just for me ! Such memories .
Tomatoes are one of my favorite meals to this day !!
valentina says
Sandy, this is such a good one. And in reading your comment, I realized how great it’s been having people think about memories like this. 🙂
alli says
Bean and cheese burritos. Perfectly seasoned beans, fresh tasty cheese and a light savory tortilla. It’s an old standby, a best friend, and brings you back to what really matters…carbs, dairy and some bean protein.
valentina says
I love this, Alli! So many foods are my “best friends.” 😉 xo Hope to see you soon! xo V
Annette says
My favorite comfort food is Chicken and Dumplings.
valentina says
That’s on my list, too. 🙂
Lorena Keech says
My favorite comfort food is homemade beef and noodles. It is so rich and warming and because it is my mother’s recipe, it reminds me of her.
valentina says
I think almost every comment includes “mom” or “mother.” I can only hope I’m giving my boys similar memories. 🙂
Brian E. says
Thanks for the giveaway… Irish Soda Bread, using my Mom’s recipe…reminds me of being a kid, watching my Mom cook & bake in the kitchen.
valentina says
Moms are the best. 🙂
Ralph Smith says
To me, comfort foods are warm, colorful and flavorful. Often they also inspire happy memories of a certain person, place or event.
ken Miller says
I am very moody and at the same time I love cooking. So whenever I felt upset its obvious that I am gonna create new dish lolz
valentina says
The new dish is the silver lining. 😀 Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely weekend.~Valentina