What is Comfort Food? The answer will be different for everyone -- and for many reasons. Mood, weather, personality, memories, family, and friends are some of the many things that play into what your comfort foods might be.
What does comfort food mean?
Comfort foods are foods that provide a sense of serenity. They're most often connected with nostalgia and emotional comfort.
Since we've all had different experiences in our lives, everyone likely has their own comfort food.
Why exactly do we grab for a particular food in our pantry, or cook a certain recipe at a certain time?
- It can evoke feelings.
- It's a food that can be calming and soothing.
- Your comfort food might bring you back to a pleasant childhood memory.
- It's 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.
Soothing and Calming
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 grab the pint of coffee ice cream, that you hope to have while you watch mindless TV? Not that I know who that would be. 😉
Comfort Foods 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 Foods are Warming
Typically served warm or hot, think saucy and creamy, warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom are a few) or melting cheese.
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.
Comfort Food has become its Own Category
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 one-pot meals that roast, simmer, or braise for a long time. (Why do you think slow cookers and crock pots are so popular?)
"Soups and Stews" might as well change their category name to Comfort Foods, as they can be all of these things.
Macaroni and cheese, pies, bread puddings, cookies right out of the oven. . . its foods in this vein that qualify for this category.
Below are some of my favorite comfort food dishes, or those that I believe fit into the category.
Let's jump in to some delicious examples of comfort foods . . .
15 of The Best Comfort Food Recipes
Cheesy Pancetta Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Butternut Squash Chili
Creamy Polenta with Gorgonzola
Yes, cold things can certainly be a comfort! 😉
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!
BROWSE MORE COMFORT FOOD RECIPES →
Lyndsey
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
Lyndsey, all of these sound yummy and comforting.
afoodobsession
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
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.
Sharyl Wolter
Mac and cheese for me. Love, love the creamy pasta cheesy dish.
valentina
Creamy & cheesy -- what could be better!? 🙂
Donna Currie
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
Thanks for visiting my site, Donna! I think your two are at the top of most comfort food lists. And with good reason! 🙂
Linda M
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
You had me a fried! Oh, and cream! 😉
Sarah Morales
My favorite comfort food is roast chicken... reminds me of my Mom, it was my favorite growing up.
valentina
The world of comfort foods would be incomplete without roasted chicken. It's one of my favorites!
amo
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
I love this!
Frances Foster
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
That sounds amazing! And it doesn't get much better than spreading a moms love around!
Kelly @ Tasting Page
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
Yes! 😉
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought
Grilled cheese and tomato soup. My mom would always make me that when I was home from school sick.
valentina
Cathy, this combo is ranking very high in the comfort food department. Go figure. 😉 YUM!