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Top 35 Comfort Food Recipes

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Published: Oct 27, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links.

No matter where you’re from, we all need a little comfort food every now and then. Whether it’s a classic meatloaf, pot pie, cheesy pasta, or a hearty bowl of stew, you’ll find all the wonderful flavors of heart and home in these top 35 comfort food recipes!

No matter where you’re from, we all need a little comfort food every now and then. Whether it’s a classic meatloaf, pot pie, cheesy pasta, or a hearty bowl of stew, you’ll find all the wonderful flavors of heart and home in these top 35 favorite comfort food recipes!

Sometimes life just requires a good comfort meal. Food that nourishes our hearts as much as our bellies, warm and inviting, with all the flavors of home. And when that comfort food craving hits for you and your family, you’ll be ready! Any of these 35 classic reader-favorite recipes have exactly what it takes to put a little cozy on your table.

Top 35 Classic Comfort Food Recipes To Make Now!

Classic meatloaf recipe with best savory glaze

Best Meatloaf Ever

Classic meatloaf done right is one of those ultimate comfort foods that always hits the spot. And this recipe has one or two secret tricks that truly make it the best meatloaf ever! Moist, tender, loaded with flavor, plus the perfect texture and a caramelized, smoky glaze, this is traditional southern meatloaf!

One pot stroganoff with ground beef

Easy One Pot Beef Stroganoff

Enjoy all the comforting classic flavors of rich beef stroganoff in an easy one pot recipe!  Perfect for busy weeknights, but special enough for guests, luscious sour cream sauce, savory ground beef & mushrooms and silky egg noodles make every night a warm comfort food night!

Classi double crust chicken pot pie on a plate

Classic Chicken Pot Pie

Classic Chicken Pot Pie is what real comfort food is all about! Flaky, buttery crust and a rich, creamy filling loaded with savory chicken and bright vegetables make for a welcoming meal that nourishes the belly and the heart!

Louisiana Dirty Rice is a classic Louisiana recipe that makes the best rice for a main or side dish.

Louisiana Dirty Rice

Rich, hearty and full of flavor, Louisiana Dirty Rice is one of those delectably versatile dishes that always steals the show. A true Southern recipe filled with sausage, ground beef, bell pepper, onion, celery & spices, dirty rice is richly savory, completely comforting and can show up on any table from a Tuesday to the holidays! 

Homemade beef stew with tender chunks of chuck roast, the best beef for stew, and sweet potatoes

Homemade Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Rich and hearty Homemade Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes is guaranteed to keep your insides warm and your heart full! Loaded with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef roast, soft sweet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes all bathed in a thick, savory red gravy, this old fashioned beef stew is absolutely pure comfort in a bowl.

2 loaves of spaghetti stuffed garlic bread.

Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread

Who doesn’t love a little garlic bread with their spaghetti?  This easy Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread makes sure you get a little of that crispy, savory, garlic goodness with each bite!  A fun take on warm & cheesy baked spaghetti loaded with a seasoned beef & sausage meat sauce, these spaghetti boats will have you feeling like a kid again!

Simple flat southern dumpling and a thick stew for chicken and dumplings

Easy Southern Chicken and Dumplings

These easy Southern Chicken and Dumplings are loaded with tender, flat southern-style dumplings and shredded chicken bathed in a thick, hearty chicken stew to create the ultimate southern comfort dish! Add a little cracked pepper and you have hearty and completely satisfying recipe that sure to be a comfort favorite.

Classic family pot roast with potatoes and carrots

Classic Family Pot Roast

Nothing says family Sunday dinner like a melt-in-your-mouth, fork tender Classic Family Pot Roast.  Cooked low and slow with beef broth, red wine, savory seasonings, aromatics and plenty of dinner vegetables, this classic comfort food recipe has been gathering friends and families around the dinner table for more years than we can count!

Rich cream sauce and a topping of cheese make a delicious scalloped potatoes side dish.

Ultimate Scalloped Potatoes

Ultimate Scalloped Potatoes are a classic comfort side dish! A true favorite for Sunday dinners, holidays or any night of the week, these thinly sliced, layered potatoes bake up tender and full of flavor in a rich homemade cream sauce with a sprinkle of onion and oodles melted cheese!

completed dish of creamy mac n cheese

Ultimate Pepper Jack Mac & Cheese

This easy homemade mac & cheese recipe is one of the creamiest, cheesiest, comforting recipes around! And you’re going to love how easy it is to make- no flour, no roux, just simple cheesy goodness. One taste of it’s rich, velvety sauce with a little pepper jack kick, and you’ll never want to make any other mac & cheese again. You'll also love Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese, Southern Pimento Mac & Cheese and Seafood Mac & Cheese!

Red beans & Rice makes a classic comfort meal when served with cornbread or toasted french bread.

Louisiana Red Beans & Rice

Creamy, savory and loaded with deep, rich flavor and spices, classic Louisiana Red Beans & Rice is one pot comfort food that easily feeds a crowd and warms the soul. It’s sure to become a favorite to take to potlucks, tailgates and share around the family table!

traditional chicken and dressing for a southern holiday meal

Southern Chicken and Dressing

This handed-down, old fashioned recipe for homemade Chicken and Cornbread Dressing is wonderfully moist, savory and loaded with celery, onion and chicken. It’s an absolute must as a holiday side dish, especially Thanksgiving, but don’t be surprised when it’s served for Sunday dinner, special occasions or any time a little touch of home is needed!

A slice of lasagna on a blue plate with a copper fork.

Crowd Pleasing Lasagna

A hearty lasagna layered with just the right balance of rich, seasoned meat sauce, velvety melted cheeses and perfect pasta is the kind of comfort food worth being in the kitchen for!

Image for Cheesy Meat & Potato Pie

Cheesy Meat & Potato Pie

Growing up, we used to eat this dish my mom called “meat pie.”  It was one of my favorites.  There was just something about a flaky, golden crust combined with layers of melted cheesy goodness, meat and potatoes that just said comfort food like nothing else!

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Creamy delicious goodness is what you get with this easy recipe for Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole. Made with a simple homemade cheese sauce, sea shell pasta, tender albacore tuna and a crunchy panko topping, you’ll not find any canned cream soup in this updated version of a classic family favorite!

Old Fashioned rice pudding with strawberry compote

Quick Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

Rich and creamy, Old Fashioned Rice Pudding is the perfect dessert, snack or even breakfast when your family is craving warm and cozy comfort food. Quick and easy with just a few kitchen staples and options for add-ins to make it just the way your family likes it, this classic recipe is one that you’ll turn to again and again!

A classic comfort food recipe of carmelized onions, rich broth, oodles of melted cheese & crusty bread.

Cozy French Onion Soup

A classic comfort food, French Onion Soup is loaded with sweet caramelized onions, rich, savory broth, oodles of melted cheese & crusty bread. Made with simple ingredients and a little time, this homey, satisfying soup is the ultimate in cozy for you and your family!

Ultimate Baked Spaghetti Casserole is a layered spaghetti recipe with a creamy cheese center.

Ultimate Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Also called Million Dollar Spaghetti, this layered spaghetti casserole is part baked spaghetti and part lasagna with a dreamy, melty, cheesy center! Guaranteed to feed a crowd or just make your hungry family extra happy, Ultimate Baked Spaghetti is what good comfort food is all about.

Meat and Potatoes Ranch Au Gratin Recipe

Meat & Potatoes Ranch Au Gratin

This layered, cheesy meat & potatoes casserole is made even better with the zestiness of Ranch dressing baked right into the cheese sauce. This is a quintessential comfort food, family dinner recipe that is sure to become a regular at your dinner table!

This is the best Chili Mac recipe made on the stove top & finished under the broiler in less than 30 minutes.

Hearty Chili Mac Casserole

Chili Mac is one of those tried and true comfort meals that always hits the spot! It brings together 2 classic family favorites-beefy, hearty chili and creamy, melty macaroni and cheese to create the ultimate comfort food casserole- Hearty Chili Mac.

Tender kale, velvety potatoes, savory sausage and cream make a rich hearty potato soup

Hearty Sausage Potato Kale Soup

Sausage Potato Kale Soup is a hearty, comfort soup the whole family will love! Loaded with velvety red potatoes, savory sausage, salty bacon and tender kale, this cozy one pot recipe is reminiscient of Zuppa Toscana, uses simple, everyday ingredients and is sure to find a place in your regular dinner rotation!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole with Doritos in an easy to make skillet recipe

Dorito King Ranch Chicken Skillet

It’s hard to resist the familiar flavors of a good King Ranch Chicken Casserole! And that’s what makes this Dorito King Ranch Chicken Skillet version a true winner! The crunch and flavor of tortilla chips and easy one dish clean up, plus the pulled chicken, Rotel tomatoes and cheesy, creamy layer you expect will make this recipe your new go-to dish!

easy rotel chicken spaghetti casserole is a creamy, cheesy family comfort meal

Rotel Chicken & Spaghetti

creamy tomato basil soup with grilled cheese croutons

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is easy comfort served up in a bowl! With a base of carrots, onions, celery, chicken broth and butter simmered with bright tomato puree, fresh basil and cream, layer after layer of surprising rich, savory flavor make this simple classic a heart and soul favorite everyone craves.

close up of a slice of white ravioli casserole to show ingredients and texture

Easy White Ravioli Casserole- A Shortcut Lasagna

This easy White Ravioli Casserole recipe is full of shortcuts!  Layers of spinach, frozen cheese ravioli,  sausage crumbles, Alfredo sauce & cheese are baked to a golden, bubbly perfection in no time flat to create a delicious lasagna-style family meal.  With just 6 ingredients and 2 steps, it’s perfect for busy weeknights, but special enough for guests!

A close up of a bowl baked ziti without ricotta cheese

Tomato Alfredo Baked Ziti

Tomato Alfredo Baked Ziti is an easy family pasta dish that combines the bright, tomato-ey goodness of marinara with rich, cheesy alfredo sauce to create the creamiest, most delectable comfort food around! 

creamy spinach artichoke chicken casserole with rice served with a spoon

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole

Classic chicken and rice meets creamy, cheesy spinach artichoke dip in this Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole recipe with rice for an amazingly delicious all-in-one comfort dish that’s dreamy indulgent and perfect for every occasion!

chicken stuffed crescent rolls

Chicken Stuffed Crescent Rolls

This recipe speaks for itself- buttery, flaky crescent rolls, stuffed with a cream cheese and chicken filling and smothered in a cheesy cream sauce.  In short, Chicken Stuffed Crescent Rolls are quite simply divine.

Pizza Stuffed Pasta Shells in a baking dish

Pizza Stuffed Pasta Shells

Turn pizza into a fun comfort meal for your family with Pizza Stuffed Pasta Shells!  This easy recipe combines everything you love about your favorite pizza with the comfort of pasta in one easy dish.  Your family is going to love filling their bellies with delicious shells bursting with pepperoni, sausage and a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses all topped with a tangy marinara!

Image for Out of This World Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Out of This World Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

This easy recipe for White Chicken Chili is loaded with flavor and made wonderfully thick and creamy using rich cream cheese, creamed corn, shredded chicken, white beans and salsa verde.  Make it in the crock pot or on the stove top. Either way, this creamy white chili is bound to make it to your table again and again!

A slice of layered beef enchiladas

Layered Beef Enchiladas

Layers of seasoned beef in a red enchilada sauce, corn tostadas and melted Monterrey Jack cheese are what this dish is all about!  Who needs to hand roll an enchilada when this easy to make casserole is all you need to kick up your heels and have your own fiesta.

serve poppy seed chicken casserole over rice with a green salad for an easy weeknight dinner

Southern Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Southern Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole with it’s buttery Ritz cracker topping is so creamy and delicious, you won’t believe how easily it comes together with just a few kitchen staples! Perfect for busy weeknights, easy to freeze, a classic at potlucks and just the dish to share with a friend in need, this easy chicken dinner is sure to a be regular on your menu!

How to Serve Cheese Grits

Baked Gouda Cheese Grits

These smooth and creamy Baked Gouda Cheese Grits are loaded with savory, melt-in-your-mouth flavor. Cooked in broth then baked up light with eggs, cream, rich, melted Gouda, and sharp, salty cheddar, this easy cheese grits casserole is way more than just a comfort food staple!

Image for Easy Louisiana Gumbo with Green Chile Rice

Easy Louisiana Gumbo with Green Chile Rice

An easy one pot meal, this simple Louisiana Blonde Gumbo recipe has a light buttery roux and layers of flavor that bubble and simmer their way into your regular comfort food meal rotation. If you could throw ingredients into a pot, you can have delicious gumbo guaranteed to warm you from the inside out!

An easy homemade Chicago-style, deep dish pizza in a cast iron skillet.

Deep Dish Skillet Pizza Casserole

Pizza night at home has never been delicious like this before! This Deep Dish Skillet Pizza Casserole is a thick crust, Chicago-style pan pizza that is easy to make and is absolutely loaded with tangy pizza sauce and all your favorite pizza toppings. Pizza is America's #1 comfort food!

No matter where you’re from, we all need a little comfort food every now and then. Whether it’s a classic meatloaf, pot pie, cheesy pasta, or a hearty bowl of stew, you’ll find all the wonderful flavors of heart and home in these top 35 favorite comfort food recipes!

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Filed Under: Recipe Collections Tagged With: family meals

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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