Best Comfort Food Recipes (2024)

Best Comfort Food Recipes (1)

What do you feel like most in winter? Big jumpers, big stews, big nights in on the sofa licking strings of melted cheese off your fork. Yes, winter is a time when comfort food really comes into its own, huge casseroles emanate their familiar fragrances of herbs and homeliness, rich sauces bubble and spices add heat.

Comfort food can take many forms, it’s up to you what makes you feel warm inside when it’s freezing out. Perhaps you like lots of potato, flecked with herbs and fluffy and golden. Perhaps you want some old fashioned baking ideas, crumpets slathered in butter and dripping with jam. But familiarity seems to be the main draw, the sorts of things we used to eat as children now served up in an adult way. Sausages, batter, cheese. Not necessarily all together but, well, whatever works for you.

And so we've rounded up the best comfort food recipes, modern takes on classic favourites including ideas from Jamie Oliver and Marcus Wareing, from macaroni cheese and bangers and mash, to classic fish pie and minestrone soup. You’re sure to find something here that will warm your soul as you snuggle under a blanket, Netflix and fire both firmly on.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

1

Potato, bacon and greens cheesy bake

Best Comfort Food Recipes (3)

This hearty supper dish fills you up and keeps out the cold. You can replace the spring greens in this recipe with any variety of green cabbage. Vegetarians can omit the bacon.

Try this Potato, bacon and greens cheesy bake recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

2

Fish pie

Best Comfort Food Recipes (5)

The ultimate comfort food, this fish pie can be on the table in less than an hour.

Try this classic fish pie recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

3

Broad beans, kale and ham

Best Comfort Food Recipes (7)

Is it a brunch or is it a lunch? Or even a midweek meal? Whichever you decide it's clear this dish, from the Leon cookbook, is comfort food at its most pure. A rich, runny yolk cascading over the salty flavours of the ham and the soft mush of the broad beans. Glorious.

Try this broad beans, kale and ham recipe here

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

4

Classic beef stew

Best Comfort Food Recipes (9)

Hearty ingredients, satisfyingly tasty and a real crowd pleaser – add this one-pot wonder to your repertoire.

Try this classic beef stew recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

5

Chicken Leek & Bacon Pot Pie

Best Comfort Food Recipes (11)

Serve piping hot straight from the oven. No need for vegetables on the side, it comes all in one.

Try this chicken, leek and bacon pot pie recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

6

Toad in the hole

Best Comfort Food Recipes (13)

James Tanner says: ‘This reminds me of my childhood. Serve hot, with peas, mashed potato and thick onion gravy, or however your mum used to serve it.’

Try James Tanner's toad in the hole recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

7

Lamb potato hotpot

Best Comfort Food Recipes (15)

This is a classic, hearty lamb dish which originates from Lancashire. Perfect on a cold winter’s evening.

Try this lamb and potato hotpot recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

8

Leicestershire Red Macaroni Cheese

Best Comfort Food Recipes (17)

Tom Aikens' Macaroni cheese is the ultimate comfort food, which can be on the table in less than an hour.

Try Tom Aiken's Leicestershire Red macaroni cheese recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

9

Sausage and Blue Stilton Mash

Best Comfort Food Recipes (19)

The cheesy creamy mash, onion gravy, and succulent sausages make for a quick and easy comfort food classic with a twist.

Try this bangers and Stilton mash recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

10

Spaghetti carbonara

Best Comfort Food Recipes (21)

The classic pasta and bacon combo. Italians frown upon the use of cream in carbonara, preferring an emulsion of eggs, butter and pasta water.

Try this spaghetti carbonara recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

11

Cottage Pie

Best Comfort Food Recipes (23)

This classic topping of mashed potato is given a twist by adding parsnips.

Try this cottage pie with parsnip mash recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

12

Creamed Chicken Broth

Best Comfort Food Recipes (25)

There is something rather comforting about chicken soup at any time of the year.

Try Mark Hix's creamed chicken and mushroom broth recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

13

Home Made Crumpets

Best Comfort Food Recipes (27)

There’s nothing like treating yourself to moist and buttery home-made crumpets on a lazy Sunday morning.

Try this delicious home-made crumpets recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

14

Peri peri chicken

Best Comfort Food Recipes (29)

Chef Jamie Oliver suggests serving this fantastically flavoursome peri peri chicken recipe with dressed potatoes, rocket salad and quick Portuguese tarts.

Try Jamie Oliver's peri peri chicken recipe

Best stew recipes

All our winter recipes

Best Comfort Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's your go to comfort food best answer? ›

It's the food you like having to feel good. Could be something like fish and chips, mac and cheese, spaghetti, a hot dog, some noodles, a dosa, or maybe Snickers or some good old paratha.

What is the most comforting food in the world? ›

10 Comfort Foods from Around the World
  • Italy: Risotto Milanese. Begin your gastronomic adventure in Italy with the iconic Risotto Milanese. ...
  • Japan: Hot Pot (Nabe) ...
  • India: Butter Chicken. ...
  • France: Cassoulet. ...
  • Morocco: Harira Soup. ...
  • South Korea: Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae) ...
  • Mexico: Pozole. ...
  • Greece: Moussaka.

What is my comfort food examples? ›

Top 20 comfort foods
  • Next level ratatouille.
  • Italian veggie cottage pie.
  • Triple cheese & aubergine lasagne.
  • Best ever macaroni cheese.
  • Spicy chicken & chickpea curry.
  • Easy sausage casserole.
  • Mexican bean soup with guacamole.
  • Big-batch bolognese.
Nov 9, 2023

Can you describe your go to comfort food and what makes it so comforting? ›

Comfort foods typically take the form of an easy-to-make meal that is high in carbohydrates and fat. This combination makes it comforting to eat since our mothers would often cook these types of dishes for us when we were children. Comfort food also evokes memories from childhood which are usually happy ones.

What is America's #1 comfort food? ›

Become a Jetsetter
  • 1 Chicken and Waffles.
  • 2 Spaghetti and Meatballs.
  • 3 Chicken Fried Steak.
  • 4 Mac and Cheese.
  • 5 Hotdish.
  • 6 Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.
  • 7 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
  • 8 Matzo Ball Soup.
Mar 1, 2020

What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

Pizza has rightfully earned its place as the world's most beloved food. This Italian creation has become a staple in numerous countries, with endless variations to suit every taste bud. Whether you prefer thin crust or deep dish, classic Margherita, or loaded pepperoni, pizza has something for everyone.

What food is loved by everyone? ›

Nearly as versatile a food as rice, potatoes are loved by everyone no matter where they live. They can take many forms: from French fries to mashed potatoes to gnocchi, potato lovers can rest easy knowing their favorite delicacy is incredibly easy to find and eat.

What is the happiest food? ›

A “happy food” is any ingredient that lifts your mood and supports mental health. Examples of happy foods include fish, nuts, seeds, eggs, leafy greens, berries, olive oil and whole grains.

Why do people say comfort food? ›

Comfort food is the name given to food that we simply associate with good. It gives us great pleasure and joy because it evokes positive emotions in us. Comfort food makes us feel good, it activates the reward area of the brain, which can improve mood and reduce stress when we eat these foods, in the moment.

What is your go to food meaning? ›

Defined as food that gives emotional comfort to the one eating it, these tend to be favorite foods of childhood, or linked to a person, place or time with which the food has a positive association.

Why is food such a comfort to me? ›

Simply thinking about our comfort food can trigger a dopamine release and begin a cycle of motivation and reward. Other hormones that you may be familiar with that work together with dopamine include serotonin and adrenaline.

Why do we want comfort food? ›

But why are they so appealing? Many individuals rely on comfort foods when they're depressed, anxious, or simply in need of a little mood boost. Comfort foods can evoke coziness and comfort as they are frequently linked to carefree memories.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 6589

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.