25 Quick Comfort Food Recipes That Make Delicious Dinners (2024)

Dig into your favorite meals fast with our quick comfort food recipes. These dishes have rich, hearty flavors, but require you to spend surprisingly little time waiting for them to finish up on the stovetop or in the oven.

We used some of our favorite culinary tricks to streamline classic recipes like mac and cheese, chicken pot pie, and chili, speeding things up without sacrificing flavor. We also created some new favorites with fast-cooking proteins like chicken cutlets and skirt steak. Also, look out for plant-based ideas for quick and easy comfort food recipes you'll want to add to your regular weeknight dinner rotation.

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Baked Broccoli-and-Artichoke Shells

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A weeknight-friendly pasta bake that's ready in 45 minutes? Sign us up! This soon-to-be family favorite dish combines a creamy cheddar cheese sauce and smoky bacon with nutritious broccoli under a blanket of Parmesan breadcrumbs.

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Crispy Lemon-Parmesan Eggplant

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After you taste this irresistibly quick and easy riff on eggplant parm, you won't go back to the baked version. Long slices of eggplant are broiled until tender and golden, then topped with a zesty panko breadcrumb mixture. It's ready in 30 minutes—and you can make a simple side salad in the time the dish takes to broil.

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Chipotle Chicken and White-Bean Soup

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It's so cozy and satisfying, you'd never guess this chicken soup takes just 35 minutes to make. Using chicken thighs and canned beans means it comes together fast. It's a quick comfort food dinner we rely on throughout the winter.

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Broccoli-and-Chickpea Parmesan

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Here's a one-pan dinner that's one of our favorite quick comfort foods. This hearty vegetarian meal is on the table in 45 minutes. Chickpeas, marinara sauce, and mozzarella are topped with wedges of roasted broccoli florets tossed in a crunchy Parmesan-and-panko blend.

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Pork-Meatball Skillet Bake

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Three-ingredient meatballs are simmered in a sweet pepper-studded tomato sauce for this one-pan dinner. Add slices of toasted Italian bread and top everything with mozzarella before giving the dish a quick blast under the broiler.

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Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms with Egg Noodles

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Here's a one-skillet dinner that takes just 35 minutes. What makes it so special? The creamy sauce made with mustard, broth, and cream cheese which coats the chicken breasts and egg noodles.

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Cheater's Mac and Cheese

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When you need a meal that soothes as much as it satisfies, turn to this 20-minute mac-and-cheese. Pasta and broccoli are cooked in the same pot, then drained and stirred together with reserved pasta water, cream cheese, butter, and Parmesan for the easiest sauce ever. We think you'll be making this genius dish on the regular.

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30-Minute Chili

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Some chili builds flavor and texture by simmering for hours. Other recipes, like this 30-minute version, use key ingredients such as beer and canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce to build it fast. Customize each bowl with your favorite garnishes—cheese, sour cream, green onion, and bacon are all good choices.

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Chicken Zoodle Soup

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Chicken soup truly does warm the soul, and this fast take on noodle soup is warming and healthy thanks to quick-cooking zucchini noodles. Most grocery stores sell pre-cut zoodles in the vegetable department or freezer section.

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Beef and Cheddar Hand Pies

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The comfort of a burger is brought to you in the form of these cheeseburger-esque hand pies, which are wrapped in a buttery, flaky golden crust made with store-bought puff pastry. Dip them in ketchup and mustard or enjoy them as is.

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Tuna Casserole

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Synonymous with comfort food, casseroles have been warming us from the inside out for decades. This weeknight version cooks in just 20 minutes and is a little healthier than the classic thanks to a sneaky add in—cauliflower—which pairs perfectly with the rest of this cheesy bake.

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Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs

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If you've got one pot and 35 minutes, this comforting combo can be dinner. Make the meatballs, start cooking the orzo, add the meatballs to the pot and six or seven minutes later, you'll be stirring in some lemon juice; then serving with a drizzle of oil, Parmesan, pepper, dill, and lemon wedges.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Mac and Cheese

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Our food editors' favorite macaroni and cheese is better than store-bought. It's richer, creamier, and made with ingredients you can pronounce. Best of all, this recipe is almost as quick as the boxed variety—it will get you from stovetop to table in just about 30 minutes.

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Quick Fried Chicken and Waffles

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Two classic comfort foods—fried chicken and waffles—are even more delicious when you enjoy them together. Serve with maple syrup and tabasco sauce for a sweet-savory finish.

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Lentil Soup with Crispy Kale

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Hearty soups really hit home on the coldest winter nights—and lentils cook quickly and add heft. Shiitake mushrooms bring rich flavor and kale crisps make a surprising crunchy topping.

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Classic Burger-Joint Cheeseburger

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Why go to the drive-in when you can make an even better burger at home? One of our secrets is slathering the buns with our secret crisping agent—mayonnaise—before toasting them. As the finishing touch, we use the best melting cheese: American.

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Creamy Lemon Chicken Spinach and Artichokes

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Reinvent everyone's favorite dip as dinner by adding in quick-cooking chicken cutlets. This quick comfort food dinner is sure to become a family favorite.

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Orange Pork Watercress Rice

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The quick marmalade sauce for this pork entrée mimics the flavors we all love from Chinese takeout and gets dinner on the table faster than ordering in. The sauce works well with chicken, beef, or shrimp, too.

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Green Chicken Enchilada Pies

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Tuck into these individual enchilada pies in just 30 minutes. Use your favorite store-bought salsa for this recipe.

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Taco Casserole

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Forget warming and filling individual tortillas; scoop your taco filling into this nacho-topped casserole instead. Arrange condiments on the side so everyone can top their portion just how they like.

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Individual Chicken Potpies

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Lots of time and love goes into a traditional chicken pot pie. We found a way to cut down on the time and build flavor fast by making individual ones. Note that this recipe serves two, but it can easily be doubled for four.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Grilled Cheese

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If getting dinner on the table fast is important to you, you'll be pleased to know that gooey grilled cheese sandwiches are the winner for fastest comfort food. This recipe spreads butter and mayonnaise on the bread, which makes for the crispiest crust and softest interior. For extra comfort, dip your grilled cheese into our Test Kitchen's Favorite Tomato Soup. It can be prepared while the sandwiches grill.

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Grilled Shrimp and Grits with Chorizo and Salsa de Arbol

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Take a southern classic—shrimp and grits—south of the border by adding in flavorful chorizo and salsa. Any store-bought salsa can be subbed for the homemade one to speed things up another notch.

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Chicken Parmesan

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Our fastest chicken Parmesan recipe uses thin chicken cutlets and the broiler to speed up cooking time and get dinner on the table fast. To make things even easier, you can bread the cutlets used in this recipe and freeze them. All you have to do is bake, top, and broil anytime you're craving this dish.

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Beef Goulash with Potatoes

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Hearty stews are one of the ultimate comfort foods, but they are often overlooked as a weeknight option because they take a while to cook. This stew is ready in just about the time it takes to boil potatoes. How do we manage that? By using a quicker-cooking cut of beef—skirt steak.

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25 Quick Comfort Food Recipes That Make Delicious Dinners (2024)

FAQs

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

Fried chicken: a classic comfort food because of its crispy texture and the positive memories of picnics and gatherings. Mac and cheese: macaroni noodles in cheese sauce are simple to cook and perfectly balance carbs and proteins.

What is the most comfort 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 a good go to comfort food? ›

What Are the Top 10 Comfort Foods?
  • Burgers & French fries.
  • Cake and cheesecake.
  • Candy.
  • Chicken soup.
  • Grilled cheese.
  • Grits.
  • Ice cream.
  • Mac 'n' cheese.
Apr 11, 2023

What is the best comfort food when feeling lonely? ›

Comfort foods, the study found, actually do make us feel less sad. So what were the top seven items on my poll? Mac and cheese hit the No. 1 spot, followed by beef stew, apple pie and ice cream, chicken and dumplings/chicken pot pie, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, bread pudding and fried chicken.

What's your all-time favorite comfort food? ›

Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
  • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
  • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
  • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
  • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
  • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
  • 8 of 20. Fries.
Jun 23, 2024

What's your ultimate comfort food? ›

We can all agree that anything involving pasta or a rich delicious gravy is right at the top of the comfort food list. And this recipe for beef stroganoff features both! With buttery egg noodles smothered in a creamy beef and mushroom gravy that's rich, warm, and full of flavor, this is the ultimate wintertime food.

What is a comfort food when you are not feeling well? ›

Soups are packed with flavor, ingredients, and nutrients that will make you get well soon. The seasonings, veggies, and broths are hydrating and boost the immune system. Proteins like chicken and turkey and carbs like noodles and rice provide the energy you need to fight illness.

What is the number 1 most delicious food in the world? ›

1. Sushi (Japan) Source Prepared with vinegared rice and a wide range of ingredients including seafood, vegetables, and sometimes fruits. Sushi tastes best when served with wasabi, pickled ginger, and soy sauce.

What food does everyone like the most? ›

popularity is the % of people who have a positive opinion of a american dish. Find out more
  1. 1 Hamburgers85%
  2. 2 French Fries84%
  3. 3 Grilled Cheese84%
  4. 4 Fried Chicken83%
  5. 5 Cheeseburger83%
  6. 6 Mashed potatoes82%
  7. 7 Corn on the Cob81%
  8. 8 Steak and Baked potato81%

What is America's comfort food? ›

What counts as American comfort food? You can't go wrong with a classic like macaroni and cheese or a fried chicken sandwich paired with a fluffy, soft potato roll. A big bowl of pasta certainly fits the bill, too—which is why we included two delicious iterations of spaghetti and meatballs.

What is ultimate comfort food? ›

If you call something comfort food, you mean it is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier, although it may not be very good for your health. For me, spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food.

What to eat when craving comfort food? ›

For instance, the flank steak with cheesy hash brown waffles will be an immediate favorite, along with the pierogi and meatball skillet, French bread pizzas, and creamy cauliflower soup. For Ree Drummond, chicken pot pie is the one comfort food that just can't be beat.

How to make something to eat in 5 minutes? ›

5-minute meals recipes
  1. Storecupboard pasta salad. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  2. Pan-fried camembert sandwich. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  3. Classic French omelette. ...
  4. Creamy tomato courgetti. ...
  5. Easy pea & mint soup. ...
  6. Caesar salad with crispy chicken. ...
  7. Speedy Mediterranean gnocchi. ...
  8. Goat's cheese, tomato & olive triangles.

What are the best sympathy foods? ›

A warm, cheesy helping of lasagna boosts your brain's serotonin uptake, making you feel satisfied and calmer, at least in the short term. Another bonus: these meals can be frozen and reheated for another night. Sugary foods, like cakes, cookies, and pies, are also comforting and popular as sympathy foods.

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