15 comfort food recipes to lift your spirits

Photo of author

| Published:

Are weeknight dinners leaving you feeling uninspired and unmotivated? Banish those weeknight dinner doldrums and lift your spirits with some delicious comfort food recipes! From savory stews to creamy casseroles, these 15 comfort food recipes are sure to warm your heart and soul.

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Olive garden chicken pasta on a fork.
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bring the taste of Italy home with this scrumptious Olive Garden Chicken Pasta! Tender chicken, creamy sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta combine to create a comforting dish that’ll transport you straight to your favorite Italian restaurant.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Slow Cooker Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup is a fabulous comfort food copycat recipe! This creamy soup is the perfect easy-to-make dinner, full of flavor and a rich broth. Serve this with delicious soup with soft breadsticks, and you won’t even miss the restaurant!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

Garlic Cheese Balls with Gooey Mozzarella

Indulge in comforting cheesy goodness with these Garlic Cheese Balls! Using refrigerator biscuits, these savory bites are filled with melted mozzarella cheese for a fun side dish. They’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Cheese Balls with Gooey Mozzarella

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Cracker Barrel Meatloaf recipe is delicious comfort food! Ritz crackers are the secret ingredient and the juicy meatloaf is topped with a mouth-watering glaze that will have you coming back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Italian Mushroom Stew

This is a classic Italian American recipe from Utica, NY with lots of mushrooms, pork and Italian sausage cooked in tomato sauce. Serve it over Italian bread for a comfort food meal.
Get the Recipe: Italian Mushroom Stew

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken

This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken is perfect for busy days since it can be prepared so quickly. Add all the ingredients in the morning and enjoy a hot delicious dinner with what feels like no work at all. It is perfect over rice or mashed potatoes!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken

Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Air fryer fried chicken legs and thighs in a pile on a wooden cutting board.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Enjoy air fryer fried chicken for the ultimate crunch with less grease and mess! The chicken is tender and juicy on the inside with a crispy coating. You can make fried chicken at home without worrying about the calories.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Orange Chicken

If you feel like Chinese but want to skip takeout try this easy Instant Pot orange chicken! Everyone will love the tender chicken coated in a sweet orange sauce. Each bite is bursting with flavor!
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken

Cheesy Grilled Potatoes and Onions

Cook up cheesy potatoes right on the grill with your meat. These are cooked with onion and bacon for extra deliciousness and lots of gooey cheesy goodness.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Grilled Potatoes and Onions

Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Slow cooker country style ribs on a tray on top of mashed potatoes with corn.
Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These boneless pork ribs are an easy comfort food recipe that takes almost no effort but give you mouthwatering results. The ribs are cooked in BBQ sauce, honey and peach preserves for a sticky sweet dinner that is finger-licking good!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Guinness Beef Stew

Warm up with a hearty bowl of Guinness beef stew. Rich, savory, and packed with tender beef and veggies, this comforting dish is perfect for a cozy dinner. The secret ingredient? A splash of Guinness for an extra depth of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Guinness Beef Stew

Baked Manicotti

Indulge in the cheesy goodness of baked manicotti, a scrumptious Italian classic that’s perfect for a comforting dinner. Stuffed with a creamy, flavorful filling, this dish will leave you satisfied. Treat yourself to a plateful of comfort food heaven!
Get the Recipe: Baked Manicotti

Twice Baked Potatoes

twice baked potatoes topped with cheese, bacon bits and chives.
Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Dig into the ultimate side dish with these delectable twice baked potatoes. Fluffy and creamy on the inside with a crispy, golden exterior, they’re the perfect accompaniment to any comfort food dinner
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potatoes

Instant Pot Mac & Cheese

Craving some cheesy goodness? Look no further than this easy Instant Pot mac & cheese! Creamy, velvety, and ready in a snap, it’s the ultimate comfort food dinner for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Mac & Cheese

Fiesta Potatoes

Spice up your comfort food game with these irresistible Fiesta Potatoes! Loaded with zesty seasonings, gooey cheese, and a delightful crunch, they’re the perfect side dish to brighten up any meal.
Get the Recipe: Fiesta Potatoes

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.