Everyone has food that brings them straight back home. With each bite, you feel more nostalgic and relaxed. Maybe you have fond memories of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Maybe your mom’s meatloaf was the best Friday night dinner.
If you’re feeling nostalgic for your favorite comfort food, branch out with a homemade version instead of out of the box. Here are some classic comfort food recipes with a twist to delight your senses and make you feel right at home.
1. Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food and is completely customizable. Make it hearty with added meat or add crunch with some Nacho Cheese Flavor Bugles from MunchPak.
To make mac and cheese from scratch, you’ll need macaroni noodles, butter, milk, salt, pepper, cheese, and flour. Go wild with your cheese choice. If you love smokey flavors, mix smoked gouda and Havarti. Use Pepper Jack Cheese, jalapenos, and generous amounts of your favorite hot sauce for a spicy option.
2. Chicken Pot Pie
Another top-rated comfort food is the classic chicken pot pie. There’s nothing like the comfort of a hearty, rich chicken pot pie filled with mushrooms, peas, onions, and cream, and topped with a crispy crust on chilly winter days.
Chicken pot pie is perfect for a family dinner, a date night in, or a solo treat-yourself evening. If it’s just you, try making several single-serve pies and saving the leftovers in the freezer.
3. Chili
Whether it’s game day, a snow day, or you need a simple weeknight meal, chili is an excellent one-dish option. Whether you use beef, turkey, or lentils, chili is customizable for almost any taste.
Start by browning your meat and saute some onions, garlic, and peppers. Then, have fun by adding mushrooms, tomato sauce, beans (kidney or black-eyed are great, but white beans complement turkey mince). Use habaneros for a spice-loving crowd or tone it down with sweet peppers for a family meal. Serve with rice or baked potatoes and top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce.
4. Chicken Noodle Soup
When you’re sick, mom’s chicken noodle soup is better than penicillin. You can make this one-pot chicken soup recipe in the crockpot, saving time and energy if you’re under the weather.
Brown chicken thighs, then throw it into the crockpot with onions, carrots, celery, soup noodles, and chicken stock. Once you wake up from your next nap, your soup will be ready.
5. Fried Chicken
KFC’s recipe might be secret but that shouldn’t stop you from trying to recreate your favorite take-out. Add your favorite spices to your dredging mixture and fire up your deep fryer to make the perfect crispy comfort food.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try branching out into Korean flavors. The addition of a spicy, sweet, and sticky sauce will make these taste like fried crispy wings.
6. Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are a fantastic option for the whole family. After washing your potatoes, pop them in the microwave for 15 minutes to save on baking time. Then, throw them in the oven until your main dish (beef chili works well) is ready.
Baked potatoes reached their ultimate comfort food status because of the toppings. Choose from shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, jalapenos, coleslaw, or chili.
You can also try a new take on the baked potatoes by swapping in sweet potatoes. Use traditional toppings or go with cinnamon, butter, and caramelized bacon.
7. Chili Cheese Nachos
Nothing beats a steaming plate of chili cheese nachos. This recipe is perfect for a party for kids or adults or warms you up after a cold day. The addition of beef chili takes the heartiness level up a notch and the warm gooey nacho cheese makes the whole dish.
Add spice with jalapenos or hot salsa or intensify the flavor with Late July Classic Jalapeno Lime Tortilla Chips from MunchPak.
8. Homemade Pizza
Pizza is the ultimate customizable comfort food. Mushrooms, ham, pepperoni, artichokes, olives, spinach – put whatever you want on your homemade pizza. You can experiment with the sauce, too. Try an Alfredo sauce or slather your pizza with pesto.
If you’re craving fried food and copious amounts of cheese, go Scottish and deep fry your pizza after baking.
9. Lasagna
One of the great Italian comfort foods, lasagna, is full of cheese, tomato, and pasta. Use instant lasagne noodles and canned bechamel sauce to save time. If you’re craving spinach and ricotta, ditch the bechamel sauce all together.
Add beef, chicken, turkey, or mushrooms to make this a hearty meal fit for the whole family.
10. Garlic Bread
Usually a side dish, garlic bread does not get as much attention as it deserves. The smell of baking garlic is comforting and makes your mouth water.
Instead of buying frozen pre-made garlic bread, try making your own. Get a fresh baguette and slice it in half. Melt some butter and mix in garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper. Spread it on your baguette, pop it in the oven, and ten minutes later, you’ve got a delicious appetizer or side dish for your lasagne.
11. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Another classic comfort food is spaghetti and meatballs. This meal is perfect for family dinner nights, especially since it’s so easy the kids can help.
If you’re craving red sauce and meatballs, get the whole family involved. Making 25 meatballs will go faster with tiny hands helping.
12. Pasta Carbonara
Eggs, parmesan, pasta, and bacon: what more could you want? This hearty meal is also surprisingly quick to make. Within 15 minutes, you’ll have a plateful of comfort. If you’re looking for even creamier goodness, mix your parmesan with pecorino.
13. Homemade Ice Cream
If you’re bored with vanilla ice cream, explore some more exciting flavors. If you can’t make it to Munich to try their Beer and Sauerkraut ice cream, try making some homemade ice cream instead, using heavy cream, condensed milk, and the flavor of your choice. Combine comfort flavors like chocolate and peanut butter, jump on the wild flavor ride and add a touch of cayenne to your ice cream base.
14. Ramen
Ramen is every college student’s lifeline. Cheap and easy, it’s also easy to explore new flavors. Up your instant noodle game with new brands, or try adding chicken, vegetables, or Sriracha.
Craving ramen but don’t like the flavors available? Make your own using miso paste and mushrooms to create a stock. Add your favorite meat, and let it simmer.
15. Cupcakes
For those with a sweet tooth, cupcakes are the perfect comfort food. Baking can be an excellent stress-reliever and you get dessert as your reward. Double the comfort by adding fruit gummies or hard candies either inside or as toppings.
If you don’t want to make an entire batch, try an easy mug cake. Mix flour, sugar, oil, milk, and cocoa powder in a mug and microwave for 1 minute for a quick and easy cupcake treat.
16. Trail Mix
Some of the best comfort foods remind us of our youthful snacks on the go. Trail mix is the perfect balance of sweet and salty – and amazingly easy to make yourself. Choose your favorite nuts, chocolates, and dried fruit to create your ideal trail mix. Try adding in dried apricots or raisins for an added zing.
17. Home-Baked Cookies
There’s a reason realtors make show houses smell like fresh-baked cookies. There’s nothing better than a soft, gooey cookie dipped in a big glass of milk.
Whether you like chocolate chips, oatmeal raisin, butter cookies, or macadamia nuts, cookies and milk can bring you back to idyllic childhood memories. To prevent your cookies from going stale, make a batch and freeze any dough you won’t use.
Comfort Food: Homemade
Instead of reaching for the take-out menu, try recreating your favorite comfort food at home. You can customize your recipe, so it’s perfect for your taste buds. Whether it’s an old family recipe or you’re trying out something new, cooking comfort foods will fill your home with tantalizing smells and bring you and your family together.
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