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Look, getting bullied in school and coming home crying in the rain and my mom making me a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup with some oysterettes. It was comfort food; that is what food should be.
– Anthony Bourdain
There’s something that just warms the heart when eating comfort food. Whether it is a nice chicken dumpling soup, Meatballs and spaghetti, Beef Stew, Campbell Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese, apple pie and many more. The foods you grew up with. The smells, the joy it brings to your heart and the warmth in delivers to your body and soul. Comfort food does not have to be basic. It can be fun, and it can be presented in style. Below are 11 of our favorite comfort winter foods.
1. Chicken and Broccoli Soup
Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup is a hearty soup that’s perfect when you want something warm and comforting. Bite sized pieces of broccoli and shredded chicken are simmered in a broth flavored with onions, celery and dried herbs. It’s thick and creamy, and only takes 30 minutes to make. Bread bowls are optional, but this heartwarming soup is totally mandatory for cold winter nights. Get the recipe for creamy chicken and broccoli soup here.
2. Chicken Cacciatore
Want to head to an Italian restaurant (or better yet, an Italian grandmother’s kitchen) for dinner tonight? Say goodbye to boring chicken. This recipe takes a little bit of time, but it’s all pretty straightforward, and the result is a restaurant-quality dish you’ll want to make for your next dinner party. Try this Chicken Cacciatore!
3. Spinach and Artichoke Mac 'n' Cheese
This decadent mac ‘n’ cheese is made with not one but FOUR cheeses: Cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, and Swiss. Get the recipe for spinach and artichoke mac ‘n’ cheese here.
4. Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
What’s so great about making chicken noodle soup from scratch when you could just open a can and call it dinner? Well, aside from the fact that your family will love the way it tastes (who doesn’t love chicken noodle soup?), you can feel good that you’re feeding them a home cooked meal full of the good stuff (and no weird chemicals or preservatives). Chicken broth, veggies, some dried herbs, a store-bought rotisserie chicken and some egg noodles are all it takes to feed your family a meal full of flavor, nutrition and love. Yeah, you got this! Get the recipe here
5.Braised Short Ribs With Cheesy Potatoes
These Braised Short Ribs with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes is a delicious hearty meal that is made to comfort the soul. These short ribs have tons of flavor and fall right off the bone. We also had red wine to go with our meal. I didn’t drink a glass with the meal originally but today I had a few sips with some leftovers just so I can get my palette familiar with red wine and see if I would enjoy it at all. You know what, I did! I really did it! Sure it was bitter going down but that Merlot was so good and complimentary with the beef that I could have drunk an entire glass but it was in the middle of the day and I do work from home. I STRONGLY urge you to make these Braised Short Ribs. Make it for your family or whomever. Get the recipe here
6. Parmesan Polenta With Mushroom Ragu
Rich and savory portobello mushroom ragu is a flavor-filled vegetarian main dish! Serve this thick and hearty sauce over polenta or your favorite pasta. This mushroom ragu recipe is hearty and rich-tasting, and it’s completely meatless. You’re going to love this sauce! It tastes complex and slow-cooked, but you can cook this in just less than an hour. Get the recipe here
7. Granny's Classic Meatloaf
The best easy comfort food recipe you can make using ground beef and a tasty sticky sauce on top is Granny’s Classic Meatloaf. This is the ultimate easy-to-make dinner that your entire family will enjoy. This recipe incorporates chopped sauteed onions into the meatloaf which adds amazing texture and flavor. It takes a bit of time and effort but you’ll find that it is totally worth it. Get the recipe here
8. Thai Red Curry With Vegetables
This Thai red curry made a fantastic meal last night and perhaps an even better breakfast this morning. It’s warm, comforting, and perfect for cool days. It’s a little rich, too, but so full of vegetables that it doesn’t feel too indulgent. Bonus? You should be able to find everything you need for this simple curry at a well-stocked grocery store. Get the recipe here
9. Campbells Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
A piping hot bowl of your favorite tomato soup served with a grilled cheese sandwich, golden brown and oozing with cheese – now that’s a dinner combination that just can’t be beat! Going straight to the source for this one. Get your recipe here
10. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and Meatballs in homemade marinara sauce. These are amazing “WOW”-inducing MEATBALLS – so tasty and juicy and BIG! We’re sharing all of our secrets for incredibly tender and flavorful meatballs. The secret to getting uber tender meatballs is bread; yes, bread. And the secret to getting uber flavorful meatballs is in the combination of meats – I’m talking about lean ground beef with sweet Italian sausage. Get the recipe here
11. Homemade Apple Pie
Our favorite recipe for making a classic apple pie from scratch. This recipe guarantees apple pie with perfectly cooked (not mushy) apples surrounded by a thickened and gently spiced sauce all baked inside a flaky, golden-brown crust. It’s taken us a while to zero in on our favorite method for making apple pie, but I think we’ve finally nailed it. This simple recipe guarantees perfectly cooked apples surrounded with a thick gently spiced sauce. There’s no need for precooking the sauce or apples and the steps to make this pie are simple, you just need a little time. Get the recipe here