What's One of Your Favorite Comfort Foods?

 

We've all had stressful days, breakups, or just regular days in the middle of a pandemic; whatever the circumstance, comfort foods are our go-to picks. These could be foods that bring back memories of our early years, recipes that take us back to our homes, meals that satisfy us due to their high calorie and carbohydrate content, or any combination of these! These are our all-time favorite comfort meals, so we hope you all enjoy some of them.

1. Chicken noodle soup

Many of the good feelings attached to chicken noodle soup stem from my childhood experience of it as the go-to meal while recovering from an illness. Because of the association with comfort, there is even a series of inspirational books named "Chicken Soup for the Soul." There is science behind this experience, as studies indicate chicken soup can effectively reduce nasal congestion and inflammation!

2. Chicken pot pie

Do you recall Jim saying, "Michael ate an entire, family-sized chicken pot pie for lunch and then he promptly fell asleep" in that episode of "The Office"? That may seem like a bad idea in the middle of the workday, but chicken pot pie is a hot, satisfying, and complete dinner that truly strikes the spot after a long workday (or on a leisurely weekend) when you just need to feel full and comfy.

3. Chicken tenders

From dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets to conventional chicken nuggets, chicken tenders (which you may initially refer to as "chicken fingers"), chicken wings, and fried chicken are the stages of breaded chicken parts that you go through as a child or an adult. It's reassuring to know that ordering fries and chicken tenders from a restaurant periodically as an adult is still okay. Don't scrimp on the sauces either!

4. Chili

The ability to personalize chili to an eater's tastes is one of its best features. It can be cooked with beef, pig, turkey, or beans; it can be made mildly or spicy; and it can have cheese or sour cream on top. You can even eat it with spaghetti. In several southern and midwestern states, chili is both a complete meal and a way of life.

5. Chocolate chip cookies

Quick: Conjure up the coziest, most nostalgic baked treat. You are incorrect if you thought of anything else but chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are the tried-and-true variety when it comes to cookie recipes. Most individuals learn how to make it for the first time, and it's one of the first cookies most kids try. It's also never been simpler to create chocolate chip cookies at home with the plethora of premade mixes, basic break-and-bake brands, and a gazillion identical but marginally different recipes available online.

6. Cinnamon buns

Homer says, "I'm just a big toasty cinnamon bun," while curled up in a cocoon of blankets in a famous episode of "The Simpsons" from season 4. In addition to mentioning how the covers are twirling and curling about him like a warm, fluffy morning pastry, this sentence also highlights how cozy and decadent cinnamon buns are. Plus, after eating one whole, you'll probably want to snooze.

7. Cornbread

Although cornbread has been a mainstay in the southern states for a long time, Native American culture enjoyed it much earlier. There are other comfort foods made with cornmeal besides cornbread. Southerners will also be familiar with corn pone and hushpuppies, and residents of New England may like johnnycakes, a thin, skillet-fried dish.

8. Fries

To be honest, fries aren't that healthy. Although potatoes are healthy, there are better ways to consume them than by deep-frying them, seasoning them heavily, and dipping them in fatty, sweet, or salty sauces. Fries, however, are among the tastiest meals on the planet, so indulge in them occasionally—even if they're cheese-curd-covered poutine or chili cheese fries with bacon or gravy!

9. Greasy burgers

It's not necessary for a cheeseburger to be an absurdly unhealthy dinner. You can enclose a 90/10 burger in bread and add a slice of cheese on top without exceeding your daily calorie intake. But nothing matches a greasy double burger with double the cheese and a mountain of bacon wrapped in a buttery, toasted bun when you're depressed, recovering from a hangover, or making the most of your cheat day. Toppings such as sweet sauces, mayonnaise, and deep-fried onions contribute extra calories.

10. Grilled cheese & tomato soup

We think there are few comfort foods better than grilled cheese and tomato soup on a chilly winter's day. A thick-knit jumper crafted of love feels good when dipped into a creamy bowl of hot pureed tomatoes after a sandwich has been griddled and melted.

11. Grits

In the South, grits are the ultimate comfort food. They're essentially just boiled cornmeal (cornmeal again?), but among other modifications, they're typically combined with the savory tastes of butter, salt, cheese, and/or cream, along with shrimp, sausage, or bacon.

12. Ice cream

A common scene in television and film is a character getting rejected and pouting while chowing down on a pint, quart, or tub of ice cream. without only is ice cream delicious and visually appealing, but consuming that many calories at once and without caring about it may be a really positive experience, particularly during depressive moments.

13. Mac & cheese

There are many different ways to prepare mac and cheese, but we especially enjoy baking it since the dish that results is one giant, cozy bed of pasta, cheese, and more cheese. A staple in many families' diets, mac, and cheese is a simple dish that can be made in countless ways and customized to suit individual tastes. To the cheese, praise!

14. Mashed potatoes

Is there a side dish more appropriate for the holidays and nostalgia than mashed potatoes? Many even base their preferred style on the type of mashed potatoes they grew up eating. (We like ours to be a little hefty.) Naturally, gravy enhances the flavor of mashed potatoes. Besides, gravy by itself practically deserves a spot on this list!

15. Matzo Ball Soup (& Dumplings)

Matzo ball soup is a comfort food that may be enjoyed at any time of the year and by anybody, regardless of their religious affiliation. It's not just for Passover or Rosh Hashanah. The broth is identical to that of the previously stated chicken noodle soup, except the matzo balls are created using eggs, water, oil, and ground matzo. Here's another place to serve chicken soup with dumplings!

16. Meatloaf

Although we don't have many positive recollections of meatloaf from our early years, we've come to value and love it more every year. We are now old enough to occasionally order meatloaf from a restaurant and sentimental about home-cooked meals.

17. Pancakes

Another breakfast item that is essentially a dessert is pancakes. Pancakes are, as its name suggests, fried bits of batter drenched in butter, syrup, fruit, almonds, whipped cream, and even chocolate. Pancakes are also a perfectly appropriate meal for brunch, lunch, supper, dessert, or even a late-night snack. They're not just for breakfast.

18. Pizza

Not only is pizza produced from the delicious combination of warm dough, savory tomato sauce, and melted cheese, but it can be brought straight to your home with almost any effort on your part. This makes it the ideal comfort food. Heck, you can obtain one these days without even having to talk to another human. Besides being a simple-to-share crowd-pleaser, customizing pies is also highly encouraged. We won't judge if you enjoy pineapple, six different types of meat, or salty anchovies.

19. Spaghetti & meatballs

Because it's one of the easiest and least daring dishes you can have at an Italian restaurant, spaghetti and meatballs make a wonderful comfort food. There's a strong nostalgic component at work here as well, as many of us grew up eating spaghetti and meatballs sometimes in the shape of canned Spaghettios. Plus, making it at home is really easy.

20. Tacos

The coziest comfort food available is tacos. As an illustration, consider the fact that there is no standard serving size for tacos. Undoubtedly, one is insufficient, but what is the next appropriate limit? The response: Brah, wherever you want! When it comes to fillings, there are also a few strict guidelines. Anything that can be wrapped in a hard or soft tortilla is acceptable, including chicken, beef, hog, fish, beans, cheese, and vegetables.