Let's face it, some days you just need to hunker down, snuggle up, and sink into some comfort food. After all, food has the amazing power to heal us. There's nothing like something warm, gooey, and indulgent to turn around a rotten week or keep the winter blues away. Why is comfort food so comforting? It brings a little extra joy to our senses, sends warmth to our bodies, and gives our taste buds a glimmer of happiness. It can also bring back memories of better times, and sometimes it’s so scrumptious everything else just melts away.
So, here are some comfort food ideas to help you get cozy and, well, comfy, whenever you need it.
Soups to Soothe You
For many people, soup is at the top of the comfort food list. It fills you from head to toe with warm, nourishing goodness—and it's super easy to make. For a twist on a childhood classic, try Chicken Zoodle Soup, which uses Birds Eye® Zucchini Spirals as an alternative to traditional egg noodles. Or make the quick, yet flavor-packed Pressure Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, an almost effortless dish that uses Birds Eye Steamfresh® Super Sweet Corn, Hunt's® Diced Tomatoes, and a ton of spices to give your taste buds a great pick-me-up.
Of course, classic soups never disappoint, but one of the best parts about soup is that you can get really creative. Maybe say, combine two comfort foods into one? Take for instance our Chicken Queso Soup, which uses Velveeta® and RO*TEL® Original to combine all the cheesy indulgence of queso with the coziness of chicken soup. Or dive into our Keto Friendly Bacon Cheeseburger Soup, which brings everything you love about a big, juicy burger into soup form, even Vlasic® Kosher Dill Baby Wholes. With soup, the possibilities for comfort food ideas are endless.
Get Your Chili On
While we're discussing soup, we can't forget chili! Everyone has their opinions when it comes to chili, from the spice level to the great bean-or-no-bean debate, but we can all agree that there's nothing like a hearty bowl of this scrumptious comfort food to warm you up.
A big pot of our Ultimate Game Day Chili will surely keep you toasty, featuring tons of spices to bring the heat. Vegetarians can get in on the fun, too, with our Pressure Cooker Beefless Chili featuring Gardein™ Beefless Ground for plenty of that robust flavor that makes chili so darn comforting.
Pastas and Parmesans for a Little Luxury
Pasta has a special magic to it. It can feel like the height of extravagance while being extremely simple to make—which makes for an excellent comfort food. Our Pasta Pomodoro will bring you the pleasure of warm spaghetti noodles coated in the rich flavor of Hunt's San Marzano Style Tomatoes. Or you could go for a fresh seafood dish, like our bright Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Linguine.
Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the wonders of Italian food that your oven can conjure. Cheese, sauce, and noodles are an unbeatable combination, especially when roasted into the form of a Baked Ziti Casserole or a Classic Lasagna, filled with layer upon layer of everything you've been craving. And of course, there's the creamy delight of One Skillet Chicken Parmesan and Pasta and its vegetarian cousin, Roasted Eggplant Parmesan. When it comes to Italian comfort food, you can go big, right from home.
Takeout Classics You Can DIY
Here's a little secret: So many of those comfort foods you're ordering for takeout are actually extremely easy to make right in your own kitchen. Grab some Birds Eye Steamfresh Long Grain White or Whole Grain Brown Rice, load it up with Birds Eye Mixed Vegetables (plus eggs and sauces) and boom, you have tangy, tasty Easy Fried Rice. Pair it with some mouthwatering Broccoli Beef and Birds Eye Stir-Fry Vegetables for a full American-Chinese food meal, without the hassle or expense of ordering.
Or, if diner food is more your takeout style, you can't miss our Gardein Beastie Burger Patty Melt, filled with heavenly melted cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a glistening Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burger. Take it from us, it's utterly irresistible.
Not up for cooking (or only like, mildly cooking?) Our Meals in Minutes bundle and our Weeknight Warrior bundle come chockful of goodies guaranteed to satisfy any comfort food craving.
Who Could Forget Dessert?
When it comes to dessert as comfort food, we only have one thing to say: yes. Yes, dessert can come first. Yes, dessert can be the whole meal. And yes, you should have seconds. If you need something sweet ASAP, try whipping up a batch of Quick Peanut Butter Cookies or 1 Bowl Vegan Banana Bread. Plus, our decadent Cake Mix Pancakes are fluffy, delicious, and perfect for any meal.
For those looking for a dessert that's a little over the top in the best way, you can't go wrong with Chocolate Cake with Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting or even the chocolate explosion of Vegan Lava Cakes. You can always make any dessert extra special when you add a little Reddi-wip® Original. Gotta have your dessert now? Look no further than our Life Is Short, Eat Dessert bundle, loaded with classics that will satisfy your desire for a little something sweet.
If you're looking at this comfort food list and drooling a little, we're right there with you. Take these comfort food ideas and use them whenever you need a little extra warmth and love. You deserve it. 💕
