Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods

As a kid, chicken noodle soup was the go-to meal when nursing a cold, which explains a lot of the positive emotions associated with it. There’s even a line of inspirational books called “Chicken Soup for the Soul” because of the connection to comfort. Studies suggest chicken soup really does help ease nasal congestion and inflammation, so there’s actually something scientific behind this feeling!

Remember that episode of “The Office” when Jim said, “Michael ate an entire, family-sized chicken pot pie for lunch and then he promptly fell asleep”? That sounds like a terrible idea for the middle of the work day, but after that long work day (or in the middle of a lazy weekend) when you just need to feel full, content, and comfortable...chicken pot pie is a hot, hearty, self-contained meal that really hits the spot.

The progression of breaded chicken pieces as you age from kid to adult starts with dinosaur or other fun-shaped chicken nuggets, then regular chicken nuggets, then chicken tenders (which you might first call “chicken fingers”), and then chicken wings and fried chicken. Except, even as an adult, it’s still acceptable to occasionally order chicken tenders and fries at a restaurant, and that’s a comforting feeling. And don’t skimp on the sauces!

One of the best things about chili is that it can be customized based on the eater’s preferences. It can be mild or spicy; made with beef, pork, turkey, or meatless; the bean options are open-ended; and can be topped with cheese and/or sour cream. It can even be served over spaghetti. Chili is a whole meal in a bowl, and also a whole way of life in some Southern and Midwestern states.

Quick: Think of the most nostalgic, comforting baked dessert. If you thought of anything other than chocolate chip cookies, you are wrong. When it comes to cookies, chocolate chip is both the standard and the classic. It’s one of the first cookies most kids try, and one of the first most people learn how to make. And between a billion similar but slightly different recipes online, a host of prepackaged mixes, and even simple break-and-bake brands, it’s never been easier to make chocolate chip cookies at home.

In a classic season 4 episode of “The Simpsons,” Homer sleeps in and, while wrapped up in a cocoon of blankets, utters the phrase: “I’m just a big toasty cinnamon bun.” Part of this statement refers to the fact that the covers are curled and swirled around him like a warm and fluffy breakfast pastry, but also cinnamon buns evoke a sense of comfort and indulgence. Plus, you’ll probably want to take a nap after eating an entire one.

Cornbread has long been a staple in the Southern states, but it was a popular dish in Native American culture way before that. And cornbread isn’t the only cornmeal-based comfort food. Folks from the South will also know corn pone and hushpuppies, and New Englanders might enjoy the thin, skillet-fried food known as johnnycakes.

Let’s be honest: Fries are not healthy. Potatoes are good for you, but there are much healthier ways to eat a potato than deep frying it, adding loads of salt, and dipping it in fatty, sugary, or salty sauces. But fries are also one of the most delicious foods on Earth, so treat yo’ self to them once in a while...even in the form of chili cheese fries with bacon, or gravy and cheese-curd-covered poutine!

A cheeseburger doesn’t have to be a ridiculously unhealthy meal. You can top a 90/10 burger with a slice of cheese and wrap a bun around it without blowing through all your calories for the day. But when you’re feeling down, nursing a hangover, or are making the most of your cheat day, nothing beats a greasy double burger with double the cheese and a pile of bacon nestled inside a buttery, toasted bun. Added calories include toppings like deep-fried onions, sugary sauces, and good ol’ fashioned mayo.

In our opinion, when it’s cold outside, there’s no better comfort food than grilled cheese and tomato soup. Dipping a griddled, melty sandwich into a creamy bowl of hot pureed tomatoes is like putting on a thick-knit sweater made of love.

In the South, grits are the top comfort food. They’re basically just boiled cornmeal (cornmeal again?), but are usually mixed with the satisfying flavors of butter, salt, cheese, and/or cream, as well as shrimp, sausage, or bacon, among other customizations. 

When a TV or movie character gets dumped, you’ll often see them sulking while digging into a pint, or quart, or tub of ice cream. Ice cream is not only sweet-tasting and pleasing to the taste buds, but eating that many calories at once and not giving a darn about it is an uplifting feeling—especially when you’re feeling down.

You can make mac & cheese in a multitude of ways, but we love baking it, because the baking dish turns into one big comfy bed of pasta, cheese, and more cheese. Mac & cheese is a family favorite, a regional and cultural specialty, and a simple dish with an endless amount of variations and personalizations. Hail to the cheese!

Is there a more nostalgic and more holiday-centric side dish than mashed potatoes? Most people even have a style preference based on the kind of mashed potatoes they ate growing up. (We prefer ours a bit chunky.) Of course, adding gravy makes mashed potatoes even better…and, to be honest, gravy alone could almost make this list!

It doesn’t have to be Passover or Rosh Hashanah in order to enjoy Matzo ball soup, and you don’t even need to be Jewish—it’s an any time, any person comfort food. It has a similar broth as the aforementioned chicken noodle soup, but the matzo balls are made from ground matzo, eggs, water, and oil. You could also include chicken soup with dumplings in this spot!

Our very first memories of meatloaf were not fond ones, but it’s a dish we’ve grown to appreciate and enjoy more with each passing year. We’re now old enough to get nostalgic about home-cooked meatloaf, and also old enough to occasionally order it at a restaurant.

Pancakes are another breakfast dish that’s basically just a dessert. True to its name, pancakes are fried pieces of batter covered in syrup, butter, fruit, nuts, whipped cream, and even chocolate. And they’re not just limited to breakfast—it’s perfectly acceptable to also eat pancakes for brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, or even a midnight snack.

Pizza is the perfect comfort food not only because it’s made from the mouthwatering union of warm dough, smooth and flavorful tomato sauce, and melty cheese, but also because you can get it delivered right to your door by barely lifting a finger. Heck, nowadays you don’t even need to converse with another human being in order to get one. And while it’s an easily shareable crowd-pleaser, personalizing pies is also highly acceptable and encouraged. Whether you like salty anchovies, six kinds of meat, or even pineapple—we won’t judge.

Spaghetti & meatballs is one of the simplest and least adventurous things you can order at an Italian restaurant, which is exactly why it’s a great comfort food. It’s also relatively easy to make at home, and a lot of us grew up eating spaghetti & meatballs—sometimes in the form of canned Spaghettios—so there’s a heavy nostalgia factor at play here, too. 

Tacos are the most chill comfort food out there. Case in point: There’s no widely accepted serving size when it comes to tacos. One definitely isn’t enough, but where do you draw the line after that? The answer: Wherever you want, brah! There’s also not a lot of hard-and-fast rules when it comes to fillings. Chicken, beef, pork, fish, beans, cheese, and veggies are all fair game as long as they’re wrapped in a hard or soft tortilla.