Just gonna leave this right here.
Look, I'm not going to tell you that a comforting meal can fix the state of the world. But really, when has a big bowl of mac 'n' cheese ever NOT made you feel even just a *little* bit better?
Here are a whole bunch of cozy recipes that will boost your spirits during uncertain times, dreary weather, an exhausting election, a global pandemic, the list goes on...
Cooking For My Soul / Via cookingformysoul.com
Opt for challah in order to make the chewiest, eggiest, most decadent French toast. This version is filled with a light and airy strawberry and whipped cream mixture, but you can always leave it un-stuffed.
Recipe: Stuffed Challah French Toast
Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com
Grab a bag of tortilla chips, some eggs, canned black beans, and a jar of store-bought salsa verde or red enchilada sauce for this Mexican-inspired breakfast.
Recipe: Chilaquiles (Verdes or Rojos)
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
The secret to light and silky soft boiled eggs is to cook them over low heat super slowly, stirring constantly until they're just barely set.
Recipe: Soft Scrambled Eggs
Lemon Tree Dwelling / Via lemontreedwelling.com
Start with store-bought biscuit dough to easily whip up this new take on the classic BEC breakfast sandwich.
6. Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com
For the best French toast, use stale white bread. It soaks up just enough of the egg mixture but still manages to get nice and crispy on the outside.
Recipe: Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
7. Breakfast Pizza With Kale Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
If there's an egg on it, it counts as breakfast. That's the rule!
Recipe: Breakfast Pizza With Kale Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes
8. Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Chew Out Loud / Via chewoutloud.com
Made with thick cut bacon, ground sausage, eggs, sharp cheddar, and frozen tater tots, what else could you want in a breakfast casserole?
9. Eggs in Purgatory With Chile Butter and Feta
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
Look, we're not going to say the chile butter is a waste of time, but this dish still tastes heavenly without it if you're looking for a minimal effort recipe. Make these spicy baked eggs for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Laughing Spatula / Via laughingspatula.com
Poaching eggs can be a pain, but this casserole is an easy way to enjoy all the flavors of eggs Benedict without all the effort. Just don't skimp on the hollandaise sauce — it's the icing on the cake (or the drizzle on the casserole, so to speak).
Recipe: Eggs Benedict Casserole
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Life in the Lofthouse / Via life-in-the-lofthouse.com
This cozy casserole comes together with just five ingredients: egg noodles, ground beef, condensed cream of mushroom soup, store-bought French onion dip, and fried onions.
Recipe: French Onion Beef Casserole
The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com
There's nothing tricky about making lasagna from scratch. Just layer lasagna noodles, browned ground beef, tomato sauce, and the ricotta mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly.
Recipe: Classic Meat Lasagna
Life Made Simple Bakes / Via lifemadesimplebakes.com
This from-scratch pad Thai sauce comes together with sugar, tamarind concentrate, soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and red pepper flakes. If you don't want chicken, swap in your favorite protein like shrimp or tofu.
Recipe: Homemade Pad Thai
Dinner at the Zoo / Via dinneratthezoo.com
This Eastern European-style recipe is basically beef and rice meatballs that are wrapped in cabbage leaves and baked in a bright and tangy tomato sauce seasoned with sugar and red wine vinegar.
Recipe: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Eat Well 101 / Via eatwell101.com
This creative dish calls for shredded chicken in order to turn a classic party app into a comforting and filling casserole.
16. Slow Cooker Meatball Subs
Daily Appetite / Via dailyappetite.com
Make a big batch of slow cooker meatballs and you can freeze them for future meals. Toss a few meatballs into a hotdog bun with some melted cheese for an effortless sub sandwich.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatball Subs
Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com
If you have the time, try slow cooking the meat sauce. Just let it simmer for two to three hours over low heat and the Bolognese will become super tender and flavorful.
Recipe: Spaghetti Bolognese
Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com
While beef stew takes a while to cook, the only cooking skill required here is patience. Just add the ingredients to your slow cooker and let dinner make itself.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Oh Sweet Basil / Via ohsweetbasil.com
If you need to cut down on cooking time or want to save some effort, store-bought biscuit dough makes a perfectly delicious pot pie crust.
Recipe: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
The Cozy Cook / Via thecozycook.com
Keep a can of cream of mushroom soup on hand for easy recipes like this crowd-pleasing casserole. You basically just dump all the ingredients into a baking dish and let it cook.
Recipe: Chicken Noodle Casserole
21. 15-Minute Udon and Vegetable Stir Fry
Seasons and Suppers / Via seasonsandsuppers.ca
You can find fresh, vacuum-packed udon noodles at most grocery stores, and swapping these guys for basic spaghetti or instant ramen seriously upgrades your average stir-fry.
Mom On Time Out / Via momontimeout.com, Mom on Time Out / Via momontimeout.com
Once you've tried this from-scratch version, good luck ever going back to the boxed stuff. There's something about the combination of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheese beneath the crispy bread crumb topping that is pretty irresistable.
Recipe: Baked Mac 'n' Cheese
Diethood / Via diethood.com
You'll want to plan ahead when making this hearty French onion soup because it takes the majority of the day to slow cook. That being said, once you add the ingredients to the Crock Pot, all you really have to do is wait.
Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com
Chicken cutlets get dredged in eggs and breadcrumbs, pan-fried until golden and crispy, then baked beneath a heaping spoonful of marinara sauce and lots of mozzarella cheese.
Recipe: Crispy Chicken Parmesan
25. Homemade Meatloaf
Whisk it Real Gud / Via whiskitrealgud.com
Meatloaf may not be the sexiest dinner, but it just always tastes like home. For the most flavor, avoid using lean ground beef.
Recipe: Homemade Meatloaf
The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com
These Japanese-style chicken cutlets are breaded in panko and sooo delightfully crispy. Serve them over rice with some cabbage and ponzu sauce.
Recipe: Crispy Chicken Katsu
Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com
Store-bought ravioli is your dinnertime secret weapon. Tossed in a simple sundried tomato cream sauce, you've got a meal fancy enough for date night.
Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Ravioli
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
If you like buffalo wings, you'll love these easy meatballs. Serve them on a big bed of rice or on a salad with blue cheese and celery.
Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Yellow Bliss Road / Via yellowblissroad.com
Making restaurant-quality enchiladas at home is surprisingly easy. Just roll up seasoned beef in tortillas, then top with cheese and enchilada sauce and pop it into the oven. You can also swap the beef for ground chicken, turkey, or even a mix of black beans and sweet potato.
Recipe: Ground Beef Enchiladas
30. Chicken Lo Mein
Foodie's Terminal / Via foodiesterminal.com
You can make this take-out classic in your own kitchen using egg noodles or spaghetti and whatever veggies and protein you have on hand.
Recipe: Chicken Lo Mein
31. Vegetable and Tofu Thai Green Curry
Monsoon Spice / Via monsoonspice.com
The best thing about curry is that you can customize it with your favorite ingredients. Add chicken or shrimp or load it up with different veggies.
32. Crispy Baja Fish Tacos
Cooking For My Soul / Via cookingformysoul.com
The secret ingredient in these battered fish tacos is beer. It gives them that crispy, light, and airy texture.
Recipe: Crispy Baja Fish Tacos
33. One-Pot Beef Stroganoff
Cooking Classy / Via cookingclassy.com
Don't worry about splurging on a fancy cut of steak for this family-friendly dinner. Affordable, quick-cooking ground beef will do the trick.
Recipe: One-Pot Beef Stroganoff
34. Pork and Hominy Stew (Pozole Verde)
Homemakers Habitat / Via homemakershabitat.com
This Mexican-inspired soup is made with boneless pork shoulder, hominy, chicken broth, salsa verde, and lots of spices.
35. Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Jo Cooks / Via jocooks.com
Tender chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon, and spices is cooked in diced tomatoes, cream, and a whole lot of spices. Serve it with store bought naan and basmati rice for a fan-favorite meal.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
36. Pork Wonton Soup
Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
If you have time to make the wontons from scratch, you won't regret it. You can make a big batch at once and freeze the extras for future meals.
Recipe: Pork Wonton Soup
A Simple Plate / Via asimplepalate.com
You don't need a fancy pizza oven or even a pizza stone to make incredible 'za at home. All you need is a sizzling hot cast iron skillet, pizza dough, and your favorite toppings.
Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
Striped Spatula / Via stripedspatula.com
Sweet and spicy and sticky and chewy, this Chinese-inspired chicken is a restaurant favorite for a reason. With the help of a few sauces and seasonings —like soy sauce, black vinegar, and sesame oil — you can make it right at home.
Recipe: General Tso's Chicken
The Baker Mama / Via thebakermama.com
Nachos get a little fancy thanks to shredded chicken, canned black beans, and all your favorite toppings. Toss on jalapeños, diced tomatoes, red onion, and lots of cheese.
40. Italian Wedding Soup
Spoonful of Flavor / Via spoonfulofflavor.com
If you're pressed for time, go ahead and use your favorite frozen meatballs. No judgement here!
Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup
Julie's Eats and Treats / Via julieseatsandtreats.com
Beef stew can be very time consuming, but this skillet supper makes things simple thanks to ground beef, frozen veggies, and store-bought biscuits.
Recipe: Skillet Beef Pot Pie
42. Tonkotsu Ramen
Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com
Start with store-bought tonkatsu broth and load up your bowl with all your favorite ramen toppings — from pork belly to soft-boiled egg.
Recipe: Tonkotsu Ramen
Confetti and Bliss / Via confettiandbliss.com
This recipe calls for rice, chicken, sausage, and shrimp simmered in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and lots of spices. It's really, really good.
Recipe: New Orleans-Style Jambalaya
A Spicy Perspective / Via aspicyperspective.com
When it comes to the world of pasta, cheese-filled tortellini reigns king.
Recipe: Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com
Roasting pork shoulder in the oven for carnitas can be very time-consuming, but your handy Instant Pot makes it easy. Shred the pork with forks then add it to burritos, tacos, and more.
Recipe: Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas
46. Classic Baked Ziti From Scratch
Budget Bytes / Via budgetbytes.com
There's pasta... and then there's baked pasta nestled under a thick layer of gooey, melted cheese. Serve this baby with garlic bread for good measure.
Recipe: Classic Baked Ziti From Scratch
How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com
Minimal clean-up is always our M.O, which means we can never have too many solid sheet pan dinners in our arsenal. This one is worth making on repeat.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com
The best thing about fried rice is that you can make it with just about whatever is left in your fridge. Grab some rice, frozen veggies, and last night's shredded chicken, the leftover bacon, or some frozen shrimp, and turn it into a satisfying meal.
Recipe: Easy Bacon Fried Rice
Life as a Strawberry / Via lifeasastrawberry.com
Start with your favorite potato, cauliflower, or sweet potato gnocchi. This 30-minute meal comes together in a single pot, which makes it a good option for busy or lazy nights.
Recipe: Parmesan Spinach Gnocchi
50. Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons
Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net
Three words: grilled cheese croutons. Need I say more?
Spices in my DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com
This classic Roman pasta gets a little autumnal twist thanks to wild mushrooms that get sautéed in oil until nice and crispy.
The Stay At Home Chef / Via thestayathomechef.com
Make this decadent eggplant dish for meatless Monday... or any day. It's so hearty and satisfying, you won't realize it's totally vegetarian.
Recipe: Baked Eggplant Parmesan
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Just So Tasty / Via justsotasty.com
When your sweet tooth kicks in and you don't have time to make a big production, this single-serving microwave chocolate cake is a godsend.
Recipe: Chocolate Mug Cake
The Bewitchin Kitchen / Via thebewitchinkitchen.com
If you use store-bought apple pie filling and crescent roll dough, this festive fall dessert calls for just two ingredients.
Recipe: Two Ingredient Apple Turnovers
55. Pecan Pie Brownies
Real Housemoms / Via realhousemoms.com
Can't decide what you want for dessert? How about these sticky, fudgy pecan pie brownies that combine two decadent sweets into one?
Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies
What Molly Made / Via whatmollymade.com
We all know the best part about baking cookies is eating the dough. This eggless cookie dough is totally safe to eat raw, so you can devour it by the spoonful.
Recipe: Edible Cookie Dough
Tastes Better From Scratch / Via tastesbetterfromscratch.com
There's something so nostalgic about banana pudding. You don't even need to turn on the oven to make this dessert from scratch. The vanilla wafers, bananas, and custard filling sit in the fridge for up to two days until soft and spongy.
Recipe: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding
58. Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa
Life Made Simple Bakes / Via lifemadesimplebakes.com
Ditch the hot cocoa packets and whip up this decadent and seriously rich version from scratch. You won't want to leave out the whipped cream and salted caramel sauce.
Recipe: Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa
Cookies and Cups / Via cookiesandcups.com
Walnuts and chocolate are the ultimate cookie combination. Every bite is the ideal amount of sweet, savory, nutty, and buttery.
Recipe: Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
The Gunny Sack / Via thegunnysack.com
With a buttery graham cracker crust, rich and creamy filling, and a final layer of blueberries, these three-layer dessert bars are worthy of a special occasion but easy enough to make on a weeknight.
Recipe: Blueberry Cheesecake
Simply Whisked / Via simplywhisked.com
You can use whatever milk you like best to make this chocolate pudding. For a dairy-free version, try using oat milk. It's so rich, you won't believe there's no heavy cream involved.
Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com
If you like Reese's cups, you'll love these no-bake cookies that are made with just five ingredients: butter, graham crackers, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and confectioner's sugar.
Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars