8 Easy Comfort Food Recipes for Cozy, Low-Effort Meals

The easiest comfort food recipes are the forgiving ones: a pot of chili, stovetop mac and cheese, a tomato fish stew, garlicky shrimp scampi, or a tray of cinnamon rolls that rise overnight in the fridge. They use pantry staples, mostly cook themselves (often in a slow cooker), and taste even better the next day. Below are eight recipes you can make on a weeknight or a lazy Sunday, plus the small mistakes that make comfort food turn out dry, watery, or bland.

What makes a comfort food recipe easy

Good comfort food is warm, rich, and familiar. Easy comfort food adds three more things:

• One pot, or close to it. Fewer dishes, less fuss.
• Hands-off cooking time. A slow cooker or a long simmer does the work while you do something else.
• Room for error. Stews, sauces, and braises tolerate a few extra minutes and a loose measurement. That is why they work so well when you are tired.

Easy comfort food dinners

Stovetop mac and cheese (serves 4, about 25 minutes)

Boil 8 ounces of elbow macaroni until just tender and drain. In the same pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour, and cook for a minute. Slowly whisk in 2 cups of milk and simmer, stirring, until it thickens enough to coat a spoon. Take it off the heat, stir in 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar until melted, then add the pasta. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of mustard powder if you have it.

Slow cooker chili (serves 6)

Brown 1 pound of ground beef with a chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, then drain the fat. Add it to the slow cooker with a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, 2 cans of beans (drained and rinsed), 2 tablespoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and salt. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Top with cheese, sour cream, or green onions.

Mediterranean fish stew (serves 6 to 8)

Soften a chopped onion and red bell pepper in olive oil for about 5 minutes, add 2 minced garlic cloves for a minute, then move everything to the slow cooker. Add a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, a 15-ounce can of drained chickpeas, 1/2 cup of dry white wine (or broth), 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. Then gently stir in 1.5 pounds of firm white fish (cod or halibut, in 1-inch pieces) and 1 pound of peeled shrimp, and cook until the fish flakes and the shrimp turns pink, checking often. Finish with parsley and serve with crusty bread. You can make the tomato base a day ahead.

Slow-poached salmon with lemon and herbs (serves 4)

Oil the slow cooker and lay thin lemon slices across the bottom. Set a 1.5 to 2 pound salmon fillet on top, season with salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup of chopped fresh herbs (dill, parsley, or a mix), drizzle with olive oil, and pour in 1/4 cup of white wine, stock, or water. Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, starting to check at 2 hours. It is done when it flakes easily with a fork.

Slow cooker shrimp scampi (serves 4)

Combine 1/2 cup of butter, 6 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup each of white wine and chicken broth, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 1 to 2 hours so the flavors blend. Stir in 1.5 pounds of large peeled shrimp and cook 30 to 60 minutes more, just until pink. Serve over linguine. For a richer sauce, stir in a tablespoon of heavy cream near the end.

Easy comfort food treats

Overnight cinnamon rolls (makes 12)

The night before, mix 1 cup of warm milk (about 105 to 115°F) with a packet of active dry yeast and 1/4 cup of sugar, and let it foam for 5 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup of melted butter, an egg, and a teaspoon of vanilla, then 3 cups of flour and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Knead 5 to 7 minutes, place in a greased bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, roll it into a 12 by 18 inch rectangle, spread with 1/2 cup of softened butter, sprinkle with 3/4 cup of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, roll up from the long side, and cut 12 slices. Let them rise in a greased 9 by 13 inch pan for 30 to 45 minutes, then bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes. Frost with cream cheese beaten with butter, powdered sugar, a splash of milk, and vanilla.

Cinnamon roasted nuts (about 20 minutes of oven time)

Toss 2 cups of mixed nuts with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Spread on a lined sheet and roast at 325°F for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway. Let them cool completely so they crisp.

Slow cooker spiced apple cider (serves 8)

Combine 8 cups of apple cider, 2 sliced oranges, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon of whole cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon of allspice. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, sweeten with maple syrup if you like, and strain before serving.

A cozy Sunday, planned around two recipes

Here is how Jess, cooking for a family of four, gets a full comfort meal and breakfast out of one weekend with very little effort.

• Saturday, 9 p.m. She mixes the cinnamon roll dough (20 minutes) and puts it in the fridge.
• Sunday, 9 a.m. She rolls, cuts, and rises the rolls while the oven heats. Breakfast is on the table by about 10:30.
• Sunday, 11 a.m. She browns the beef for chili, loads the slow cooker, and walks away.
• Sunday, 5 p.m. Chili is ready. She sets out toppings and a bag of tortilla chips.
• Monday. Leftover chili goes over baked potatoes. Two meals, one pot to wash.

Common comfort food mistakes (and easy fixes)

• Overcooked seafood. Fish and shrimp go dry and rubbery fast, even in a slow cooker. Add them near the end and start checking early.
• Watery sauce. Slow cookers trap steam, so liquid does not reduce. Use less liquid than a stovetop recipe calls for, or cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
• Bland flavor. Long cooking mutes seasoning. Taste right before serving and add salt, acid (a squeeze of lemon), or fresh herbs.
• Stew too acidic. A pinch of sugar or a spoonful of cream softens sharp tomatoes.
• Dough that will not rise. Check that your yeast is fresh and your milk is warm, not hot.
• Stale spices. Ground cinnamon and other ground spices fade over time. If they have lost their smell, replace them.

Common questions

What are some easy soul food recipes?

Soul food is a Southern African American cooking tradition, and many of its dishes are simple at heart: baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens simmered with smoked meat, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and candied yams. Greens and beans are especially forgiving because they improve with long, slow cooking. The stovetop mac and cheese above is a good base; bake it with extra cheese on top for a more traditional version.

How can I make comfort food healthier?

Keep the warmth and cut back where you will not miss it. Add vegetables to stews and chili, use lean meat or more beans, swap half the pasta in mac and cheese for cauliflower, and lean on fish dishes like the stew or poached salmon above. Big flavors from garlic, herbs, and spices make up for less butter and cheese.

Can I make comfort food ahead and freeze it?

Many dishes freeze well, including chili, tomato-based stews (without the seafood), and soups. Cool them quickly, freeze in portions, and reheat until steaming hot. Seafood and creamy pasta dishes are better eaten fresh, since their texture suffers after freezing.

What is the easiest comfort food for beginners?

Chili is hard to get wrong: brown the meat, dump everything in, and let it cook. Stovetop mac and cheese is a close second and teaches you a basic cheese sauce you will use again and again.