Don’t get us wrong; we love fall. Even so, we’ll fully admit that we sometimes have a bit of trouble adjusting to the cold weather. That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t make our tendency to want to stay home, curl up in blankets, and eat way more snacks that we usually would into an opportunity for a bit of DIY! Whenever we really feel like hibernating, we like to turn it into a family bonding night, complete with comfort foods that will make everyone feel a little warmer from the inside out.
Just in case you’re feeling the cold and need for some extra warmth in the form of comfort food just as hard as we are this winter, if not more, here are 15 of the very best ideas, flavour combinations, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for delicious things we’d never tried before!
1. 3-cheese baked mac and cheese with bacon
What could possibly be better than mac and cheese, you ask? Well, we will certainly admit that it is already essentially the perfect dish, but we’re also firm believers that just about everything can be improved upon sometimes, which is why we’d tell you that the answer to our question is this mouthwatering three cheese baked macaroni and cheese with bacon! Get the full details for trying it out yourself on Today’s Creative Life.
2. Homemade chicken noodle soup
Is the whole reason you’re feeling in need of comfort food in the first place actually because you’ve got caught yourself a fall cold? In that case, we think we might know just what the most comforting thing for you right now might be! We’d suggest checking out how Cooking With Curls outlines the steps for making this homemade chicken noodle soup that’s perfect for warding off chills.
3. Lemon thyme roast chicken
Are you intent on still making a somewhat nutritious fall meal even though you’re definitely feeling in the mood for something a little more comforting and tasty than usual? Then maybe a little bit of fall seasoning on your usual dinner favourite is all you need! Take a look at Salt Pepper Skillet to learn how this delicious lemon thyme roast chicken was made.
4. Traditional Polish pierogi dumplings
If you’ve never tried pierogis before then we are very sorry to tell you that you’ve been missing out on something unbelievably delicious! On top of that, they just might be one of the most comforting foods we’ve ever eaten. This traditional recipe outlined on Supergolden Bakes was how we learned to make unparalleled traditional Polish pierogi dumplings.
5. Roast chicken, apple, and brie grilled cheese
Have we actually really caught your attention with this whole idea of using one of your year-round favourite dishes as a chance to amp things up a little flavour-wise in order to get a little food based comfort into a chilly day, but you already made mac and cheese this week? Then maybe it’s time for an extra delicious grilled cheese sandwich instead! We’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Domesticate Me made this mouthwatering roast chicken, apple, and brie grilled cheese.
6. Classic meatballs
Just like mac and cheese, a hearty spaghetti totally makes our list of delicious pastas that will comfort us any time. We find spaghetti and little extra comforting, however, when it’s topped in tasty meatballs too, especially if they’re the homemade kind! Just in case you’ve never tried making meatballs before, here’s a tutorial from Cooking Classy that will have you whipping them up in no time.
7. Extra beefy meatloaf
Have we actually really caught your attention with this whole concept of learning how to make the classics in really solid ways this fall, since you’re a beginner in the kitchen but you’ve been dreaming about all the things your family used to eat on cold fall nights when you still lived at home? Then here’s another one for your list of things to learn! Love Grows Wild has a great beginner’s recipe for making simple, extra beefy meatloaf.
8. Slow cooker cheesy bacon ranch potatoes
Now, we understand that roasted potatoes might sound more like a regular dinner dish than a comforting treat on a chilly day, but that’s not all there is to this scrumptious recipe outlined in detail on Damn Delicious! Instead of just adding a bit of salt and pepper, their tutorial shows you how to make super satisfying slower cooker cheesy bacon ranch potatoes that might make you drool.
9. Creamy beef and hatch pepper enchilada
Are you actually the kind of person who would normally grab a couple friends and go out for Mexican food whenever you’re feeling a little off centre but now that it’s chillier you think you might rather eat in the comfort of your own home? Well, here’s a recipe that will make sure you can still enjoy your favourite kind of food from there! Take a better look at Cooking for Keeps to see how these flavourful creamy beef and hatch pepper enchiladas were made.
10. Quick and easy cinnamon rolls
Cinnamon rolls are one of those things that we usually try to save for a special occasion. Sure, they work as a breakfast food, a dessert, or a snack, but they’re also so irresistible that we really have to ration ourselves or we’d make and eat them every day. When the weather turns cold and we’re still adjusting, however, is certainly a time where we feel like we deserve a treat. Check out the tutorial on Popsugar to learn more about their quick and easy cinnamon rolls.
11. Potato corn chowder
Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about the idea of making a hearty fall soup as a kind of comfort food but you’re already over your annual seasonal cold and you ate quite enough chicken noodle soup during that to last you until winter? Then perhaps you’d prefer another kind of soup to warm you from the inside instead! We’d suggest giving this potato corn chowder from Lemon Blossoms a try.
12. Beef barley mushroom soup
Just in case you’re still feeling pretty intent on making a super warm soup but you’re just not sure that any of the options we’ve shown you so far are quite the one for you, here’s another recipe for your consideration. This time, Gather for Bread is here to teach you how to make their beef barley mushroom soup in just a few surprisingly simple steps.
13. Slow cooker beef stroganoff
Rather than the soups, is it actually the pastas that have caught your attention the best but, once again, you’re just not feeling entirely convinced yet? In that case, we’d absolutely encourage you to take a look at this last noodle based dish. Sugar Salt Magic guides you step by step through the process of making a slow cooker beef stroganoff that’s wonderfully simple to make happen.
14. Cornbread chicken casserole
Just in case you’re still thinking about how satisfying warm chicken dishes are in the winter but you’re still not feeling sold on anything in particular, here’s a delicious alternative that we actually made ourselves last week and now feel like we can’t get enough of! Check out Growing Up Gabel to see how this cornbread chicken casserole was made in more detail.
15. One-pan pizza pasta
For you, is the term “comfort food” really just a fancy word for “junk food”? Well, we certainly can’t say we blame you! That’s why we were so pleased to come across this next recipe from Sugar and Soul that combines more than one thing we really love in one place. Instead of choosing between a filling pasta dish and the classic comfort food of pizza, get a bit of both by making this one-pan pizza pasta that we currently have leftovers of in our fridge right this moment!
Do you have another favourite comfort food recipe that you love making in the fall and that’s always a huge hit but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about it in the comments section or link us to the recipe so we can try it out too!
