11 Easy Weeknight Comfort Meals That Feel Like A Hug On A Plate
I could use a sedative or a piping hot bowl of pasta, either will do.
If it feels like your job, personal obligations, and the 24/7 news cycle are wearing you down by this point in the year, well, you’re definitely not alone. In between seeing another triggering headline and staring at the wall and dissociating for a minute, we’re somehow still expected to figure out what the f*ck to eat for dinner every night, too. That’s where easy weeknight comfort meals come in. You have to feed the fam, so why not whip up something quick and simple that’s going to make you feel cared for when it’s done?
In order for a meal to qualify as a comfort dish, it needs to have at least one of these three things (but the more the merrier):
- Cheese
- Sauce or broth
- Carbs of some kind — bread, pasta, potatoes, you get it
A comfort meal should be warm, satisfying, and so good it sparks joy. You should want to dump it in a bowl that’s so hot you have to hold it with towel, grab your biggest spoon out of the drawer, and go plop down in front of the TV to watch a soothing show. We’re not prioritizing our physical health with these recipes, if we’re being honest. Too often we treat food as a thing to be tabulated and fretted over, but that is not part of this conversation. Nope, these meals are good for the heart and soul above anything else.
01One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Everyone has their own perfect comfort meal, but for a good portion of the world, I’d imagine it involves pasta and cream sauce. Budget Bytes’ Cajun chicken pasta takes 30 minutes and one skillet to finish, making it perfect for a quick, comforting weeknight dinner that’ll please the whole family.
02Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
When I want something warm and comforting, that’s when Indian food springs to mind the most. Damn Delicious’ simple chicken tikka masala recipe is meant to be easy enough to make at home and readier faster than takeout could arrive. Now throw some naan in a skillet to crisp up slightly and prepare to devour all that sauce.
03Wonton Soup
There’s nothing better than savory, tender wontons bobbing around in delicious broth. All The Healthy Things’ recipe walks you through how to make a super flavorful broth, which you can load up with frozen wontons, spinach, green onions, and chili crunch for the perfect bite every time.
04Sausage & White Bean Skillet
Who needs utensils? Grab a loaf of crusty white bread and drag it through Averie Cooks’ sausage and white bean skillet instead. Anything you can eat that makes you feel like you’re sitting in a medieval tavern after a hard day’s journey through the woods is, I think, automatically a comfort meal. Dim the lights and light a candle for good measure.
05Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups
Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich is a classic comfort meal. These little grilled cheese roll-ups from Damn Delicious make the iconic combo even more dunk-able. Stick to tradition with cheddar in the middle, or jazz it up a little with mozzarella and a swipe of pesto.
06Easy Chicken & Dumplings
Foodie Crush’s chicken and dumplings recipe takes about 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes to cook, so it’s a bit more involved than other meals on this list. But if chicken and dumplings is what your soul needs this week, well, this is faster than a lot of other versions. Honestly, I’d speed it up by using a boxed biscuit mix (like the Red Lobster cheddar bay one you can buy at the store).
07Classic Chili
Chili is the cold weather food, in my opinion, and dressing it up with all your favorite toppings is the very best part. Budget Bytes’ recipe yields a big batch of traditional chili for cheap, and you only have to stay in the kitchen for like five minutes before leaving it to simmer ‘til done.
08Easy 30-Minute Kale, White Bean, & Chicken Soup
If you want the comfort of chicken noodle soup but with a brighter, herb-y base, try this super quick kale, white bean, and chicken soup from Averie Cooks. It’s easy to make and nutritious, while also being warming, savory, and perfect for bread dunking.
09Thai Yellow Curry With Chickpeas
If only curry will do when you need a comforting meal, Averie Cook’s Thai curry is a 20-minute meal that pays off big in terms of flavor and just how much food it yields. If you still want to get your veggies in even in your comfort meals, look no further.
10Chicken Alfredo Bake
Simple, easy, and cheesy — that’s Princess Pinky Girl’s chicken alfredo bake. If you have extra cooked chicken lying around, your prep time will be just a few minutes as you whip up the homemade sauce and boil the pasta. This is a great meal to make on a Monday or Tuesday so you have lots of hearty lunch leftovers all week long.
11Lazy Enchiladas
Mexican food is my favorite. Casserole is the ultimate comfort food. And what are enchiladas if not burrito casserole, really? Princess Pinky Girl’s recipe literally involves taking frozen taquitos and turning them into cheesy, delicious enchiladas in like, 25 minutes start to finish. As someone with chronic fatigue, this is the kind of super easy meal I fall back on when I can’t possibly make dinner from scratch, but don’t want to spend money on a family-sized Uber Eats order.
