What are healthy comfort foods?
Whether it’s hot or chilly outside, we all have those days where we just want to lay on the sofa, watch a movie, and munch on our easy and delicious classic american comfort food. Usually, as long as a food gives you comfort, then there are no wrong comfort food choices.
To maintain or prepare your own share of healthy comfort food, you must:
- Watch the portion size and don’t overindulge in just one food
- If cookies are your comfort food, then look for a healthier version such as oatmeal raisin, vanilla wafers, or ginger snaps.
- Another famous comfort food is anything with cheese. However, there are cheese options that are healthier than some so it is best to be mindful to make smart cheese choices.
- Look for whole grains. You can swap out your regular wheat pizza to a whole-grain one which also happens to be gluten-free.
What is the number one comfort food?
In retrospect, there is no bad comfort food. As long as it gives you comfort and happiness, then it’s good.
However, not all our delicious comfort foods recipes are the same but there are the most well-known and loved ones such as chocolates, pizza, mac and cheese, burgers, and more best comfort food recipes including green bean casserole, buttermilk biscuits, chicken soup, etc. But to know which is the number one comfort food in the US, Harris Poll conducted a survey wherein 2,252 American adults are surveyed to list down their top comfort foods. And the top comfort food result is none other than nostalgic pizza!
Nearly 15 percent of the 2,252 adults surveyed by Harris listed pizza as their top comfort food, more than twice as many as said chocolate (7 percent) or ice cream (7 percent) and more still than buttery said mac and cheese (5 percent), chips or mashed potatoes (4 percent), hamburgers (3 percent), steak and meatballs (3 percent), or either popcorn, pasta or Mexican food (2 percent apiece).
Healthy comfort foods
Don’t feel bad when you just want to laze in your home with your favorite comfort food dinner ideas. However, try your best to not overindulge in junk foods or unhealthy food classic choices. With that said, here is a list of healthy comfort foods easy recipes you will surely love:
32. Easy American Goulash Recipe – Best Comfort Food Recipe!
American Goulash is an easy, one-pot, classic comfort food made with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. Coming together in 30 minutes, this quick and simple recipe is an easy dinner your whole family will love.
There’s just something so warm and comforting about a big bowl of grandma’s old fashioned goulash with some melty cheese on top. Honestly, I made this recipe often for my kids, and I think they could eat it every day and never get tired of it! I love the way this Goulash brings me back to mu childhood.
This Goulash Recipe is just that. It’s super affordable, quick to make and tastes like a warm hug on a cool evening.
Goulash is a soup or stew of meat, usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating from medieval Hungary, goulash is a popular meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It typically doesn’t even have pasta in it but this American version does and cooks right in the sauce making it an easy complete meal. This is a popular n the mid-western and southern part of the United States. Often referred to simply as “Goulash”, this recipe is one of those feel-good, home-style dishes that remind you of home.
31. Best Keto Low Carb Beef Stew Recipe
Beef stew is one of my favorite dishes to make in the cold weather months. It’s incredibly hearty and perfectly flavorful. Making beef stew without flour or thickeners reduces carbs while intensifying the overall flavor. To make it truly low carb, choosing low carb vegetables is a must. But properly cooking the stew is equally important. The ideal low carb stew should feature fork-tender beef and tender (not mushy) vegetables in a meaty tasting broth.
Thankfully, this beef stew allows me to indulge without feeling any guilt!
That’s fine if you’ve got the time, but this keto beef stew recipe takes stew from a special-occasion weekend dinner to totally doable on a weeknight.
This easy keto beef stew takes just 15 minutes to prepare and some simmer time on the stove.
30. Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Skillet
This easy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Skillet dish is cabbage rolls deconstructed, with all the same great components and flavors, but half the time!
29. Slow Cooker Taco Soup
This Slow Cooker Taco Soup is an easy meal made in your crock pot using pantry staples! Super nutritious also, to get you through cold and flu season! See more Healthy Leftover Taco Meat Recipes.
28. Roasted Butternut Squash Curry
The coziest-ever Roasted Butternut Squash Curry with protein-packed lentils and hearty Brussels sprouts.
27. Delicious and Healthy Crockpot Vegetarian Chili
Looking for a healthy AND comforting dish perfect for the cool weather months?! This Crockpot Vegetarian Chili recipe is super easy and great for even the pickiest of eaters. A great combo of beans, veggies and lentils come together for a great tasting chili, I promise you won’t miss the meat!
26. Chicken Tortilla Soup {Leftover Chicken Recipe}
Chicken Tortilla Soup is a great way to stretch leftover chicken, easily feeding your family dinner for a second night!
25. Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Polenta
These red wine braised beef short ribs are slow cooked for hours until they are tender, juicy, and fall off the bone. Using a fool proof oven baked polenta method, you’re left with deliciously braised short ribs, creamy polenta, and topped with gravy.
24. 5 Ingredient Instant pot Mac and Cheese
The Instant Pot makes making the creamiest most indulgent macaroni and cheese a snap! There’s no need to cook the noodles separately and make a complicated sauce. The Instant Pot lets you cook homemade macaroni and cheese in one pot for an easy comforting dinner that your whole family will love.
23. Cauliflower Chickpea Curry
This vegetable cauliflower chickpea curry is packed with flavor. A vegan curry recipe made with delicious coconut milk, quick, easy and will be a weeknight favorite.
22. 15 Minute Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
Easy 15 minute Asian chicken noodle soup made with a delicious Asian style broth flavored with garlic, ginger & hot chili oil. The perfect soup for cold & flu season!
21. Spicy Sweet Potato Soup | THM: E
Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with a slice of sprouted bread is my new favorite Trim Healthy Mama-friendly E lunch!
20. Keto Mac and Cheese with Zoodles
With only 5 grams of net carbs per serving, this Keto Mac and Cheese recipe lets you enjoy this comfort food favorite without any guilt! It’s made with spiralized zucchini in a rich, creamy cheese sauce!
19. Creamy Pesto and Goat Cheese Pasta
Сreamy Pesto and Goat Cheese Pasta is a quick vegetarian weeknight dinner recipe, done in less than 30 minutes. This is an easy and quick pantry pasta dinner recipe. A delicious creamy goat cheese and pesto sauce with no cream!
18. Creamy White Chicken Chili | THM: S
This Creamy White Chicken Chili is a wonderful alternative to the more traditional, beef-y, tomato-y varieties. My dear husband, (who happily held the spoon in the air for me while I took pictures of this dish!) told me this was at least as good as his previous favorite chili, the one I even named “Brad’s Favorite Chili!”
17. Cauliflower Chicken Chowder (low carb & gluten free)
You guys know that I love a good cauliflower soup recipe! Actually, it’s probably pretty obvious by now that I’ll eat just about anything made with cauliflower.
16. Crockpot Tortilla Soup
This Crockpot Tortilla Soup recipe makes a great easy dinner! It’s healthy and made from scratch with chicken, black beans, and corn in the slow cooker.
15. Cheesy Baked Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Cracker Barrel is a restaurant with a rustic feel and old fashioned charm. They serve up delicious comfort food for all to enjoy. This Cracker Barrel copycat recipe for chicken and broccoli casserole takes the classic and transforms them into an easy and tasty family dinner that can be made in 30 minutes or less!
14. Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings with Bisquick
Find out how to make Instant Pot chicken and dumplings with Bisquick, putting this pressure cooker comfort food on the table fast!
13. Slow-Cooker Chili Con Carne
Slow-cooker chili con carne is a hearty, comforting dinner perfect for cold weeknights. It is made with minced beef in a flavoured tomato sauce, and is really popular with the kids!
12. Toad in the Hole | Family Recipe
When you crave a comforting and tasty family dish but don’t want the hassle of preparing an entire roast, toad in the hole is your ideal solution!
11. Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Healthy, Easy, & Oil-Free)
They’re perfect as a treat or even a nutritious breakfast option. Being free from oil and refined sugars, you can enjoy these cookies guilt-free at any time of the day!
10.
This cheesy chicken bacon ranch casserole is an easy, dump and bake weeknight meal that the whole family will love. Pasta, chicken, bacon, and peppers are mixed with a delicious alfredo ranch sauce, then baked with cheese until hot and bubbly.
9. Instant Pot Lentil Curry
How to cook curried green lentils in the instant pot pressure cooker. Loaded with vegetables, tomatoes, green lentils, and spices, this is a fantastic healthy vegan detox curry for lazy weeknights.
8. Air Fryer Potato Gnocchi
How to air fry gnocchi to make the most delicious crispy potato gnocchi that you have ever tasted.
7. Ground Beef Stroganoff
Ground Beef Stroganoff is a hearty and comforting 30-minute skillet meal. Egg noodles, mushrooms, and ground beef are coated in a creamy sauce and made in a single pan.
6. Rad Na Gai (Thai Gravy Noodles with Chicken)
Rad Na Gai is a delicious Thai gravy noodles dish that’s easy to make, flavorful, and super comforting! Charred fresh flat wide rice noodles are drenched in a warming and peppery gravy with chicken and veggies.
5.
Macaroni and cheese is comfort food, pure comfort food! It’s filling, It’s warm and most of all – it’s cheesy! Stove top mac and cheese is a homemade macaroni and cheese. This delicious cheesy pasta can be made in just 20 minutes!
4. One-Pan Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Our go-to late dinner/easy meal tends to be mac & cheese with frozen broccoli tossed in, which is perfect for those days when dinner can’t happen until 8pm or later. Because what’s better than a quick and creamy bowl of pasta after a long day?
3.
Creamy, delicious and just a little addictive. This incredibly easy vegan tiramisu can be made in just 10 minutes!
2.
This Cheesy Oeufs en Cocotte recipe is the quick-but-fancy breakfast recipe you’ve been waiting for – baked eggs with cream, melted cheese, sausages, and built-in toast.
1.
One pot Pot Lasagna Soup is the ultimate comfort food. Made with ground beef or turkey and three different types of cheese, this mouthwatering soup is a crowd pleaser!
30+ Healthy Comfort Food Recipes
Indulge in the ultimate comfort with 32 best recipes. Delicious twists on best comfort food recipes that satisfy every craving!
Ingredients
- Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Skillet
- Slow Cooker Taco Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Curry
- Delicious and Healthy Crockpot Vegetarian Chili
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
Instructions
- Choose any Healthy Comfort Food Recipes from the post that you like
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best Healthy Comfort Food Recipes and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I share healthy recipes, clean eating ideas, and meal plans for weight loss, as well as give you the best tips on wellness, pregnancy, and parenting advice.