Comfort food recipes
If it’s cosy, comforting dishes you’re craving, we’ve got plenty to raise your spirits. Our warming, indulgent comfort food recipes include pies, pasta and classic British puddings.
Comfort food means different things to different people, but one thing it must do is make you feel happier than you did before you ate it. Homecooked dinners can’t be beaten, and whether it’s a best-ever fish pie, chilli con carne, or a good old-fashioned bakery-style vanilla slice that gets your tastebuds tingling, there are tonnes of ideas here for dinners that will bring smiles to all.
We’ve got soul food like fried chicken and waffles, and decadent twists such as a pain au chocolat bread and butter pudding or ‘nduja meatballs. Real treat yourself territory, this. So explore all our comfort food recipes here and bookmark a few for an instant homecooked mood-lift.
Showing 1-16 of 278 recipes
One-pot chicken
Egyptian molokhiya
This warming Egyptian dish by food writer Soha Darwish stars the leafy vegetable molokhiya, “the heart and soul of Egyptian cuisine."
Chicken pasta
Negresco (Egyptian chicken pasta bake)
This soul-soothing Egyptian chicken pasta bake, negresco, from food writer Soha Darwish is a crowdpleaser.
Recipes that make the most of butter
Bucatini with XO, butter and parmesan
This quick pasta dish gets a huge boost of umami from XO sauce, all brought together with plenty of butter for a slick and glossy finish.
Best of British
Classic shepherd’s pie
In this classic shepherd's pie recipe, the flavour of the lamb mince takes centre stage, while a thick layer of mash brings buttery goodness.
Camembert
Baked camembert with harissa honey
Oozy, gooey cheese drizzled with a fiery, sweet topping; this easy baked camembert with honey recipe is perfect for entertaining.
Chicken soups
Cock-a-leekie soup
This soul-warming Scottish soup includes chicken, leeks, prunes for burst of rich fruitiness and rice (or barley, if you prefer).
Favourite chicken
Fried chicken with pancetta, onion and tomato mac ’n’ cheese
Fried chicken gets a coconut marinade and two coats of spiced flour for extra crunch. Add mac 'n' cheese for an epic comfort-food double act.
Venison
Herby venison shank ragù
Having this slow-cooked venison shank ragù in the freezer makes weeknight dishes a doddle. Great with pasta, creamy polenta or mashed potato.
Sweet pies
Salted maple pretzel pie
What do you get if you cross treacle tart, American maple syrup pie and pretzels? A gloriously sticky, slightly salty dessert.
Perfect puddings
Malt chocolate self-saucing pudding
The toasty flavour of malt brings an extra layer of comfort to this easy, self-saucing chocolate pudding. Bring it to the table and dig in!
Tomato pastas
Pasta pomodoro
Pasta pomodoro is the original – and best – tomato pasta. This recipe is quick and easy but uses a few tricks to really amp up the flavour.
Italian pastas
Classic pasta puttanesca
One of the most famous classic pasta dishes of all time, pasta puttanesca includes anchovies, garlic, capers, olives and tomatoes.
Creamy pasta
Chicken alfredo
Creamy and rich with a hint of garlic and dried herbs, this easy chicken alfredo pasta is the ultimate in Italian-American comfort food.
Spaghetti
Chitarrone alla teramana (square spaghetti with mini meatballs)
Try this traditional spaghetti and meatballs recipe from Abruzzo. Chitarrone – square spaghetti – with rich mini meatballs in a tomato sauce.
Potatoes
Frico (Alpine cheese and potato cake)
Frico is a delicious cheese and potato cake from the Italian Alps. The soft, indulgently savoury cake is ike a very, very cheesy hash brown.
Lasagnes
Lasagne di salsiccia piccante e polenta (spicy sausage and polenta lasagne)
This lasagne hails from Italy's Veneto region. Layers of creamy polenta alternate with a rich sausage sauce, pecorino and mozzarella.
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