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    Home » MSN Slideshows

    21 Comfort Foods You Grew Up With – And How to Make It Even Better

    Published: Apr 14, 2025 by Barbara Curry

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    There’s just something about those classic comfort foods that instantly take you back. The kind of meals that showed up on the table when nothing else would do—simple, cozy, and totally nostalgic. This time around, though, they’re getting a little upgrade (nothing too fancy, promise). It’s all the flavors you love, just with a little extra magic.

    30-Minute Baked Mac & Cheese With Spinach

    A spoon full of baked mac and cheese with spinach.
    30-Minute Baked Mac & Cheese With Spinach. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


     

    Baby spinach leaves are mixed into this rich, creamy gruyere and cheddar macaroni and cheese before it’s baked to perfection for 30 minutes.
    Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Baked Mac & Cheese With Spinach

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

    FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

    Homemade chicken noodle soup with tender chicken, fresh veggies, and herbs simmered to perfection—an easy, slow-cooked bowl of comfort.
    Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs

    Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy

    A plate of chicken fried steak topped with creamy white gravy, served beside mashed potatoes, garnished with cracked black pepper and chopped herbs—a classic from southern recipes. A fork and knife rest on the plate.
    Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Crunchy, crispy Chicken Fried Chicken with a double-dipped coating and rich gravy is a Southern comfort food classic you’ll love!
    Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy

    Baked Mac and Cheese with Tender Pulled Pork

    A spoon full of mac and cheese with pulled pork.
    Baked Mac and Cheese with Tender Pulled Pork. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    My pulled pork mac and cheese recipe is smoky, savory, and incredibly easy to make at home. It’s made with juicy slow-cooked pulled pork. 
    Get the Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Tender Pulled Pork

    Easy Chicken Orzo Soup With Lemon

    A bowl of orzo chicken soup with lemon slices next to it.
    Easy Chicken Orzo Soup With Lemon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Lemon chicken orzo soup is the ultimate comfort food. Simple to make but packed with flavor. A cozy soup for any occasion.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Orzo Soup With Lemon

    Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits

    A close-up of a creamy chicken and biscuit casserole, with a spoon lifting a biscuit topped with herbs to reveal the savory filling underneath—perfect for fans of comfort food recipes.
    Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Homemade Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits is Southern comfort food at its best. Buttermilk biscuits top a creamy chicken filling.
    Get the Recipe: Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits

    Swiss Steak Over Mashed Potatoes

    Swiss Steak Over Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

    Swiss Steak Over Mashed Potatoes is a humble dish, made with common, inexpensive ingredients. Comfort food season is here everyone!
    Get the Recipe: Swiss Steak Over Mashed Potatoes

    Easy Chicken And Dumplings With Biscuits

    Easy Chicken And Dumplings With Biscuits. Photo credit: Southern Plate.

    A staple back in the day, this easy chicken and dumplings with biscuits recipe is simple but scrumptious Southern comfort food at its finest.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken And Dumplings With Biscuits

    Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy

    A spoon pouring gravy over pork chops.
    Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Seared until golden brown and served with a rich sauce, these Smothered Pork Chops with Boursin Gravy are the perfect comfort food.
    Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy

    Chicken With Stove Top Stuffing Casserole

    A wooden spoon dipping out a serving of chicken and stuffing.
    Chicken With Stove Top Stuffing Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    The most indulgent comfort food, Pepperidge Farm Stove Top Chicken Casserole has a creamy homemade mushroom soup filling and a crispy stuffing topping.
    Get the Recipe: Chicken With Stove Top Stuffing Casserole

    Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese

    A casserole dish of butternut mac and cheese.
    Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Take a classic comfort food to unexpected heights with this Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe and it’s creamy golden sauce.
    Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese

    Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots

    A serving being taken from a chicken casserole.
    Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Satisfy your comfort food craving with this buffalo chicken casserole (or hot dish).It’s made with ground chicken, ranch dressing, hot sauce, and frozen tater tots.
    Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots

    Chili Poblano Recipe

    Close-up of a baked dish in a casserole, featuring a golden, herb-speckled topping. A serving has been scooped out, revealing layers of ground meat in a chili poblano tomato-based sauce underneath. The dish looks hearty and freshly made.
    Chili Poblano Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Chili poblano recipe with cheesy grits is the perfect comfort food with a spicy poblano based gravy and cheesy grits baked on top.
    Get the Recipe: Chili Poblano Recipe

    Easy Crock Pot Mac And Cheese Recipe

    A close-up of creamy scrambled eggs topped with melted cheddar cheese, served in a black skillet next to a spoon on a gray cloth—comfort food perfect for pairing with cozy slow cooker dinners.
    Easy Crock Pot Mac And Cheese Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    With just 6 ingredients, this Crockpot Mac and Cheese Recipe will be your new favorite side. You don’t even have to cook the pasta, just dump and go!
    Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot Mac And Cheese Recipe

    Diy Cheesy Hamburger Helper With Beef & Bacon

    A fork full of homemade hamburger helper.
    Diy Cheesy Hamburger Helper With Beef & Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    My version of homemade hamburger helper is dressed-up with bacon, garlic and onion, white wine, heavy cream and two types of cheese. Recipe serves 8.
    Get the Recipe: Diy Cheesy Hamburger Helper With Beef & Bacon

    Pan Fried Panko Breaded Pork Chops

    A fork in a bite of a fried pork chop.
    Pan Fried Panko Breaded Pork Chops. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    These Panko breaded pork chops are cooked in a skillet for the juiciest meat with the crispiest crust. Easy comfort food dinner in 15 minutes.
    Get the Recipe: Pan Fried Panko Breaded Pork Chops

    Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd

    A bowl of creamy macaroni salad with green peas, diced vegetables, and topped with shredded cheddar cheese—perfect for fans of delicious pasta salad recipes.
    Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd is a summer time comfort food, which is great for dinners, picnics or to take to pot lucks.
    Get the Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd

    Lasagna With Bechamel

    A serving of homemade lasagna
    Lasagna With Bechamel. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This Homemade Lasagna Recipe is an all time favorite comfort food. Smothered in a creamy béchamel sauce it’s the best homemade lasagna you’ll find. Easier than it sounds and perfect if you want to feed a crowd.
    Get the Recipe: Lasagna With Bechamel

    Cheesy Spaghetti Casserole With Ground Beef

    Cheese being pulled from a pot of spaghetti with two spoons.
    Cheesy Spaghetti Casserole With Ground Beef. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This no-bake spaghetti casserole with ground beef is comfort food at its finest! The secret to this homestyle pasta dinner is a can of mushroom soup!
    Get the Recipe: Cheesy Spaghetti Casserole With Ground Beef

    Smothered Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy

    A skillet of pork chops with a spoon full of mushroom gravy.
    Smothered Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Smothered pork chops with mushroom gravy are rich, satisfying, Southern comfort food. Thick, savory homemade gravy and tender mushrooms!
    Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy

    Hamburger Casserole With Buttermilk Biscuits

    A close-up of a casserole dish with a slice of cheesy, ground beef-topped biscuit bake—one of the ultimate ground beef casseroles—being lifted by a spatula. The dish is garnished with chopped herbs.
    Hamburger Casserole With Buttermilk Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Comfort food heaven! Hamburger casserole with biscuits has a layer of flaky biscuits on the bottom topped with a Sloppy Joe filling.
    Get the Recipe: Hamburger Casserole With Buttermilk Biscuits

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    Barbara holds a tote bag filled with flowers, baguettes, and fresh produce at an indoor market.

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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