Whether you’re upset, lonely, or just want to feel cozy, sometimes the best remedy is a big bowl of something warm and delicious. Am I right? After a breakup, many girls reach for the ice cream. At Thanksgiving, we rally around the table and share healthy portions of turkey, potatoes, and other scrumptious sides. I’m talking about all of the BEST American comfort foods in this post, folks. Here you’ll find a comprehensive list of my favorites, as well as recipes or links to recipes. Grab a fork and eat it up!
American Comfort Foods for BREAKFAST
You wake up in the morning feel like you need….well, something delicious and comforting. American comfort foods for breakfast are great any time of the week or year, but especially on the holidays, when you’re hungover, or feeling under the weather. Here are some of our favorite American comfy, cozy breakfast recipes:
1. Egg and Veggie Bowl
If you’re anything like me, sometimes when I wake up in the morning after being out and about, I need something warm, comforting, but also nutritious. I often wake up craving vegetables. Maybe I’m weird. But I see egg and veggie bowls as American comfort food that makes a pleasurable, healthy breakfast. Especially when your body’s in need of nutrients and fiber. Here’s my favorite recipe by the Mediterranean dish.
2. Chicken and Waffles
An absolute Southern classic is chicken and waffles. I will tell you where I ate the most amazing chicken and waffles…in Atlanta, Georgia. That’s probably no surprise since many Atlanteans claim Atlanta is the birthplace of this Southern comfort food. Even though most sources say Harlem, NY. Wherever it actually originates, who really knows? The great thing about chicken and waffles is you can eat it for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner. What is so satisfying about the salty, crunchy skin on the fried chicken mixed with the sweet of the syrup and waffles? It gives chocolate covered pretzel vibes…in a way all its own. Here’s the BEST Chicken and Waffles recipe I’ve found online.
3. Eggs and Home Fries
Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes. Since my grandmother was raised by her full-blooded Irish American grandmother, we ate a LOT of taters growing up. Don’t know what to eat for breakfast? Potatoes. Lunch? Potatoes. Dinner side? Potatoes. I carry on the tradition of home fries and eggs for breakfast in my house, and everyone absolutely loves it. You can do something as simple as frying some eggs and cooking a bag of pre-made hash browns OR you can cut and roast your own potatoes right in the oven. Then place an egg overtop and serve. I love breaking the yolk over top of my home fries! Here’s a recipe, just in case.
4. Egg and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich
Once again, a simple and humble comfort food breakfast in America, but delicious. The egg and bacon breakfast sandwich. It comes with an ooey gooey yolky fried egg (or scrambled if you prefer), a couple slice of crispy bacon, a slice of cheese, and maybe some avocado on toast if you’re feeling extra frisky. For my family, we always spread a little mayo on each slice of bread and sprinkle salt, pepper, and oregano. Some of us like our egg yolk already broken BEFORE going on the sandwich, while others prefer to bite into it and break it open. The choice is yours! No need for a recipe. Just make the eggs, bacon, and toast how you typically do and put it all together for a bangin’ American comfort food classic!
5. Pumpkin Bread Pudding
I realize that bread pudding isn’t necessarily originally “American”, yet it is a dish that’s been made here for decades. And by my own family on my mother’s side. I actually tweaked my own family recipe and added an Autumnal twist and came up with Pumpkin Bread Pudding. This is delicious as a dessert AND as a Breakfast comfort food. And, truly, as long as you can get canned pumpkin in your area year-round, you can make it any time you want it!
Pumpkin Bread Pudding Recipe with Pumpkin Spices
A modified version of my great grandmother's bread pudding with a pumpkin spice twist!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American, English
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2-3 cups Hawaiian Bread cubes Dry/crusty is best
- 2-3 cups Condensed milk Scalded (Don't boil!)
- 1 can Pumpkin puree
- 1/3 cup Light brown sugar Packed
- 4 Eggs Beaten
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Ginger
- 1/2 tsp Cardamom
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9×13 baking dish with margarine or butter and place in a pan of 1" water to bake.
In a large mixing bowl, pour your scalded milk over your bread cubes.
Whisk together all other ingredients including pumpkin, eggs, sugar and spices.
Gently combine the pumpkin mixture and bread cubes.
Pour into baking dish and bake for 45-50 minutes until a knife comes out clean.
Serve hot with toppings (optional) of your choice.
Keyword autumn, holidays, pumpkin
American Comfort Foods for Lunch
There’s no need to skimp out on American comfort foods for lunch. You can have comfort food any time of day. What says comforting lunch to you? Do you enjoy a hot, steaming bowl of soup on a cold day? A cheesy sandwich with a side salad? Maybe leftovers from last night’s dinner? We have a few ideas for you below:
6. Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is the ULTIMATE American comfort food. I don’t think anything says comfort food like this traditional concoction of chicken, noodles, carrots, and celery in a salty, savory broth. The best part about making a big batch of chicken noodle soup is you can save it and eat it through the week. Or even freeze half of it to eat at a later time. If you’re a busy mom or dad, this is a time-saving method for sure! BONUS, you can make this recipe in your Instant Pot super quick.
7. Fancy Mac And Cheese
Every weekend I ask my son what he wants to eat for lunch. The answer is always. inevitably. MAC AND CHEESE. What is the addiction kids have with that orange Kraft box pasta? Anyway, I try to mix it up and give the boy some homemade mac and cheese every once in a while. At least this way I sort of know what’s going into the recipe and therefore into his little body. Making a fancier version of this American comfort food staple involves adding some kind of protein and fresh herbs and spices. For example, my favorite kind of mac and cheese is Lobster Mac and Cheese. This works great as a side dish on holidays OR any time of year you’re feeling a fancy cheesy lunch.
8. Butternut Squash Soup with Apple
Another delightful, cozy dish for Lunch is our Butternut Squash Soup with Apple. Add a crusty bread and a small side salad and you have an entire meal here. It will keep you full through the afternoon, and hopefully you’ll make a big batch so you can eat a few helpings over the week.
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple
Mama Bear
A delicious Autumn meal consisting of butternut squash, apple slices, cheddar cheese, onion, fresh herbs and toasted rosemary walnuts.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Equipment
1 Stockpot
1 Chopping board
1 Blender or immersion blender
1 Wooden spoon
1 Chef's knife
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Butter Unsalted
- 1 Onion Medium, White or Yellow, sliced thin
- 2 Apples Gala or honeycrisp, sliced thin
- 1 Potato Large, Chopped
- 1 1/2 Cups Butternut Squash Chopped, Frozen or Fresh
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp Dried sage
- 2-3 tbsp All purpose flour
- 1/3 cup Apple cider
- 5 cups Chicken broth
- 1 cup Milk 2% or Full Fat is best
- 1 tbsp Olive oil for walnuts
- 1 tbsp Rosemary leaves for walnuts
- 1 cup Walnuts Chopped or halved
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese Shredded
- 1 tbsp Fresh herbs (optional) Chives, Parsley, etc.
Instructions
Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Add your walnuts and season with salt, pepper and rosemary leaves.
Toast walnuts and season to taste. Turn off heat and set to the side.
Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Then add your apples, onions, potatoes and squash.
Season with salt and pepper and cook until onion is soft and translucent.
Next add your flour and sage. Stir.
Add the apple cider and cook on high heat until the soup is thickened.
Pour in the broth and milk, cover the pot and bring it to a boil.
Reduce the heat to a simmer, stir, cook for 10 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
Turn the heat up to medium and add your cheddar cheese.
Stir until the cheese has melted.
Puree your soup in batches in a blender (carefully) until smooth OR use an immersion blender directly in the stockpot.
Season again with salt and pepper to taste (if need be).
Add fresh herbs, toasted walnuts, extra cheese to the top.
Add your bacon or prosciutto (optional).
Serve with bread or salads.
Keyword dinner, easy, lunch
9. Easy Egg Salad Recipe
A Fully American comfort food lunch item is egg salad. This is a staple on bread as a sandwich OR plopped on top of a salad for a “healthier” lower-carb option. Either way, it’s comforting and reminds us of our childhood. Try our recipe below:
Grandma’s EASY Egg Salad Recipe
If you're looking for a quick and easy egg salad recipe, try my grandma's!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 minutes mins
Total Time 12 minutes mins
Course lunch, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Equipment
1 Pot or instant pot
1 Chopping board
1 Knife
1 Spoon (large)
Ingredients
- 8 whole eggs (hardboiled)
- 2-3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp lemon juice (pre-bottled for quicker prep)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Boil eggs to perfection.
Peel and clean eggs.
Roughly chop the eggs and add to a large mixing bowl.
Add mustard, lemon juice, mayonnaise, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Mix all ingredients together.
Taste and add more salt, pepper, and mayo to taste.
Spread on bread to make egg salad sandwich or dole out a spoonful over salad greens for a healthier option.
Keyword american, easy, lunch, sandwich
10. Chicken Pot Pie
Okay, I realize most people eat chicken pot pie as a dinner. But I frequently eat dinner for lunch, okay? And if you have time to make the chicken pot pie, you have time to save the leftovers and eat them the next day, right? You can go completely homemade down to making the biscuit topping yourself OR go the easy route and borrow the batter from Bisquick. Whichever way, no one will argue that chicken pot pie is an American comfort food classic.
American Comfort Foods for Dinner
Dinner is my favorite meal of the day because my entire family will sit down together and talk about their day. We laugh, sometimes we fight, but we always connect over food. I feel there’s no other more important thing you can do with your family than sit down together every day and share a meal. If you’re split up at dinner, you’ll be split up during the times that really count too. Add some of these comfort food classics to your rotation and watch your family feel full AND loved.
11. EASY Sausage Spaghetti (Our Recipe)
I am a HUGE spaghetti person! My kids eat it up every time I make it, too! Spaghett is actually a traditional food in Italy, of course, but I feel it’s a requirement to put here on our American Comfort Foods list. Because nearly every American family has their own way to make it. A side of salad adds some fiber and garlic bread ups the comfort level! Here’s ours:
EASY Sausage Spaghetti Recipe
If you're looking for a family traditional meal that's easy and delicious, try our sausage spaghetti recipe made with mild Italian ground sausage and plenty of herbs and spices.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 servings
Equipment
1 Stockpot
1 Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 16 oz Mild italian ground sausage
- 3 28 oz Cento San Marzano Tomato Sauce
- 1 cup Green Pepper Chopped
- 1 whole Beefsteak Tomato Chopped (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 cup Mushroom Washed and sliced
- 3 Leaves Bay
- 2-3 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 package Spaghetti
Instructions
Wash and chop your veggies
Add salt to a large pot of water and boil your pasta.
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
Add sausage, green peppers, and onions. Brown meat for about 10 minutes.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant about 1 minute.
Add the rest of the ingredients: tomato sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spices.
Bring to a slight boil then cover and turn down heat. Bring to a simmer.
Let sauce simmer for at least 20 minutes. The longer you can simmer, the better the taste. Stir every once in awhile throughout.
Taste throughout and add extra salt or spices.
Turn off heat and serve over spaghetti.
Keyword american, dinner, easy
12. Split Pea Soup with Hambone and Bread
Every year at Christmas, we receive a honey baked ham from a family member. Of which we partake in for our Christmas Eve feast. I don’t waiste a single part of the ham and keep the hambone and leftover bits frozen in my freezer until I’m ready to make split pea soup with the hambone. Sometimes I wait until Spring to make the soup, but sometimes I just can’t wait. This soup is so savory and comforting! It makes a delicious dinner and warms the heart up during the cold days of Winter. Here’s our recipe for Split Pea Soup with Hambone.
13. Rosemary Roast Chicken With Mashed Potatoes
I ask my son often what he wants for dinner. And he almost always answers with, “just chicken, broccoli, and rice, Mom.” I’ve made a chicken lover out of my kids, which is a good thing. For years I’ve made this rosemary roast chicken in the oven and have served it to many guests. No one has ever complained and some even request that I make this dish for them when they come over. The trick here is to stuff the chicken with lemons. The citric acid steams up the inside of the chicken’s cavity and keeps the meat moist. Trust me! Then add mashed potatoes and a green veggie as sides:
Rosemary Roasted Herb Chicken With Lemons
Our favorite chicken recipe: roasted chicken stuffed with fresh herbs, lemons, and onions. Caked with salt and pepper and cooked in its own juices.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Total Time 2 hours hrs
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Equipment
1 Roasting pan
Ingredients
- 1 whole Chicken
- 1/2 onion quartered
- 1 whole lemon quartered
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
- c Salt and pepper Liberal amount
- 1/2 stick Butter Unsalted
Instructions
Wash and pat dry your chicken with paper towels. Remove innards if included.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Rub liberal amount of salt and pepper all over chicken skin.
Insert fresh herbs, lemon and onion into chicken.
Roast at 350 for 20 minutes per pound. At about the halfway done mark, melt your butter and pour over chicken.
Baste in its own juices 30 minutes before pulling out. And every 5-10 minutes to make sure the skin doesn't burn.
Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Keyword chicken, dinner, easy
14. Easy Leftover Chicken Broccoli Spanish Rice Casserole
After you’ve made an entire roast chicken, you might have some chicken leftover. If not, chicken meat from a rotisserie chicken at your local grocery is perfect too! Here’s the recipe that I use BUT I substitute the regular white rice bottom layer with SPANISH rice. You can make it beforehand from the bag OR simply microwave 2 bags of Ben’s Spanish Rice. OMG chicken broccoli spanish rice casserole is SO good!!! Try this recipe but sub for Spanish Rice and premade chicken meat.
15. Southern Meatloaf Recipe
I’ll be 100% honest with you all. I hated meatloaf as a kid. Then I grew up and tried a recipe out and realized it wasn’t that I didn’t like meatloaf. I just didn’t like the meatloafs I had eaten as a kid. They were overcooked and dried out. I’m not sure if it was a trend to overcook ALL of the meat back in the day, but that’s what many a grandma and mom did. Today, we know better. I recommend this Betty Crocker recipe…but I remove the onions because the texture freaks out a few family members. Southern Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a veggie is SUCH a comforting dish.
More Comfort Foods:
- What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs
- Holly Jolly Crockpot Christmas Breakfast Ideas
