Let’s be honest: 2020 has been ROUGH. While we are all doing our best to keep our families happy and healthy, we also need to keep them well-fed. With that in mind, the Goodtaste Team has rounded up some of our favorite cozy recipes we’ve been leaning on to get us through this year. From cozy soups to easy baked meatballs, these are the comfort food recipes we can’t live without.
Creamy Tortellini Soup
Soup weather is here and we think you need to add this easy creamy soup for Damn Delicious into your rotation. This 30-minute soup has all the flavors of cozy pasta dinner with savory chunks of Italian sausages, tender tortellini and rich tomato broth in a light yet hearty bowl. Don’t forget a side of crusty bread to soak up all the goodness!
Classic Texan Frito Pie
Gooey cheddar cheese, salty corn chips and Tanji’s spicy meaty chili come together in this simple yet oh-so-satisfying “pie.” While the origins of the Frito Pie remain unknown, we know this “walkin’ taco” holds a special cozy place in many Texans’ hearts.
The ULTIMATE Mac-and-Cheese
Our favorite comfort food just became a weeknight possibility thanks to our easy no-roux recipe. Traditionally, mac-and-cheese begins with a béchamel sauce that is thickened by a butter and flour roux. In this version, we skip the roux all-together and use good ol’ American cheese. American has an ingredient in it called sodium citrate that binds it together and gives it its supreme meltability. Here, this magical compound gives our sauce a thick Velveeta-like creaminess, but with the flavor of more complex cheeses like cheddar and gruyere.
Broccoli, Chicken & Cheddar Casserole
Dare we call this baked beauty from Half Baked Harvest healthy? Combining rice and orzo with chopped chicken, broccoli, and a good dose of cheddar, it’s got everything you’d want in a balanced bowl of cheesy comfort.
Ina Garten’s Roasted Italian Meatballs
These roasted meatballs are from the comfort food queen, Ina Garten. Instead of painstakingly searing meatballs over the stovetop, Ina makes a flavorful mix of beef, pork, veal, sharp pecorino and even a touch of wine, and then bakes the meatballs in the oven. Once the tender meatballs are just cooked through, she pops them in an easy homemade marinara to simmer until you’re ready to eat. It’s comfort food at its best!
Foolproof Lentil Soup
Few foods do a better job of warming you to your core than a hearty lentil soup. Come fall, lentils are always on heavy rotation in our houses – not only because they’re hearty and healthy, but they’re also affordable and easy to cook. In this original Goodtaste recipe, we add toasty Indian spices, creamy coconut milk, plus kale and sweet potato for extra nutritional oomph. Feel free to follow this recipe to a T (it is a good one), or make it your own.
Campfire Queso with Charred Cherry Tomatoes
Ever since we shared this unbelievably gooey queso, we have not stopped thinking about it. We like to make it in a cast-iron skillet because it conducts heat well (keeping your queso warm longer) and you can wrap a towel around the handle and bring it right to the table. We’ve included instructions for how to make this dip over a campfire or on your grill, but you can also whip it up on the stovetop to go with your weeknight taco spread.
Corn Crème Brûlée
This over-the-top creamed corn ain’t like your grandma’s. Steak48 in Houston makes this slightly savory corn crème brûlée with fresh sweet corn and then broiled to create a crackly caramelized top.
Recipe for Creamy Tortellini Soup