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You’ll love this selection of cozy Comfort Food Recipes – perfect for casual gatherings, special dinners, or the on-the-holiday table! 

Comfort food, in moderation, can be incredibly nourishing on the soul level. Not just the eating of it, but particularly in the act of making it. Making comfort food can be really comforting if we allow it – the perfect way to spend a slow and lazy Sunday.

Some of these recipes are definitely on the rich, meaty and decadent side, but we’ve included a few of our favorite plant-based comfort food recipes too. Something for everyone!

And while I don’t cook or eat comfort food every day, there is a place for it, especially when shared around the table. I find that served with a big salad, or a plate full of veggies, a little comfort food on the side is a special and welcome treat. Ideal for entertaining, many of these hearty dinner recipes can be made ahead!

Cozy Comfort Food Recipes

Lentil Bolognese

You'll love this selection of cozy Comfort Food Recipes - perfect for causal gatherings, special dinners, or the on-the-holiday table! 

Rich and robust, this plant-based Lentil Bolognese is hearty, “meaty” and full of depth of flavor. Toss it with your favorite pasta, or spoon it over creamy polenta- either way, this simple nourishing vegan meal is one the whole family will enjoy.

Creamy Mushroom Soup with Rosemary and Garlic

You'll love this selection of cozy Comfort Food Recipes - perfect for causal gatherings, special dinners, or the on-the-holiday table! | Creamy Mushroom Soup A simple recipe for Creamy Mushroom Soup with Rosemary and Garlic – flavorful and hearty enough to stand alone as a main course. Keto-friendly and elegant enough for fall gatherings or simple enough for fall weeknight dinners! Serve this with crusty bread for a simple, hearty meal!

Pastitsio!Our Best Fall Recipes! | Pastitsio! A rich baked pasta dish - hailing from Greece with ground lamb (or beef) bolognese sauce infused with Greek spices and flavors. Perfect for entertaining!

 A  baked pasta dish, Pastitsio!  hailing from Greece with a rich bolognese sauce made with ground lamb, infused with Greek spices and herbs. Perfect for fall entertaining and can be made ahead! Ridiculously decadent and delicious, yet one of my favorites!
Our Best Fall Recipes! |Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Roasted Grapes and Shallots, served over Whipped Ginger Sweet Potatoes - a simple, easy, fall-inspired skillet dinner that can be made in 30 minutes!  #rosemarychicken #skilletchicken #bakedchicken #roastedgrapes #chicken #chickenthighs 
The beginning or fall marks grape season! Here we’re roasting them and pairing time up with Rosemary Chicken Thighs and shallots, serving them over Whipped Ginger Sweet Potatoes – a simple, easy, fall-inspired skillet dinner that can be made in 30 minutes!

Truffle Mac and Cheese

This earthy decadent Truffle Mac and Cheese is a mushroom lover's dream. It's easier than you think and can be made ahead- perfect for holidays and gatherings.

This earthy decadent Truffle Mac and Cheese is a mushroom lover’s dream. It’s easier than you think and can be made ahead- perfect for holidays and gatherings.

Butternut Lasagna with Wild Mushrooms and Sage

Our Best Fall Recipes! Butternut Lasagna with Wild Mushrooms and Sage- a delicious vegetarian or vegan main dish, perfect for the holiday table! Can be made ahead! #butternutlasagna #veganlasagna #veganthanksgiving #veganmaindish #vegetarianmaindish #mushroomlasaga #veganchristmas #vegandinner #plantbased #cleaneating
One of the coziest fall meals, this Butternut Lasagna with Mushrooms and Sage is utterly delicious, vegetarian, perfect for the fall gatherings or the holiday table! Can be made ahead!

Chicken Pot Pie

Classic Chicken Pot Pie with a quick and easy biscuit crust, tender veggies, fresh herbs, in a creamy wine sauce. #potpie
This Classic Chicken Pot Pie is taken up a notch with fresh herbs and a quick and easy biscuit crust. Filled with chicken and tender veggies, in a creamy wine sauce it’s pure comfort food!

Zucchini Lasagna

30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall! A savory recipe for Zucchini Lasagna, made without noodles for a low carb, keto version of one of our favorite meals! Vegetarian adaptable and Gluten-free.

A robust and hearty fall recipe for Zucchini Lasagna made without noodles for a low-carb, keto version of one of our favorite meals! Vegetarian adaptable and Gluten-free.

Homemade Tomato Soup

Our Best Fall Recipes! Homemade Tomato Soup made with fresh or canned tomatoes, made in under 30 minutes. Creamy, easy and Vegan-adaptable!
What is better than a comforting bowl of homemade Tomato Soup? One of my favorite fall recipes, this Homemade Tomato Soup is made with fresh or canned tomatoes, made in under 30 minutes. Creamy, easy and Vegan-adaptable

Stuffed Acorn Squash

20 COMFORT FOOD RECIPES |Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage, Apple, kale, Parsnips, Pecans and Sage | feastingingathome.com #stuffedsquash #acornsquash #wintersquash #fallrecipes
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage, Apple, kale, Parsnips, Pecans and Sage- a delicious fall meal. Leave out the sausage or use vegan sausage for a vegetarian option.

White Chicken (or Cauliflower) Enchiladas

30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall! | White Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Poblano Sauce
These mouthwatering White Chicken Enchiladas are slathered with the most flavorful green chili sauce! They are vegetarian-adaptable ( sub cauliflower for chicken) and are so delicious we know you will love them!

Chicken Marsala

30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall! How to make classic Chicken Marsala (with double the mushrooms!) in a rich, earthy, complex Marsala Sauce. Serve over creamy polenta, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower or roasted spaghetti Squash! (Vegetarian Adaptable-see recipe notes!)

How to make classic Chicken Marsala (with double the mushrooms!) in a rich, earthy, complex Marsala Sauce. Serve over creamy polenta, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower for a delicious fall dinner.

Ribollita (Tuscan White bean Stew)

30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall! A flavorful hearty stew from Tuscany, called Ribollita with Cannellini beans, lacinato kale, and vegetables, served with crusty bread, drizzled with a Lemon Rosemary Garlic Oil. | www.feastingathome.com
A flavorful, hearty stew from Tuscany, called Ribollita with Cannellini beans, lacinato kale, and vegetables, served with crusty bread, drizzled with Lemon Rosemary Garlic Oil.

Stuffed Turkish Cabbage Rolls

30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall! Turkish Cabbage Rolls
Turkish Stuffed Cabbage Rolls – filled with ground lamb (or ground beef) , bulgar, pine nuts and fragrant spices, bathed in the most delicious Turkish Tomato Sauce.

Easy Italian Meatballs

These flavorful Italian Meatballs are chock full of fresh herbs and savory goodness.  Fast and easy they can be made in 30 minutes. Serve them with zucchini noodles, roasted spaghetti squash, pasta, creamy polenta or in a roll. Low-carb, keto and gluten-free.

These flavorful Italian Meatballs are chock full of fresh herbs and savory goodness.  Fast and easy they can be made in 30 minutes. Serve them with zucchini noodles, roasted spaghetti squash, pasta, creamy polenta or in a roll. Low-carb, keto and gluten-free.

Tamale Pie

30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall! Easy Skillet Tamale Pie
Simple Delicious Tamale Pie with your choice of ground turkey, chicken, ground beef  ( or use a vegetarian substitute like Beyond Beef) with seasonal veggies, topped with a delicious cornbread crust.

Chicken Biryani

30 Cozy Fall Dinner Recipes | Chicken Biryani with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
An authentic & insanely delicious recipe for Chicken Biryani with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce, the perfect fall dinner.

Moussaka

Rustic Eggplant Moussaka + 30 Comfort Food Recipes for Fall
Rustic Eggplant Moussaka– one of my all-time recipes ever! This authentic, delicious recipe for Eggplant Moussaka is perfect for chilly fall evenings- hearty and robust, the flavors satisfy!

LOBSTER BISQUE

This Lobster Bisque Recipe is kept simple and easy with quick homemade lobster stock, big bites of lobster tail, and a creamy luscious bisque thickened with sweet potatoes. #lobsterbisque #lobster

This decadent Lobster Bisque Recipe is kept simple and easy with quick homemade lobster stock, big bites of lobster tail, and a creamy luscious bisque thickened with sweet potatoes. Perfect for a special dinner or the holiday table!

Instant Pot BEEF Chili

30 Cozy Fall Recipes | Instant Pot Beef Chili with Dry Beans
This Instant Pot Chili is simple and easy and can be made with ground beef, turkey, or chicken, dried beans and no fuss in an Instant Pot! Cozy, hearty and flavorful, this chili is perfect for fall!

Stuffed shells with Pumpkin Sauce

30 Cozy Fall Recipes |Stuffed shells with Creamy pumpkin cream sauce
A delicious recipe for Stuffed shells with Pumpkin Sauce, with Italian sausage and a creamy Pumpkin parmesan sauce.

White Chicken Chili with Poblanos

30 Comfort Food Fall Recipes | White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili is made with white beans, poblano chilies, cilantro, coriander and lime. Tangy, spicy, this one-pot meal is hearty and delicious!

Roasted Chicken with Lebanese 7-Spice

Roasted Lebanese 7-Spice Chicken with caramelized onions, almonds and roasted lemon. A simple flavorful Lebanese-inspired dinner, with only 15 minutes of hands on time. #chicken #lebanesechicken #lebanesefood #7spice
Lebanese Roasted Chicken with fragrant 7-spice, caramelized onions, almonds and roasted lemon. A simple flavorful Lebanese-inspired dinner, with only 15 minutes of hands-on time.
30 Comfort Food Fall Recipes | An authentic recipe for Birria
An authentic recipe for Birria, a flavorful Mexican Stew made with beef, lamb or goat that can be made in an Instant Pot, Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker. Serve this in a big bowl or make Birria Tacos – the best!

Whole Roasted Chicken

30 Fall Dinner Ideas! A simple easy recipe for roast chicken with lemon, garlic and rosemary, baked in the oven over vegetables. A delicious dinner recipe! #roastchicken
A simple easy recipe for whole roast chicken with lemon, garlic and rosemary, baked in the oven over vegetables. A delicious fall dinner idea!

Middle Eastern Lamb Stew

30 COMFORT FOOD RECIPES for Fall | Middle Eastern Lamb Stew made in and Instant Pot. Comforting and flavorful, perfect for fall nights.
Middle Eastern Lamb Stew made in an Instant Pot! Comforting, warming and flavorful this fall meal is one of our reader favorites on the blog!

Slow Cooker Turkey Mushroom Bolognese

30 Fall Dinner Ideas! Slow cooker Bolognese

Slow Cooker Turkey Bolognese with Mushrooms A simple recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey Bolognese with Mushrooms- a cozy meal with lots of depth and flavor.

Lamb Meatballs 

30 COMFORT FOOD FALL RECIPES | Lamb Meatballs with Indian Curry Sauce
Fragrant Lamb Meatballs with Indian Curry Sauce- a simple easy dinner recipe that is full of flavor! Gluten-free and Paleo!

Rosemary Chicken Lasagna

30 COMFORT FOOD FALL RECIPES | Rosemary Chicken Lasagna
Rosemary Chicken Lasagna with a flavorful cream sauce. A cozy, comforting recipe, perfect for fall and winter gatherings. Pure comfort food. Can be made ahead.

Fesenjan

30 COMFORT FOOD RECIPES FOR FALL |A delicious recipe for Fesenjan, a Persian Walnut Pomegranate Stew with chicken and chickpeas.
A delicious recipe for Fesenjan, a luxurious Persian Walnut Pomegranate Stew with chicken and chickpeas. Earthy, rich and tangy, this is bursting with Middle Eastern Flavor! Decadent and rich, serve with Basmati Rice.

Oaxacan LAMB Barbacoa

30 COMFORT FOOD RECIPES FOR FALL! Mexican Lamb Barbacoa - a simple delicious recipe from Oaxaca that results in tender, juicy falling off the bone lamb perfect for tacos and burritos!
Mexican Lamb Barbacoa – a simple delicious recipe from Oaxaca that requires slow-roasting and results in the most tender, juicy falling-off-the-bone lamb perfect for tacos,  burritos, or simple over Mexican rice. A flavor fall dinner idea the whole family will love.
Easy Chicken Enchiladas made with the simplest of ingredients.  With just a few minutes of assembly time, bake it for 20 minutes, and dinner is ready. Everyone is happy!

Indian Butter Chicken

30 COMFORT FOOD RECIPES FOR FALL | Indian Butter Chicken ( or Cauliflower) with the most flavorful Tomato- Ginger garam masala sauce. Vegan Adaptable!
Indian Butter Chicken (or Cauliflower) with the most flavorful tomato- ginger Garam Masala Sauce.  Nourishing, comforting and full of flavor, it truly is the most delicious fall dinner. Vegetarian Adaptable.

Five Spice Pulled Pork Tacos

30 COMFORT FOOD RECIPES FOR FALL | Five Spice Pulled Pork Tacos 
Skip the pork chops and try these slow-roasted Five Spice Pulled Pork Tacos infused with fragrant Five Spice seasoning and served with Asian Slaw and a Spicy Sriracha Mayo.  A flavorful Asian twist on pulled pork tacos!

Give them and try and tell us your favorites below!

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30 Cozy Comfort Food Recipes

★★★★★ 5 from 7 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine | Feasting at home
  • Prep Time: 60
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: main, fall recipes,
  • Method: baked
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

You’ll love this selection of cozy Comfort Food Recipes – perfect for casual gatherings, special dinners, or the on-the-holiday table! Zucchini Lasagna

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 1/2–3 lbs zucchini (3-4 large, 9-inch long- see notes) 16-18 slices, cut to 1/3 inch thick.
  • olive oil, or spray olive oil
  • salt and pepper

“Meat” Sauce: 

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 4–6 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground lamb, beef, turkey, or use a vegan substitute like Beyond meat, beyond beef crumbles, soy crumbles
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 3 cups marinara sauce (divided)
  • pinch chili flakes (optional)
  • 8 basil leaves, torn

Ricotta Mixture:

  • 15–16 ounces whole milk ricotta
  • 1 egg
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

2 ounces pecorino romano – about 1/2 cup grated (divided)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425F
  2. Cook Zucchini: Slice zucchini into 1/4 inch slices. You’ll need 16-18 good slices. See notes.  Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan, spray or brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place in the hot oven, for 20-ish minutes, or until fork-tender. Set aside. Alternatively, you can grill zucchini over medium-high until tender for even more flavor.
  3. Make the Filling: In a large saucepan or skillet, saute the onion, garlic and optional fennel seeds in a little oil, for 1-2 minutes, over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat (or vegan meat) lower heat to medium, and break it apart with a metal spatula, until completely crumbled and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes (vegan meat will take much less time). Drain any of the fat. Return meat to the pan and add salt, pepper, oregano, and 2 cups marinara sauce. Give a good stir, cover and bring to a gentle simmer until heated all the way through. Stir in torn basil leaves. See notes.
  4. Ricotta: Mix the ricotta cheese in a medium bowl with the egg and nutmeg.
  5. Assemble:  Grease a 9 x13 inch pan. Pour 1/2 cup of marinara to coat the bottom lightly. Place 8-9 slices of zucchini ( save the prettiest, most uniform ones for the top.) to cover the bottom. Pour the meat sauce over top. Spoon the ricotta mixture over the meat sauce and spread it around. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the grated pecorino cheese, Add the top layer of zucchini. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of marinara over top and spread evenly into a thin layer. Dust with the remaining pecorino.
  6. Bake: Wipe off the edges of the pan, cover with foil and bake at 425F for 20 minutes, remove foil and continue baking, until golden and bubbling, 5-10 more minutes.

Notes

Go to the Full post for recipe notes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ⅛ slice
  • Calories: 457
  • Sugar: 4.1 g
  • Sodium: 730.2 mg
  • Fat: 34.6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 14.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.8 g
  • Fiber: 2.1 g
  • Protein: 25.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 119.9 mg

Keywords: fall recipes, fall recipe ideas, best fall recipes, recipes for fall, comfort food recipes, comfort food meals,

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Comments

  1. Five spice pulled pork tacos. Brilliant. Love how you marry the cuisines into something spectacular, and original! Keep crushing it!
    Jim

    Reply

  2. Thanks for sharing these. All look very delicious. Your blog has helped me to get inspired and I found joy in cooking this kind of recipe.

    Reply

  3. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe with us. I learned a lot from your content. I hope to update more new recipes.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  4. Thanks for sharing these food recipes. All recipes looks very delicious.Your blog has helped me to get inspired and i found the joy in cooking this kind of recipes.

    Reply

  5. Hey Sylvia!

    I’ve been enjoying your recipes for about six months now (just breaking into the fall comfort foods list) and I LOVE the flavors. Actually, I love everything about the culinary style here. I’ve told everybody I know about your blog. Your recipes and selections are incredible, and better yet — reliable! I don’t need to test them out before serving them up for my friends. And they’re actually excited to eat my food!

    Six months ago, I could hardly make more than spaghetti. My food was bland, over/underdone, and I sometimes didn’t even bother to heat up my leftovers, just shoveled ’em down lukewarm. Sad, I know.

    But your recipes have made me fall in love with cooking to the point that I’m building ALL my skills! I care about what I cook and what I eat. I use garnishes (what!?) and am even designing an indoor herb garden for my extensive rosemary needs. What used to be a chore is so much fun now! My endless thanks for your wisdom and cheer on this blog, it’s a delight to have learned so much from you.

    Ever grateful,

    E

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    1. You are so kind Elle! Thanks for sharing here, and sharing with your friends. I’m so glad the blog has helped you get inspired again and love that you found the joy in cooking.❤️ It really can be so much fun. Love your indoor herb garden- I need one of those!

      Reply

  6. My wife would love the way i learned from you, I am insanely excited to show her, thanks for the great content.

    Reply

  7. Lasagne is the Italian name for the noodles used in a lasagna casserole. … Pasticcio is a wider category of casseroles which doesn’t have a strict definition. It is the Italian spelling, you will also see other variants such as pastitsio . It usually has noodles, but not always.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  10. how can I register on your website to receive your updates and newsletter and become a member of your community 6

    Reply

    1. Hi, enter your email address where it says subscribe- on the home page, center, top bar or on the side bar.

      Reply

    1. Haha, Yes, there are ALWAYS vegetarian recipes! This is just for the meat-eating folk. Take a look at these Vegetarian Recipes or these Vegan Dinner Recipes– more up your ally. 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Sylvia!

Chef and author of the whole-foods recipe blog, Feasting at Home, Sylvia Fountaine is a former restaurant owner and caterer turned full-time food blogger. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest and shares seasonal, healthy recipes along with tips and tricks from her home kitchen.

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