Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are another one that’s famously, well, sloppy. Give a Sloppy Joe to a kid and likely half of it is going to end up down their shirt. But what they do get in their mouth will be delicious! Sloppy Joes are basically just ground beef, tomato sauce, and buns, and everyone likes that.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Grilled cheese sandwiches have gotten many a kid through a rough day. They’re crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, just the sort of thing you want you comfort food to be. Some people serve them with a nice bowl of hot tomato soup.
Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is easy to make. You have the boxed kind of course, but you can also make your own with grated cheese, flour, milk, butter and pasta. You can throw in some peas or sweetcorn if you want your kids to eat their vegetables.
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast
This dish has its origins in the military, so you wouldn’t think it would be comforting, but it is. Melt butter in a pan and whisk in flour, then gradually add milk, stirring until thick. Stir in chopped dried beef and black pepper. Simmer a few minutes and then serve over toast.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
What makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches so delicious? Some think it’s the combination of flavors. You get sweet and salty all in one bite, and kids especially love that taste. As for adults, they get a sense of nostalgia when they bite into a PB&J.
Spaghetti With Marinara Sauce
Parents everywhere despair over how messy spaghetti is. Some kids can’t eat it without pasta and sauce going all over the tablecloth and the floor. But that doesn’t stop spaghetti and marinara sauce being a great, and very cheap, comfort meal.
Tuna Casserole
Tuna is very good for you. It’s meant to boost your brainpower, even. So you should definitely try whipping up this cheap and delicious comfort meal one day. All you need is canned tuna, noodles, peas, and an oven!
Chili
Here’s how to make some delicious chili: Brown ground beef in a large pot, then add chopped onions and garlic. Cook until softened, stir in canned tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, and cumin. Simmer for 30–45 minutes and you’re done!
Baked Potatoes
Another extremely easy meal to make. Who doesn’t know how to bake a potato? The good thing about this meal is how versatile it is. You can have all sorts of things on your potato. For example, remember how good for you tuna is? Why not have tuna and sweetcorn as your potato topping?
Rice Pudding
You can get rice pudding in a can from your local supermarket, but why not try making your own? Combine cooked rice, milk, sugar, and a tiny bit of salt in a saucepan. Simmer gently, stirring regularly, until the mixture is thick and creamy, and then add vanilla and cinnamon to taste.
Pancakes
Pancakes are great because they can be enjoyed both savory and sweet. In some parts of the world people eat them for dessert, and in other parts they use pancakes as part of an evening meal, loading them up with baked beans and sausages.
Grits
Grits take less than 10 minutes to cook and they’re very tasty. We can thank the Native American Muscogee tribe for creating this dish. They taught it to the European colonists and the result is one of the most famous and beloved American dishes.
Meatloaf
Meatloaf can be made with things you have lying around in your pantry. All you have to do is mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, diced onion, milk, ketchup, salt, and pepper, shape into a loaf and place in a baking dish. Then spread ketchup or BBQ sauce on top, and bake!
Biscuits and Gravy
This dish hails from the American South, and gradually found its way all across the country. You can either make your own gravy for the biscuits or you can use the instant gravy that comes in granules, no one will judge you for making cooking easier on yourself.
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Eggs are an important part of a balanced diet. They provide all nine amino acids, they’re rich in vitamins and minerals, and it’s thought that eating them helps with heart health. Bearing all that in mind, why wouldn’t you want an egg salad sandwich? It’s comforting and healthy.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are so easy to make. Simply place a tortilla in the pan, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and put another tortilla on top. Cook until golden, then flip and cook the other side. Many people like their quesadillas with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Tomato Soup
Tomato soup is one of the easiest things to make, because all you have to do is pour it from a can! But you can do other things to ensure the meal is extra comforting. Drop into your spice rack and season the soup with basil, pepper, or garlic powder.
Bologna Sandwiches
This is a meal kids used to be sent to school with, so now adults love it as a comfort food. All you have to do to create it is layer slices of bologna on bread with mayonnaise or mustard, and then add cheese or pickles if desired.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are usually served with something, meat for example, but some people eat them on their own as a comfort food. Just peel and chop some potatoes, boil in salted water until soft, then drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. You can add more milk and butter depending one your tastes.
Rice and Beans
A meal that’s healthier than some of the others on this list. Cook up your rice, then in a separate pan, sauté onion and garlic. Then add canned beans with a bit of liquid, cumin, and chili powder. Simmer, then pour the beans over the rice.
Slumgullion
This stuff is also known as “American Goulash” and it’s easy to make. And don’t be put off by the name! Just brown ground beef with chopped onion in a large skillet, then add garlic, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasoning. Simmer for 10–15 minutes and then add some cooked macaroni.
French Toast
Everyone loves French toast, including the French! To create it, whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Dip slices of bread in the mixture, coating both sides. Cook on a buttered skillet over medium heat until golden brown.
Canned Ravioli
Canned ravioli can be bought at almost any supermarket and it makes for a great, easy meal. If you want a little extra kick to it, sprinkle it with grated cheese or Italian herbs. And if you have some to hand, you could always serve it with garlic bread.
Hamburger Helper
You add Hamburger Helper to ground beef in order to make it stretch into a full meal. It’s a convenience comfort food that’s been around for decades now. All you have to do is cook your beef, and then add the Hamburger Helper according to package instructions.
Beans on Toast
This dish was created in England, and while England doesn’t have the best reputation for food Americans generally agree that they were on to something with beans on toast. All you have to do is heat up a can of baked beans, and pour them over buttered toast.
Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles have a reputation for being a “poor person” food, but that’s ridiculous. Anyone of any income can enjoy them. They’re easy to cook and very customizable: you can easily add little extra bits to them.
Shepherd’s Pie
A delicious comfort food meal that’s more than stood the test of time. To create it, cook ground beef with onion and garlic, then stir in frozen veggies and beef gravy or condensed soup. Put into a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes, and cook!
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is perhaps one of the easiest comfort meals out there, and many people like to start their day with it. One of the best things about it is that you can add almost anything to it - brown sugar, fruit, cinnamon, peanut butter, you name it.
Fried Rice
Rice is a great thing to buy in bulk and leave in the pantry for when you need it. It could last you years! This meal is a great way to reuse leftovers, it’s cheap, and most importantly of all it’s comforting. What more could you want?
Cornbread
Here’s a comfort food you can whip up from random ingredients you have lying around in your pantry. You need cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, eggs, and oil. Bake them for around 20 minutes and ta-da, you have cornbread.
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
A cousin of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and just as delicious. Just put peanut butter on bread and sliced banana on top of the peanut butter! Some people like to sprinkle the sandwich with cinnamon or drizzle it with honey.
Potato Soup
You can’t go wrong with a potato soup. Many people find it comforting, and they especially love soup if they’re getting over a cold. All you need to make this is diced potatoes, onions, garlic, broth, and milk or cream.
Scrambled Eggs and Toast
Remember how eggs are good for you? Here’s another comfort meal that incorporates them. Whisk eggs with milk and butter until they’re nice and scrambled, and then serve with toast. That’s all you have to do!
Jiffy Corn Dogs
Corn dogs are a beloved staple of American food. To make these ones, cut hot dogs in half and insert skewers. Then mix Jiffy corn muffin batter as per the box instructions, and dip each hot dog into the batter, coating completely. Deep-fry in hot oil for a treat!
Cabbage and Noodles
This dish is known worldwide as “Haluski” and it’s easy to make. Really all you’re doing is adding shredded cabbage to noodles, but it’s delicious, and we can thank the people of Eastern Europe for bringing it to us.
