Fall is officially here, and that means it’s finally time for our favorite cooking season of the year to be fully embraced. Once the weather turns crisp enough to break out our boots and sweaters, we’re oh-so-happy to cover up the grill and ditch the cold salads and popsicles of summer in favor of warm, cozy, and hearty dishes that fill the house with nostalgic aromas from the oven as the wind whips and howls outside.
On those cold nights, nothing quite hits the spot like the meals many of us ate growing up as kids… except for maybe some of the comfort food recipes that nourished our parents and grandparents, too. We’re talking about creamy casseroles, simmering stews, hearty roasts, and other stick-to-your-ribs fare that makes the cold weather outside a moot point — or even something to look forward to!
From Tater Tot Hot Dish and Chicken and Dumplings to Swiss Steak and Swedish Meatballs, these meals are both comforting and heartening. Plus, many of them are built around simple pantry staples, including rice and pasta, that won’t break your grocery budget — and that you might already have on hand. So if you’re in the mood for a warming meal that will bring you back, then check out these vintage comfort food recipes.
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Chicken Pot Pie
Image Credit: The Wholesome Dish. Sure, you can use rotisserie chicken, frozen veggies, and a store-bought pie crust to make this chicken pot pie. But for the coziest classic flavor, try using freshly chopped veggies, cooking the chicken yourself, and making a buttery, flaky pie crust from scratch. Either way, each bite of the creamy, protein-packed filling and golden-brown crust is pure comfort.
Get the recipe from The Wholesome Dish.
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Classic Meatloaf Recipe
Image Credit: Budget Bytes. Meatloaf is too often used as a punchline, but if you’re making it right, this classic weeknight meal is worthy of praise. After all, what’s more satisfying than savory, tender beef dotted with aromatics and slicked with a tangy glaze? It’s just as delicious hot out of the oven with your favorite classic sides (scalloped potatoes and green beans, perhaps?) as it is sliced thick and made into sandwiches the next day.
Get the recipe from Budget Bytes.
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Classic Lasagna
Image Credit: Once Upon a Chef. Call us basic, but the lasagna we grew up with wasn’t made with fresh noodles, bechamel, or tons of veggies. This classic lasagna recipe is hearty, made with ground meat (Italian sausage is a shortcut to flavor), homemade tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese. One modern spin we wholly endorse? Using dried no-boil lasagna noodles, which are just as tasty as the kind you have to boil first, but less of a hassle.
Get the recipe from Once Upon a Chef.
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Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Image Credit: Mel's Kitchen Cafe. These aren’t your average slow cooker grape jelly-and-cocktails sauce sweet and sour meatballs. The meatballs are made from scratch, not frozen, and the tangy sauce is made with brown sugar, vinegar, barbecue sauce, and other pantry staples. The end result is a dish of tender baked meatballs draped in a flavorful sauce that’s just begging to be served over rice or mashed potatoes.
Get the recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.
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Brunswick Stew
Image Credit: Small Town Woman. Brunswick Stew is a Southern classic that’s also a great way to use up leftover meats and frozen veggies. It’s traditionally made with smoked meats and game meat (like squirrel!), but it’s a great way to use up leftover roast pork and chicken, or you can opt for ground beef. Add in frozen lima beans, corn, or okra, and the tangy-sweet tomato and barbecue sauce broth ties everything together.
Get the recipe from Small Town Woman.
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Tater Tot Hot Dish
Image Credit: Tornadough Alli. The Midwest knows a thing or two about cold weather, so it makes sense that this hearty Tater Tot-topped casserole classic hails from Minnesota.
Get the recipe from Tornadough Alli.
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Swiss Steaks
Image Credit: Jo Cooks. If there’s any recipe that proves slow cookers and tomatoes can transform pretty much anything into a delicious meal, its Swiss steaks. The steaks are “swissed,” meaning they’re tenderized by getting poked with tons of holes. You can also just use cubed steaks. After a long, slow cook, the meat is fall-apart tender and infused with rich tomato flavor.
Get the recipe from Jo Cooks.
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Chicken and Dumplings
Image Credit: The Cozy Cook. There’s a reason why chicken and dumplings has been a cozy favorite since the 1600s. A creamy chicken stew topped with fluffy biscuits is the ultimate warming meal on a cold night.
Get the recipe from The Cozy Cook.
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Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Image Credit: Carlsbad Cravings. We love a creamy chicken and rice casserole, and this one gets a nutrititious boost thanks to a wild rice blend.
Get the recipe from Carlsbad Cravings.
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Swedish Meatballs
Image Credit: The Recipe Critic. Nothing beats a savory, creamy, meaty bowl of Swedish meatballs doused in gravy, preferably served atop a mound of mashed potatoes or a pile of buttered noodles. My nana’s secret to the best sauce ever? Add a dash of soy sauce!
Get the recipe from The Recipe Critic.
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Pot Roast
Image Credit: Bites With Bri. What’s the key to a classic pot roast? You need to cook the meat until it’s tender enough to fall into juicy shreds, and serve it with plenty of the savory cooking juices. The sweet carrots and onions add the perfect contrast to the salty, savory meat.
Get the recipe from Bites With Bri.
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New England Boiled Dinner
Image Credit: My Gourmet Connection. No energy for dinner? Try New England boiled dinner, which is exactly what it sounds like: ham or corned beef brisket boiled in a bit pot with cabbage, potatoes, onions, and more. Serve with butter for the veggies, and with some of the salty broth drizzled over the meat before you dig in.
Get the recipe from My Gourmet Connection.
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Smothered Pork Chops
Image Credit: Cafe Delites. With the price of chicken and beef being so high these days, pork chops are an affordable option. And they don’t have to be boring — these pan-fried pork chops are smothered with a rich and flavorful gravy that’ll keep you going back for bite after bite.
Get the recipe from Cafe Delites.
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Stuffed Cabbage
Image Credit: Tori Avey. Stuffed cabbage leaves are a labor of love, but they’re so worth it. These tender cabbage rolls are stuffed with meat and rice, then get simmered in a sweet-tart tomato sauce you’ll want to slurp with a soup spoon.
Get the recipe from Tori Avey.
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Chicken Amandine
Image Credit: Your Home Based Mom. Looking for a comforting vintage dish that still feels a little fancy? This chicken amandine recipe is totally company-worthy, while still pulling at our nostalgic heart strings.
Get the recipe from Your Home Based Mom.
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American Chop Suey/Goulash
Image Credit: Sugar and Soul. We don’t know how it happens, but this simple, comforting pasta dish (also known as slumgullion) tastes so much more complex and satisfying than you’d expect based on the short ingredients list. But for us, there’s one non-negotiable topping: a slice of white American cheese, which melts and coats each bite with creamy goodness.
Get the recipe from Sugar and Soul.
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