Our Most Comforting Recipes In Times Of Sorrow

Whether there was a death in the family, someone is in the hospital, or life has taken a difficult turn, we all face difficult challenges from time to time. A home-cooked meal can't fix a tough situation, but it can definitely provide comfort when it is needed most. This recipe collection recalls familiar favorites like old-fashioned mac and cheese and hearty chicken-noodle soup and new classics like sweet potato soup that will provide warmth and nourishment with every spoonful. If your friend, neighbor, or loved one is going through a particularly difficult time, ease the burden with one of these warm and nourishing meals.

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

There's something so comforting not only in serving this classic comfort food, but also in its preparation. There's no cutting corners here except when it comes to the piecrust. The recipe calls for the store-bought refrigerated variety, though you can certainly make your own if you're inclined.

BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens with Potatoes and Carrots

This is a full dinner on a sheet pan, and it comes together with just 15 minutes of active time. Make up a double batch of the sweet and smoky rub to take along with the meal as a little extra gift. It's great on pork too.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are true crowd pleasers, but don't go for the ho-hum store-bought version. This recipe calls on brown butter to kick the tried-and-true up to elite status. Give them a try and you'll never look back.

Million Dollar Pound Cake

A good pound cake is a true chameleon. Sure, its roots are firmly grounded in the dessert category, but it can just as easily stand in as a comforting breakfast when served with a hot cup of coffee. Mark our words, no one will complain if you pull out this winner before the noon hour.

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

This recipe will go down as one of our most popular of all time. It's fresh and light, and is the perfect stock-the-fridge meal for a family or friend who is going through hard times. Take along the bacon and pecans in zip-top bags so they can add just before serving. You'll want the last two ingredients to maintain their crunch.

Tarragon Chicken Salad

Chopped pecans, Granny Smith apples, and celery keep the crunch factor high in this fresh and herby chicken salad. You'll love how the slight licorice-like flavor of tarragon kicks up every bite. After assembling the ingredients chili and cover for 2 to 24 hours for the favors to kick in.

Lasagna Roll Ups

Of course, lasagna will always be a favorite, but these roll ups make it even more convenient for serving—whether it's for one or for a crowd. These comforting, three-cheese pasta roll ups can be made ahead and frozen for a night when cooking is just not in the cards.

Mama's Fried Chicken

This is our most shared fried chicken recipe of all time. It's simply perfection. The secret to its success is a two-hour soak in buttermilk, which tenderizes the meat and imparts it with wonderful flavor. Served with potato salad and coleslaw, this chicken will bring smiles all around.

Erika Kwee's Spiced Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Caramel Sauce

If you're willing to put in the time, you'll find that this recipe is well worth the effort. This indulgent carrot cake sings with the addition of crushed pineapple and shredded coconut. Candied pecans, a decadent caramel sauce, and pillowy cream cheese frosting take the spiced cake layers to new heights.

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Beef and tomato sauce, creamy noodles, and bubbling cheese is always a comforting combination. Whether you are a caretaker or the one grieving, preparing dinner should be easy, and this hearty meal takes 23 minutes of hands-on time. As a homey, freezer-friendly casserole, it also travels well to those in need. 

Soulful Chicken Soup

Soup is the obvious way to take care of a sick family member or friend, and our slow cooker. Soulful Chicken Soup is one of our favorite versions of this classic recipe. Whole chicken thighs and vegetables stew in an herbal broth low and slow for all of the flavors to develop. Most of the hands-on time is at the end, when the chicken is shredded and the noodles are added to complete this healing, for-the-soul soup.

Sweet Potato Soup

This recipe calls for both sweet potatoes and Yukon Golds, with cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne adding a kick of spicy-sweet flavor. A vitamin-packed soup, it’s a colorful and nutritious antidote to fatigue. Serve with plain yogurt, pecans, and flat-leaf parsley, and you won't find anyone around who can resist a second bowlful.

Chicken Bog

This is chicken and rice like you've never had it, unless of course, you grew up eating chicken bog. It cooks up in a large Dutch oven and calls on store-bought rotisserie chicken to speed up the prep. If you have a crowd to serve and they're in need of something to warm them up, body and soul, this is it.

Best-Ever Brownies

Cheer someone up with a batch of these brownies. Trust us, this is one treat that will never steer you wrong. If you’ve given up on homemade brownies that end up dry and cakey, this recipe produces a chewy, extra-chocolatey treat that can stand up to any go-to box mix.

Coffee Cake Muffins

These Coffee Cake Muffins freeze beautifully. Just include instructions for microwaving to reheat. One minute on LOW should do the trick.

Chocolate Pudding

Whip up a silky dish of our homemade chocolate pudding when you're feeling low or know someone else who is. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and you've just perfected the most comforting dessert of all time—arguably. There’s two bonus pudding variations included in this recipe worth trying—Chocolate-Espresso Pudding and Raspberry-Chocolate Pudding.

Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

This ooey-gooey cookie is designed to share, but rules don't apply when you're really in need. There are five scrumptious variations of this cookie that are sure to please any craving—Pecan Praline, Mississippi Mud, Strawberry Shortcake, Grasshopper, and Hummingbird. A giant cookie with your favorite flavors? Be prepared to smile!

Onion-Topped Sausage 'n' Mashed Potato Casserole

Crispy onion and mashed potatoes atop a tomatoey, sausage base hits all the notes—crunchy, comforting, and meaty. This is easy-to-assemble dish uses many store-bought convenience items like pre-made mashed potatoes and pre-shredded cheese. For a well-rounded meal serve with a simple side vegetable like steamed green beans, peas, or Brussels sprouts.

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche

Don't forget breakfast. We love this hearty quiche recipe because it can work for any meal of the day, including a light dinner when served with a side salad. Bring along other breakfast mainstays like orange juice, a carton of hot coffee from the local shop, and fruit.

S'mores Pie

Nothing can quite top a decadent chocolate pie. This one comes together with twenty minutes of hands-on time and three hours setting in the fridge. Bring it along in a disposable aluminum pan or a pie plate that the receiver can keep (so she doesn't have to worry about returning your dish).

Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew

This warm, comforting stew can be made in just two steps with the magic of your slow cooker. It calls for sausage, leeks, collards, and pasta—so it's a Southern dish with some Italian flair. A little heavy cream brings richness to the broth. Serve up this family favorite with a warm loaf of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

Crispy Onions and Parmesan Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Chicken and rice are the basis to many comfort dishes, and this one includes cheese, broccoli, and crispy onions for the ultimate feel good, one-dish meal. Rotisserie chicken, pre-shredded cheese, and pre-cooked, microwaveable brown rice help cut down on prep. Bake for 15 minutes and broil a few minutes more until browned and bubbly. Like a chicken and broccoli Alfredo, this creamy, cheesy, and comforting meal should help lift the blues.

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This three-step mac and cheese is designed to please. It requires no fancy cheese varieties or high-brow mix ins. It just plain good. And sometimes that's exactly what's needed.

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