Good comfort food is different for everyone, but most of us get that warm fuzzy feeling when eating a meal from childhood, even though we might have groaned back then over our third night of meatloaf. Below is a list of the meals our entire generation grew up eating as kids that we still love as adults, even if we don’t want to admit it!
1. Hamburger Helper
A package of meat and a box of “America’s favorite one pan meal” made any night better. As adults, we now know how easy this meal is, but as kids, this warm cheesy goodness had us asking for seconds.
2. Goulash
Similar to hamburger helper with an even bigger dash of that homemade quality. Every family had a different ‘secret ingredient’ that just made this dish! The best was coming home to the smell of goulash on a particularly chilly day. The perfect way to warm up.
3. Chicken Pot Pie
This is definitely top of everyone’s list when asked to think of comfort food. Meat, veggies, and bread all wrapped in one wonderful package. These little pies hit the spot after a stressful day, and we almost couldn’t wait for them to cool before digging in.
4. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
The whole family could get involved in the rolling of meat and rice in fresh cabbage. This was such a fun dish to make and eat! Perhaps the best part was the tomato sauce that cooked them to perfection and created the perfect mix of flavors.
5. Shepherd’s Pie
Who doesn’t love potatoes? Even better when combined with meat and cheese and all melted together. We didn’t even mind eating the leftovers when this was in the fridge! All the flavors just continued to mix and grow and remain amazing.
6. Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Chicken and broccoli are probably the number one food combination. So of course, mixing them together and combining them with cheese is next-level comfort food. The nice crunchy topping we usually see on this just makes it one of our favorite childhood dishes.
7. Pork Chops With Applesauce
We might have turned up our noses the first time we heard this was on the menu, but the sweetness of applesauce with pork chops is next level. This is a classic pairing that turned into our ultimate comfort food, not to mention the best way to get the juiciest pork chops.
8. Meatloaf
This is another one where every family had a different recipe, but we all loved this classic comfort. Usually paired with creamy mashed potatoes and topped with ketchup. Our mouth is watering just thinking of this mix of flavors.
9. Jell-O Salad
This list is mostly populated with warm dinners, but those aren’t the only dishes we love from our childhood. Jell-O salad was fresh and cold and always contained our favorite fruit. Taking a break from the summer fun to have a big bowl was the highlight of our days.
10. TV Dinners
Maybe not homecooked, but just as important to our childhood. The best part of this meal is that we can achieve the same taste with just a simple stroll down the frozen food section of our local grocer. Even better if paired with whatever show our parents used to put on while we sat and ate our fun dinners on the couch.
11. Sloppy Joes
Usually, they discouraged us from getting dirty, but all bets were off with this classic dinner. Warm Manwich on a simple burger bun was easy and delicious. This could be paired with a variety of side dishes, but we all know what we were asking for seconds of.
12. Liver and Onions
Oh yea, we went there. This is another dish that sounded weird when we first tried it but later became a staple. Liver meat has such a unique flavor that pairs perfectly with caramelized onions. This meal throws us right back to childhood every time we make it as adults. Ok, we’ll admit people either love it or hate it, but for those of us that loved it, it’s a keeper!
13. Chicken and Dumplings
Who doesn’t love the fluffy bread in dumplings? This creamy chicken dish with warm dumplings cooked right on top was a staple in most houses. Just as tasty as the chicken pot pies mentioned above, with a fun twist. Every bite was the perfect mix of chicken, veggies, and bread.
14. Ambrosia Salad
Whipped cream and a multitude of fruits, yes, please! Another cold summer dish that was the perfect end to any warm day. Some might count this as a dessert, but we really know this is an all-day snack. What’s a potluck get-together without Ambrosia Salad anyway?
15. Beef Wellington
A typical Sunday dinner that has lasted generations. Nothing is better than a great piece of beef wrapped in puff pastry with spices. A simple dish that made us feel instantly better after a busy weekend.
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This article was produced by Our Woven Journey.
Karee Blunt is a nationally syndicated travel journalist, focused on discovering destinations and experiences that captivate and inspire others through her writing. She is also the founder of Our Woven Journey, a travel site focused on inspiring others to create memory-making adventures with their loved ones. Karee is passionate about encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone and live the life they dream of. She is the mother of six kids, including four through adoption, and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. You can learn more about Karee on her about me page.