23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (2024)

These nourishing recipes taste great and make you feel great, too.

Hannah LoewentheilPublished on March 29, 2019

While comfort food is always in style, with spring on the horizon, we find ourselves wanting to lighten things up a bit. Here are 23 recipes that are equal parts nourishing, comforting, and feel-good.

Recipe Runner / Via reciperunner.com

This vegetarian dinner is still a total crowd-pleader. You can also make them ahead of time and freeze them for later — just add the cheese right when you're ready to pop them in the oven. Get the recipe here.

Lazy Cat Kitchen / Via lazycatkitchen.com

There's no cheese or milk in this pasta, but the homemade kale pesto gives it a deliciously creamy texture. Get the recipe here.

Salted Mint / Via saltedmint.com

If you're trying to cut back on carbs, you could always serve this steak and veggies over riced cauliflower with your favorite Mexican toppings. Get the recipe here.

Meal Prep On Fleek / Via mealpreponfleek.com

If you're not a huge fan of salmon, you can always swap in your favorite protein from ahi tuna to shrimp, or even marinated tofu. Get the recipe here.

5. Zucchini Noodles With Cauliflower Bolognese

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (2)

The Glowing Fridge / Via theglowingfridge.com

This vegetarian take on bolognese is packed with vegetables and spices. You can always replace the zucchini noodles with spaghetti squash or your favorite type of pasta. Get the recipe here.

Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

Skip the takeout tonight and make this classic Chinese comfort food from scratch in just 20 minutes. Get the recipe here.

7. Korean Sticky Cauliflower

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (3)

NM Meiyee / Via nmmeiyee.com

Sautéed in red chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil, then baked in the oven, this cauliflower is crispy on the outside but super tender on the inside. Get the recipe here.

Vegan Richa / Via veganricha.com

Loaded with marinated cauliflower, mushrooms, and whatever other spring veggies you have on hand, this meatless meal will leave you feeling totally satisfied. Get the recipe here.

9. Roasted Salmon Burrito Bowls

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (4)

A Thought For Food / Via athoughtforfood.net

You won't miss the tortilla when you try this roasted salmon burrito bowl, loaded with pickled onions, corn salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, and cheese. Pro tip: To save time while cooking, you can buy most of the salad components pre-made. Get the recipe here.

10. Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp Noodle Soup

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (5)

Aberdeen's Kitchen / Via aberdeenskitchen.com

Made with red curry paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, coconut milk, lemongrass, and lime juice, this soup is bursting with flavor. Get the recipe here.

The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

Rather than order in dinner, try this lightened-up take on Kung Pao chicken. If you plan ahead and toss your ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning, dinner will cook itself. Get the recipe here.

Sip and Feast / Via sipandfeast.com

You can get creative and stuff portobello mushroom caps with whatever you have in your fridge. We love this simple mixture of tomato, onions, parsley, and mozzarella cheese. Get the recipe here.

13. Zucchini Rollatini

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (6)

Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

Keep this cheesy dish vegetarian or add ground meat to make it even more filling. Get the recipe here.

The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

Bring the flavors of PF Chang's to your very own kitchen with these umami lettuce wraps. The filling is made of shiitake mushrooms, ground chicken, and lots of veggies tossed with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Get the recipe here.

The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

This family-friendly keto recipe is a good one to bookmark for weeknight dinners. Get the recipe here.

16. Skinny Baked Chicken Parmesan

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (7)

Well Plated / Via wellplated.com

Coated in bread crumbs, parmesan, and garlic powder then baked to crispy perfection, this good-for-you recipe still feels totally indulgent. Get the recipe here.

The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

Serve this Middle Eastern-inspired chicken on a bed of rice, on top of salad, or in pitas with veggies and a drizzle of hummus or plain yogurt. Get the recipe here.

18. Thai Peanut Chicken Zoodles

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (8)

Dinner then Dessert / Via dinnerthendessert.com

Swap the rice noodles for spiralized zucchini and you've got a low-carb pad Thai that you'll constantly crave. Get the recipe here.

Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

While delicious on its own, we like to add coconut milk or nutritional yeast to this roasted tomato soup for that extra creamy factor. Get the recipe here.

20. Seared Fish Tacos

23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (9)

A Sassy Spoon / Via asassyspoon.com

Start with any flaky white fish like cod or halibut, pan-fry it in olive oil, then top it with creamy slaw and a bit of chipotle mayo. Get the recipe here.

Soup Addict / Via soupaddict.com

Whether you're coming down with a cold or you just had a rough day, there's nothing a piping hot bowl of chicken soup can't cure. Get the recipe here.

Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

These sweet potatoes are cooked in shallots, curry paste, fish sauce, coconut milk, peanuts, and cilantro. The result is sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy in every bite. Get the recipe here.

Paleo Running Momma / Via paleorunningmomma.com

Don't skimp on the creamy aioli drizzle, which is made with mayo, sesame oil, lemon juice, garlic, and cayenne. Get the recipe here.

For more spring recipe inspiration, check out these posts:

15 Fresh Spring Dinners You Can Make In A Slow Cooker

Here's A Feel-Good Dinner Recipe For Every Night This Month

17 Spring Dinners You'll Want To Make This Season

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    23 Spring Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Good (2024)

    FAQs

    What's your go to comfort food best answer? ›

    It's the food you like having to feel good. Could be something like fish and chips, mac and cheese, spaghetti, a hot dog, some noodles, a dosa, or maybe Snickers or some good old paratha.

    What are the top five comfort foods? ›

    Top 10 Cozy Comfort Foods
    • Chicken Soup and Easy Dumplings.
    • Harvest Turkey Pot Pie.
    • One-Pot Indian Butter Chicken.
    • Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Harvest Vegetables.
    • Quick & Easy Shepherd's Pie.
    • Beef Enchiladas.
    • Pizza Baked Spaghetti.
    • Home-Style Meatloaf.

    What is a comfort food when you are not feeling well? ›

    What's The Best Comfort Food for an Upset Stomach? If you've got an upset stomach, it's advised to follow what's called the BRAT Diet, which stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. The BRAT diet consists of easily digestible, doctor-recommended comfort foods for an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

    Why does comfort food make you feel better? ›

    Emotions play a significant role in our relationship with food, especially when it comes to comfort foods. Studies have shown that indulging in these familiar dishes can activate reward centers in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

    What's your all-time favorite comfort food? ›

    Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
    • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
    • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
    • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
    • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
    • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
    • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
    • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
    • 8 of 20. Fries.
    Aug 9, 2024

    What do you consider the ultimate comfort food? ›

    Fried chicken: a classic comfort food because of its crispy texture and the positive memories of picnics and gatherings. Mac and cheese: macaroni noodles in cheese sauce are simple to cook and perfectly balance carbs and proteins. Kebab: meat, veggies, spices, sauces — all mixed on a plate or rolled in a flatbread.

    What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

    pizza! Whether it's piled high with pepperoni, cheese, or other toppings, many people around the world reach for this marinara-covered pie come dinnertime. Of course, pizza has several delicious competitors. The second most popular food in the world is sushi, and burgers are third.

    What is the most calming food? ›

    Foods naturally rich in magnesium may, therefore, help a person to feel calmer. Examples include leafy greens, such as spinach and Swiss chard. Other sources include legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Foods rich in zinc such as oysters, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks have been linked to lowered anxiety.

    What is the best comfort food when feeling lonely? ›

    Comfort foods, the study found, actually do make us feel less sad. So what were the top seven items on my poll? Mac and cheese hit the No. 1 spot, followed by beef stew, apple pie and ice cream, chicken and dumplings/chicken pot pie, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, bread pudding and fried chicken.

    What to eat when you're not feeling the best? ›

    Bland foods.

    Although not super exciting, very plain and bland foods can help ease symptoms. Try pasta, dry cereals, oatmeal, bread and crackers. But bland doesn't mean you can't add protein or veggies into the mix if you're feeling up for it! Try eating rice and baked chicken breast or cheese and crackers.

    What is the easy food to eat when feeling sick? ›

    Eat these 6 foods when you're nauseous.
    • Toast.
    • Mashed potatoes.
    • Plain rice or noodles.
    • Bananas.
    • Protein-rich foods like low-fat Greek yogurt, plain chicken or turkey, protein shakes.
    • Mild fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes and pears.
    Dec 26, 2023

    What are the Top 10 comfort foods? ›

    Top 20 comfort foods
    • Next level ratatouille.
    • Italian veggie cottage pie.
    • Triple cheese & aubergine lasagne.
    • Best ever macaroni cheese.
    • Vegan lentil & sweet potato cottage pie.
    • Easy sausage casserole.
    • Mexican bean soup with guacamole.
    • Big-batch bolognese.
    Nov 9, 2023

    What food makes you happy? ›

    Chicken and other poultry also contain tryptophan, a precursor of the feel-good hormone serotonin. Other foods that have selenium include Brazil nuts, oysters, lean pork chops, shiitake mushrooms, shrimp, steak, tofu, tuna, and whole wheat pastas.

    What comfort food boosts mood? ›

    Here are 9 healthy foods that may boost your mood.
    • Fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential fats that you must obtain through your diet because your body can't produce them on its own. ...
    • Dark chocolate. ...
    • Fermented foods. ...
    • Bananas. ...
    • Oats. ...
    • Berries. ...
    • Nuts and seeds. ...
    • Coffee.

    What does your go to comfort food mean? ›

    uncountable noun. If you call something comfort food, you mean it is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier, although it may not be very good for your health. For me, spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food.

    What is your go to food meaning? ›

    Defined as food that gives emotional comfort to the one eating it, these tend to be favorite foods of childhood, or linked to a person, place or time with which the food has a positive association.

    How would you describe comfort food? ›

    Whatever you want to call it, comfort food is food that makes you feel good. It makes you happy when you are sad. It brightens your day when it has been dim. Comfort food is food that provides nostalgic or sentimental value to someone.

    What does it mean to go to comfort? ›

    To comfort is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. console, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent.

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