Comfort food is one of the cardinal blessings of human life. Mac and cheese, soups, stews, casseroles, burgers, and decadent desserts are all an integral part of living, if not for the delicious taste then for the memories each dish evokes. In the year 2026, cravings for comfort food are only increasing as tensions in the world rise. 300 professional chefs and owners at The National Restaurant Association mark comfort food as one of the leading trends of 2026, noting it “Caters to feel-good emotions, stress relief, and feelings of nostalgia.” What better relief could you ask for when you turn on the news and it seems as if the world is going up in flames?
What is Comfort Food?
With so many different food groups involved, it feels like the definition of comfort food can go on forever. To break it down a bit more, CloudKitchens identifies comfort food as, “…dishes that are rich, savory, or sweet, often reminding people of childhood, home-cooked meals, or special family gatherings. These foods bring feelings of safety, relaxation, and happiness, providing more than just physical nourishment.”
This might include dishes like those from contributor Chef Jackie Page who focuses on soul food. She cooks up a mix of soul and comfort food recipes for us to share like Jambalaya, Southern Seafood Gumbo, Corn Pudding Cakes, and Braciole to try her culture at home.
But, comfort food also includes American classics like ooey-gooey and hot mac and cheese. We have experimented liberally with adding other comfort food ingredients like green chiles and bacon to create an endless list of creative mac and cheese recipes. We like to think cheese is more than enough on its own, but sometimes you want a little something extra.
Why Do We Eat Comfort Food and What Meaning Does It Hold?
It’s simple to say that what comfort food best suits you depends on how you’re feeling, but it’s so much more than that. Whenever you indulge in your favorite dish, you’re supporting more than just your craving. Based on a study published by Cambridge University Press, GoodRx reports, “Foods you enjoy increase serotonin and activate endorphins. These are chemicals your body makes that improve mood and relieve pain.”
This explains why when you lay in bed, sick as can be, and start eating a bowl of soup, you instantly feel a little bit better. The next time you’re feeling under the weather, try one of our 25 soup recipes or even our stew recipes and see how the warmth helps you relax. It’s even better when that recipe is made by a supportive loved one.
Comfort Food is Family
Jordan Troisi, an assistant professor of psychology at Sewanee: The University of The South, sums up perfectly the connection between comfort food and family in a 2015 study. He tells Time, “Comfort food seems to be something people associate very significantly with close relationships. This probably comes about by individuals coming to associate a particular food item with members of their family, social gatherings, and people taking care of them, which is why we see a lot of comfort foods [that are] traditional meals or things had at a party.”
This explains why we flock together around the table. Early in the morning you may gather at the table before everyone heads their separate ways for a hot breakfast dish like our Easy Breakfast Bake that’s made for splitting and sharing.
Pasta Makes Us Happy
Or, perhaps dinnertime is a sacred moment for your family where intimacy and conversation come first and the minutes or hours ticking by on the clock matter the least. Our array of Stanley Tucci Pasta Recipes let you make large portions to feed a whole community while relishing in the comfort of homemade cooking.
There’s even a study by the Behavioral and Brain Lab at the Free University of Languages and Communication IULM where 40 participants ate pasta as they measured various emotional reactions. Professor Vincenzo Russo of the study states to International Pasta Organisation, “The results tell us that it is precisely when we eat pasta that we are most emotionally active. It is, therefore, the real act of tasting and savoring the dish in its full flavor to stimulate the most positive memories and emotions.”
But, just in case you’re looking for a quick way to indulge in dinner with the family without too much hard work, our recipes that make use of leftover roasted chicken and beef brisket are your heavenly answer.
So, Is Comfort Food Worth the Effort?
Whether it’s for flavor, feeling, or family, comfort food is a staple of everyday life. Even whenever it takes a bit of time and patience, the finished products sets off all the signals in your brain that point to happiness. It’s no wonder comfort food is everywhere we look.
At cookouts we serve up burgers for all to chow down on. During weddings, tables of desserts make an appearance, often featuring a special flavor that holds a memory. Winter makes us turn up the oven and cash in on warming dishes. And, even in the darkest of times, there’s always that pint of ice cream hiding in the back of the freezer.
Story by Kylie Thomas
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