Our 12 Most Popular Comfort Food Recipes of 2021

Antonia DeBianchi
Antonia DeBianchiContributor
Antonia is a lifestyle, food and entertainment writer from South Florida. She received a Journalism degree from Boston University and loves everything about city-living. When not writing, you’ll find her in the kitchen aspiring to reach Barefoot Contessa status, walking on the…read more
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published Dec 26, 2021
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Credit: From Top to Bottom: Photo: Ghazalle Badiozamani; Food Styling: Jesse Szewczyk; Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Ben Weiner; Kelli Foster

Don’t underestimate the healing powers of comfort food. After a long day, there’s nothing quite like settling down with a hearty meal. This year, to most readers, comfort meant cheese — and lots of it. The overwhelming majority of your top comfort food recipes of 2021 consisted of cheesy pasta bakes and oh-so-creamy casseroles. We’re talking dreamy mostaccioli and mouth-watering taco lasagna. But the list didn’t end there. Wholesome meals like five-ingredient stracciatella soup made the cut, while flourless chocolate brownie cookies also topped the rankings. These are the 12 most popular comfort food recipes you’ve cooked again and again this year.

1 / 12
Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies
This recipe feels like magic. Just a handful of pantry ingredients combine to create a rich, fudgy, chewy, crispy cookie — perfect for dunking into a glass of milk.
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2 / 12
Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
Every bite of this twice-baked potato casserole is warm and comforting while overflowing with melty cheese and crisp bacon.
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3 / 12
Trader Joe's Cheesy Artichoke Rice Bake
This hearty casserole is the perfect midweek meal — it’s quick and comforting, and the whole family will love it.
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4 / 12
Navy Bean Soup
If your idea of comfort is a big pot of warm soup, this old-time classic is a must.
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5 / 12
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
The air fryer is the answer for always-crispy, always-gooey grilled cheese sandwiches. Here's how to make them.
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6 / 12
Taco Lasagna
This dish is assembled casserole-style, just like a lasagna, and filled with the most irresistible mixture of seasoned ground beef and black beans, tortillas, sour cream, and plenty of melted cheese.
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7 / 12
Smothered Pork Chops
Pan-fried and simmered in a rich and tangy gravy, this one-skillet meal is bound to be a new favorite you’ll make again and again.
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8 / 12
Caribbean Macaroni Pie
This crowd-pleasing dish is packed with heat, herbs, and spices, plus ketchup, mustard, and New Zealand sharp cheddar cheese.
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9 / 12
Mostaccioli
Whether you call it baked ziti or mostaccioli, it's impossible to dislike this tender pasta dish tossed in red sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbling and browned.
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10 / 12
Stracciatella Soup
This comforting soup recipe only calls for five ingredients.
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11 / 12
Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Sausage Pasta
This ultra-savory one-pot pasta tastes like fall.
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12 / 12
Creamy Baked Cavatappi
Cheesy baked pasta makes for a weeknight dinner favorite.
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