6 Comfort Food Recipes for Quick, Cozy Family Dinners

Plus a dessert that uses up Halloween candy.

By
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. She runs Nosh with Micah, her personal blog.
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Updated November 04, 2025
Micah Siva
A bowl of soup with diced potatoes sausage and kale on a table setting with bread

Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

Now that Halloween is done, it’s time to think about the holidays. In our house, we decorate for Halloween on October 1st and for Thanksgiving the second that the clock strikes midnight on November 1st.

This week, I’m post-New York Marathon, and frankly, I’m starving! I’m exhausted! And I need the simplest meals possible to make my recovery possible with a toddler in tow. After months of training, I’m coming down from a high, and food is surely going to be a coping mechanism. That means this week is all about comfort. 

I'm no longer looking for light salads or raw vegetables. I want cheese, I want pasta, and I want simple foods to propel me into the next two months of non-stop holidays.

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  • Marry Me Chickpea Pasta

    Chickpea pasta in tomato-based sauce served in a pot, with a serving spoon and nearby place settings

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    For months, I saw the “Marry Me Chicken” trend, and honestly? I wasn’t sold on it. What was so special about a recipe that could earn such a title? Turns out it has earned the title and then some. The recipe is a sundried tomato base with a little cream and garnished with basil. We have pasta roughly once a week, and as I stare at the sundried tomatoes in my fridge, this feels like the perfect dinner. Besides the cream and parmesan, this is a handy pantry meal.

  • Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli with Miso Butter

    Sheet Pan Salmon with Broccoli - After baking

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Miso is one of my favorite ingredients to put in… everything. I typically have a white miso on hand (the darker the color, the stronger the flavor), and always add a big spoonful to soups and macaroni and cheese, but pairing it with butter and salmon is chef's kiss. Almost every week involves a sheet pan meal because I am always on the hunt for delicious recipes that require minimal clean up, and this one is no exception. I’ll be serving any leftovers over rice for lunch, a double-duty dinner that I actually get excited about!

  • Slow Cooker Sausage and Kale Potato Soup

    A bowl of sausage kale and potato soup served with bread and grated cheese

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    My signal to whip out my slow cooker comes right as the leaves fall off the maple in my backyard. To me, a slow cooker feels like the first sign of autumn and has a permanent spot on my counter until the trees start to sprout again. This is a stick-to-your-ribs soup, and I want to make it a little lighter for my family using a plant-based sausage and adding a bag of frozen cauliflower for a one-pot meal that feels like a warm hug. I’ll be freezing half of this for nights when I just can’t, and in the meantime, I’ll be licking my bowl clean of this creamy potato soup.

  • Loaded Chicken Breasts

    Cooked chicken breasts with cheese, bacon, and green onion in a pan

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "I’ve often thought that more foods could use a jolt of loaded baked potato energy. The iconic trio of toppings—melty cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh green onions—should be enjoyed on top of more than just spuds. Chicken breasts, seasoned and seared quickly on the stove top, then given the baked potato treatment? Yes please!" —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

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  • Quick Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers

    Quick Beef Stir-Fry with Bell Peppers
    Elise Bauer

    Before my husband and I moved in together, he subsisted on a stir-fry and take-out diet. Since then, it’s been his go-to meal when he’s on dinner duty. I love using stir-fry as a way to use up some vegetables in the fridge, and we’ll be relying on peppers and broccoli for ours (aka the two vegetables our toddler is obsessed with). To serve, I always keep a packet of microwavable rice in the pantry, so it’ll make quick work of my husband’s night on dinner duty. Top with cilantro and sesame seeds, and dinner is served!

  • Party Pie

    Granny’s Party Pie slices on dessert plates with forks and beverage glasses

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    I'm using leftover Halloween candy to make this delectable party pie. Recipe Developer Jeanette Hurt says, "No matter which kind of chocolate you use, it’s a pretty decadent pie. Rich, thick, and chocolatey, this s’mores-inspired dessert is sure to make any gathering into a party."

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