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Looking for cosy winter comfort food ideas? This collection features our BEST family favourite recipes from across Europe and Asia. From stews and bakes to curries and hot pots, these recipes are guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out!
What are Comfort Foods?
Comfort foods are those rich and nourishing recipes that make us feel warm, safe and nourished with every bite. As the weather becomes colder and the days become darker, we literally start to crave comfort food to make us feel better.
Whether it’s a cheesy pasta bake, a spicy curry, a filling soup or a hearty stew, these cosy winter recipes really warm you up from the inside out! Perfect to enjoy after being out and about in cold weather.
Food and cooking really does bring people together, but nothing quite like the way comfort foods do. This collection includes our family-favourites and sentimental recipes we grew up with, as well as those from cuisines we’ve discovered along the way.
Comfort foods are often associated with celebrations and holidays. They’re full of nostalgia (not to mention flavour), which makes them even more comforting!
Whether you’ve tried them before or they’re a totally new experience, we hope they bring you as much warm and comfort as they do for us!
Related: 7+ Amazing Recipes with Gochugaru Chilli Flakes /
Why We Love Comfort Foods
These amazing comfort food recipes usually make a huge amount or can be doubled or tripled to feed the whole family. They’re perfect for batch cooking on the weekend to make dinners easier throughout the week, and leftovers freeze well for quick re-heatable lunches another time.
Comfort foods also tend to richer and higher in calories, helping you feel full, nourished and contented in body and soul. It’s said they can even help to reduce stress and feel calmer and happier – like edible magic!
Each of these winter comfort food recipes are perfect to make ahead for cosy winter gatherings, or a lovely way to cheer up a sick family member or friend.
30+ Best Winter Comfort Food Recipes
Cosy Australian + European Comfort Food Recipes
Australian Curried Sausages
These are the BEST EVER Curried Sausages – they’re seriously convenient comfort food. With this easy one pot recipe you’ll have dinner on the table in just 20 minutes, for an effortless family favourite that’s packed with flavour.
Australian Curried Sausages
Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake
This creamy chicken pasta bake is the perfect weeknight meal – super easy to make and the serving size is huge! You’ll have more than enough to feed a crowd or have leftovers the next day.
Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake
Erwtensoep – Dutch Split Pea Soup
Thick and hearty Erwtensoep is a savoury delight. This smoky bowl of Dutch-style split pea soup is so comforting, just like a warm hug from Grandma on a cold winter’s day.
Erwtensoep – Dutch Split Pea Soup
Easy Weeknight Tuna Mornay
Tuna mornay is a favourite Aussie weeknight casserole the whole family will LOVE. This cheesy tuna pasta bake is made with our no-fail bechamel white sauce to make it even easier.
Easy Weeknight Tuna Mornay
Creamy Sausage Pasta
Creamy Sausage Pasta is the perfect dinner dish to whip up when you're running low on time and ingredients. It's ready in just 15-20 minutes, and PACKED with flavour. The whole family will love this incredible Italian sausage and cheese loaded pasta!
Creamy Sausage Pasta
Pumpkin and Corn Soup
Here's a simple recipe for a cold winter’s night. Get ready to nourish your soul with this creamy Pumpkin and Corn Soup that warms you up from the inside out. You’ll never guess the secret ingredient!
Pumpkin and Corn Soup
A rich, smoky and spicy Italian pasta sauce with beef and pork, simmered down with spicy nduja salumi paste. Serve with your favourite pasta or use as a meat sauce for other tasty recipes.
Pasta Al Forno – Italian Pasta Bake
The amazing OG pasta bake! Pasta al Forno is baked pasta, made the Italian way. The rich ragu meat sauce and rigatoni combo is guaranteed to bring the whole family together.
Pasta Al Forno – Italian Pasta Bake
Chef Stefano’s Bucatini all’ Amatriciana Recipe
On the table in 30 minutes, Chef Stefano’s Bucatini all' Amatriciana recipe is an easy dinner with less than 10 ingredients. This Italian pasta favourite has a gorgeously rich tomato sauce, smoky guanciale, hint of chilli and freshly grated pecorino romano cheese.
Chef Stefano’s Bucatini all’ Amatriciana Recipe
Australian Cheesy Potato Bake
Enjoy this creamy, cheesy potato bake layered with onion and garlic that will have everyone fighting to be the first to dig in! Serve up a big batch at your next BBQ for guaranteed smiles.
Australian Cheesy Potato Bake
Easy Greek Moussaka Recipe
The ultimate comfort food dish to feed the whole family! This easy Greek moussaka recipe is filled with nourishing eggplant, zucchini and potato, with an amazing moussaka meat sauce and our simple no-lumps bechamel.
Easy Greek Moussaka Recipe
The Creamiest No Cream Carbonara Pasta
A super easy Italian carbonara pasta without cream – ready in 20 mins! Make this ultra creamy dishwith simple ingredients – just pasta, egg, pancetta (or bacon!) and pecorino romano cheese.
The Creamiest No Cream Carbonara Pasta
Traditional Hungarian Goulash Recipe – Gulyas
Get this traditional Hungarian goulash recipe (gulyas) prepped in just 15 mins, then let your stove or slow cooker do the rest! It’s the ultimate winter comfort food.
Traditional Hungarian Goulash Recipe – Gulyas
Best Campfire Stew – Sausage and Bean Casserole
This is the easiest Sausage and Bean Casserole you'll make! The best campfire stew that cooks itself, straight over coals or gas, with simple and adaptable camping ingredients. Just add damper!
Best Campfire Stew – Sausage and Bean Casserole
Best Weeknight Bolognese with Vegetables
Here’s the quick Aussie style Weeknight Bolognese you’ve been looking for. Ready in 30 minutes and complete with hidden vegetables and bacon to crank it up a notch.
Best Weeknight Bolognese with Vegetables
Karniyarik – Turkish Stuffed Eggplants
Karniyarik is the perfect family dinner recipe! Featuring juicy eggplants stuffed with beef, tomatoes and aromatic Turkish spices. Easy to make, baked to perfection, and generous servings.
Karniyarik – Turkish Stuffed Eggplants
White Bean Soup – Albanian Jani Me Fasule
A bowl full of Albanian comfort food, this instant pot white bean soup (Jani Me Fasule) packs a punch from a very small ingredient list. Perfect for Sunday lunch with friends, or mid-week meal.
White Bean Soup – Albanian Jani Me Fasule
Best Asian Comfort Food Recipes
Easy 15 Minute Curry Udon
Warm up with a big bowl of spicy homemade Curry Udon. This Japanese classic is super quick (just 15 minutes!) AND only 7 ingredients!
Easy 15 Minute Curry Udon
Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Bulgogi – Dak Bulgogi
Chicken bulgogi (dak bulgogi) is one of the easiest Korean BBQ style dishes you can make at home. Just marinate and fry! Think tender chicken thighs coated in a spicy gochujang based sauce and fried to juicy perfection in 15 minutes. Ready to turn up the heat?
Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Bulgogi – Dak Bulgogi
Quick Shabu Shabu Recipe
You're just a few tasty ingredients away from this simmering Japanese hot pot. Think thinly sliced pork, udon, tofu, vegetables and delicious homemade dipping sauces. Ready to get cooking? Let's learn how to make this 10 minute Shabu Shabu recipe at home.
Quick Shabu Shabu Recipe
Creamy Coconut Indonesian Fish Curry – Kari Ikan
Creamy coconut, tangy lemongrass and tender white fish in a vibrant yellow curry. Indonesian Fish Curry (Kari Ikan) is delicately spiced and gorgeously aromatic, ready in just 30 minutes.
Creamy Coconut Indonesian Fish Curry – Kari Ikan
One Pot Nikujaga – Japanese Beef and Potato Stew
The comforting weeknight dinner – One Pot Nikujaga! This easy Japanese Beef and Potato Stew takes only 20 minutes to cook, perfect with a side serve of piping hot sushi rice.
One Pot Nikujaga – Japanese Beef and Potato Stew
Vietnamese Ginger Chicken Stir Fry – Ga Kho Gung
An impressive weeknight dinner, Vietnamese Ginger Chicken is THE stir fry to impress friends. Better than takeout, Ga Kho Gung is full of caramelised sticky chicken and sweet ginger piled on a bed of rice, ready in 30 minutes.
Vietnamese Ginger Chicken Stir Fry – Ga Kho Gung
Easy Thai Chicken Panang Curry
A scintillating chicken panang curry recipe, guaranteed to set your taste buds on fire! Full of flavour from panang curry paste and creamy coconut milk, get this easy weeknight curry on the table in just 20 mins.
Easy Thai Chicken Panang Curry
Easy Korean Army Stew – Budae Jjigae
Spice things up with this quick and easy Korean Army Stew, on the table in less than 30 minutes! Filled with noodles, kimchi and veggies, this mouthwatering budae jjigae recipe is perfect for sharing and cooking with friends!
Easy Korean Army Stew – Budae Jjigae
Vietnamese Chicken Rice Porridge – Chao Ga
Chao Ga is classic Vietnamese comfort food ready in 20 minutes. Pressure cooked to perfection, this chicken rice porridge (chicken congee) is ready to warm up your soul.
Vietnamese Chicken Rice Porridge – Chao Ga
Creamy Sri Lankan Pumpkin Curry – Wattakka Kalu Pol
A creamy Sri Lankan Pumpkin Curry ready in under 30 minutes! Wattakka Kalu Pol is naturally vegan and infused with aromatic spices and roasted coconut.
Creamy Sri Lankan Pumpkin Curry – Wattakka Kalu Pol
Japanese Mapo Tofu Udon Noodles
These spicy Japanese Mapo Tofu Udon Noodles are totally delicious, packed with flavour and ready in 10 minutes! A lighter take on the traditional Chinese version, it's a super satisfying dish perfect for lunch or dinner.
Japanese Mapo Tofu Udon Noodles
10 Minute Creamy Gochujang Pasta
You’ll love this quick and creamy gochujang pasta, ready in only 10 minutes! Spicy and satisfying, use the base recipe for an effortless meal, or amp it up with chicken or veggies to make it go even further.
10 Minute Creamy Gochujang Pasta
Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe
Ready in 15 minutes, this Choo Chee Curry with Chicken recipe is a beloved Thai-Australian fusion dish. It features an easy curry sauce made with fragrant Thai red curry, creamy coconut, kaffir lime and a hint of sugar for the perfect mid-week dinner.
Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe
10 Minute Zosui – Quick Japanese Rice Soup
This dish is the leftovers queen! Got leftover sushi rice or hot pot stock? Then make yourself a batch of this warming Japanese rice soup. Zosui is like a super quick congee that's ready in 10 minutes.
10 Minute Zosui – Quick Japanese Rice Soup
Vietnamese Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk – Ca Ri Ga
Try this amazing one-pan dinner – Vietnamese Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk (Ca Ri Ga). It’s the perfect balance of savoury flavour, mild heat and a gentle sweetness everyone will love!
Vietnamese Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk – Ca Ri Ga
Looking for more new food ideas? Check out these amazing collections next:
- Top 26 BEST Aussie Recipes to Celebrate!
- 10+ Epic Japanese Sauces Anyone Can Make At Home
- 12 Incredibly Healthy Recipes Using Miso Paste… Including Dessert!
- 15+ Ways to Use Gochujang Korean Chilli Paste
- 30+ Best Winter Comfort Food Recipes
About Wandercooks
Wandercooks is an Australian recipe site reaching over 9 million views annually. Our recipes are here to inspire you with fresh and exciting food ideas from a range of Asian, European and Australian cuisines. As seen on Google.com, Today.com, Buzzfeed, Jetstar Asia and Lonely Planet.Read more...
