I Still Need Comfort Food In The Summer & These Recipes Are Saving Me

Here’s one way to get more veggies into picky eaters’ mouths: Score and scoop out zucchini pulp, chop, and cook it down with spices into a cream sauce, then incorporate it into good ol’ kid-approved mac & cheese.

Get the Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

Cheesy chili-stuffed cornbread is what happens when cornbread gets tired of being a sidekick and decides to break into a leading role. It’s hearty, a little messy, and unapologetically extra, the kind of dish that makes you wonder why you ever settled for plain in the first place.

Get the Chili-Stuffed Cornbread recipe.

Who said summer dinners can’t be cozy? These stuffed shells are bursting with seasonal flavor from sweet corn, zucchini, and basil, but they also hit the comfort food spot, thanks to rich ricotta. Feel free to swap in any of your favorite seasonal veggies.

Get the Summer Stuffed Shells recipe.

Like in most cobblers, this cherry version is adorned with a buttery, buttermilk biscuit topping. What makes it extra special is the cherries—they create their own sauce while baking, but hold their shape well and stay nice and tart.

Get the Cherry Cobbler recipe.

This Southwestern wedding soup has many of the same ingredients you’d expect from a classic Italian wedding soup, like meatballs, pasta, and plenty of vegetables. This version, however, uses many of the aromatics and seasonings you’d typically find in Tex-Mex food for a fun spin on a cozy classic.

Get the Southwestern Wedding Soup recipe.

Picture a creamy and comforting casserole made with onions, peas, and tender chicken, all topped with a crown of crispy potato tots. No fussing with pie crusts in your hot kitchen—just a crunchy, seasoned potato in every bite.

Get the Tater Tot Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

There are countless ways to enjoy summer squash, but this comforting casserole just might be our favorite. Mixed with sour cream, mayo, cheddar and Parm, this squash casserole is creamy, extra-flavorful, and more than satisfying. Finished with a buttered Ritz cracker topping, this casserole just might be the pinnacle of summer comfort food.

Get the Yellow Squash Casserole recipe.

To complete the journey to fried chicken nirvana, we went through 5 whole chickens, 3 gallons of peanut oil, and over 20 iterations of the recipe so that you won't have to. The final result is a simple formula for the only fried chicken recipe you'll ever need. Hot tip: cold fried chicken is one of the BEST picnic foods.

Get the Fried Chicken recipe.

This meatloaf is tender, cheesy, garlic-forward, and rich with tomato umami. In short, it tastes like a giant meatball that's been smothered in tomato sauce, and we are so here for it.

Get the Italian Meatloaf recipe.

Are you looking to shake up your current breakfast repertoire? Tired of the same old eggs and toast? Give your mornings a spicy twist with chorizo breakfast chili. It’s a delicious way to turn the classic comfort food into a satisfying summer breakfast packed with flavor.

Get the Chorizo Breakfast Chili recipe.

Sure, on paper it doesn’t make sense: canned pineapple with cheddar and buttered Ritz crackers. Seriously? Seriously. The result is a sweet-and-savory dream and a textural paradise you can serve alongside dishes like pulled pork at your next outdoor celebration.

Get the Pineapple Casserole recipe.

We believe that summer dinners should be both quick and easy. That's where this skillet pasta dinner comes into play. It requires just a handful of ingredients—bowtie pasta, marinara sauce, chicken sausage, zucchini, bell pepper, and spinach.

Get the Summer Bowtie Pasta & Chicken Sausage Skillet Bake recipe.

Whether you’re full-time vegan or just love a plant-based moment, vegan chili is where it’s at. This flavor-packed vegan spin on our white chicken chili has so much goodness going on and all of the fresh, crunchy toppings too.

Get the Vegan White Bean Chili recipe.

Macaroni salad is one of our favorite things to pair with other classics like pulled pork or ribs, which is why it's such a disappointment when it's too dry or soggy. Not to fear—this recipe guarantees perfection ever time.

Get the Classic Macaroni Salad recipe.

Ratatouille, a classic end of summer dish from the South of France that features our favorite late-season produce, takes on a new form in this beautiful spiraled casserole that's easier than it looks.

Get the Ratatouille Casserole recipe.

Hamburgers are a summer cookout classic, but they're not always the easiest for weeknight dinners. Enter: this cheeseburger casserole. It's got everything you love, in an easy-to-make, easy-to-share format.

Get the Hamburger Casserole recipe.

When you're in need of a reliable and nostalgic weeknight dinner, there’s no debate: A sloppy Joes' night is in order. The perfect answer to, “How far can I stretch this package of ground beef?” sloppy Joes only require a handful of simple ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to create a classic family dinner.

Get the Sloppy Joes recipe.

Millie Peartree's baked mac & cheese is famous for a number of reasons. Our major takeaway—layering cheese and an eggy custard makes for the MOST creamy, saucy, and decadent dish ever. We might never make it another way again.

Get the Southern Baked Mac & Cheese recipe.

A classic potato salad is a must-have at every picnic and BBQ, and ours is the best—it's creamy and tangy, with a little bit of crunch from the onion and pickles. If you’re looking for a classic, no-fuss potato salad that won’t disappoint, this is it.

Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.

Fillings for Southern tomato pies always include tomatoes, mayonnaise, plenty of cheese, and Dijon mustard, but our version's got a flavorful upgrade: chopped pimiento peppers, which lend the filling all the delicious richness of pimiento cheese dip.

Get the Southern Tomato Pie recipe.