21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (2024)

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21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (1)

I don’t know about you, but this winter weather we’ve been having on the east coast has me craving comfort food. Warm, hearty, stick to your bones kinda food.

That presents a calorie conundrum though, since I’m about to go on vacation in a couple of weeks! I can’t really afford to indulge in heavy dishes, and let’s be honest, most of the comfort foods we love tend to be on the heavy side. That’s why these lightened-up comfort food recipes are so wonderful, because they’re the best of both worlds. You can have your comfort food without worryingabout derailing your new year’s diet. We love how food bloggers have been so creative with findingways to reduce fat and calories, all-the-while still making delicious meals that satisfy our cravings. From a lighter pot pie, to the best baked “fried” chicken, these flavorful, guilt-free recipes are just the ticket to tide us over until spring comes.

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (2)

Skinny Mushroom Spinach Lasagna | Little Spice Jar

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (3)

Lighter Pot Pie | Swanky Recipes

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (4)

Beef Stroganoff | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (5)

Easier Healthier Crockpot Butter Chicken | Half Baked Harvest

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (6)

Lightened Up Cheesy Broccoli Potatoes | Sugar Dish Me

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (7)

Slow Cooker Turkey Taco Chili | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (8)

Healthy Stovetop Mac and Cheese | Skinny Mom

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (9)

Best Baked “Fried” Chicken | Carlsbad Cravings

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (10)

Lighter New England Clam Chowder | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (11)

Skinny Spaghetti and Meatballs | Pinch of Yum

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (12)

Skinny Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (13)

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Quinoa | Food Faith Fitness

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (14)

15-Minute Skinny Shrimp Scampi | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (15)

Lightened-Up General Tso’s Chicken | Table for Two

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (16)

Shepherd’s Pie with Whipped Sweet Potatoes | The Lemon Bowl

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (17)

Potato Soup | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (18)

Skinny Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole with Kale | iFOODreal

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (19)

Lighter Chili Mac | Taste and Tell

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (20)

Sesame Chicken with Quinoa | Gimme Some Oven

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (21)

Baked Chicken Parmesan | Skinny Taste

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (22)

Skinny Orange Chicken | Gimme Some Oven

posted on February 22, 2015 by Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven

Recipe Round-Ups

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Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven

Hayley Putnam lives to eat, and loves writing, particularly about food! She contributes to Foodie Crush, and also bakes and blogs for her own little nook of the food blogosphere,Tiptoes in the Kitchen.She lives in Greensboro, N.C., with her husband Jay and their four-legged furry daughter, Luma. You can also find Hayley on Pinterest and Instagram.

15 comments on “21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes”

  1. Madeline | My Fitter Life February 22, 2015 @ 5:59 am Reply

    Great post, very useful :)

  2. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl February 22, 2015 @ 9:16 am Reply

    I am literally meal planning right now and all I want is soup and HOT food to warm up!! Please send some of that Austin warmth up to Michigan!! xoxo

  3. Emily @ Life on Food February 22, 2015 @ 2:49 pm Reply

    Oh my this list is great. I love the chicken, broccoli, kale dish.

  4. Andrea February 22, 2015 @ 5:42 pm Reply

    Um that spaghetti and meatballs looks nuts! And that butter chicken. I love these posts on a Sunday! Helps me plan out my weeks meals.
    Thanks!

  5. Jen @ Carlsbad Cravings February 23, 2015 @ 12:34 am Reply

    Deliciously healthy compilation – everything looks SO good! Thanks also for including my Baked “Fried” Chicken!

  6. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness February 23, 2015 @ 6:30 am Reply

    I am seriously ALL about comfort food…but HEALTHY comfort food? Gimme that ALL!! Thank you so much for including my BBQ Chicken Quinoa! Pinned!

  7. Christina February 23, 2015 @ 9:00 am Reply

    Gotta try that pot pie! Everything looks so delicious!

  8. Angie February 23, 2015 @ 2:11 pm Reply

    I will be making so many of these, Pinned it! Delicious :)

  9. Ariana February 23, 2015 @ 2:14 pm Reply

    So many amazing options in this post! Saved it for future recipe funks…thanks for sharing!

    www.ohmyleopard.com

  10. Jenny Flake February 23, 2015 @ 3:13 pm Reply

    Thanks for sharing all your delicious ideas! I am all about comfort/healthy foods and these will certainly help with meal planning :D

  11. Annmarie February 23, 2015 @ 10:03 pm Reply

    My family LOVES your skinny orange chicken….we add broccoli and have subbed in pork for the chicken when there was no chicken in the house….SOOOOOOO GOOD any way we have tried it!! Thank you! Can’t wait to try more of these recipes!

  12. Joyce Mcquilken January 11, 2016 @ 4:49 pm Reply

    Where are the calories on your skinny comfort foods?

    • Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven January 11, 2016 @ 9:49 pm

      Hi Joyce! We’re sorry but we are unsure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!

  13. Nancy September 27, 2021 @ 5:24 pm Reply

    These all look great, but don’t you have the nutritional information posted anywhere? It would so helpful, as I am on Noom! Please post!!

  14. Layton Zhang September 23, 2022 @ 6:49 pm Reply

    This sounds utterly indecently good, I know what comfort I�m turning to next time I�m in need of a sweet treat!

21 Lightened-Up Comfort Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's your go to comfort food best answer? ›

It's the food you like having to feel good. Could be something like fish and chips, mac and cheese, spaghetti, a hot dog, some noodles, a dosa, or maybe Snickers or some good old paratha.

What foods are considered comfort foods? ›

Fast food like burgers, French fries, and pizza. Homemade meals that your family makes like casseroles, fried chicken and biscuits, pasta, pot pie, and soothing soups and chowders like beef stew, matzo ball soup, and chicken soup. Snacks like chips, pretzels, popcorn, nachos, and munchies that curb snack attacks.

What are comfort foods for loss? ›

There is a reason why friends, family, and neighbors gravitate toward carb-heavy meals like lasagna, mac n' cheese, pulled pork, and various casseroles for grieving families: they're comforting. Most people are familiar with these dishes, and it reminds them of happier times.

What's your all-time favorite comfort food? ›

Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
  • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
  • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
  • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
  • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
  • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
  • 8 of 20. Fries.
Apr 28, 2024

Why do people say comfort food? ›

Comfort food is the name given to food that we simply associate with good. It gives us great pleasure and joy because it evokes positive emotions in us. Comfort food makes us feel good, it activates the reward area of the brain, which can improve mood and reduce stress when we eat these foods, in the moment.

What is America's #1 comfort food? ›

Become a Jetsetter
  • 1 Chicken and Waffles.
  • 2 Spaghetti and Meatballs.
  • 3 Chicken Fried Steak.
  • 4 Mac and Cheese.
  • 5 Hotdish.
  • 6 Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.
  • 7 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
  • 8 Matzo Ball Soup.
Mar 1, 2020

What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

popularity is the % of people who have a positive opinion of a american dish. Find out more
  1. 1 Mashed potatoes86%
  2. 2 French Fries86%
  3. 3 Hamburgers85%
  4. 4 Cheeseburger83%
  5. 5 Grilled Cheese82%
  6. 6 Steak and Baked potato82%
  7. 7 Hash browns82%
  8. 8 Fried Chicken82%

What is the most relaxing food? ›

9 foods that help reduce anxiety
  1. Fatty fish. Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, and herring, are high in omega-3s. ...
  2. Eggs. Egg yolks , especially from pasture-raised hens, are another good source of vitamin D. ...
  3. Pumpkin seeds. ...
  4. Dark chocolate. ...
  5. Turmeric. ...
  6. Chamomile. ...
  7. Yogurt. ...
  8. Green tea.

What is the most comforting food in the world? ›

10 Comfort Foods from Around the World
  • India: Butter Chicken. ...
  • France: Cassoulet. ...
  • Morocco: Harira Soup. ...
  • South Korea: Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae) ...
  • Mexico: Pozole. ...
  • Greece: Moussaka. ...
  • Thailand: Tom Yum Soup. ...
  • Brazil: Feijoada.

Is pizza a comfort food? ›

Some 15 percent of Americans list pizza as their favorite comfort food, nearly double that of any other food choice, according to a study conducted by the Harris Poll, one of the longest running surveys measuring public opinion in the United States. Harris surveyed 2,252 U.S. adults in December for the study.

Are pancakes comfort food? ›

Pancakes come in many textures and flavors with versions found in most cultures around the world. While they can be served any time of day, for many people they are the ultimate breakfast comfort food.

What food is good for grief? ›

Eat well: A well-balanced diet can help you withstand the stress of grieving, says Harvard Medical School. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins, and don't forget to drink plenty of water. It's easy to get dehydrated when you're busy grieving!

What comfort food is good for stomach? ›

From toast to grilled cheese to peanut butter & jelly, simple sandwiches are a popular comfort food when sick. Bread is part of the BRAT diet. The BRAT diet consists of easily digestible, doctor-recommended foods that you may eat when you have an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

What are your GoTo comfort food examples? ›

Top 20 comfort foods
  • One-pot paneer curry pie. What's more comforting than a curry in pie form? ...
  • Next level ratatouille. ...
  • Italian veggie cottage pie. ...
  • Triple cheese & aubergine lasagne. ...
  • Best ever macaroni cheese. ...
  • Spicy chicken & chickpea curry. ...
  • Easy sausage casserole. ...
  • Mexican bean soup with guacamole.
Nov 9, 2023

What's your go to comfort food meaning? ›

uncountable noun. If you call something comfort food, you mean it is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier, although it may not be very good for your health. For me, spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food.

What is your go to food meaning? ›

Defined as food that gives emotional comfort to the one eating it, these tend to be favorite foods of childhood, or linked to a person, place or time with which the food has a positive association.

What is a comfort food when you are not feeling well? ›

From toast to grilled cheese to peanut butter & jelly, simple sandwiches are a popular comfort food when sick. Bread is part of the BRAT diet. The BRAT diet consists of easily digestible, doctor-recommended foods that you may eat when you have an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

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