17 Unique Comfort Foods You’ve Got to Try From the U.S.
Food isn’t just fuel—it’s a time machine to your favorite memories, a hug on a plate, and the ultimate pick-me-up when life feels heavy. Memories of those tough days flooded my mind when I would walk through the door and smell grandma’s famous chicken pot pie—golden crust, creamy filling, and that heavenly aroma that filled the house. One bite, and suddenly, the world felt right again. That’s the magic of comfort food!
Comfort foods vary across the U.S. Some are saucy and cheesy pleasures. In contrast, others are small, local novelties that might sound foreign at first to others. According to a 2024 OnePoll survey, 70% of Americans would rather eat comfort food for the rest of their lives than gourmet meals.
Believe me, every one of them has a taste and a story to savor. Here’s a mouthwatering lineup of 17 distinct comfort foods that people swear by, no matter where on the map you find yourself.
Biscuits & Gravy
There’s something magical about buttery, flaky biscuits swimming in creamy, sausage-studded gravy. It’s a Southern classic, a breakfast you’d dream of getting up for in the morning.
Bonus? It serves as a perfect remedy for a bad day or an empty fridge, too. According to a Reddit poll, Americans can’t believe anyone would pass up the chance to enjoy this meal. And they’re right.
Chicken Pot Pie
Wrapped in golden, flaky crusts, chicken pot pie is like a hug you can eat. It lies in the stuffing: sweet spices, a smooth, creamy sauce, and the sacred troika of chicken, peas, and carrots. No wonder this dish has been at the top of the polls for the dinner dishes that people love most in the U.S.
It’s a comfort food if you’re serving it on a Sunday dinner or sneaking in leftovers in the middle of the night.
Macaroni & Cheese
It goes without saying—mac and cheese is a classic for a reason. A 2024 survey found that 70% of Americans would rather eat comfort food for the rest of their lives than gourmet meals, reports Yahoo News.
No matter how much you prefer childhood nostalgia (hello, Kraft!) or gooey, homemade varieties baked with breadcrumbs, this classic comfort food bridges the gaps between generations and gourmet preferences alike.
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken may not only be food, but it is also a cultural icon, crispy and tender, and a staple of every Southern grandma’s Sunday table.
I still hear the sizzle in my aunt’s kitchen when she pressed chicken and flour that she had seasoned as if it were a family secret that she needed to protect. Bite number one? Absolute magic. Fried chicken’s place in American culture runs deep. For example, during Super Bowl weekend in 2024, Americans devoured an estimated 1.45 to 1.47 billion chicken wings, according to the National Chicken Council.
Want the perfect crispy finish? Here’s the golden rule: never overcrowd the skillet while frying. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
It’s pure yet divine. Grilled cheese might just be the easiest—and most beloved—comfort food in America. There’s nothing fancy about buttery bread and gooey cheese, but that’s precisely the point: it melts your worries as easily as it melts the cheddar.
And if you’re feeling bold? Top it with fig jam, crispy bacon, or even a scoop of mac and cheese (yes, really). These humble sandwiches wear many delicious disguises.
Tater Tot Casserole, Hotdish
Distinctly Midwestern, this delight combines crispy tot goodness with creamy layers of ground beef, mushrooms, and even veggies if the mood strikes. When the sounds of the term’ comfort casserole’ say home to you, then this dish will grant you all the above with an even crunchier potato crown.
Minnesotans might fight you if you mess with their hotdish ratios, though. You’ve been warned.
Chicken and Waffles
The sweet-meets-savory duo you never thought you’d love so much? That is chicken and waffles. The maple syrup-dipped fried chicken, served on a layer of fluffy waffles, is not only a curious brunch but also a lavish supper.
This masterpiece originated in Southern soul food kitchens and soon became one of the most popular and unusual foods in the US.
New England Clam Chowder
The creamy, salty, and meaty New England clam chowder does its best to remind a person of the coastal environment with every bite. This dish is so famous that Massachusetts declared it the state soup in 2003.
It is served with either a few oyster crackers or some crusty sourdough as an accompaniment. Whatever you do, never suggest to a New Englander that Manhattan-style chowder, with its tomato base, is even in the same league. You’ll spark a debate fiercer than a nor’easter—and trust us, you won’t win!
Cincinnati Chili
Take your chili and layer it over spaghetti. Well, that’s the Cincinnati way, and yes, cinnamon and chocolate reach unexpected heights. Have it as Three-Way (with shredded cheese), or go heavy and drench it with beans and diced onions—nourishment and carbs of great splendor.
Shrimp and Grits
This dish is a classic example of Southern Lowcountry cuisine, as it can be found on the city streets of Charleston and in various coastal towns. Buttery, smoky bacon, perfect tomato sauce, freshly sautéed garlic-covered shrimp on a bed of creamy, buttery grits.
Its flavors are too good to resist, and this has turned it into one of the greatest culinary icons that have spurred food festivals in the South, from Atlanta to New Orleans. It is worth noting that the tradition of celebrating this wonderful dish dates back to 2006, when the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival was first held.
Pot Roast
Simmered long and deathly tender, covered in a rich gravy of potatoes and carrots, pot roast was a food to be served on a day lazing away, mainly on Sundays. According to Southern Living, pot roast might be “the cozy dinner table centerpiece that defines Southern family traditions.
Pro tip: Roast the beef after searing to add an extra layer of flavor.
S’mores
Smore is the quintessential American dessert. You need one roasted marshmallow, soft or completely burned, depending on the amount of patience you have, a square of chocolate, and two graham crackers. Pile it high, make that initial sloppy bite, and you find yourself back at a campfire.
I recall my first one was at a summer camp in Maine. We burned half the batch, dropped the chocolate in the dirt, and still declared it the best dessert we’d ever had. That’s the magic.
It even has its holiday (National S’mores Day falls on August 10 and acts as the excuse everyone needs to bring out the skewers to enjoy all those sticky in-between moments).
Italian Beef Sandwich
Chicago is a comfort food royalty, and the Italian Beef Sandwich is the crown jewel of all comfort foods. This sandwich is a culinary masterpiece, thanks to the culinary genius of Italian immigrants who created it in the early 20th century.
Thin slices of beef, absorbing delicious, flavorful au jus, mounded high on a hard and crispy French roll and topped off with tasty, spicy giardiniera —that’s what to expect on your plate. Want to eat like a true Chicagoan? Ask for it “dipped” and savor the messy, glorious French dip experience.
Fluffernutter Sandwich
A strange New England staple food, the fluffernutter is simply two slices of unbuttered white bread with peanut butter and a generous amount of marshmallow fluff spread on top. It sounds simple, sure, but why complicate perfection? (Just to note, probably not ideal for picnics on humid days, FYI).
Green Bean Casserole
This traditional dish pops with juicy green beans baked in a thick, creamy mushroom soup. In 1955, Dorcas Reilly created it in the Campbell’s Test Kitchen to showcase their Cream of Mushroom soup, The New York Times reports.
Little did she know that her creation would become a Thanksgiving icon across the U.S. That golden, crispy fried onion topping—so irresistible it rarely makes it to the table unscathed. It’s the unsung hero of this comfort food, adding just the right crunch and a burst of savory goodness.
Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler brings summer in the South straight to your plate! Juicy peaches bubble away under a crunchy, golden-brown crust, begging to be topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Georgia peaches steal the spotlight, but don’t count canned ones out—they bring their A-game every time!
Skyline Chili (Three-Way Chili)
Cincinnati couldn’t be represented by just one chili dish, so Skyline’s iconic “Three-Way” earns its rightful place on this list. Founded in 1949 by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides.
This beloved creation features a bed of spaghetti smothered in rich, flavorful chili and topped with a heaping mound of finely shredded cheddar cheese.
The cheese, so delicately shredded, melts effortlessly into the dish, creating a comforting masterpiece that could easily be considered the ultimate “mac and cheese” for chili lovers.
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