Where Cozy and Clever Meet for Dinner

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Rich, cozy, and just a little unexpected—feel-good comfort food with a little flair is all about leveling up your cravings. From Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole to Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms & Red Lentils, these soul-satisfying dishes go beyond the basics. Whether you’re diving into French Onion Salisbury Steak, spooning into Brown Butter Acorn Squash Pasta with Toasted Hazelnuts + Sage, or savoring Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy, every bite packs comfort and creativity in equal measure!

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, with bits of cheese and scallions on the top.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole is the ultimate comfort food and an ideal side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any cozy meal. This easy-to-make casserole combines creamy mashed potatoes with the rich flavor of cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fresh herbs, creating a dish that’s both kid-friendly and a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for an 8×8 or 9×9-inch casserole dish, it’s a simple yet satisfying addition to your holiday spread or a comforting weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole

Cheesy Meatloaf

A slice of cheesy meatloaf with mashed potatoes in a low gray bowl.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

This cheesy meatloaf recipe is a comforting twist on a classic! Stuffed with Havarti cheese, this dish elevates the humble meatloaf to a new level of deliciousness. Perfect for a cozy dinner and amazing leftovers for sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Meatloaf

French Onion Salisbury Steak

Beef patty in an onion gravy, with mashed potatoes.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This French Onion Salisbury Steak recipe elevates a classic comfort food dish with gourmet flavors. Ground beef patties are smothered in a rich, savory French onion sauce made with red wine and beef broth, then topped with melted Swiss cheese and served over toasted French bread. It’s a comforting and refined meal perfect for a cozy night in.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Salisbury Steak

Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms & Red Lentils

Bowls of vegan lentil bolognese topped with fresh basil
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

This Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms & Red Lentils is the ultimate comforting dish. Made with just 10 ingredients, this hearty and flavorful pasta is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner. Plus, it’s packed with nutrients and totally plant-based!
Get the Recipe: Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms & Red Lentils

Traditional Irish Cottage Pie

A plate with cottage pie casserole and a side of mixed greens on a white surface, accompanied by an orange-patterned cloth in the background.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This traditional Irish cottage pie is the perfect comforting casserole. Made with ground beef, savory vegetables, and a rich gravy, it’s topped with a creamy potato and sweet potato mash. For an extra layer of flavor, try adding some caramelized onion cheese!
Get the Recipe: Traditional Irish Cottage Pie

Easy French Dip Sandwiches with Picante Provolone

A close up of a basket of fries and a hot dog
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Sink your teeth into this comforting Easy French Dip Sandwich, piled high with fall-apart tender beef and picante provolone. Dunked in a creamy au jus, this over-stuffed sandwich will become a new favorite. Perfect for using leftover pot roast or deli-cut roast beef!
Get the Recipe: Easy French Dip Sandwiches with Picante Provolone

Homemade Creamy Mac and Cheese

Homemade Creamy Mac And Cheese
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This homemade mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Prepared on the stove and baked for a cheesy finish, this creamy dish is perfect as a main course or side dish for any holiday or gathering. Top it with breadcrumbs for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Creamy Mac and Cheese

Creamy Polenta with Eggs & Mediterranean Greens

close up of a breakfast polenta bowl
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This Creamy Polenta with Eggs & Mediterranean Greens recipe is a comforting and delicious breakfast for two. The creamy polenta is perfectly complemented by the sunny eggs and fresh Mediterranean greens. This dish is sure to brighten up your morning!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Polenta with Eggs & Mediterranean Greens

Ukrainian Holubtsi or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

overhead shot of Ukrainian Holubtsi or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

These Ukrainian Holubtsi or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are the ultimate comfort food and are perfect for feeding a crowd during the holidays. While they may be a labor of love, the end result is well worth the effort! This recipe uses simple ingredients like ground beef, rice, cabbage, and tomatoes.
Get the Recipe: Ukrainian Holubtsi or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy

A plate with chicken in gravy, resting on herb-mixed rice and garnished with parsley.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This Crispy Chicken recipe delivers a comforting, flavorful meal with ease. Enjoy perfectly crisp chicken served alongside herbed Carolina Gold rice and a rich, homemade pan gravy that will leave you wanting more. It’s a simple yet satisfying dish the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy

Brown Butter Acorn Squash Pasta with Toasted Hazelnuts + Sage

A plate of pasta topped with grated cheese, chopped hazelnuts, fresh herbs, and black pepper, with a spoon beside it.
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

This brown butter acorn squash pasta is the perfect vegetarian comfort food! Toasted hazelnuts and sage complement the sweetness of the squash, making it a delicious and easy-to-make meal. Ready in under an hour!
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Acorn Squash Pasta with Toasted Hazelnuts + Sage

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy

a bowl of mashed potatoes with gravy and sausages on a copper platter
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This Bangers & Mash recipe elevates classic pub fare with a rich Guinness gravy. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you’re craving a hearty, comforting meal. The combination of savory pork sausages, creamy mashed potatoes, and flavorful gravy is simply irresistible!
Get the Recipe: Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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