40 Easy Comfort Recipes to Make When You’re Feeling Sick

40 Easy Comfort Recipes to Make When You’re Feeling Sick
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overhead shot of a bowl of avgolemono, topped with lemon and dill.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: James Park

Anytime I’m sick (or even on the verge of being sick), two things are certain: My energy and inspiration to cook are pretty low. Even when my meals are planned out for the week, I’m happy to abandon my plans for pork chops or a casserole for another night. This is a time when I crave simple foods that are warm, nourishing, and supremely comforting.

A pot of warm and comforting soup is often the go-to for whatever ails us. It’s always a good idea to freeze homemade soup to get ahead of sick days. That way all you have to do is grab the soup from the freezer and reheat. But don’t forget about things like orzo, creamy polenta, and buttered noodles, which all hit the spot when you feel under the weather and don’t take a whole lot of effort to pull off.

With that in mind, this is the roster of meals to eat when sick that I turn to again and again. From classic chicken noodle soup and easy dumpling soup to Italian pastina, these 40 easy recipes are sure to comfort you when you’re sick.

In This Article
  1. Comforting Soups
  2. Easy Dinners

Comforting Soups

Credit: Kelli Foster

Loaded Alphabet Soup

Packed with a medley of vegetables and tender pasta, all swimming in a tomato and herb-kissed broth, this soup is comforting, nourishing, and oh-so-fun to eat. The beauty of this weeknight-friendly soup is that it requires just about 10 minutes of hands-on prep and less than 30 minutes of time to simmer on the stovetop.

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Easy Dinners