Mikaela J

8 Comforting Dinner Recipes to Try While Social Distancing

Usually, I like to cook about 5 meals at home each week and we spend 2 days or nights going out to eat. Since this whole quarantine thing came into effect, we have obviously been cooking a lot more at home. Even though some of the grocery supplies have been rather limited, we have been able to throw together some really yummy meals. Most of these recipes are tried and true and we make them all the time, but some of them we are trying this week for the first time. All of these recipes are family-friendly and will usually yield enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I hope these recipes and meal ideas will keep you comforted during these times of stress and uncertainty.

8 Comforting Dinner Recipes to Try at Home while Social Distancing

Italian Chicken Soup

We make this Italian Chicken Soup recipe a couple of times a month and I swear it is one of the best and most satisfying recipes I have ever tried. The trick is topping it with shaved parmesan cheese and serving it with a side of crispy bread. This makes a huge pot and we have a ton of leftovers the next day. This is such a comforting recipe that always warms the soul – perfect for this crazy and stressful time!

Instant Pot Spaghetti

If you have an Instant Pot and you are looking for a quick and easy way to make spaghetti, this is a clear winner. We make this all the time when we want a big comforting pot of pasta. We love it because you can throw uncooked noodles in with your browned meat and everything is quickly cooked and ready in a few minutes! This is the perfect meal for all those newly “homeschooling” moms that are busy during the day!

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs

If you are like us and you are also spending a lot of time outside in the backyard, I would highly recommend you try this delicious grilled Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabob recipe. The marinade is SO good! We serve these kabobs with a side of mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. Make sure to save all of the extra marinade to drizzle on top of your potatoes and veggies. The kids beg for this recipe all summer long!

Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Salmon

I have been wanting to make this recipe for a while, so what better time than now! This Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Salmon caught my eye on Half Baked Harvest and I know that it will be the perfect way to dress up salmon for my kiddos and provide the comforting meal we need. We purchased some frozen salmon from Costco and I can’t wait to try it with this! My kids love spinach and artichoke dip so I am hoping this will win them over.

Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto

This is another Instant Pot recipe but it can easily be done on the stove. I make this creamy Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto recipe all of the time for friends who have had babies and it is always a hit. If you use the Instant Pot, it takes no time and you literally just throw everything in the pot and forget about it! My children are not huge fans of mushrooms, but I have discovered that if I chop them up very small, they don’t even know they are there! I also chop up the spinach as small as I can so that it is easier for them to eat.

Chicken Enchiladas

My kids love Mexican food and we usually spend a couple of nights out a month eating our weight in chips and salsa at our favorite Mexican spot. My daughter loves chicken enchiladas so I found this recipe on Skinnytaste (omg, I love this site) that looks so good! I can’t wait to try it!

Garlic Butter Shrimp and Grits

In the madness of grocery shopping, I purchased a big bag of frozen shrimp and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. When I was searching for comforting meals to cook at home, I came across this recipe for Shrimp and Grits and I can not wait to try it! Before moving to Orlando we lived in Savannah, Georgia and Shrimp and Grits are a staple there! I am hoping the comforting flavors will bring back great memories for my kiddos!

Chicken Pot Pie

Whenever anyone is feeling a little under the weather or having a bad day, I always love to throw together this delicious Chicken Pot Pie. I grew up eating these and I love how the veggies and chicken pair so perfectly with the flaky crust. I usually have most of these items on hand and it always brings a smile to the kiddo’s faces.

I hope these comforting recipes give you a jump start when planning your next few meals during this crazy quarantine. I would love for you to share some of your favorites below! Stay tuned for a list of my favorite kid-friendly snacks that are perfect for these long days at home! As always, thank you for stopping by and see you soon!