Comfort Food Lunch Recipes

January 01, 2012
Photo: Line T. Klein
Tote these scrumptious soups, salads, and sandwiches to work, or fix them for a stay-at-home gathering.
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Our Favorite Comfort Food Lunch Recipes

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Lentil-Barley Soup

From a traditional French onion soup to old-fashioned sloppy joes, these nostalgic eats are real mood lifters.

We'll start our comforting lunch recipes with Lentil-Barley Soup. Delicious and packed with fiber, this soup will warm you up in no time.

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Carne Asada Steak Sandwiches

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Carne Asada Steak Sandwiches

We opt for Chipotle chile powder, which has a smoky, earthy profile and isn't as hot as ground red pepper. Our Shaved Carrot, Cucumber, and Sweet Onion Salad pairs perfectly with this meal.

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Barley and Beef Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Barley and Beef Soup

You can make this soup the night before to allow time for its flavors to develop; scoop hot servings into a thermos to take for lunch, or reheat individual portions in the microwave as needed.

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Mozzarella, Ham, and Basil Panini

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Mozzarella, Ham, and Basil Panini

A few special ingredients—like freshly baked ciabatta bread or imported Dijon mustard—make a quick, simple sandwich seem like a restaurant treat for a midday meal.

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Spiced Meatball, Butternut, and Tomato Stew

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Spiced Meatball, Butternut, and Tomato Stew

Add this comforting, 35-minute stew to your winter recipe rotation. These tender meatballs have a mild, warm spice. Chopped cilantro at the end adds a nice burst of freshness. You can substitute ground chicken, if desired.

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Turkey Reuben Panini

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Turkey Reuben Panini

Panini are the Italians' answer to our beloved grilled cheese sandwich. We've adopted the technique and created an authentic deli-style flavor in a lower-fat package.

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Quick Chicken Minestrone

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Quick Chicken Minestrone

Fresh, brightly colored vegetables add some welcome vibrancy to this comforting soup. Have fun with the noodle shape, or use any small pasta you have on hand. If you'd like, sprinkle each serving with freshly ground black pepper for a finishing touch. Let the toasted bread and cheese sauce cool slightly. Kids can then spread the cheese sauce over the bread with a butter knife. Serve with French Bread with Cauliflower Cheese Sauce.

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Picnic-Perfect Lobster Rolls

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Picnic-Perfect Lobster Rolls

Why wait until summer to serve this classic sandwich that hails from the Northeast? The crisp, berry-floral essence of American rosé wines pairs beautifully with the creamy, lemony lobster filling in these rolls.

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French Onion Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: French Onion Soup

For perfectly caramelized onions, the key is low and slow cooking. You'll be glad you spent the extra time on this warm and savory soup.

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Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Ciabatta's crispy-chewy exterior and dense interior pair perfectly with the hearty filling of this sandwich.

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Tuna and White Bean Salad

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Tuna and White Bean Salad

A fresh vinaigrette replaces the heavy mayo dressing in traditional tuna salad. You'll love the fresh produce that stars in this lunchtime makeover.

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Turkey and Bean Chili

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Turkey and Bean Chili

To save time, chop off the top of a washed bunch of cilantro rather than picking the individual leaves. The thin stems toward the top are very tender.

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Roasted Vegetable and Ricotta Pizza

Photo: Romula Yanes
View Recipe: Roasted Vegetable and Ricotta Pizza

With an extensive list of vegetables rounding out the ingredient list and creamy dollops of ricotta sprinkled atop, this pizza will be irresistible from the first bite.

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Chicken and White Bean Soup

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Chicken and White Bean Soup

Cannellini beans, native to Tuscany, work beautifully in this rustic soup because they hold their shape after simmering in the flavorful broth. Serve with a crusty Italian bread, such as ciabatta, and a salad of bitter greens. Balance the rich soup with a crisp white wine.

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Beef and Mushroom Sloppy Joes

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Beef and Mushroom Sloppy Joes

This comfort food classic receives a decidedly grown-up makeover with the addition of cremini mushrooms. The morels offer deeper, richer flavor, but you can also use regular button mushrooms.

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Chicken-Orzo Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chicken-Orzo Soup

Nothing says comfort more than a bowl of chicken soup. With this superfast recipe, you don't have to wait the hours it takes to make a homemade chicken stock.

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White Pizza with Tomato and Basil

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: White Pizza with Tomato and Basil

Crushed red pepper is optional in this recipe but, if you can take the heat, it will give the flavors in this pizza a kick. Heating a cookie sheet in the oven before you put the pizza on it gives you a crisper crust.

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Quick Shrimp Chowder

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Quick Shrimp Chowder

Complete the menu with crisp breadsticks and a fresh spinach and pear salad dressed with a light vinaigrette. A small amount of heavy cream stirred in at the end adds the finishing touch.

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Sausage and Egg Burrito

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Sausage and Egg Burrito

Avocado and sausage elevate this basic egg burrito to satisfying lunch fare. Serve with a salad of fresh spinach, sliced red onion, and cubed cantaloupe.

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Grown-Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Grown-Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

A new take on a familiar favorite pairs grilled cheese with a BLT for a luscious veggie-packed sandwich that feels like an indulgence. Serve with zesty dill pickle spears.

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Roast Beef Sandwiches with Watercress Slaw

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Roast Beef Sandwiches with Watercress Slaw

Watercress slaw gives the perfect amount of crunch in this roast beef sandwich. A crusty baguette is a must—satisfaction from the very first bite.

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Open-Faced Blackened Catfish Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Open-Faced Blackened Catfish Sandwiches

Don't skip out on the creamy cilantro slaw. It pairs wonderfully with oh-so-savory blackened catfish.

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Prosciutto, Pear, and Blue Cheese Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Prosciutto, Pear, and Blue Cheese Sandwiches

A savory blend of salty and sweet flavors make the perfect pair between two slices of multigrain bread. Toast the bread in a pinch by arranging it on a baking sheet and broiling for three minutes.

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Peanut-Sauced Chicken Pitas

Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: Peanut-Sauced Chicken Pitas

Rich dark meat stands up to the robust peanutty sauce. To pack, combine chicken mixture, sprouts, carrot, and cilantro; put in a sealed container; and stuff into pita just when you're ready to eat. Look for satay sauce and chile paste on the Asian-food aisle of your super-market.

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Steak Baguettes with Pesto Mayo

Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: Steak Baguettes with Pesto Mayo

Grill the steak and toast the baguette over the same flame for a delicious charred effect. This sandwich holds up well, so you can pack it for lunch, fully assembled.

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Herbed Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: Herbed Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the market, and this Herbed Chicken Salad Sandwich is a snap. That said, if you make the chicken salad a day or so ahead, the flavors will marry nicely as the filling chills. Try on a wedge of focaccia, and toast in a grill pan for a chicken salad panini.

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French Onion Soup

Photo: Con Poulos
View Recipe: French Onion Soup

It's worth the effort to make your own stock for this supersimple soup, but if you want to save time, you can use store-bought lower-sodium broth. You'll need to reduce the amount of salt you add to the soup by half.

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Oven-Fried Shrimp and Okra Louisiana Po'boys

Photo: Line T. Klein
View Recipe: Oven-Fried Shrimp and Okra Louisiana Po'boys

We buttermilk-battered shrimp and baked it in a hot oven to golden crispiness, adding fresh okra to the mix for some extra Gulf state color. Creamy caper-spiked remoulade keeps things moist, and hot dog buns make this Cajun country treat right-sized.

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