10 Summer Comfort Food

Summers are the time of year most filled with promise, optimism, and adventure. The summer heat steer many towards fun destinations with their friends and family, to water activities, and many cookouts and other social gatherings 

Summers are the perfect time for some refreshing, no-cook meals. But preparing your favorite comfort foods is also one of the best ways to relax after a long day.

So today, I’m sharing a round-up of comfort foods that are perfect for the summer season whether you’re needing something to cool off indoors or delightful bites to enjoy while you’re out in the sunny weather.

10 Summer Comfort Food

You don’t have to wait until the summer is over to enjoy your favorite comfort foods. There are plenty of comfort food recipes you can enjoy now on a hot summer day or even if you’re wanting some feel-good recipes for when you’re sick.

What Are Comfort Foods

Comfort foods are usually foods many people grew up eating that bring nostalgia, warmth, and just overall good feelings either through taste or satisfaction. 

They are not typically associated with summertime foods or even healthy summer snacks, which are usually light and refreshing foods to cool off.  When many people think of comfort foods, they think foods that are hearty, rich, creamy, classic, high calorie, or even a mouth-watering dessert. 

So if you’re curious about some summer comfort food recipes, here are a few you’ll want to consider.

10 Summer Comfort Food Ideas

Big Mac Salad

Imagine a deconstructed Big Mac sandwich full of meat, veggie toppings, flavor-forward sauce. What makes this perfect for summer is the hydrating veggies like tomatoes and pickles. What makes this comforting is the meat and “Big Mac” sauce. So nostalgic and so delicious, especially after a long, tiring day.

Ingredients

2 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw – 10 calories

4 oz Ground beef, 90% lean, raw – 185 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar – 114 calories

1 oz Pickles, chip-cut – 0 calories

½ cup Tomatoes, grape – 16 calories

¼ Onion, red – 11 calories

1 Tbsp Creamy dressing (e.g. ranch), regular (more than 50 calories per 2 tbsp) – 74 calories

¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Add in beef & stir fry until no longer pink, ~7 minutes.
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
3. Top with salt & dressing.
4. Note: I’m using a sriracha ranch dressing here, but you can use ranch, 1000 island, or whatever else you like.
5. No beef? Use ground turkey, tofu, or beans. No dairy? Use bacon or avocado, and a vinaigrette.

BBQ Shredded Chicken Nachos

I don’t know if there’s anything that doesn’t scream summer and comfort quite like BBQ. These BBQ chicken nachos are a hit. So good and sweet to come home to when you’re needing a pick me up dish.

Ingredients

¼ cup Guacamole – 105 calories

2 Tbsp Barbeque sauce, unsweetened – 15 calories

6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories

1 oz Tortilla chips – 123 calories

¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories

1 Tbsp Basil, fresh – 0 calories

Instructions

1. To make shredded chicken: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken in a small baking dish and cover with 1/2 inch of water; cover the dish with tin foil. Bake for 25 minutes. When done, remove from dish and shred with forks! Because this process can be a bit cumbersome, buying pre-shredded chicken, or just cooking chicken on stove top & cutting into small pieces is a-ok!
2. Mix in bbq sauce and dash of salt to the chicken.
3. Layer with guac onto tortilla chips.
4. Top with basil. If you don’t have fresh, use the dried seasoning or you can just go without!

Beef Nachos

Keeping it on the same thought pattern of nachos, regular beef nachos also make a great summer comfort food option. It’s a popular dish loved by many and brings all the nostalgic vibes! You can also add olives or guac for an even more refreshing bite reminiscent of summertime.

Ingredients

1 oz Tortilla chips – 123 calories

½ cup Salsa – 32 calories

½ Onion, yellow, large – 28 calories

5 oz Beef, shaved, raw – 200 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories

1 Tbsp Cilantro – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Slice onion.
2. Spray a pan with an oil spray.
3. Stir-fry onion and beef for ~10 minutes on low heat, or until onions are cooked through and beef is no longer pink.
4. Top chips with stir-fry mixture, salsa, and seasonings.

Beef Stroganoff Bowl

Beef stroganoff is a classic dinner. Make it a summer comfort food recipe by serving it up in a bowl on a bed of lettuce.

Ingredients

½ cup Pasta, cooked – 100 calories

5 oz Beef, shaved, raw – 200 calories

½ cup Mushrooms, small, whole or sliced – 8 calories

2 Tbsp Sour cream – 60 calories

4 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 28 calories

3 tsp Butter (tsp) – 108 calories

1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories

¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Add butter and garlic to pan, turn to low heat. Note: 3 tsp = 1 Tbsp.
3. Sir-fry beef for 6-7 minutes on medium-low heat, or until beef is no longer pink.
4. Add in mushrooms and sour cream, stirring occasionally, ~5 minutes.
5. Add spinach to a bowl and top with pasta, meat, and seasonings.
6. No beef? Use chicken, fish, beans, or tofu. No dairy? Use oil or a dairy-free version. Gluten free? Use gluten-free pasta.

Black Bean Enchiladas

What screams comfort more than cheese and beans? These enchiladas offer a rich and creamy bite for all to enjoy.

Ingredients

2 Tortilla, whole wheat or corn, small – 140 calories

¼ cup Enchilada sauce – 24 calories

½ cup Beans & legumes, black beans, cooked – 114 calories

½ Onion, yellow, large – 28 calories

½ cup Tomatoes, grape – 16 calories

⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar – 152 calories

¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories

Instructions

1. This recipe works best when cooking 2-3 servings at once. So double or triple ingredients above and then divide into 2 or three servings to eat.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Dice onion and tomatoes.
4. Spray pan with an oil spray. Cook veggies for ~5 minutes on medium heat.
5. Place onion, tomatoes, and beans in tortilla. Top with seasonings and 2 Tbsp enchilada sauce. Then roll up.
6. Spray a baking dish with oil spray, and place rolled up tortillas in baking dish. Hold tortillas closed with toothpicks if you need to.
7. Top with other 2 Tbsp enchilada sauce and cheese.
8. Bake 20 minutes.
9. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, or top enchiladas with diced avocado after cooked, instead of the cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Having a gathering this summer and needing a comforting option? Serve up this buffalo chicken dip with this summer comfort food recipe at your next function! It has all of what you might hope for when thinking about comfort and summer: hearty meat, smoky BBQ flavor, and a rich, creamy texture for dipping.

Ingredients

4 oz Rotisserie chicken – 200 calories

1 oz Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, from tub – 21 calories

1 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped (Tbsp) – 33 calories

3 Tbsp Cheese, shredded, cheddar (Tbsp) – 90 calories

1 tsp Buffalo sauce – 5 calories

⅛ tsp Ranch seasoning – 0 calories

½ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half – 8 calories

Instructions

1. Dice chicken.
2. Mix all ingredients (aside from celery) together.
3. When you’re ready to eat, microwave for 60-120 seconds.
4. Dip celery into your dip.
5. Note: Hot sauce instead of buffalo sauce is fine.
6. No meat & dairy? Swap this meal out for another.

Chicken Parm Skillet

Bring the memories back home with this comforting chicken parm recipe. This is the perfect dish to enjoy after a long summer’s day. Imagine this with a glass of wine too – ooo, so good!

Ingredients

4 oz Rotisserie chicken – 200 calories

1½ cups Cauliflower florets – 38 calories

½ cup Pasta, penne, cooked – 100 calories

⅓ cup Cheese, Parmesan, shredded (cups) – 111 calories

1 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 17 calories

½ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed – 25 calories

1 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) – 41 calories

¼ tsp Red pepper flakes (tsp) – 0 calories

½ tsp Garlic salt (tsp) – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Note: this recipe works best when making 2+ servings at once. Double, triple etc. the ingredients list to make multiple servings.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
3. Cook pasta as instructed on package
4. Chop rotisserie chicken and cauliflower into small pieces
5. Add oil to an oven-safe pan
6. Stir fry chicken and cauliflower rice for ~6 minutes, until cauliflower has softened
7. Mix in tomatoes, seasonings, and pasta
8. Top with cheeses
9. Bake for 8 minutes, then broil for 3
10. Serve hot, or this dish also lasts for a 2-3 days in the fridge
11. Note: no chicken? Use beans. No dairy? Use dairy-free cheese.
12. Note: no rotisserie chicken? Use chicken thigh.

Creamy Alfredo Zoodles and Chicken

I love this summer comfort food recipe because it checks all of the boxes. I’m talking flavor, creaminess, and nostalgia with the alfredo pasta. This one is so good too.

Ingredients

¼ cup Alfredo sauce – 100 calories

2 cups Zoodles (zucchini noodles), raw or frozen – 42 calories

6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories

¼ tsp Basil, dried – 0 calories

¼ tsp Oregano – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Slice chicken into strips.
2. Spray a pan with an oil spray & heat chicken for ~10 minutes on medium heat, turning them occasionally, until cooked through.
3. While chicken is cooking, spray a separate pan with an oil spray and stir-fry zoodles on medium heat, breaking up noodles with tongs if cooking from frozen. Once cooked through, drain any excess liquid with a sieve.
4. Add zoodles and alfredo sauce to pan with chicken, mix & let simmer ~3 minutes.
5. Top with seasonings.
6. Dairy free? You can typically find a dairy-free alfredo or pesto sauce at most grocery stores. Vegetarian? Use tofu or beans.
7. Note: I like Rao’s Alfredo sauce, available at most stores, but any Alfredo sauce you have access to is fine.

French Onion Soup

Sometimes the day calls for a yummy soup option. The light ingredients in this French Onion soup make it perfect for summer. It’s one you’ll definitely want to keep in rotation during the summer months (or really any time of year).

Ingredients

2 Onion, yellow – 110 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 84 calories

2 cups Broth, chicken or beef (cups) – 70 calories

2 Tbsp Vegetable oil – 240 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Add oil to pot.
2. Slice onions.
3. Saute onions 10-15 minutes on low heat, until cooked down.
4. Add in broth and seasonings.
5. Cover & let simmer at least 5 minutes.
6. Transfer to a bowl and add cheese, let melt ~2 minutes before eating (if you like!)
7. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese.
8. Note: A large amount of onions can promote gas in some people. If you know this is you, swap out this recipe for another.

Loaded Baked Potatoes

Sometimes in the summer you just need a quick pick me up during the day. Try this loaded baked potato recipe that’s full of fresh ingredients that make it perfect for summer.

Ingredients

2 Potato, Russet, small – 220 calories

2 Tbsp Cheese, shredded, cheddar (Tbsp) – 60 calories

4 oz Ground Turkey, 99% lean, raw – 110 calories

1 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) – 41 calories

¼ cup Fresh Salsa (Pico de Gallo) – 20 calories

2 Tbsp Parsley, fresh – 0 calories

1 tsp Taco seasoning – 5 calories

⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories

⅛ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Poke holes in potatoes with a fork, microwave for 7 minutes, cut a large sliver in the potatoes & make sure they’re cooked through
2. Add oil to a pan
3. Stir fry ground turkey on medium heat until cooked through, top with taco seasoning
4. Add cheese to potato, microwave for 1 minute so cheese melts
5. Top potato with ground turkey, pico de gallo, parsley, and salt & pepper
6. Enjoy!
7. No meat? Use kidney beans. No dairy? Top with avocado at the end.

There are so many ways you can go when looking for summer comfort food recipes to try. The main thing is remembering to include fresh ingredients and leaning more towards a colorful plate, which is also great for the eye.

P.S. If you’re big on comfort, but want to learn how to stop emotional overeating? We’ve got you covered with some ideas for that too!