When you hear the words “comfort food” what comes to mind? Typically, it’s food with a nostalgic or sentimental value to an individual or a culture. Foods that we think will make us feel better emotionally or bring back fond memories from our childhood.
Comfort foods play an important role in our lives, but they don’t have to be junk foods full of empty calories, processed carbs and sugar, and unhealthy fats.
In this recipe roundup, I bring you a long list of grain-free comfort food recipes that are both delicious and healthy — a perfect addition to a primal lifestyle.
Nourishing grain-free breakfast recipes
Start your day with a little grain-free comfort food. Move over, pastries and cereals — make room for healthier options.
Potato Crusted Mini Quiches
Quiche is typically made with a pastry crust, but using shredded potatoes instead provides a very similar mouth feel. It’s a perfect base for tasty flavors and colorful ingredients. This Potato Crusted Mini Quiche recipe is right at the top of my comfort foods list.
Cassava Pancakes
Cassava flour comes from the yuca root, rather than a grain, and is a perfect substitution when seeking fluffy pancakes. This Grain-free Cassava Pancake recipe comes together in a flash and can be topped with colorful berries for a dose of antioxidant nourishment.
Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Who knew that bananas, eggs, and nut butter could form such a tasty batter for a grain-free pancake option? This Apple Cinnamon Pancake recipe has become a staple in our kitchen.
Raspberry Chia Pudding
Pudding and comfort go hand-in-hand if you ask me! The creamy texture of this Raspberry Chia Pudding is certain to bring joy to your palate, and the chia seeds add a pop of surprise. Topped with fresh berries and nuts, this is a breakfast to put any emotional stress at bay (at least temporarily).
Orange Cranberry Bread
Who says you can’t make an Orange Cranberry Bread without grains? This recipe is just the right amount of sweetness, tartness, and bread-like texture, and I love it as a vehicle for a good pat of grass-fed butter! For a special breakfast treat, use this grain-free bread to make french toast.
Frittata
Frittata is the perfect make-ahead dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! I love this Clean Out the Fridge Frittata recipe because it allows for creativity and decreases food waste. When we bake it in a round casserole dish, the boys pretend they are eating pie for breakfast — what’s more comforting than that?
Sweet Potato Toasts
Did you know that thinly sliced sweet potatoes make an excellent substitute for bread?! This tasty tuber becomes the perfect shuttle for all the yummy real food topping combinations of trendy toasts — a great way to start the day. Try all five of these Sweet Potato Toast recipes to find your favorite.
Turmeric Chai Latte
The flavor combination of ginger, cinnamon, and clove is one of my favorites, and I find these spices balance the taste of turmeric perfectly in this Chai Latte recipe. Mixed with non-dairy milk, a touch of honey, and a dollop of ghee, and you have yourself a healing mug of deliciousness.
Satisfying soups, salads, sides
These soups, salads, and side dish recipes will bring you just the right dose of comfort.
Crockpot Chicken Soup
If a bowl of homemade chicken soup doesn’t say “comfort,” I don’t know what does! This Crockpot Chicken Soup recipe maximizes nutrition with a low-and-slow simmer of a whole chicken, paired with comforting flavors rooted in tradition.
Salmon Chowder
Your family will love the creamy, buttery flavor of this Salmon Chowder recipe. Comforting to both your body and your spirit, this chowder offers a dairy-free option that’s just as delicious. Color and nourishment in every bite.
Slow Cooked Tomato Soup
Campbell’s canned tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are certainly a comfort food combo from my childhood. But, now I turn to this Slow Cooked Tomato Soup recipe full of real food ingredients, to satisfy the nostalgia with deeper nutrition.
Ginger Carrot Soup
Add a little zip — fresh ginger is the key — to the creamy carroty base and you have a soup that will call you back for more. Seriously satisfying, this Ginger Carrot Soup has “comfort” written all over it.
Curious Cobb Jar Salad
While salad may not be first on your list when it comes to comfort foods, a full flavored Cobb recipe with nutrient dense fats — hello avocado, salami, and hard boiled eggs — salty olives, and tangy dressing is always comforting to my taste buds.
Crispy Chicken Arugula Salad
A few words of praise for this salad: bacon, bacon, bacon! By using quality bacon, you reap the rewards of healthy fat and salty satisfaction — all wrapped together with sweet grapes, and digestively healthy bitter greens. When it comes to salad, Crispy Chicken Arugula is a keeper.
Apple Sage Butternut Squash
The combination of cooked butternut squash and apples brings a comforting pop of deliciousness to your plate as a healthy grain-free side dish. The nutty, buttery flavor and creamy texture are balanced with sweet and savory ingredients in this Apple Sage Butternut Squash recipe.
Roasted Root Vegetables
The color of this dish alone is comforting to me, but the flavor of slightly caramelized vegetables makes this Roasted Root Vegetables recipe an enticing go-to when I’m just not sure what to make for dinner. Swap out any hearty roots or tubers that you have on hand.
Comfort-food meat dishes
Believe it or not, there’s more to comfort food than sugar and grains. What about tender, juicy meat that’s cooked just right?
Slow Cooker Brisket with Mocha
Coffee and cocoa? Talk about comforting flavors! This Slow Cooker Brisket recipe leaves you with mouth-watering tender bites of meat infused with a taste reminiscent of your favorite coffee shop.
Coconut Chicken Tenders
Chicken fingers are nostalgic by nature. What kid doesn’t love a good chicken finger? But, these bread battered and fried nuggets are not the healthiest choice. Coconut Chicken Tenders, on the other hand, will satisfy anyone’s need for comfort food, and this recipe uses grain-free, real food ingredients to get the job done!
Crispy Drumsticks
Gnawing meat off the bone is not only primal, but also nourishing. It’s “hands all in” when it comes to enjoying these Crispy Drumsticks — and they pair so easily with a variety of veggie sides.
Shannon’s Meatballs
Meatballs rank high on the comfort foods list. They are simple to make, easy to love, and always bring back childhood memories. Try Shannon’s grain-free meatballs over veggies noodles for a boost in nutrition and taste.
Herb Roast Chicken
Oven roasted whole chicken is a classic! I love this Herb Roasted Chicken recipe for its moist, tender, and flavor infused meat — the secret… cooking the bird breast side down for the first half.
All-in-one dishes
Casseroles, chilis, stews, and crockpot creations are some of the most popular types of comfort food dishes. Check out our family favorites.
Mexican Primal Lasagna
Lasagna is comfort packaged in layers of goodness. This Mexican Primal Lasagna recipe uses grain-free almond flour-based noodles and the flavors of tomatoes, green chilis, and enchilada sauce for a delicious knock-off on an old favorite.
Shepherd’s Pie
Not only is this Shepherd’s Pie recipe grain-free, but it’s also a low-carb variation — swapping out mashed cauliflower for potatoes. There’s something magical about baked meat pie loaded with colorful vegetables, a hint of bacon, and a creamy topping!
Garden Harvest Meatloaf
Similar to meatballs, grains can sneak into most meatloaf recipes. But this Garden Harvest Meatloaf highlights fresh veggies and herbs, and uses almond flour to help bind the real food ingredients together.
Primal Chili with Vegetables and Beef
A staple in our family, this Primal Chili with Vegetables and Beef recipe makes it to the table a couple times a month. It swaps out beans for colorful vegetables to boost the nutrient density without sacrificing the comfort of this feel-good dish.
Zesty Pork Chili
Chilis come in all variations, and our family loves this Zesty Pork Chili for its hint of sweetness mixed with its zip of spice. Grain-free comfort in a warm bowl that brings color, flavor, and nourishment to brighten anyone’s day.
Jazzed Up Bangers & Mash
Traditional Irish foods speak to comfort with their emphasis on meat and potatoes, and this dish is no exception. Jazzed Up Bangers & Mash keeps the focus on the sausage and potatoes, but adds flavor and nutrition with the addition of apples, peas, kale, and fresh herbs. A must try.
Chicken “Pasta” with Sundried Tomato Pesto
Casserole comfort is hard to beat, but passing up a baked pasta casserole is nearly impossible. Well, until you try this grain-free Chicken “Pasta” with Sundried Tomato Pesto dish with a spaghetti squash base. The texture and flavor may win over even the toughest critics.
Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas
No question, the flavors that result in this Steak Fajita recipe are comforting alone. But, what’s most comforting about this grain-free meal is that the slow cooker pulls it all together for you. Topped with fresh avocado and served over Mexican cauliflower rice and you’re in for a treat.
5 Spice Pork Tenderloin with Apple Compote
Cinnamon, ginger, star anise, and clove are spices that provide warmth, nourishment, and pair with sweet flavors. This 5 Spice Pork Tenderloin with Apple Compote is everything that grain-free comfort food should be.
Beef and Sweet Potato Stew
“Beef stew” and “comfort food” could be synonyms. Hearty vegetables, tender beef, and the simplicity of slow cooking, make this Beef and Sweet Potato Stew a keeper.
Grain-free snacks and treats
Comfort foods must include snacks and treats. Here are some recipes that set the grains and processed sugars aside while still bringing joy to our taste buds.
Safe & Healthy Edible Cookie Dough
Do you have fond memories of sneaking finger swipes of cookie dough as a kid? This Safe & Healthy Edible Cookie Dough recipe will bring those memories back to life without the dangers of raw eggs and flour. Ooey-gooey goodness lives on.
Almond Butter Banana Muffins
Whether you enjoy them for breakfast, snack, or dessert, these Almond Butter Banana Muffins will leave a smile on your face. Baked goods make the comfort list for most people, but replacing the grains and processed sugars also gives these muffins the primal-friendly stamp of approval.
Creamy Spiced Parsnip Cupcakes
Move over carrot cake! These grain-free Creamy Spiced Parsnip Cupcakes are incredible. Parsnips, bananas, dates, and coconut flour make up the base of this healthy treat — topped with a cream cheese frosting sweetened with honey.
Healthy Banana Boats
Peanut butter and banana are a match made in heaven, but why not jazz them up a bit? These Healthy Banana Boats are a perfect after school snack, or after dinner treat. The added textures, flavors, and nutrition from healthy toppings bring this ingredient-duo to a new level.
Grain-Free Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie Bites
I know snack bites are a comfort food in our family because they are impossible to keep around, and these Grain-free Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie versions are no exception. Cashews, dates, coconut, real cacao, with a touch of molasses and crystalized ginger to slightly sweeten — all ingredients I feel confident feeding my family.
Almond Butter Blossoms
A flourless, grain-free version of a holiday classic, these Almond Butter Blossom cookies are rich and chewy favorites. Simple and quick, so grab your kids and bake up a batch today.
Grain-free Apple Crisp
This Grain-free Apple Crisp recipe reminds us all that nature’s fruit offers plenty of sweet flavor all on its own. Diced apples combined with nuts, coconut, warm spices, and a touch of pure maple syrup bake into a comforting dessert that celebrates real ingredients.
Pumpkin Custard
Creamy pureed pumpkin and gelatin give this tasty treat a rich and smooth texture that is easy to lust over. A stovetop Pumpkin Custard may sound fussy, but this dessert is really foolproof — bringing grain-free smiles to kids and grown-up alike.
Almond Joy Truffles
It may just be that I saved the best for last. These Almond Joy Truffles are truly indulgent. But, surprisingly they fall on the healthy side of the treat scale. If you’re a chocolate lover like I am, the silky smooth creamy center of these truffles will satisfy any comfort you seek from food.
Get cooking!
You now have a list of forty grain-free comfort food recipes. Whether you are looking for deep nourishment, nostalgic moments, or a little joy in uncertain times, these recipes are here to help you out, and provide important nutrition at the same time.
