Meet Your 5 New Favorite Comfort-Food Recipes

The combination of roasted butternut squash and creamy ricotta cheese in this anything-but-basic casserole quickly turns an ordinary day into a celebration of deliciousness. Mix in the extra bonus of béchamel sauce, and you'll elevate this dish to something so much more than a bowl full of noodles.

Some days are just more difficult than others, turning dinner into the most bothersome part of the day. Save the drama and put your slow cooker to good use with this true comfort food recipe that hits the spot — and makes enough for lunch tomorrow. The combination of parmesan cheese and homemade pasta sauce mingles together, resulting in a bowl of tastiness that's hard to resist.

Take stuffed peppers to the next level with the help of pesto-coated noodles and melty fresh mozzarella. Add a topping of toasted pine nuts, and the result is a sophisticated side dish that looks lovely alongside pork chops or a beautiful steak. And any leftovers will have everyone at your office drooling over your delicious-looking lunch.

There's nothing more comforting than a bubbling dish of cheesy goodness, which makes this casserole a must make on cold and dreary afternoons — or when you're just craving something cozy. One of my favorite go-to dishes is eggplant parmesan, but all that breading and frying gets bothersome and is also so time-consuming. Swapping for crisp zucchini and opting for baking creates a delicious vegetarian main dish that really hits the spot.

pice, sweet, and tart, this dish hits so many flavor levels, finishing off with the fulfilling combo of soft noodles and crisp napa cabbage. It's a perfect dinner, with leftovers doing double-duty as lunch the next day — if there are any.