With the days getting slightly longer and the sun feeling just a little bit warmer, you may begin to start thinking about some of your favorite spring recipes. We want to share with you 5 of our favorite comfort food recipes that can be a great addition to your weekly meal plan when there is still a bit of chill in the air and winter just doesn’t seem to want to quite let go.
The best part is that all of these recipes are pretty simple to make, yet all have hearty tastes that will feel like you worked on them all day long! So forget about grabbing fast food, and grab the main ingredients out of your freezer from here at the Co-Op and enjoy some great comfort food while you await spring’s arrival!
Elk Sausage Bolognese with Gluten-Free Pasta Noodles
Some might only use bolognese as a meal for special occasions, but it is a great recipe to put to use when you are really wanting something that hits the spot! Making the sauce from scratch can be the most comforting thing after the end of a long day at work.
Use some of our gluten-free pasta or regular pasta, whichever fits your family’s needs better, and pair it with an easy side like green beans or roasted brussels sprouts; top with some fresh herbs, and you will have a perfect end-of-winter comfort meal!
Ingredients to gather include for the base include Elk Sausage and Gluten-free pasta.
For your sauce, you will need oregano, canned tomatoes, white onion, tomato sauce, black pepper, red pepper flakes, sea salt, olive oil, whole milk, and white wine.
This is one that has quickly become a family favorite! Be sure and keep an eye out for the months when we have elk sausage in our product line-up!
The Best Chicken Spaghetti
This is one of our favorite comfort foods, as well as a simple recipe that can be put together with a few pantry staples for an easy weeknight dinner! With a total of 45 minutes from prep to finish, you can make good use of the little time you have in the evenings to get things accomplished.
Ingredients you need (that you probably already have on hand)
- Gluten-free spaghetti noodles
- Chicken breasts
- Cream of chicken soup
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Mexican cheese blend
- Taco seasoning
- Parsley
That’s it! These simple ingredients will make a creamy chicken spaghetti that will pair perfectly with some crusty bread with garlic seasoning and a fresh green salad. This pairing gives you the heartiness of a comfort meal with the added greens that reminds you that spring is near!
German Goulash
Are you looking for a comforting meal that can also be cooked and served as a one-pot dish? This recipe is where it’s at! With so many different takes on goulash, this one goes back to its German heritage with lots of onion and garlic and will fill your house with savory aromas and can definitely take the chill out of those cool nights.
What you need to put this meal together
- Stew meat or chuck roast
- Onions
- Olive oil
- Green pepper
- Garlic
- Tomato
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Marjoram
- Tomato paste
- Caraway seed
- Beef broth
- Red Wine
- Sour cream
After you put your goulash together, you can boil up some gluten-free pasta noodles and mix them with a little bit of olive oil and parsley. You could also add in some fresh vegetables like green beans or asparagus for a tasty mix of flavors on the side.
Best Ever Meatloaf
Meatloaf is one of those easy recipes that many people have marked as one of their childhood favorites or something they really aren’t a big fan of. If you’re on the latter end of that, don’t give up on meatloaf just yet! This delicious meal is made for the whole family to enjoy with rich flavors and simple ingredients.
One of the keys to having the best-tasting meatloaf is getting high-quality ground beef that isn’t too lean but also isn’t super fatty. Our 80/20 blend here at the Co-Op is a perfect mix!
Other ingredients you need are
- Garlic cloves
- Parsley
- Red onion
- Thyme
- Eggs
- Beef broth
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- Brown sugar
- Pepper
- Salt
- Vegetable oil
- White bread
This would be tasty if you served it with some creamy mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus!
Chicken Stew
We tend to have a lot of great chicken products offered here at the Co-Op, so we love finding great recipes and comforting dishes to use them in. This easy dinner takes about an hour from start to finish and is budget-friendly and delicious!
Ingredients to gather for this yummy stew with a creamy sauce that will melt in your mouth.
- Chicken thighs (or could use leftovers from a roast chicken)
- Yellow onion
- Celery
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Flour
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Baby potatoes
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Pepper
- Chicken broth
- Vegetable broth
This would be absolutely delicious on its own and will probably become a quick family favorite. You could even mix things up with your leftovers and serve over some white rice for a little different texture and flavor.
All of these recipes would be complemented by some of our very popular Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for a sweet treat after supper!
If you are interested in more about How the Co-Op Works or want to become a VIP Member, be sure and reach out with any questions! We also encourage you to follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok, as we are always trying out new recipes and ways to put your Co-Op products to work for you!