The 25 Best Comfort Foods, In Order

After a hard day, we know cheese will always be there for us.

After a hard day, we automatically start looking forward to dinner. We know that however rough our day was -- whatever test we failed, boss we clashed with, family member we disappointed -- there's something to look forward to. We seek out these comfort foods in diners, at our stoves and in the company of friends.

Look, in truth, there is no bad comfort food. If it gives you comfort, it's good. But does that mean we don't have our own ideas about which comfort foods are the best? I mean, obviously you already know the answer to that. I asked around the office for the most food-oriented people I know to tell me their top three comfort foods, off the top of their head. You'll find most of them in the list below, plus a few of my personal favorites. How did yours rank? Did I forget about it altogether? Let us know in the comments!

(*Note: obviously, for me, bourbon would be on this list, but I decided that this would only rank food. Drinks will have their day some other time.)

25
Tuna Melts
O.G. diner comfort food. RESPECT.
24
Ratatouille
A prime example of vegetables making other vegetables even more delicious.
23
Creamed Spinach
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The most delicious leafy greens will ever be.
22
Roast Chicken
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One of these could feed you for a whole week. Or you could just devour it all at once.
21
Peanut Butter
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On bread, in a sandwich or just straight from the jar with a spoon.
20
Ice Cream
In a cone, a cup, straight from the carton -- anything goes.
19
Spaghetti & Meatballs
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Sometimes nothing else will do.
18
Chicken Pot Pie
This is what would happen if pie and chicken soup had a baby. It would be an awesome baby.
17
Fried Chicken
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When it's good, there's not much that can beat it.
16
Shrimp & Grits
Completely appropriate for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
15
French Fries
Cheese is optional, but highly recommended.
14
Gravy
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Whenever, wherever, we're going to be together.
13
French Onion Soup
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Look, there is no better way to eat anything than with a blanket of cheese melted on top. This is improved soup. And all other soups should aspire to its glory.
12
Pie
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Any flavor, any shape, any time.
11
Chicken Soup
With noodles, with matzoh balls, with dumplings -- they all fix whatever ails you.
10
Chocolate Pudding
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9
Cheeseburgers
8
Tomato Soup
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7
Baked Ziti
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This just barely eked out lasagna by essentially being Italian mac and cheese.
6
Dumplings
Every single culture on earth has a dumpling, and we want to eat every single one of them.
5
Pizza
Pizza is the best, guys.
4
Cheap, Inauthentic Tacos
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The real thing is amazing, but these are what I really crave for comfort.
3
Mac & Cheese
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Whether it's Kraft, homemade or something even fancier, this is about as comforting as it gets.
2
Mashed Potatoes
We love them so much, we've threatened to nap in a bowl of them before.
1
Grilled Cheese
Like we need to explain this one.

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