The Comfortable Kitchen: Bestselling Approachable and Nutritious Recipes for Everyday Meals That Bring Joy Back to the Family Table

by Alex Snodgrass

#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller

New York Times Bestseller

It’s comfort food―redefined! Here are healthy meals the whole family can enjoy, night after night . . .

What does comfort mean in The Comfortable Kitchen? For Alex Snodgrass, New York Times bestselling author of The Defined Dish, bringing her family around the table to share a home-cooked meal is a favorite way to show love. Her recipes are designed to bring joy into that display of affection, from your own comfort cooking to your loved ones’ delight at the delicious flavors, to knowing that you’re caring for your family’s nutrition with each bite.

Though many of her meals are fully paleo compliant, or at the very least paleo-ish, there are plenty of other easy recipes with simple, flexible ingredient swaps for a cleaner meal when desired―perfect for people who are enjoying their “food freedom” stage of their health journey. And for those who have dietary restrictions, Alex clearly marks each recipe as gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and paleo, as appropriate.

Alex brings back the joy of being in the kitchen for those at all levels of cooking skill and provides healthy meals for every occasion, with soups, salads, pasta, vegetarian and non-vegetarian mains, apps, and sides ranging from one-pot meals to not-so-junky junk food―and even cocktails and desserts―with recipes

Cajun Chicken and Wild Rice SoupGreen Curry Poached Halibut with HerbsTexas Style Brisket TacosHerby Green Olive Pasta with FetaSheet Pan Honey-Sesame CauliflowerClayton’s Margarita7-Ingredient Almond Butter CookiesWith 105 approachable and nutritious recipes for real, busy life, The Comfortable Kitchen is a must-have healthy cookbook for everyone who cares about what they eat and what they make.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Health, Food

272 pages, Hardcover

Published December 28, 2021

Reviews

[Betsy]

These recipes look delicious for the most part but waaaaay too many ingredients for me.

[Caroline]

I purchased this book to make the Dan Dan noodles (which were 5/5). I can’t wait to work my way through this cookbook. I’m working my way backwards through them, this will be our 2nd book to cook through of hers.

[Kate Ladd]

Love this cookbook! Working my way through it and the recipes are delicious.

[Julie Zilkie]

I might need to buy this one to add to my collection. A LOT of good recipes!

[Nikki]

[x] Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Dynamite Sauce
[x] Salmon Fish Taco Bowls
[x] Creamy Cajun Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
[x] Easy Greek-Inspired Lemon Chicken Soup
[x] One Pot Cacio e Pepe Israeli Couscous
[x] One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
[x] Sheet Pan Kielbasa with Mustard Vinaigrette
[x] Ultimate Skillet Chicken Fajitas
[x] Crunchy Chicken Tinga Tacos
[x] Parmesan Roasted Zucchini
[x] Sesame Asparagus Sauté
[x] No Bake Monster Cookie Bites
[x] 7 Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies

[Nicole]

I loved this cookbook. Would make a great gift for someone who enjoys eating real food or cooking.
I do think the cover is deceiving because even though the recipe steps are basic, the ingredients list is not. The average American will not have these ingredients on hand or will have trouble finding them in the local grocery.

[Hannah Shaw]

A lot of delicious looking recipes, however, most have a lot of ingredients and not all are readily available in my local supermarket in Australia. The book has a lot of recipes for the Whole30 challenge- a regime followed largely in the US and not Australia.
I was recommended this book by an American and got it from the library. I will make a few recipes before I return.

[Danielle Touchstone]

Love Love Love! We use this and the Defined Dish every single day! Printed the checklist for both of her cookbooks and cooking my way through them! Everything we made from these books is amazing! Our kids call this "The Magic Cookbook" because they love everything that comes from it!

[Jessi]

More overexposed food photographs! What fun.

[Caroline Cormack]

Great cookbook with good narrative. Lots of naturally gluten free recipes I marked to try. Her opening really met me where I am right now.

“My intention with this book-and all of the recipes I create-is to bring you into my kitchen with me, in the hope that I can bring a little more comfort into yours. Even if you love cooking as much as I do, it can feel like you are in this constant cycle of cooking, scrubbing pots and pans, and filling the dishwasher, only to get up and do it all over again-I get it. But even when we are stuck in this constant cycle, how can we remind ourselves about the joy cooking can bring us, and how it makes such a positive impact on the way we feel? How can we get creative in our kitchens without worrying about overcooking our chicken? How can we put food on the table that's somewhat healthy and still makes our taste buds sing and fill our loved ones with comfort? ….. At the end of the day, food is a powerful way of expressing love and forming deeper connections, and my hope is that as you cook your way through this book, you'll take the time to appreciate the way that food brings us all together.”

[Mithu Ahmed]

My Ultimate ZOJIRUSHI Rice Cooker Cookbook is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to get more from their rice cooker and steamer. The collection offers a great variety of recipes and makes it easy to see how versatile these appliances can be beyond simply cooking rice.

I really enjoyed the practical approach and the range of meal ideas. The recipes provide plenty of inspiration for busy home cooks who want convenient, satisfying meals without relying on complicated cooking methods. The Instant-Pot-style concept also adds an interesting twist and makes the cookbook feel useful for everyday meal preparation.

What stands out most is the variety. Whether you are looking for comforting meals, simple everyday dishes, or something different to try in your cooker, there are plenty of ideas to explore. It is the kind of cookbook that encourages experimentation while keeping cooking approachable.

Overall, this is a useful and enjoyable addition to any home cook’s collection, especially for ZOJIRUSHI owners who want to discover new possibilities with their appliance. Highly recommended and absolutely deserving of five stars!

[Jannatul Ferdus]

★★★★★ Fresh, Flavorful, and Perfect for Everyday Cooking

This cookbook exceeded my expectations. The recipes are approachable, wholesome, and packed with flavor without feeling complicated. Every dish I've tried has been easy to follow and turned out beautifully, making it a great choice for busy weeknights as well as family dinners.

I especially appreciate how the book focuses on nourishing meals that still feel comforting and satisfying. The ingredients are practical, the instructions are clear, and the beautiful photography makes you want to cook everything.

Whether you're looking for healthier everyday meals or simply want fresh inspiration in the kitchen, this cookbook is a fantastic addition to your collection. It's one of those books you'll find yourself reaching for again and again. Highly recommended!

[Md: Amjad]

★★★★★

The Comfortable Kitchen is a wonderful collection of approachable, nourishing recipes that make everyday cooking feel enjoyable again. The recipes strike a great balance between wholesome ingredients, satisfying flavors, and practical preparation, making them realistic for busy families. I especially appreciate how the book focuses on bringing people together around the table rather than making cooking feel complicated or overwhelming. Each recipe feels thoughtfully created and easy to incorporate into a regular meal routine. This is the kind of cookbook you can return to again and again when you want comforting food that still feels fresh and nutritious. A beautiful, useful, and genuinely inspiring addition to any home kitchen.

[MD Arif]

★★★★★

This cookbook is a wonderful collection of approachable recipes that make everyday cooking feel enjoyable and manageable. I really liked the focus on nutritious meals without making them seem complicated or overly restrictive. The recipes feel practical for busy days, while still offering plenty of variety for the whole family. I also enjoyed the emphasis on bringing people together around the dinner table, which gives the book a warm and inviting feel. The instructions are easy to follow, and the dishes provide plenty of inspiration for regular home cooking. Overall, this is a welcoming cookbook filled with delicious ideas that can help make family meals more enjoyable and satisfying.

[Sarah Kellogg]

*not counting this towards my reading goal*

I don't often review cookbooks but with this one, I want to sing its praises from the rooftops! Alex Snodgrass has managed a wonderful collection of healthy, satisfying, and delicious recipes in this staple book. I don't often cook through a cookbook but this is one I keep coming back to again and again. Some of my favorites are the Zuppa Toscana, panning curry-inspired chicken meatballs, chicken quesadillas with jalapeño sauce, and her herby rice pilaf. Bonus points for the amount of celiac-friendly recipes!

[Brianna]

This is the perfect cookbook for fall and winter with lots of cozy comforting one pot meals. I saved multiple recipes and they've all be absolutely delicious so far. Beautifully formatted. My only gripe is some of the cook times are not realistic, ex: brown bacon in 5 minutes, but I always take longer to cook than the projected times anyways.

[Mandy]

I adored Alex Snodgrass’s first cookbook and this one is great too! Her recipes are approachable, healthy, and tasty. And I enjoy the little stories and comments added for some of the recipes, as well as the photographs.

[Ann Koh]

Recipes made:
- Balsamic Steak Salad with Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing
- One-Pot Beef Stroganoff (nk)
- One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta (nk)
- Eggplant Lasagna (nk)
- Mongolian Mushrooms
- Honey-Sesame Sheet Pan Cauliflower
- Salmon al Pastor (nk)



nk = not keepers

[April]

2022 Library Winter reading challenge: Reader's choice

[Margery Gerard]

Wonderful dessert recipes with no white flour or sugar. A lot of almond flour and maple syrup become just plain healthy deliciousness. Easy to follow, few ingredients, and yum throughout.

[Jeanette Durkin]

A great compilation of recipes! They seem very easy to follow and I can't wait to try some of them!

[S]

Looks good, but most recipes are comfort foods and not what I want to make in the summer. I will have to reread it come autumn.

[Monique Morin]

Good and practical recipes….too many meat options for me

[Cook Memorial Public Library]

A 2022 staff favorite recommended by Andrea. Check our catalog:
https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...

[Terressa]

Recipes were good, but most were very heavy on the salt and spices.

[Ashby]

Alex is my favorite cookbook author! The recipes are delicious, healthy, and a lot of them are perfect for busy weeknights. I want to make almost everything in this book!

[Deborah Martinez]

Looking forward to trying some recipes, but especially some of the cocktails!

[Michele M]

Alex Snodgrass is simply the best! Looking forward to her next cookbook!

[Danielle Shroyer]

Local Dallas author so I wanted to support. Found some keepers, but many just weren’t our style. Still working through a few marked recipes…

[Meg]

This cookbook had great illustrations. I'm not paleo, so I wasn't the target audience, but if you are this would be great. I saved some recipes for later.