16 Comforting Recipes to Calm Election Night Nerves

Is mac 'n' cheese a match for existential dread? Let's find out.

Daniel Gritzer

Can you feel it in the air? No, not the fall breeze, and no, not Mariah Carey waiting for the perfect moment to defrost. It’s that feeling that slowly creeps up on us every four years, then hits us with a pounding wave of anxiety and existential dread. That’s right, it’s election season.

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, election night can be stressful, whether you’re tuning into the results all night or just trying to distract yourself. And stressful times call for comforting foods. With recipes such as pasta (and lots of it), chicken pot pie, chocolate cake, and kettle corn, this collection of recipes to make on election night won’t solve all the world’s problems, but these dishes will at least give you an emotional respite, even if only for a brief moment. 

3-Ingredient Stovetop Mac and CheesePhotographs: Vicky Wasik. Video: J. Kenji López-Alt

Step aside, boxed mac and cheese—this recipe has fewer ingredients, comes together in the same amount of time, and is doubly delicious and comforting.

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Pasta e Ceci (Pasta With Chickpeas)Andrew Janjigian

Pasta with brothy chickpeas is Italian comfort food at its best.

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Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina (Baked Gnocchi With Tomato and Mozzarella)Daniel Gritzer

The secret to success with this recipe is to get each component right, from the tomato sauce to the mozzarella, and to use homemade gnocchi that hold their shape but remain tender. How's that for a project that will keep you busy?

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Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

A simple, ultra-comforting chicken pot pie with a shatteringly crisp crust? Sign us up.

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Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

This chicken and wild rice soup is a hearty meal ideal for a chilly—or scary—day.

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Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

This silky-smooth soup is loaded with baked potato flavor.

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Toor Dal

Serious Eats / Kanika and Jatin Sharma

This hearty, satisfying dish of spiced pigeon peas is like a hug on an otherwise stressful day.

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Southern Cathead Biscuits

Serious Eats / Qi Ai

The fluffiest biscuits are also as easy as can be. Good luck eating just one!

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Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Do you need a recipe for grilled cheese? Probably not, but our method guarantees the best results every time.

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Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pie

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Like a cross between apple crisp and apple pie, this dessert features a flakey crust and creamy apple filling that’s topped with a buttery crumble.

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Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

A giant cookie that's extra chewy and crisp around the edges? Say less.

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine

This rich, fudgy cake is ideal for when those chocolate cravings hit.

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Kettle Corn

Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

Making the salty-sweet popcorn at home requires just one pot, four ingredients, and under five minutes.

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Air-Fryer Bake & Shake “Doritos”

Serious Eats / Jackie Alpers

You'll (probably) never go bagged again.

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Old Fashioned Cocktail

Serious Eats / Two Bites

The classic Old Fashioned cocktail features little more than whiskey, sugar, and bitters—you know, something to take the edge off.

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Big-Batch Apposta Cocktail

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

This easy cocktail features a blend of gin, Italian vermouth, Aperol, tart lemon juice, and bubbly grapefruit soda. Perfect for an election nigh watch party!

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