Keep cozy this winter with these Pinterest perfect meals that you’ll want to rotate all season long. Comfort food is a must year round but it’s especially needed in the winter to survive the early sunsets and piercing cold. We all love grilled cheese as much as the next person, but it’s time to branch out and warm up from the inside out with these quick and easy winter recipes.
You’ll find freezer friendly meals, one skillet sizzlers, and sheet pan solutions in this winter recipe roundup guaranteed to leave you more than satisfied. To complete your meal, pair it with one of these winter cocktails.
Jump to the recipe:
- Beef Stew
- Three Cheese Skillet Mac & Cheese
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Chicken Parm Baked Ziti
- Baked Pork Chops
- Veggie Fried Rice
- Ramen Chicken Noodle
- Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp & Broccoli
- Sweet Potato Gnocchi
- Roast & Potatoes
1. Beef Stew
Is there really anything better than an old-fashioned beef stew on a cold winter weekend? This 5 star recipe from NY Times yields four servings and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
One mistake you want to avoid is rushing the cooking process. Cook the stew low and slow for tender results. This is one of the perfect winter recipes to double for company or just to have leftovers throughout the week.
Ingredients
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
1 pound beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into cubes
5 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cup red wine
3 ½ cups beef broth
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
5 medium carrots, cut into ¼ inch rounds
2 large baking potatoes, cut into ¾ inch cubes
2 teaspoons salt
Directions
Chunking your meat is your best bet for tender results. Start by tossing the beef in the flour and pepper in a bowl. In the meantime, heat 3 teaspoons of oil in a large pot and begin adding a few beef pieces at a time. Brown the beef on all sides.
Remove the beef from the pot and add the vinegar and red wine. Cook over medium-high heat and scrape the pan to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, broth, and bay leaves to bring to a boil and eventually simmer. Then, cover and cook for about 1 ½ hours.
Add the onions, carrots, and potatoes and simmer until tender or about 30 minutes. If the stew seems dry, add broth or water. Season to taste.
2. Three Cheese Skillet Mac & Cheese
Nothing says comfort food quite like a variety of melted cheese. Your weapon for this killer recipe is just a skillet. Make this the main dish or add it to your favorite dish of BBQ chicken, pulled pork, grilled chicken, etc. This mac and cheese goes great with just about anything.
Although this recipe is simple, the options of ingredients to add to your mac are endless. Turn it into buffalo mac and cheese with some hot sauce, add green onions or chives, bacon, ham, or really whatever your heart desires.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups of elbow macaroni
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups of sharp white cheddar cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese grated
5 oz goat cheese
2 garlic cloves minced
Directions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and cook your pasta until al dente in a large pot of boiling salted water.
Butter your cast-iron skillet. Bring heavy cream and garlic to a simmer. Whisk in the goat cheese, cheddar, and half of the parmesan until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add pasta to your cast-iron skillet and coat evenly with cheese sauce. Sprinkle it with the remaining cheese.
Pop your skillet in the oven for about 25 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown. If you like a little extra crunch, top it with some breadcrumbs for the last 5 minutes.
3. Chicken Pot Pie
Classic chicken pot pie is one of those winter recipes that quickly becomes a staple in every home. Making this quintessential comfort food from scratch can be time consuming, which is why there are so many frozen options on the market. Luckily, we found a quick recipe that still delivers bright, fresh flavors.
If you love this wholesome dish with a creamy sauce and a hearty mix of chicken and vegetables every picky child will fall in love with, then this recipe is for you. After all, nobody nails a flaky, buttery crust quite like Pillsbury.
Ingredients
1 box refrigerated Pillsbury Pie Crusts softened
⅓ cup butter
⅓ cup chopped onion
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 ¾ cup Progresso chicken broth
½ cup milk
2 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
Directions
As always, begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees. Lay your first pie crust in a 9-inch pan, following directions on the box. Save the second for later.
Next, melt the butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Add your onion and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until tender. Stir in your flour, salt, and pepper. Then, gradually stir in broth and milk until the rich sauce is thickened and bubbly.
Add chicken and veggies next before removing from heat. Transfer the mixture into the crust-lined pan and top it with the second crust. Seal the edges and use two hands to pinch (“flute”) the edge of the crust. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
4. Chicken Parmesan Baked Ziti
What makes this dish awesome is it’s freezer friendly so you can make a large amount to save for those gloomy winter days that you just don’t feel like cooking. When it comes to convenience, this recipe by Tasty delivers.
True to the name, this dish includes lots of chicken and lots of parmesan. We threw in some extra mozzarella, which makes everything extra ooey, gooey, and wonderful. You’re welcome.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
2 chicken breasts
25 oz tomato sauce
2 cups mozzarella
1 cup parmesan cheese
¼ cup fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Prep by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Boil your pasta in salted water until al dente then drain. While waiting on the pasta, dice your chicken and cook thoroughly. Add the tomato sauce and pasta. Mix well until everything is evenly coated in sauce.
Grease your baking dish (we recommend 11×7 in or 9×13 in) and pour half of your pasta in. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella, ½ cup parmesan, and an ⅛ cup of basil on the first layer. Pour the rest of the pasta on top and coat it with the remaining cheese and basil.
Bake for 20 minutes and voila!
5. Baked Pork Chops
This recipe, requiring only 5 minutes of prep, is so easy it’ll make you reminiscent of your college days. Except, I bet you never made pork chops then because you probably didn’t know it could be this simple yet delicious. Sometimes all it takes to make or break pork chops is the proper spice mixture and this recipe crushes it.
Pair your chops with roasted potatoes and a green veggie like asparagus, brussels sprouts, or broccoli and you’ve got yourself a healthy, delicious meal.
Ingredients
Spice rub mix:
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt and pepper or to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
Boneless pork chops
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together your spices to create the rub. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over both sides of all pork chops. Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over both sides and place in a baking dish. Drizzle them with the final tablespoon of olive oil.
Place them in the oven to bake for 18 minutes or until their internal temperature reaches 140 degrees. There you have it!
6. Vegetable Fried Rice
There are a million and one ways to make fried rice and it’s generally hard to mess up. Fried rice is loaded with healthy veggies, tons of flavor, and it’s on the table ready to be devoured in 20 minutes.
The beauty of this meal is you can switch out any veggies you aren’t a fan of for something else. You could even add chicken, beef, or shrimp if you wish. This recipe calls for white rice but you can use brown rice as an alternative to get some extra fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons oil
½ cup diced carrots
1 tablespoon minced garlic
½ cup diced onions
½ cup diced bell peppers
½ cup broccoli
½ cup peas
⅓ cup corn
3 eggs,, beaten
3 cups cooked white rice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Directions
Heat the oil over high heat and cook the carrots, onions, and garlic first. Add the bell peppers and broccoli for an additional 3-4 minutes. Push all the veggies to one side of the pan.
Pour the beaten eggs into the empty half of the pan. Once scrambled, mix with the rest of the veggies. Add peas, corn, rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil and mix well. Let the rice cook until slightly crispy and enjoy!
7. Ramen Chicken Noodle
Switch it up with an Asian flair and a side of spice. This authentic recipe is the definition of comfort just in time for the unmistakably bitter, cold weather.
Ingredients
3 ½ cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 medium carrot sliced diagonally
1 stalk celery sliced diagonally
½ red bell pepper cut into strips
2 green onions sliced diagonally
1 clove garlic, minced
4 oz broken up uncooked ramen noodles
1 cup cooked, shredding chicken
Directions
It’s time to throw away the .50 cent packages of ramen sitting in the back of your pantry because this is one of the best cozy winter recipes that takes just 5 minutes to prepare and is ready in less than 30 minutes!
All you need to do is heat the broth, soy sauce, ginger, pepper to taste, carrot, celery, red pepper, green onions, and garlic. Wait for it to boil, then stir in the noodles and chicken. Reduce the heat to a medium and cook for about 10 minutes or until the noodles are done.
8. Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp & Broccoli
We guarantee your friends and family will be talking about the crisp, tender broccoli and juicy shrimp coated in a mouthwatering sticky sauce for days. This winter recipe is a keeper and not to mention, ready in just 20 minutes!
Did you know broccoli is best in October through April? Now’s the time to add it to any and every meal!
Ingredients
½ cup honey
¼ cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
2 tablespoons minced garlic
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon cornstarch
1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 teaspoon olive oil
Directions
In a small bowl, start by adding the honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and red pepper. Mix well. Place the shrimp into a separate bowl and add ⅓ of the sauce. Toss until the shrimp is evenly coated amd marinate for 30 minutes. (Try not to skip marinating the shrimp for the best results!) Whisk the cornstarch and left over marinade and set aside for later.
Heat a cast iron skillet on high heat. Add olive oil, broccoli, salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 5-6 minutes until soft. Remove the broccoli and set aside. Add more butter to the skillet and add the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp turns pink which should take about 2 minutes on each side.
Finally, add the reserved sauce and bring to a simmer before mixing the broccoli in. Serve with rice or pasta and enjoy!
9. Sweet Potato Gnocchi
You can’t beat a 4 ingredient sheet pan dinner. While homemade gnocchi is a game changer, Trader Joe’s fully cooked sweet potato gnocchi gives it some serious competition. This bomb winter recipe calls for roasted gnocchi instead of the traditional method of boiling. If you only try one recipe from this list, let this be the one.
Ingredients
Sweet italian sausage sliced
1 bag Trader Joe’s sweet potato gnocchi
2 tablespoons olive oil
Pesto sauce
Directions
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place the sausage on a baking sheet with the sweet potato gnocchi. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to ensure sausage and gnocchi are evenly coated.
Spread in an even layer and roast until the gnocchi is plump and lightly browned. It should take about 15 minutes. Drizzle with pesto and serve! That’s really all there is to it!
10. Roast & Potatoes
… and carrots, of course. We’re arguably saving the best for last here. While you have to prep for this meal in the morning, you’ll thank yourself when you walk in the door to a feast. Bonus if you work from home and get to smell the aroma all day.
This winter staple leaves you with plenty of leftovers to store in the fridge! Let’s give it up for a roast that’s tender, juicy, and flavorful thanks to a few pantry staple spices.
Ingredients
1 onion cut into wedges
1 pound carrots cut into chunks
1 ½ pounds baby potatoes
4 cloves garlic minced
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons dijon mustang
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
3-4 pound chuck roast
Directions
In your crockpot, add the onion, carrots, potatoes, garlic, and beef broth. Combine the dijon mustard, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper in a bowl. Brush mustard paste on all sides of the beef roast and place in the crockpot on top of the veggies. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours ideally or high for 5-6 hours. This is one of the easiest winter recipes to add to your rotation!
Everyone needs a little pick me up to combat the winter blues and these recipes are just the ticket!
