40 Recipes to Keep You Warm and Cozy in the Winter (2024)

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Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

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updated Jan 9, 2024

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40 Recipes to Keep You Warm and Cozy in the Winter (1)

Often, when I don’t feel like cooking, I’ll make a dinner salad, a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, or a quick beans-and-greens sauté and call it a night. But come winter I crave dinners that are way more comforting than that. When I’m looking for something to warm me from the inside out — something that is as hearty as they come — I turn to these recipes. From soups, stews, casseroles, and one-pan meals, these winter dinner ideas will keep you warm and cozy through the night.

Winter Dinner Soups

From classic chicken noodle to creamy mushroom, there’s nothing better than a big bowl of soup in the winter.

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This cozy classic has everything you love and cooks in just 30 minutes.

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Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheesy Crouton Topper

This oven-roasted tomato soup is topped with homemade croutons and cheese, then broiled until the bread is extra crispy and the cheese is melted.

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Creamy Mushroom Soup

This soup treats you to a double dose of mushrooms, plus a silky, mushroom-infused vegetable broth with just a touch of cream for just a hint of richness.

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3-Ingredient Corn Soup

This comforting soup uses canned corn to deliver a sweet-and-savory taste in a pinch.

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Creamy Tortellini Soup

Perfect for chilly weather, this vegetarian soup has a creamy tomato-based broth loaded with tender tortellini and spinach.

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Slow Cooker Potato Soup

This slow cooker twist on classic potato soup is the perfect fall dinner for a crowd.

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Creamy White Lasagna Soup

Everything you love about the classic cheesy pasta, without the fuss.

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French Onion Chicken Soup

The best of both worlds combine in one cozy pot.

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Creamy White Bean and Kale Soup

With a smoky flavor and subtle heat, this cozy soup will make you think it has the richness of meat even though (spoiler) it's totally vegan.

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Creamy Chicken Soup

Chicken soup with vegetables and herbs is pure cold weather comfort food, and this version takes it up a notch with a luxe, creamy broth.

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Winter Dinner Stews

Hearty stews are the ultimate comfort food in the winter, like classic beef stew, sausage and lentil stew, and chicken stew.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Tender chunks of beef and hearty bites of carrots and potatoes make this slow cooker stew the ultimate winter dinner.

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Vegetarian Mushroom Stew

A hearty mix of mushrooms, nutty chickpeas, and greens in a thick and creamy coconut and tomato broth.

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Pollo ai Peperoni (Cacciatora Southern-Style Chicken Stew with Peppers)

Super-tender chicken and sweet bell peppers are cooked in a tangy white wine sauce in this light summer dinner.

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Moroccan Chickpea and Squash Stew

A hearty, nourishing stew with butternut squash, dried apricots, and fragrant saffron.

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Instant Pot Beef Stew

Tender beef stew made in the Instant Pot in less than an hour.

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Mulligatawny Stew

This cozy stew truly is layered with incredible flavor thanks to a combination of chunky vegetables, hearty protein, lentils to lend thickness and soup, and a mingle of spices.

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Brunswick Stew

This flavor-packed stew gets its kick from a mustard-based sauce.

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Chicken, Mushroom, and Potato Stew

This flavor-packed chicken stew recipe rivals even the heartiest beef stew.

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Slow Cooker Sausage and Lentil Stew

Andouille-style chicken sausage packs this simple stew with tons of flavor.

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Guinness Beef Stew

This stew is simmered low and slow in a Guinness-spiked sauce.

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Winter Dinner Casseroles

Stay warm and cozy with classic casseroles like chicken pot pie, tuna noodle, and more.

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Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Store-bought buttery biscuits bake over chicken and veggies in a rich, creamy sauce.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

A casserole with the flavors of a classic sloppy joe but with none of the messy eating.

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One-Pot Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole

This one-pot wonder inspired by Tuna Helper has tuna, tender noodles, and peas cooked together in a creamy sauce.

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Cheeseburger Casserole

A one-pot wonder with ground beef and cheddar cheese that channels all the Hamburger Helper vibes.

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French Chicken Casserole

Layer buttery mashed potatoes over French-inspired chicken pot pie filling for the ultimate comfort food.

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Stuffed Pepper Casserole

All the flavors of the classic dish without the fussiness.

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Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Ranch-enthusiasts will love this cheesy, flavor-packed casserole.

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Cowboy Casserole

This ultra-comforting casserole is packed with lots of melty cheddar and topped with a crispy layer of tater tots.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

This leftover-friendly recipe turns this classic chicken dish into a cheesy casserole.

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Pierogi Casserole

If you are seeking out a new and innovative idea for dinner, look no further than a bag of frozen pierogi.

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Winter Dinner One-Pan Meals

One-pan is all you need for the perfect winter meal with your family.

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One-Skillet Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

Crispy chicken thighs and tender potatoes join forces in this lemony, oregano-rich skillet dinner.

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Creamy One-Pot Beef Orzo

Everything you love about spaghetti and meatballs made so much easier in this one-pot, no-chop dinner.

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Cozy up with a skillet of these juicy, tender pork chops with stewed apples and caramelized shallots.

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One-Skillet French Onion Chicken

This weeknight winner is inspired by the flavors of French onion soup. Chicken cutlets are smothered with melt-in-your-mouth onions and Gruyere, then finished in a richly-flavored pan sauce.

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One-Skillet Chicken Thighs with Pearl Couscous and Eggplant

This one-skillet dish features crispy chicken thighs, pearl couscous, and eggplant simmered in a flavorful tomato base. A complete dinner with minimal dishes to wash? Yes, please!

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One-Pan Eggplant Parm Gnocchi

Pan-fried gnocchi joins tender eggplant, melty mozzarella, and marinara in this saucy skillet dinner

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One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Everything is done in the same skillet in this recipe — easy cooking and easy cleanup.

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Easy One-Pot Beef Goulash

From the sauce-slicked macaroni to the crumbles of ground beef and pockets of melted cheddar, one-pot beef goulash is as comforting as it is easy to get on the table.

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Make this cozy skillet dinner with crispy-skinned chicken thighs, creamy potatoes, and tangy feta.

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One-Pot Orzo with Peas and Parmesan

This one-pot dish cooks orzo pasta in flavorful stock and is finished with lemon, peas, and Parmesan for a lighter take on risotto.

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40 Recipes to Keep You Warm and Cozy in the Winter (2024)

FAQs

What is the best food to eat to keep you warm? ›

Whole Grains & Complex Carbs

The food molecules take much longer to break down than normal foods and encourage your digestive system to work much harder. This can increase blood flow and thus, body heat. Foods such as potatoes and lentils are great examples to support this theory!

What is the most popular winter food? ›

Winter warmer recipes
  • Sausage & mash pie. ...
  • Leek & potato soup. ...
  • Winter panzanella. ...
  • Squidgy chocolate pear pudding. ...
  • App onlyOne-pot spiced roast chicken. ...
  • App onlyCheesy potato patchwork pie. ...
  • Porchetta ragu. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. ...
  • Classic rice pudding. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.

What food is most eaten in winter? ›

Winter Seasonal Food List
  • mushrooms, “wild”
  • nuts (chestnuts, walnuts, pecans)
  • potatoes.
  • root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, yams, turnips, etc.)
  • squashes, winter (acorn, pumpkin, butternut, etc. ...
  • sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke)
  • canned, dried and frozen vegetables you bought in the summer and fall for winter meals.
Jan 13, 2015

What is the best food in winter? ›

Here are some foods that you should try out this winter.
  • Soup. This is one of the best food that will help you live through winter comfortably. ...
  • Drink More Warm Milk. ...
  • Cauliflower and Broccoli. ...
  • Start Your Day with Porridge. ...
  • Consume Root Vegetables. ...
  • Increase Your Intake of Cheese, Eggs, and Fish.

How can I make my body warm in winter? ›

Wearing lots of layers rather than one thick piece of clothing will help trap your body heat and keep you warmer. Clothes made with insulating material, like wool jumpers and thermal underwear, are best for keeping you warm at home. Using a hot water bottle is also an inexpensive way to stay warmer for longer.

What foods raise body temperature? ›

Nutritious Foods to Keep You Warm In Cold Weather
  • Thermogenesis and Body Heat. In general, foods that take longer to digest can help raise your body temperature and make you feel warmer. ...
  • Eat Bananas. ...
  • Drink Ginger Tea. ...
  • Eat Oats. ...
  • Drink Coffee. ...
  • Eat Red Meat. ...
  • Eat Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Eat Butternut Squash.

How can I make my body warm in winter naturally? ›

You can help keep warm by:
  1. wearing plenty of thin layers rather than one thick one.
  2. putting on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside.
  3. wearing clothes made of wool or fleecy synthetic fibres (cotton is only effective if the garment stays dry)
  4. wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night.

How can I increase my body temperature in winter? ›

Place your hands under your armpits to retain body heat and warm your fingers. Use personal protective equipment: Some items are used to warm and increase body temperature such as hats, gloves, socks and clothing if available. If you can keep your hands, feet, and head warm, your body temperature will be more stable.

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