When chilly winter nights set in, and also you need to combine up your weeknight menu or want recent concepts on hearty comfort-food dishes, this round-up is for you! At the moment, we now have 31 winter dinner recipes which might be simple to make, bursting with heat winter spices, and can heat even the pickiest eater from the within out.
Should you’re on the lookout for inspiration for straightforward winter recipes, more healthy variations of comfort-food recipes, and attention-grabbing family-friendly dinners with seasonal components then this assortment of 31 simple winter recipes might be your go-to checklist!
Together with a few of our favourite winter dinner concepts we’ve additionally included a featured recipe: Winter Squash Tacos. It’s comforting, stuffed with heat spices, and every little thing you need on a cold night.
What Is In Season In Winter?
Considered one of our key targets at Wholesome Seasonal Recipes is that can assist you discover methods of cooking with seasonal veggies and fruits and different components. This can be a checklist of a number of the meals which might be in season in wintertime:
- Cruciferous veggies: Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi and broccoli and different brassicas are all hearty winter veggies that may stand up to frost.
- Winter squashes: Thick skinned storing squashes like pumpkin, butternut squash and kobocha are all often known as winter squashes. See our featured recipe on the backside of this publish for Winter Squash Tacos!
- Onions and garlic: These are harvested within the late summer season and fall and maintain all winter. Shallots additionally fall into this class.
- Root greens: Frequent roots embody carrots, parsnips, turnips, rutabaga and celeriac. Ginger and galangal and different roots used for seasoning and cooking are additionally in season in winter.
- Mushrooms: Considered one of our favourite methods of including veggies to consolation meals recipes is to make use of mushrooms! They’re a good way to healthify simple winter meals for household.
- Peanuts and nuts
- Shellfish: Oysters, mussels and different shellfish are nice presently of yr
- Tropical fruits and citrus: Grown in sunnier climates, oranges and different recent citrus come into season in early winter and can be found all winter lengthy. Search for pineapple, mango and different tropical fruit too.
- Persimmons and pomegranates: Search for these in your produce division. They’re often saved with different “unique” fruits at room temperature.
- Cranberries: Harvested within the late fall, cranberries are in season from late October by means of early winter.
31 Winter Dinner Recipes
Satisfying Casseroles
When chilly climate hits, we discover ourselves craving these soul-satisfying casseroles. And whereas nothing satisfies higher than conventional recipes, generally, it is advisable lighten or boost a traditional! So, listed here are our favourite lighter variations of family-friendly casseroles which might be certain to please everybody round your desk.
Rooster Divan is a wealthy and hearty casserole, however our model will get a wholesome twist! Made with out mayonnaise this creamy dish is made in a single pot, and is loaded with huge chunks of hen, a great deal of recent broccoli, and topped with a crunchy panko and parmesan cheese. It is prepared in beneath an hour and is the proper cozy wintertime dinner.
When a consolation meals temper strikes, whip up this do-it-yourself Rooster Shepherd’s Pie! With solely half-hour of hands-on time, this hearty one-pan dish is comparatively easy to make. It is full of healthful components like leftover hen, rotisserie hen, or leftover turkey in a creamy leek sauce and topped with candy corn and creamy mashed potatoes for a wholesome twist on a beloved traditional.
Photograph Credit score:
kitchenconfidante.com
One-skillet Rooster Gnocchi Bake is a comfy and comforting meal made with flame-grilled hen and store-bought gnocchi. All components are combined in a creamy pesto sauce and completed off within the oven for that good bubbly, barely crispy prime!
A tackle my grandmother’s traditional! This protein-packed savory fish casserole with caramelized onions, nutty Swiss cheese, white wine, and breadcrumbs could be made with any flaky white fish. The perfect half is that this casserole is on the desk in beneath 45 minutes.
Wholesome Vegetarian Dishes
Listed below are a few of our favourite veggie-packed vegetarian dishes so that you can do this winter. However don’t fret, they’re hearty and bursting with taste that even your meat-loving family will depart the desk feeling full and happy.
Vegetable Pasta Bake is a scrumptious vegetarian meal that even meat-eaters will take pleasure in! Loaded with recent veggies and topped with ricotta and melted cheese for one cozy winter weeknight meal that is prepared in beneath 40 minutes.
Photograph Credit score:
foodwithfeeling.com
Vegan Pad Thai is the proper weeknight dinner! Fast and straightforward to make, this straightforward dish is stuffed with daring Thai flavors that may fulfill all these Asian take-out restaurant cravings.
This Straightforward Chickpea Stew is stuffed with heat North African spices, tender butternut squash, and winter greens. This vegan stew shouldn’t be solely hearty however tastes wonderful and is on the desk in simply 35 minutes.
Photograph Credit score:
vanillaandbean.com
Conventional Italian bolognese will get a vegetarian twist! This hearty Vegetarian Mushroom Bolognese boasts earthy flavors with an additional silky texture that adheres completely to pasta. The perfect half is {that a} meals processor takes care of all of the chopping, so this satisfying dish is on the desk in beneath an hour!
A enjoyable twist on a traditional vegetarian lasagna, this Butternut Squash Lasagna is a formidable meal for friends or Sunday supper. Not solely is it a show-stopping dish however it may be made as much as two days upfront after which popped into the oven earlier than friends arrive! Would not get any simpler than that!
One-Pot Vegetarian Burrito Bowls are a scrumptious, vegetarian, gluten-free meal. These fast, simple, and oh-so-healthy bowls are made within the On the spot Pot making it the proper chilly climate family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Photograph Credit score:
www.ambitiouskitchen.com
Thai-inspired Peanut Coconut Cauliflower Chickpea Curry is stuffed with daring flavors, stunning wintertime veggies, and plant-based protein. This cozy dish is a one-pan surprise that comes collectively in simply half-hour, making it the proper weeknight meal that everybody will take pleasure in.
Easy Veggie Tacos are stuffed with completely spiced, tender sauteed veggies, and creamy black beans, and topped along with your favourite salsa, guac, and cilantro! These easy plant-based tacos are so satisfying that even carnivores will love them!
This Vegetarian Lentil Shepherd’s Pie is a enjoyable twist on that cozy consolation meals traditional. Stuffed with the wealthy conventional cottage pie flavors, this model makes use of lentils as an alternative of meat! Plus, it is stuffed with hearty veggies, making this dish not solely nutritious however scrumptious. Truthfully, even the pickiest meat-eaters might be happy once they’re completed.
Hearty Winter Sandwiches
Typically, there may be nothing higher than a sandwich. And in the case of wintertime, grilling shouldn’t be at all times an choice. So, we have give you a couple of of our favorites that take wholesome spins on indoor classics!
These Chickpea Burgers are easy, scrumptious, do-it-yourself vegetarian burgers stuffed with brown rice and falafel flavors. Filled with candy shredded carrots, peppery parsley, garlic, and heat spices, and is paired with a lemon tahini sauce. Sure, these plant-based burgers should not solely yummy however oh-so-satisfying.
Whereas these burgers aren’t squished between a bun, these Burger Bowls have all of the flavors of a conventional hamburger! As a substitute of the bun, the meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles are layered right into a bowl on prime of cauliflower rice for a scrumptious low-carb meal. Drizzle with a do-it-yourself Thousand Island dressing for one irresistible dish!
Rooster Taco Sloppy Joes is a wholesome, family-pleasing recipe that is on the desk in beneath half-hour. Stuffed with spicy southwest flavors, these lean floor hen sloppy joes are a saucy messy consolation meals sandwich.
These wholesome Sloppy Joes are low in added sugar, stuffed with hidden veggies, and solely 300 energy per sandwich. Made with out ketchup, these messy sandwiches have a naturally candy and bitter sauce that’s lip-smacking good!
Nutritious Rooster Recipes
Who says hen must be boring? With these recipes, you’ll be able to kiss bland hen goodbye as a result of these dishes should not solely wholesome however they’re bursting with taste that may make your style buds sing.
Photograph Credit score:
feelgoodfoodie.web
Rooster with Freekeh is an genuine Lebanese dish that is stuffed with taste, excessive in protein, and made with entire grain freekeh. Not solely is that this a simple weeknight meal that is scrumptious, hearty, and wholesome nevertheless it’s good for serving a crowd!
Photograph Credit score:
www.aheadofthyme.com
Restaurant-quality Indian Butter Rooster is easy-to-make, higher than takeout, and prepared in half-hour! This traditional Indian dish is loaded with taste! Charred hen smothered in a creamy tomato-based sauce and heat Indian spices is nothing wanting a culinary journey in your tastebuds.
Creamy Rooster a la King is a lighter do-it-yourself model of the traditional consolation meals dish. Loaded with chunks of hen, recent greens, and a splash of cream, this meal comes collectively in half-hour making it an ideal weeknight dish.
Photograph Credit score:
www.barleyandsage.com
Harissa and Persimmon Rooster is slightly bit candy, and a contact spicy, however nothing wanting taste! This one-skillet wintertime dish is stuffed with tender and flavorful hen that is paired with charred persimmons for one irresistible meal.
Gentle Fish Dishes
Flavorful, gentle seafood can be soul-satisfying on these darkish, lengthy winter nights. These recipes are daring and stuffed with taste, but will not depart you feeling weighed down like conventional consolation meals dishes.
Easy Ginger Lime Black Cod is a simple method to bake sablefish within the oven with solely 10 minutes of prep! The mixture of spicy ginger and tart lime is a scrumptious mixture that pairs fantastically with this rich-tasting fish. The perfect half? This can be a high-protein, low-carb, low-calorie meal that the entire household will take pleasure in!
Photograph Credit score:
themodernproper.com
This Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish Bowl is a dairy and gluten-free, taste bomb! This rice bowl recipe conjures the long-lasting flavors of Hawaii – one thing your style buds will thanks for – particularly on these lengthy winter nights!
Photograph Credit score:
playswellwithbutter.com
Baked Shrimp Scampi with White Wine is a simple, no-fuss, ready-in 30-minute dish! Jumbo shrimp are tossed in a scampi-style sauce after which baked within the oven till tender and infused with taste. Serve with linguine and a bit of crusty bread for a scrumptious, do-it-yourself, restaurant-quality shrimp scampi!
Contemporary, tropical-inspired Tilapia with Tangerine Salsa will transport you to a heat climate vacation spot! This vibrant meal is prepared in half-hour, solely 259 energy per serving, and dairy-free!
Comforting Beef and Pork Recipes
Comforting, wintertime dishes, often name for a meat of substance! And these beef and pork-inspired dishes ship in all the best locations. Satisfying, hearty, but gentle sufficient that you simply will not really feel responsible for indulging!
Ginger Pork Stir-fry with Bok Choy is a simple, 15-minute dinner recipe. This Asian-inspired dish is bursting with traditional Chinese language components and spices. Serve it over cauliflower rice to maintain it a paleo-friendly meal, or toss it with Chinese language egg noodles for a scrumptious meal the entire household will love.
This 35-minute Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Beef and Cheese have all of the feels and flavors of a traditional meatball sub however with out the guilt!
This creamy Brussels Sprouts Pasta Carbonara is one satisfying weeknight dinner that requires solely quarter-hour of prep work! This simple carbonara has tender, shredded, and sauteed Brussels sprouts and crisp smoky bacon. Toss with spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine for a lighter tackle a traditional Italian dish.
Photograph Credit score:
www.theendlessmeal.com
Cranberry Pork Chops should not solely fairly to have a look at however are bursting with taste! Pan-seared chops are served with a do-it-yourself cranberry sauce that is elegant sufficient for vacation events and household get-togethers but in addition easy sufficient for a tasty weeknight meal.
Photograph Credit score:
reciperunner.com
Toss out that take-out menu! This fast and straightforward Pineapple Beef Stir-fry is easy to make and tastes higher than your native restaurant. Serve over rice, noodles, and even cauliflower rice for a scrumptious one-pan weeknight meal.
This wholesome Gradual Cooker Beef Burgundy Stew is the sluggish cooker model of the traditional French recipe Beef Bourguignon. Tender braised beef, a great deal of hearty veggies, and smoky bacon are cooked low and sluggish in a wealthy wine sauce for one elegant, but melt-in-your-mouth, comforting dish!
Extra Seasonal Inspiration
Past these wholesome winter dinner concepts, listed here are a number of extra methods to include seasonal components into your menu.
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Blissful Cooking! ~Katie
Description
Our easy-to-make winter squash tacos are prepared in lower than half-hour and bursting with daring flavors. Made with nutritious winter squash, heat spices, and a lightweight and wholesome do-it-yourself crema, these winter tacos are certain to fulfill on these chilly winter nights.
For the Tacos
- 1 small butternut squash, pie pumpkin, or one other smooth-skinned winter squash, about 1 pound 9 ounces
- 8 comfortable corn tortillas
- 4 teaspoons avocado oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon floor chipotle chili powder, to style
- 1 cup canned tomato sauce
- 1 cup drained canned black beans
For the Crema:
- 2 tablespoons bitter cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Non-compulsory for Serving:
- 2 scallions, finely sliced
- 1 avocado, diced or sliced
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 4 tablespoons toasted pepitas (inexperienced pumpkin seeds)
- Peel squash or pumpkin with a vegetable peeler. Reduce in half and take away seeds with a measuring spoon. Reduce into ½-inch thick slices after which into ½ -inch cube.
- Wrap the tortillas in foil and place within the oven set at 325°F. Warmth by means of for about 12 to fifteen minutes.
- In the meantime, warmth oil in a big non-stick skillet over medium-high warmth. Add onion, squash or pumpkin, garlic, and ¾ teaspoon salt, and stir to coat with the oil. Cowl and cook dinner, eradicating the lid to stir sometimes, till the squash is tender, 6 to eight minutes. If the combination is browning an excessive amount of earlier than the squash or pumpkin is tender, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and scale back warmth to medium to forestall burning.
- Take away lid, sprinkle on pumpkin pie spice and chipotle, and stir to coat. Cook dinner, stirring typically till the spices are aromatic, about 1 minute. Add tomato sauce and black beans and stir to mix. Deliver to a simmer, then take away from the warmth.
- Whereas the squash is cooking, whisk bitter cream, mayonnaise, lime zest, lime juice, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in a small dish.
- Assemble tacos by dividing the squash combination among the many heat tortillas. High with any desired non-obligatory toppings reminiscent of scallions, avocado, cotija, cilantro, or pepitas. Drizzle on the crema and serve instantly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook dinner Time: 10 minutes
- Class: Important Course
- Delicacies: American
Key phrases: winter dinner concepts, simple winter recipes, winter dinner concepts wholesome, simple winter meals for household
In regards to the Writer
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied artwork and pictures at Skidmore Faculty and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been knowledgeable recipe developer since 2001 when she first began working within the take a look at kitchen at EatingWell journal. Her recipes have been featured in quite a few magazines together with Form, Health, Mother and father and a number of other Edible Communities publications amongst others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was revealed in 2015. She launched Wholesome Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont together with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, yow will discover her on the fitness center, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial backyard.
