It’s important to suit your cooking to the season you find yourself in. For example, nothing tastes better than a tall cone of ice cream in the middle of July—but eating ice cream in the middle of December doesn’t make much sense at all. While it’s always a challenge to keep rotating out your menus and cooking healthy and delicious meals, any food that’s both hot and hearty is sure to go down smoothly in the winter. To that end, we’ve collected some of the best dinner recipes to make in the middle of winter that are still simple enough to make. With no further ado, here are the 10 best dinner recipes to make in winter.
1. Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients:
2 cups of cubed chicken (cooked)
1 cup of thawed broccoli florets
1 can of condensed broccoli cheese soup
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Steps:
2. Prepare the chicken stuffing according to the instructions on the package (use 1 1/2 cups of water).
3. Get out a large mixing bowl and combine your chicken, broccoli and soup before pouring it all into a greased baking dish.
4. Cover the dish and bake it for 20 minutes.
5. Take the cover off and bake it for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until it’s heated all the way through.
2. Creamy Beef and Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of water
1 pound of ground beef
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
2/3 cup of milk
2 cups of shredded cheese
Steps:
2. Get out a Dutch oven and cook your beef in it over medium heat for six to eight minutes.
3. Break the beef into crumbles and drain the fat. Add salt and pepper and stir.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the soup and milk until they’re well-combined.
5. Stir in the potatoes and add cheese.
6. Turn the heat down to low before covering the Dutch oven. Cook until the cheese melts and serve.
3. Classic Beef Chili
Ingredients:
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves of minced garlic
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1 1/2 tablespoons of chili powder
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of ground oregano
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 can of kidney beans, drained
1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
green onions, sliced
salt
black pepper
shredded cheddar (topping)
sour cream (topping)
Steps:
2. Add onions and cook for five minutes until they turn soft.
3. Add the garlic and stir it in, cooking for a minute. Add tomato paste and stir again.
4. Add the ground beef and cook it through, draining the fat out.
5. Add your chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper, stirring it up.
6. Pour in the beans and crushed tomatoes as well before bringing the chili up to a boil. After that, turn the heat down and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary, otherwise serve in bowls and top with cheddar and sour cream!
4. Lasagna Roll-Ups
Ingredients:
1 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves of minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
10 ounces of baby spinach
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
2 cups of ricotta
1 egg
1 cup of grated parmesan
1 cup of marinara
2 cups of mozzarella
salt
black pepper
Steps:
2. Next, heat some oil over medium heat in a skillet and add onion and garlic. Season it with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
3. Cook everything for five minutes until the onions are soft. Add your spinach and cook it until it wilts.
4. Stir in the lemon zest as well and take it off the heat.
5. Get out a large bowl and stir in your ricotta, egg and half a cup of parmesan. Season it with salt and pepper.
6. Spread the ricotta mix onto one side of the lasagna noodles. Top it off with marinara and spinach before sprinkling mozzarella on top.
7. Roll each one up tightly and pour some marinara in the bottom of a baking dish.
8. Add your rolled up lasagna noodles and scoop more sauce on top of all of them.
9. Sprinkle additional mozzarella and parmesan on top of everything.
10. Bake everything for 20 minutes and add parsley on top when you’re ready to serve!
5. White Chicken Chili
Ingredients:
1 yellow onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
2 cloves of minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon of oregano
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
2 cans of green chilis
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (chopped into thirds)
5 cups of chicken broth
2 cans of white beans
1 1/2 cups of frozen corn
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/4 cup of shredded cheese
1/4 cup of crushed tortilla chips
salt
black pepper
Steps:
2. Cook for five minutes until it turns soft and add garlic, oregano and cumin. Cook for a minute until it turns fragrant.
3. Add your green chilis, chicken and broth as well. Season it with salt and pepper and bring it to a boil.
4. Turn it down and cover it, letting it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
5. Take the chicken out and put it on a plate to shred it with two forks. Put it back in the pot and add white beans and corn.
6. Bring it back to a simmer and cook it for 10 minutes.
7. Turn the heat off and stir in your sour cream. When it’s done, scoop your chili into bowls and garnish with cheese, cilantro and chips.
6. Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 cup of diced onion
2 diced carrots
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
2 diced celery stalks
32 ounces of chicken stock
1 cup of egg noodles
1/4 cup of chopped parsley
salt
black pepper
Steps:
2. Cook it for six minutes before adding garlic and thyme. Cook it for a minute until it turns fragrant.
3. Shift the vegetables to one side of the pot and add the chicken to the other side. Season it with salt and pepper and cook it for six to eight minutes.
4. Add your chicken stock and a half cup of water and bring it to a boil.
5. Add noodles as well and cook them according to the package. Season it with salt and pepper before adding parsley and serving.
7. Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients:
1 cup of yellow onion, diced
2 minced cloves of garlic
2 pounds of ground beef
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons of flour
1 cup of chicken broth
2 cups of grated cheddar
1 1/2 cups of frozen peas
1 1/2 cups of frozen corn
1 pound of frozen tater tots
2 slices of bacon, cooked and cut into half-inch strips
sliced scallions
salt
black pepper
Steps:
2. Get out a cast-iron skillet and heat oil over medium-high heat, adding onions and cooking for three minutes.
3. Add your garlic and keep cooking for another minute, seasoning with salt and pepper.
4. Add ground beef as well and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook all the pink out, for about six minutes. When it’s done, drain the fat and put it back on the heat.
5. Add cayenne and flour and stir for another minute before adding broth.
6. Bring the whole thing to a boil before letting it simmer for two minutes. Fold in a cup of cheese, peas and corn.
7. Transfer everything to a baking dish and top it off with another cup of cheese. Spread tater tots and bacon on top in a layer.
8. Bake the casserole until the cheese melts and the tater tots turn golden brown, for 27 to 30 minutes.
9. Let the dish cool for two to three minutes before topping with scallions and enjoy!
8. Cajun Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
1 pound of chicken breast
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 cup of diced onion
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 cup of diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon of cajun seasoning
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
32 ounces of chicken broth
1 cup of pasta rings
1/4 cup of chopped parsley
Steps:
2. Season your chicken with salt and cook it for five minutes on each side, until it turns golden brown.
3. Transfer the chicken to a plate to cool off and chop it into half-inch cubes. Keep any extra drippings.
4. Put the pot back on medium heat and add more olive oil along with garlic and onions.
5. Cook it all for four to five minutes before adding celery, red bell pepper, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt. Cook it all for three to four minutes.
6. Add lemon juice, broth and half a cup of water, bringing everything to a boil.
7. Add pasta and cook it according to the package as well.
8. Add your chicken along with the leftover drippings back into the pot with parsley. Heat it through and serve!
9. Sausage and White Bean Soup
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon of fennel seed
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 cup of diced onion
1/2 cup of dry white wine
2 cups of marinara
32 ounces of chicken stock
1 15-ounce can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup of pasta
3 cups of baby spinach, washed and dried
Steps:
2. Add in fennel seed, garlic and onions and cook it all for four minutes, stirring occasionally throughout.
3. Next, deglaze your pan with wine and season everything with salt and pepper, simmering it all for another two minutes.
4. Add your marinara and stock and bring it to a boil. Next, turn it down and let it simmer for three minutes.
5. Add your beans and pasta, cooking the noodles according to the package instructions.
6. Add a little bit of chicken stock or water if the soup is too thick. When you’re ready to serve, add fresh spinach and let it wilt. Stir until it’s warmed through and serve!
10. Cheddar Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients:
1 cup of sour cream
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, sharp
1 can of french-fried onions
2 packages of frozen broccoli florets, thawed
Steps:
2. Get out a big saucepan and combine your soup, sour cream, a cup of cheese and one and a quarter cups of onion.
3. Heat everything over medium heat and keep stirring until it’s well-blended, for about four to five minutes.
4. Add your broccoli as well, stirring everything up.
5. Transfer the entire mix to a greased baking dish and bake it for 25 to 30 minutes.
6. Sprinkle your leftover cheese on top along with the rest of the onions. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes and serve!
No matter what you’re in the mood for, chances are there’s a perfect recipe for you and your family on this list. All of the above use simple ingredients with very little preparation to make delicious, filling and hot meals to keep you satisfied when it’s cold outside. Have you given any of these recipes a try? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments and as always, happy cooking!
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