The winter season is a time to embrace the comforting, hearty meals that warm you from the inside out. Perfect for snuggling up by the fireplace, or a family dinner, these winter recipes are sure to warm you up. From savory to sweet, here’s just a handful of comfort food recipes worth getting cozy for this season.
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This creamy soup is the perfect comfort food for cold days. Full of tender chicken, hearty wild rice, and a rich, herbal-flavored creamy broth, it’s a dish every member of the family will enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup wild rice, cooked
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook onion, carrot, celery, and garlic in butter until soft.
- Add flour and use a roux to cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Whisk in chicken broth slowly and bring to a simmer.
- Add cooked chicken and rice, along with heavy cream.
- Add salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Classic Beef Stew
You can’t do much better for a cold winter’s evening than a bowl of hearty beef stew. Slow cooking is used in this classic recipe to create tender beef, root vegetables, and a rich, savory broth.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs — beef chuck, cut into cubes
- 3 potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In olive oil, brown the beef and reserve.
- Sauté onion, carrot, and celery in the same pot until softened.
- Add tomato paste and flour, stirring for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the beef broth, thyme, and browned beef and bring to a boil.
- Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours. Add the potatoes and cook for another 30 minutes.
Butternut Squash Risotto
This rich and dreamy risotto is a beautiful balance of sweet and savory. The roasted butternut squash brings a deep, silken texture to this Italian standard.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- 1 small butternut squash, roasted and pureed
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup white wine
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, sauté onion in butter until translucent.
- Add rice, stirring for 2 minutes.
- Add wine and let it absorb.
- Add broth gradually, ladle by ladle, stirring steadily.
- Once the rice is creamy and tender, add squash puree and Parmesan.
Shepherd’s Pie
This British classic is the gold standard for cold-day comfort food. Savory ground meat and creamy mashed potatoes are layered together for a dish that provides that warm hug.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 4 large potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Brown ground meat and remove it. Remove excess grease.
- Then add onion, carrots, and tomato paste, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add broth and peas, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Spread out the meat mixture in a baking dish, then layered the mashed potatoes over the top.
- First, bake for 25 minutes at 375, or until golden brown.
Hot Chocolate Lava Cake
Finish your meal with a gooey dessert that spills warmth. This steamy hot chocolate lava cake is oozing with richness.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup flour
- A pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Melt the chocolate and butter (or oil) together.
- Add sugar, eggs, and salt; whisk until combined.
- Fold in flour until smooth.
- Transfer batter to greased ramekins and bake for 12 minutes at 400°F.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
This rich, cheesy soup is a winter classic. It’s packed with potatoes, bacon, and cheddar cheese for a dish that is like a warm hug.
Ingredients:
- 4 large potatoes peeled and diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook onion in butter until glassy or translucent.
- Stir in potatoes and chicken broth, then simmer until the potatoes are tender.
- Purée some of the soup for creaminess.
- Add cream, cheese, and bacon, then season with salt and pepper.
Spaghetti Carbonara
A dish classic in Italy: easy, simple, and very comforting. The egg-based sauce is creamy, with all the flavor from the melted Parmesan and pancetta.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 4 oz pancetta, diced
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil spaghetti until al dente.
- In a pan, sauté some pancetta and garlic.
- Beat together eggs and Parmesan.
- Toss hot spaghetti with mixture of sautéed pancetta and egg, then season with salt and pepper.
Chicken Pot Pie
This utterly classic dish of tender chicken, creamy sauce, and flaky pastry is the luxe, ultimate answer to what to eat (and how) for winter comfort.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup mixed vegetables
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- You cook butter and flour together to form a roux.
- Blend in broth and cream to create a sauce.
- In a baking dish, combine chicken, vegetables, and sauce.
- Cover it with puff pastry and bake at 400 F for 25 minutes.
Mac and Cheese with a Twist
How to elevate your mac and cheese: with a breadcrumb topping and a touch of smoked paprika, for a cozy dish.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook macaroni until al dente.
- Make a cheese sauce out of butter, flour, milk, and cheese.
- Combine macaroni with sauce, and turn into a baking dish.
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and paprika, then bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding
This dessert merges the warm spices of pumpkin pie with the gooeyness of bread pudding for a dessert that shines in the winter.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups bread, cubed
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Instructions:
- Combine milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs and spices.
- Pour over cubed bread and soak for 15 minutes.
- Let cool for a few minutes, then bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.
- Serve warm, with whipped cream.
A selection of winter comfort food recipes that will hit the spot and help keep you warm all season long. From savory stews to sweet desserts, you’ll find something here for everyone to enjoy. Happy cooking and stay warm!