25 Easy Cold Weather Recipes to Make This Winter That’ll Fight Frigid Temps (2024)

If you’re not a fan of the cold weather, winter can seem long, dark, and dull once the holiday season is over. And while we can’t really do anything about the depressing lack of daylight or falling temperatures, we can brighten up our days by cooking easy cold weather recipes that make the season just a tad more bearable. For example, it’s hard to be bummed out about chapped lips and dry skin when you’re feasting on dishes like Pork and Kabocha Squash Curry and Creamy Potato-Cabbage Soup each night.

What’s more? Since it’s normal to feel a little sluggish and tired in the winter, we made sure the vast majority of these comforting recipes come together in under an hour and don’t require a ton of hands-on work. Keep reading for an assortment of cold weather meals that you’ll be delighted to prepare and eat no matter how frigid and snowy it is outside.

13 Winter Recipes That Freeze—and Defrost—Really Well

Creamy Veggie Chicken Noodle Soup

Everyone loves chicken noodle soup, and this version is creamier and heartier than your standard bowl thanks to a generous amount of heavy cream. In other words, it’s perfect for those frigid nights. You’ll also find typical ingredients like chicken, noodles, and broth, as well as unexpected additions such as scallions, fresh tarragon, and haricots verts.

Ginger and Honey-Soy Salmon en Papillote

Sure, this salmon sounds fancy, but it comes together in 35 minutes. The rich fish filets are cooked inside of a parchment paper packet alongside strips of bell pepper and ginger in a sweet and warming soy-sesame-garlic sauce. When the food is ready, simply open each packet and enjoy with a side of noodles or rice.

Sheet Pan Pierogies With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Shallots, and Mustard Dressing

There’s nothing not to love about this recipe, which comes together in a single sheet pan. Frozen pierogies cut down on prep time, while fresh shallots and Brussels sprouts roast alongside the comforting dumplings. A tasty mustard dressing ties everything together, but feel free to serve it on the side if that works better for you.

Slow Cooker Brisket With Melty Onions and Chimichurri

Yes, technically this dish comes together in a little over eight hours, but we promise your trusty slow cooker does most of the work. All you have to do is sear the brisket and onions in a hot skillet before tossing them in the appliance, which takes about 20 minutes. Then, several hours later, the resulting meal is tender and hearty, while a zesty parsley-and-horseradish sauce adds freshness.

Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce

If you're not familiar with a grandma pie, think of it as a thin-crust pizza that can be made in a standard baking sheet instead of a dedicated pizza oven. This easy version is topped with a rich pink sauce, melted mozzarella, crispy coins of pepperoni, and rounds of red onion, but feel free to customize the toppings to your liking.

Lentil Soup With Sausage

There’s nothing like a bowl of soup to warm you up on a chilly day. This one includes a handful of shortcuts, like using canned diced tomatoes and lentils. You’ll simmer those ingredients with slices of kielbasa, onion, celery, and fragrant rosemary to create a flavorful meal that’s ready in just 45 minutes.

Pork and Kabocha Squash Curry

Curry typically calls for at least a dozen ingredients, but you can whip up this hearty meal using just 10, including a few you likely already have on hand. While this dish has a mild kick thanks to yellow curry powder, you can take the spice level up a few notches by using Madras curry powder instead. Serve over rice and dig in.

Skillet Polenta in Creamy Tomato Sauce

As polenta fans know, the popular Italian ingredient is an excellent comfort food. In this recipe, polenta slices are nestled into a rich tomato sauce with white beans, and the whole thing is popped under the broiler so the polenta gets a delightfully crispy top. If you want that creamy quality without actually adding any cream, go ahead and mash some of the beans to give the sauce a thicker consistency.

Instant Pot Beef Ragù With Pappardelle

Pasta with meat sauce is the perfect meal for a chilly night, and it’s even better when you don’t need to spend hours simmering the ragù on the stove. For this recipe, all you have to do is toss chuck roast, canned tomatoes, aromatic onion and thyme, and a few other ingredients in the Instant Pot and let it do all of the work. Then, once the rich sauce is done, serve it with ribbons of pasta, creamy polenta, or even mashed potatoes.

Creamy Potato-Cabbage Soup

This creamy soup combines sliced cabbage and onion with chopped potatoes and carrots in a vegetable broth. A dash of vinegar adds brightness to this meal, while a dollop of sour cream makes it irresistibly rich and smooth. The best part? This soothing soup has 10 ingredients, and takes approximately 30 minutes to make, meaning you can whip up a practically perfect winter meal in record time.

French Onion Casserole

The irresistible creaminess of mac and cheese marries the richness of French onion soup in this baked pasta recipe that takes only an hour to whip up. Once the rich casserole is done, garnish it with earthy thyme leaves to contrast the full-bodied interior. Then, serve the meal with toasted bread to sop up every last morsel.

Skillet Chicken With Grapes and Shallots

Creamy polenta, juicy roasted grapes, and perfectly browned chicken come together to create a meal that’s bound to warm your belly no matter how chilly it is outside. The fact that the whole dish comes together in 40 minutes is just an added bonus. If you want an even richer polenta to pair with the chicken and grapes, swap the water for milk when cooking.

Slow-Cooker Beef and Noodle Curry

In this slow cooker recipe, a jar of red curry paste clings to chunks of stew meat, like chuck or round. You’ll also find sweet potato and onion here, which mingle with finishing ingredients like basil, coconut milk, and lime. Once the spicy curry is complete, serve it over rice noodles with a shower of fresh basil for good measure, and dig in.

Tortellini With Sausage and Greens

Stave off the winter blues with a bowl of cheesy pasta. Here, tortellini are joined by hot Italian sausage and greens, and the whole thing is smoothed in a quick homemade sauce made with a touch of cream and Parmesan. Since this dish comes together in just 25 minutes, we have a feeling you’ll be making it all season long.

Butternut Squash and Chicken Pozole

Pozole is a hearty Mexican soup made with spices, chilies, and hominy. In this version, chicken, butternut squash, and kale join the fun for even more nutrients and flavor. Top each bowl with chopped lettuce, radishes, onions, cheese, and cilantro, and chow down!

Rotisserie Chicken Chili

If you’ve got a rotisserie chicken in the fridge, use it to create a hearty bowl of chili in just 40 minutes. The cooked poultry is paired with onion, pinto beans, green chiles, chicken stock, and masa harina for a flavorful bowl of chili that goes well with all of the fixings. Serve it with shredded cheese, cilantro, sliced scallions, and sliced jalapeños, and enjoy.

Curried Coconut Salmon Soup

Ginger and red curry paste add lively flavor to this nourishing soup, which is also made with shallots, chunks of salmon, bok choy, and mushrooms. If you can't find baby bok choy, feel free to swap in spinach. Pro tip: Make enough of this soup so you have leftovers, because it gets even better once all of the ingredients really have a chance to mingle.

Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a hit no matter what time of year it is, but it’s especially comforting in the winter. This version, which is ready in 30 minutes, pairs fusilli pasta with a seasoned mozzarella sauce and sautéd Swiss chard. We suggest you add this recipe to your meal rotation ASAP!

Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Less than 30 minutes stand between you and this comfort food favorite. The key here is using a frozen vegetable blend, which means you don’t need to spend any time slicing and dicing. Rotisserie chicken makes the filling even easier, and a sheet of puff pastry makes quick work of the lid. We have a feeling this simple pot pie will earn a spot on your winter dinner lineup.

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

If you're tired of buttered noodles, give this hearty pasta dinner a try. It's packed with spaghetti (obviously), Asiago cheese, and shredded rotisserie chicken, which is an easy addition that just so happens to be a good source of protein. Since this savory casserole is reminiscent of traditional fettuccine alfredo, it’s bound to satisfy even the harshest critics.

Slow-Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast Rice Bowls

In this set-it-and-forget-it recipe, a boneless pork shoulder cooks with shallots, beef broth, and butter, while pepperoncini and a packet of ranch dressing mix deliver some serious flavor. The roast is served in bowls with rice, shredded romaine lettuce, and cilantro for a meal that’s perfect for a group this winter.

Pesto Skillet Lasagna

If you’ve never had pesto lasagna, now is your chance to give it a go. This version is loaded with lasagna noodles, spinach, ricotta, and a creamy pesto-enhanced sauce that’s so delicious you’ll be looking for ways to work it into other dishes. When shopping for a pesto, opt for a refrigerated variety, which tastes fresher and more full of flavor.

Chicken Fricassee Pot Pie

If chicken fricassee and chicken pot pie had a baby, this hearty, comforting dish would be the result. Here, the rich creaminess and golden pastry topping of chicken pot pie meet the brightness of chicken fricassee to create a warm casserole that’s ready in about an hour. To get the puff pastry perfectly golden, be sure to let it thaw at room temperature for about 40 minutes.

Bacon & Pimiento Grilled Cheese

There’s no bad time to eat grilled cheese, but the classic sandwich is especially satisfying once temperatures drop. In this recipe, gooey, melty pimiento cheese is joined by basil leaves, crispy bacon, and sweet tomato slices. For an optimal golden crust, spread mayonnaise on the bread before searing.

Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

In this recipe, the flesh of a spaghetti squash is transformed into long, thin strands once the squash is roasted and scraped with a fork. Those strands are then topped with an Alfredo sauce made with heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Does that scream comfort or what? Reserve one half of the squash skin so you have a creative way to serve your winter meal.