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97 Winter Dinner Ideas Guaranteed To Keep You Warm & Cozy

Sorry salads, you're on the backburner.

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pillowy gnocchi in a creamy harissa sauce with ras al hanout spiced chicken, sliced mushrooms, spinach, and crumbled feta
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

It's no secret that we love cooking all year-round, but there's something extra special about creating kitchen magic during the wintertime. Our ovens warm up the kitchen and the meals that come out of them are beyond cozy and comforting. Easy sheet-pan meals, family-friendly casseroles, and hearty baked pasta dishes that give us all the cozy feelings are the name of the game. To help you warm up this winter, we've compiled our favorite easy dinner recipes to give you plenty of weeknight dinner inspo all season long. While the cold winds blow outside, cozy up to one of these 95 warming winter dinners to keep the whole family happy and satisfied.

No matter what you crave during the colder months, we have a recipe here for you. We let winter flavors and produce shine in many of these recipes, including our hot honey chicken & Brussels sprouts, our sheet-pan harissa chicken & sweet potatoes, our vegan shepherd's pie, and our cabbage roll skillet. If you can't help but crave stew all season long (relatable!), you won't be able to get enough of our white chicken chili (or our gochujang version!), our west African-inspired chicken & peanut stew, our classic beef stew, and our one-pot Greek chicken chili. Need something even heartier? Our French onion mac & cheese, our Cajun-spiced chicken & gnocchi, our white bean & sausage skillet, or our cheesy barbacoa biscuit bake will give you that warm, stick-to-your-ribs feeling we all want during colder weather.

The best part of these recipes? They're quick and easy, whether you're whipping up dinner for one or need to serve a crowd. Handy gadgets like the beloved Instant Pot and slow cooker make dinner prepping a breeze, while cozy casseroles—like our chicken pot pie casserole, our Reuben casserole, our baked ziti, and our chicken fajita casserole—make weeknight dinners easier than ever.

Hungry for more winter inspo? Check out our top winter salads, our best winter cocktails, and our favorite winter soups to complete your seasonal spread.

1

French Onion Pot Roast

onion seasoned beef is nestled in a bed of cooked onions, red wine, fresh thyme, and beef broth, then braised until ridiculously tender, shredded, and topped with nutty, salty gruyere cheese
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

Cold-weather comfort food is all we want on a lazy, long winter weekend, and this French onion pot roast is the perfect cross between slow-roasted chuck and classic cheesy French onion soup. Taking inspo from our onion soup rib roast, the beef is seasoned with onion soup mix to add depth and an extra umami boost.

Get the French Onion Pot Roast recipe.

2

Shepherd's Pie

ground beef cooked with aromatics and red wine, then combined with corn and peas and covered with a blanket of velvety, rich mashed potatoes, then topped with parmesan and broiled until golden brown
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Nothing satisfies a meat and potato craving quite like a classic, hearty shepherd’s pie. In this comfort food staple, ground beef is cooked with aromatics and red wine before being combined with corn and peas, all covered with velvety, rich mashed potatoes and topped with Parmesan before being broiled until golden brown. 😍

Get the Shepherd's Pie recipe.

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3

Creamy Harissa Chicken & Gnocchi

pillowy gnocchi in a creamy harissa sauce with ras al hanout spiced chicken, sliced mushrooms, spinach, and crumbled feta
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If creamy chicken & gnocchi is the one-pan dinner you find yourself making over and over again, this one’s for you. It’s just like the original but with added flair from crumbled feta, ras el hanout, and spicy harissa paste—a North African hot sauce. Chicken breast cutlets are seasoned, pan-seared, then smothered in smoky, creamy spinach and mushroom sauce alongside plump gnocchi. It’s hearty, velvety, and completely deserving of a spot in your weeknight dinner round-up.

Get the Creamy Harissa Chicken & Gnocchi recipe.

4

Pierogi Casserole

casserole dish filled with pierogis and cheese
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Looking for a comforting yet innovative dish to impress your guests or family, without too much work on your part? This easy-to-make casserole takes frozen potato pierogi to the next level with layers of spinach, sausage, and cheese that will leave everyone craving more.

Get the Pierogi Casserole recipe.

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5

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

cheesy pasta skillet with tender skirt steak, sauteed peppers, onions, and mushrooms, and creamy provolone
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

The Philly cheesesteak is at the peak of our favorite sandwiches list, but worthy cheesesteak spots are few and far between (especially for discerning consumer). This pasta is our solution to getting that comforting flavor without suffering through a disappointing take-out sandwich.

Get the Philly Cheesesteak Pasta recipe.

6

White Bean & Smoked Sausage Skillet

seared smoked sausage smothered in a creamy boursin sauce tossed with tender cannellini beans and kale hen topped with crunchy homemade mini croutons
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

Name a better pairing than pork and beans. We'll wait…. exactly. There simply isn’t one. That means that this white bean and sausage skillet is guaranteed to have you scraping your bowl clean and coming back for seconds. Best part? This comes together in just 30 minutes and only uses a few dishes!

Get the White Bean & Smoked Sausage Skillet recipe.

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7

Italian Penicillin Soup

italian penicillin soup with acini di pepe egg drop and chicken broth and parmigiano
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

During the cold winter months, soul-healing comfort food is what the doctor ordered, and that's exactly what this cozy noodle soup is. Italian Penicillin soup (also known as Nonna's Penicillin soup) gets its name from how nourishing and comforting every spoonful is. It heals you when your body hurts, eases those winter blues, or comforts you when you’re a little homesick for nonna.

Get the Italian Penicillin Soup recipe.

8

Hamburger Casserole

a casserole dish filled with elbow macaroni, ground beef, and a creamy sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

We'll say it: A cheeseburger is one of the most perfect foods on Earth, but it can be hard to replicate the perfection of a restaurant-quality burger in the comfort of your own home. This hamburger casserole captures the same magic in the form of an easy weeknight casserole.

Get the Hamburger Casserole recipe.

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9

Cream Of Mushroom Pastina

cream of mushroom pastina
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Canned cream of mushroom soup is great, though we all know homemade is better. One reason? If you make it at home, you can jazz it up into a one-pot pasta scenario like this one, without too much extra effort.

Get the Cream Of Mushroom Pastina recipe.

10

Jambalaya

jambalaya with shrimp, chicken, and sausage in a skillet
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Spicy, hearty, and incredibly flavorful, jambalaya is a New Orleans classic for good reason. Its complex flavor is informed by cuisines from around the world—Spanish, West African, and French to name a few. Our recipe combines three proteins and vegetable-packed rice for a flavor-packed dish that will warm you up all season long.

Get the Jambalaya recipe.

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11

Beef Stew

beef stew with potatoes, beef, carrots, and peas
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

No comfort food truly compares to classic beef stew. Complete with baby potatoes, veggies, and tender beef, this is a recipe you want to keep up your sleeve, whether you’re serving guests or looking for a make-ahead meal (that will get even better as the week goes on).

Get the Beef Stew recipe.

12

Cacio E Pepe White Beans Skillet

cacio e pepe white beans in a bowl with bread
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Craving 5-star flavors at home on a winter weeknight? Make these cacio e pepe white beans. Using just six ingredients, this classy one-pan dinner promises the luscious richness and bold flavors of a fine dining restaurant in just 15 minutes.

Get the Cacio E Pepe White Beans Skillet recipe.

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13

Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers

beef and rice stuffed poblano peppers with cheese
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING BARRETT WASHBURNE

Bell peppers tend to be a bit sweeter and fruitier than poblano peppers, but poblanos really hold up to big flavors and rich foods, making them perfect for stuffed peppers. We updated the typical filling with fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle chiles too, but feel free to swap in for your favorite filling if you like.

Get the Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers recipe.

14

Dirty Martini Steak Frites

seared skirt steak topped with buttery green olive, gin, and vermouth sauce and served with crispy golden french fries
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Don’t let the frozen fries fool you—this is a meal for grown-ups. The French bistro classic, steak frites, gets fused with a dirty gin martini to create a combo that will leave you feeling like your most sophisticated self.

Get the Dirty Martini Steak Frites recipe.

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15

French Onion Mac & Cheese

mac and cheese with caramelized onions and thyme in ramekins
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

TikTok may be obsessed with French onion pasta, but we added a special Delish twist: French onion mac & cheese. The comfort food classic gets a grown-up upgrade from Gruyère and caramelized onions in this recipe, lending that rich French onion flavor you know and love to extra-cheesy mac & cheese.

Get the French Onion Mac & Cheese recipe.

16

Chicken & Dumplings

shredded chicken and dumplings in a creamy broth, topped with chopped parsley

This easy comfort food recipe is perfect on a cold night, and simple enough to whip up when you don't feel like making anything. One spoonful, and you'll be instantly cozier, no matter the weather outside.

Get the Chicken & Dumplings recipe.

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17

Hot Honey Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

hot honey chicken and brussels sprouts in a pan
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Looking to spice up your weeknight dinner rotation? Make hot honey chicken and Brussels sprouts. Featuring a simple glaze hacked from a store-bought condiment, this one-skillet meal promises maximum flavor with minimal fuss.

Get the Hot Honey Chicken & Brussels Sprouts recipe.

18

Cajun-Spiced Chicken & Gnocchi

gnocchi in a tomato based sauce with sliced spiced chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Let the good times roll because this chicken and pasta skillet will take you straight to Louisiana. Just like our other gnocchi skillet dinners, this one is absolutely craveable; plus, it brings all the flavors we associate with New Orleans into your kitchen, just in time for Mardi Gras.

Get the Cajun-Spiced Chicken & Gnocchi recipe.

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19

Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo

cajun flavored alfredo with penne tossed with smoked sausage
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This dish expands on what we all love about fettuccine Alfredo, amping it up with the punchy spices and andouille sausage commonly found in Cajun cuisine. If you love gumbo and jambalaya, this recipe has got to be next on your list.

Get the Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo recipe.

20

Sesame Tofu & Broccoli

crispy baked tofu tossed with a sweet and savory chili spiked sesame sauce and crisp tender broccoli
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.

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