Forget The Groundhog & His Shadow—These 15 Recipes Are Here To Keep You Cozy Until Spring
The best recipes, without a shadow of a doubt.
I think it is safe to say that Groundhog Day is one of the more interesting holidays on the calendar. This year alone, around 40,000 people gathered in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to watch a group of men in top hats lift up a groundhog named Phil—supposedly the same Phil that has been alive and predicting the weather since 1886—and read a pun-filled proclamation straight from the groundhog’s lips to the scroll. If Phil sees his shadow, it is said there will be 6 more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, we're getting an early spring. This year, to the chagrin of many, Phil foresaw 6 more weeks of cold and dark; however, there are reasons to be optimistic.
For one, there are actually many weather predicting groundhogs across the country, and Phil is one of the worst—ranked 17th out of 19 recognized predictors by NOAA—only predicting the correct outcome 35% of the time. That's worse than 3 taxidermied groundhogs, one “presumed groundhog” that has never actually been seen, and a 3-foot-tall statue of a prairie dog. In fact, the most accurate groundhog, Staten Island Chuck (full name Charles G. Hog), contradicted Phil by predicting an early spring.
My favorite reason? We’ve got plenty of winter weather recipes to get you through the next 6 weeks in comfort and warmth. This is the perfect time of year to test out those soup recipes—like our steak au poivre soup or creamy white bean tomato soup—you haven’t gotten around to yet, to double-down on your favorite hearty classics (like classic chili, shepherd’s pie, or chicken & dumplings), or to just stay inside while the smell and warmth of a great meal in the oven keeps you cozy.
Whichever way the weather goes, spring will be here soon enough, so be sure to make the most out of the end-of-comfort-cooking season. Don't just check out these winter recipes, look to our favorite winter salads, our best winter cocktails, and our favorite winter soups to complete your seasonal spread.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is one of the world’s most beloved comfort foods for good reason. Chunks of juicy chicken mingle with carrots, celery, and tender egg noodles in a deep, savory broth for a soup that will transport you right back to Grandma’s table.
Get the Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.
High-Protein Marry Me Chicken
If the way to a person’s heart is really through their stomach, then Delish’s own Marry Me Chicken is a must-cook for pretty much everyone. This one-pan wonder has it all: plenty of luscious creamy sauce, tender chicken, and flavor for days.
Get the High-Protein Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Crockpot Mac & Cheese
If you’re not into creamy, melty macaroni and cheese with an insanely satisfying cheese-pull, then you might want to find another mac recipe. And while this eye-roll-inducing comfort food is in fact made in the slow cooker, it’s ready in just a little over an hour.
Get the Crockpot Mac & Cheese recipe.
French Onion Pot Roast
Cold-weather comfort food is all I want on a lazy, long weekend, and this French onion pot roast is the perfect cross between slow-roasted chuck and classic cheesy French onion soup.
Get the French Onion Pot Roast recipe.
Philly Cheesesteak Pasta
The Philly cheesesteak is insanely high on my favorite sandwiches list, but worthy cheesesteak spots are few and far between. This pasta is my solution to getting that comforting flavor without suffering through a disappointing take-out sandwich.
Get the Philly Cheesesteak Pasta recipe.
Cream Of Mushroom Pastina
Cream of mushroom soup is a classic cozy dinner, but one that on its own can leave something to be desired. I wanted to simulate what cream of mushroom should be via a one-pot pasta scenario, and this vegetarian dinner was born.
Get the Cream Of Mushroom Pastina recipe.
Classic Chili
Hearty, filling, and versatile, chili is a staple comfort food for very good reason. If you’re looking for the most classic version to come home to after a long day, then this is the recipe for you.
Get the Classic Chili recipe.
Shepherd’s Pie
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 a blanket of velvety, rich mashed potatoes and topped with Parmesan before being broiled until golden brown.
Get the Shepherd’s Pie recipe.
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.
Beef Stroganoff
While it may be an old-school classic, this is the comfort food we take seriously. With its rich sauce deepened in flavor with red wine, Dijon mustard, and finished with tangy sour cream, beef stroganoff is the dish to keep in your back pocket when you need a reliable, cozy weeknight dinner.
Get the Beef Stroganoff recipe.
Steak Au Poivre Soup
Steak au poivre is a French classic typically made with filet mignon or sirloin steak covered in a creamy, peppery sauce. The sauce is downright drinkable and was made to be eaten with a spoon, so we thought—let’s soup-ify it!
Get the Steak Au Poivre Soup recipe.
Creamy White Bean Tomato Soup
A cross between a classic tomato soup and our favorite white bean soup, this easy soup is the best of both worlds. It’s rich and creamy with added protein and topped with garlicky croutons.
Get the Creamy White Bean Tomato Soup recipe.
Chicken & Dumplings
One spoonful of this classic chicken & dumplings recipe instantly makes me think of childhood. 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.
Get the Chicken & Dumplings recipe.
Beef Stew
A winter dinner staple, beef stew is the hearty comfort food to make when you need a bowl of stick-to-your-bones, warming goodness. My version of this classic—replete with baby potatoes, veggies, and tender beef—gets an extra zhuzh of flavor from tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce.
Get the Beef Stew recipe.
Italian Meatloaf
As an Italian-American food enthusiast, I had strong feelings about developing Italian meatloaf. There are many variations of what this Italian-American version consists of, but mine shares history with the meatball: tender, cheesy, garlic-forward, and rich with tomato umami.
Get the Italian Meatloaf recipe.
