40 Winter Dinner Recipes to Keep You Warm and Cozy

updated Jan 9, 2024
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Beef stew in a slow cooker with a ladle.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Often, when I don’t feel like cooking, I’ll make a dinner salad, a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, or a quick beans-and-greens sauté and call it a night. But come winter I crave dinners that are way more comforting than that. When I’m looking for something to warm me from the inside out — something that is as hearty as they come — I turn to these recipes. From soups, stews, casseroles, and one-pan meals, these winter dinner ideas will keep you warm and cozy through the night.

Winter Dinner Soups

From classic chicken noodle to creamy mushroom, there’s nothing better than a big bowl of soup in the winter.

1 / 10
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
This cozy classic has everything you love and cooks in just 30 minutes.
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2 / 10
Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheesy Crouton Topper
This oven-roasted tomato soup is topped with homemade croutons and cheese, then broiled until the bread is extra crispy and the cheese is melted.
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3 / 10
Creamy Mushroom Soup
This soup treats you to a double dose of mushrooms, plus a silky, mushroom-infused vegetable broth with just a touch of cream for just a hint of richness.
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4 / 10
3-Ingredient Corn Soup
This comforting soup uses canned corn to deliver a sweet-and-savory taste in a pinch.
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5 / 10
Creamy Tortellini Soup
Perfect for chilly weather, this vegetarian soup has a creamy tomato-based broth loaded with tender tortellini and spinach.
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6 / 10
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
This slow cooker twist on classic potato soup is the perfect fall dinner for a crowd.
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7 / 10
Creamy White Lasagna Soup
Everything you love about the classic cheesy pasta, without the fuss.
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8 / 10
French Onion Chicken Soup
The best of both worlds combine in one cozy pot.
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9 / 10
Creamy White Bean and Kale Soup
With a smoky flavor and subtle heat, this cozy soup will make you think it has the richness of meat even though (spoiler) it's totally vegan.
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10 / 10
Creamy Chicken Soup
Chicken soup with vegetables and herbs is pure cold weather comfort food, and this version takes it up a notch with a luxe, creamy broth.
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Winter Dinner Stews

Hearty stews are the ultimate comfort food in the winter, like classic beef stew, sausage and lentil stew, and chicken stew.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Tender chunks of beef and hearty bites of carrots and potatoes make this slow cooker stew the ultimate winter dinner.
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2 / 10
Vegetarian Mushroom Stew
A hearty mix of mushrooms, nutty chickpeas, and greens in a thick and creamy coconut and tomato broth.
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3 / 10
Pollo ai Peperoni (Cacciatora Southern-Style Chicken Stew with Peppers)
Super-tender chicken and sweet bell peppers are cooked in a tangy white wine sauce in this light summer dinner.
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4 / 10
Moroccan Chickpea and Squash Stew
A hearty, nourishing stew with butternut squash, dried apricots, and fragrant saffron.
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5 / 10
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Tender beef stew made in the Instant Pot in less than an hour.
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6 / 10
Mulligatawny Stew
This cozy stew truly is layered with incredible flavor thanks to a combination of chunky vegetables, hearty protein, lentils to lend thickness and soup, and a mingle of spices.
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7 / 10
Brunswick Stew
This flavor-packed stew gets its kick from a mustard-based sauce.
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8 / 10
Chicken, Mushroom, and Potato Stew
This flavor-packed chicken stew recipe rivals even the heartiest beef stew.
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9 / 10
Slow Cooker Sausage and Lentil Stew

Andouille-style chicken sausage packs this simple stew with tons of flavor.

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10 / 10
Guinness Beef Stew
This stew is simmered low and slow in a Guinness-spiked sauce.
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Winter Dinner Casseroles

Stay warm and cozy with classic casseroles like chicken pot pie, tuna noodle, and more.

1 / 10
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Store-bought buttery biscuits bake over chicken and veggies in a rich, creamy sauce.
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2 / 10
Sloppy Joe Casserole
A casserole with the flavors of a classic sloppy joe but with none of the messy eating.
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3 / 10
One-Pot Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole
This one-pot wonder inspired by Tuna Helper has tuna, tender noodles, and peas cooked together in a creamy sauce.
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4 / 10
Cheeseburger Casserole
A one-pot wonder with ground beef and cheddar cheese that channels all the Hamburger Helper vibes.
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5 / 10
French Chicken Casserole
Layer buttery mashed potatoes over French-inspired chicken pot pie filling for the ultimate comfort food.
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6 / 10
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
All the flavors of the classic dish without the fussiness.
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7 / 10
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ranch-enthusiasts will love this cheesy, flavor-packed casserole.
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8 / 10
Cowboy Casserole
This ultra-comforting casserole is packed with lots of melty cheddar and topped with a crispy layer of tater tots.
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9 / 10
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
This leftover-friendly recipe turns this classic chicken dish into a cheesy casserole.
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10 / 10
Pierogi Casserole
If you are seeking out a new and innovative idea for dinner, look no further than a bag of frozen pierogi.
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Winter Dinner One-Pan Meals

One-pan is all you need for the perfect winter meal with your family.

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One-Skillet Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
Crispy chicken thighs and tender potatoes join forces in this lemony, oregano-rich skillet dinner.
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2 / 10
Creamy One-Pot Beef Orzo
Everything you love about spaghetti and meatballs made so much easier in this one-pot, no-chop dinner.
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3 / 10
One-Pan Caramelized Apples & Pork Chops
Cozy up with a skillet of these juicy, tender pork chops with stewed apples and caramelized shallots.
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4 / 10
One-Skillet French Onion Chicken
This weeknight winner is inspired by the flavors of French onion soup. Chicken cutlets are smothered with melt-in-your-mouth onions and Gruyere, then finished in a richly-flavored pan sauce.
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5 / 10
One-Skillet Chicken Thighs with Pearl Couscous and Eggplant
This one-skillet dish features crispy chicken thighs, pearl couscous, and eggplant simmered in a flavorful tomato base. A complete dinner with minimal dishes to wash? Yes, please!
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6 / 10
One-Pan Eggplant Parm Gnocchi
Pan-fried gnocchi joins tender eggplant, melty mozzarella, and marinara in this saucy skillet dinner
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7 / 10
One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Everything is done in the same skillet in this recipe — easy cooking and easy cleanup.
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8 / 10
Easy One-Pot Beef Goulash
From the sauce-slicked macaroni to the crumbles of ground beef and pockets of melted cheddar, one-pot beef goulash is as comforting as it is easy to get on the table.
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9 / 10
One-Pan Chicken & Potatoes
Make this cozy skillet dinner with crispy-skinned chicken thighs, creamy potatoes, and tangy feta.
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10 / 10
One-Pot Orzo with Peas and Parmesan
This one-pot dish cooks orzo pasta in flavorful stock and is finished with lemon, peas, and Parmesan for a lighter take on risotto.
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