Chase away the winter cold with our collection of hearty recipes featuring seasonal ingredients. Dive into comforting stews, roasts, and soul-soothing beverages that will keep you warm all season long.
Chase Away the Winter Cold with Hearty Winter Recipes
The winter months are a time for comfort food. When the weather outside is cold and dreary, there’s nothing like a warm, hearty meal to warm you up from the inside out. And what better way to enjoy seasonal flavors than with winter recipes made with fresh, local ingredients?
Here are a few of our favorite winter recipes:
- Beef Stew: This classic dish is made with beef, carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery, all cooked in a flavorful broth. It’s perfect for a cold winter day, and it’s sure to warm you up from the inside out.
Here is a recipe for beef stew:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
- 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, flour, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until browned on all sides.
- Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the beef broth, tomato soup, red wine (if using), bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, cloves, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
- Cover and simmer for 2 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- Stir in the peas and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use beef broth made from scratch.
- If you don’t have red wine, you can use beef broth or water.
- You can also add other vegetables to the stew, such as potatoes, mushrooms, or green beans.
- To thicken the stew, you can add a cornstarch slurry. To make a cornstarch slurry, whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water. Stir the slurry into the stew and cook until thickened, about 1 minute.
Enjoy!
- Chicken Pot Pie: This is another classic winter comfort food. It’s made with chicken, vegetables, and a creamy sauce, all baked in a flaky pie crust. It’s the perfect dish to curl up with on a cold winter night.
here is a recipe for chicken pot pie:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute more.
- Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, milk, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until thickened.
- Stir in the chicken and peas.
- Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust.
- Top with the second pie crust and crimp the edges to seal. Cut several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can use store-bought pie crusts, or make your own.
- If you don’t have frozen peas, you can use fresh peas. Just cook them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes before adding them to the filling.
- You can also add other vegetables to the filling, such as potatoes, mushrooms, or green beans.
- To make a lattice crust, cut the second pie crust into strips. Lay the strips over the filling in a lattice pattern.
- If you want a crispier crust, brush the top crust with egg wash before baking.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
- Roast Chicken: A roast chicken is a simple but delicious dish that’s perfect for a winter dinner. The chicken is roasted until golden brown and crispy, and it’s served with roasted vegetables and gravy.
Here is a recipe for roast chicken:
Ingredients:
- 1 (3-4 pound) whole chicken, giblets removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Remove the giblets from the chicken cavity and discard. Rinse the chicken inside and out with cold water.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken, inside and out.
- Place the chicken in a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.
Enjoy!
Here are some tips for roasting a chicken:
- Make sure the chicken is at room temperature before roasting. This will help it cook evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd the roasting pan. This will prevent the chicken from browning evenly.
- Baste the chicken every 20 minutes with the pan juices. This will help keep the chicken moist.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken.
You can also roast the chicken with vegetables. Just add your favorite vegetables to the roasting pan along with the chicken. Some good options include carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery.
- Soup: Soup is a great way to warm up on a cold winter day. There are many different types of soup to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that you love. Some popular winter soups include lentil soup, tomato soup, and chicken noodle soup.
Here is a recipe for lentil soup:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup brown lentils, rinsed and sorted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cumin, coriander, and turmeric and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, lentils, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
- Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Enjoy!
Here are some tips for making lentil soup:
- You can use any type of lentil you like. Brown lentils are the most common, but you can also use green lentils, red lentils, or Puy lentils.
- If you don’t have vegetable broth, you can use chicken broth or beef broth.
- You can add other vegetables to your soup, such as potatoes, mushrooms, or zucchini.
- If you want a thicker soup, you can puree some of the soup in a blender or food processor.
- You can also add other spices to your soup, such as cayenne pepper, garam masala, or smoked paprika.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
- Cranberry-Orange Bread: This moist and flavorful bread is made with cranberries, orange zest, and walnuts. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the flavors of winter.
here is a recipe for cranberry bread:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed and patted dry
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with the orange juice, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir in the cranberries and orange zest.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can use dried cranberries instead of fresh. Just be sure to rinse them well before using them.
- If you don’t have orange zest, you can use 1 teaspoon of orange extract.
- To make a glaze for the bread, whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon orange juice, and 1 teaspoon grated orange zest. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
- Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate is another delicious and warming beverage that’s perfect for winter. It’s made with chocolate, milk, and sugar, and it can be topped with whipped cream or marshmallows.
here is a recipe for hot chocolate:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream and chocolate shavings, for topping (optional)
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Stir constantly until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Heat until the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired.
Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can use dark or semisweet chocolate instead of unsweetened cocoa powder.
- If you want a richer hot chocolate, you can add 1/4 cup of heavy cream to the mixture.
- You can also add other flavors to your hot chocolate, such as peppermint extract, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
These are just a few of the many hearty winter recipes that you can enjoy. So next time you’re feeling cold and in need of a warm meal, be sure to try one of these recipes. You won’t be disappointed!
Additional Tips
In addition to these recipes, here are some other tips for staying warm and healthy during the winter months:
- Dress in layers so that you can adjust your clothing as needed.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially warm beverages.
- Get regular exercise, but avoid exercising in extreme cold.
- Stay dry. If you get wet, change your clothes as soon as possible.
- See a doctor if you have any cold or flu symptoms.
By following these tips, you can stay warm and healthy all winter long.