Winter dinner recipes are all about fresh seasonal produce and warm and cozy comfort food. So if you are wondering what to make for dinner on a cold winter night, then you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 60 of the best and most popular winter dinner ideas including quick and easy comfort food (even in under 30 minutes!), hearty soups and stews, comforting pasta dinners, lasagna recipes, all things butternut squash, slow cooker and instant pot meals, seasonal winter salads (to balance it all out), and more!
Quick and Easy Comfort Food
White chicken chili is an easy and delicious one pot meal made with shredded chicken, hearty veggies, and a creamy broth that's loaded with flavor. One of my absolute favorite winter dinner ideas.
Pasta Bake with Sausage (Baked Ziti)
Pasta bake with sausage (baked ziti) is a lazy day lasagna with layers of pasta tossed in a rich meat sauce, layered with mozzarella, and baked. The perfect winter dinner for families.
Curried Chickpea Stuffed Acorn Squash
Wholesome, hearty, curried chickpea stuffed acorn squash with curry flavours is the perfect vegan and gluten-free fall comfort food dinner to enjoy this winter.
Easy Chicken Parmesan (Parmigiana)
Easy chicken parmesan (parmigiana) with crispy breaded chicken, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The best comfort chicken dinner.
Easy 20-minute one pot lentils is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with protein. It's immune boosting properties makes it the perfect hearty meal and one of my favorite vegan winter dinner ideas.
Thai Turkey Meatballs in Coconut Curry
Thai turkey meatballs in coconut curry are the perfect weeknight dinner when you want something delicious, healthy, flavorful, and satisfying.
Chicken marsala in creamy mushroom sauce is a quick and easy 30-minute chicken dinner that is pure comfort food goals. A total crowd favourite this winter.
This hearty classic meatloaf with a caramelized glaze will nourish your body and soul. Feed the whole family with a simple yet flavourful classic winter dinner.
Homemade chicken pot pie is loaded with a delicious, creamy, savory filling contained by a crispy, buttery, and flaky pie crust. It stores and freezes well.
Lasagna soup is a twist on a classic Italian recipe with all the same delicious comforting flavors in the form of a hearty one pot soup. The coziest winter dinner recipe ever.
Turkey Tetrazzini with Spinach
Creamy turkey tetrazzini with spinach is a simple, easy and delicious pasta recipe that is comforting, creamy and cheesy. The recipe used turkey, but you can easily substitute it with leftover chicken or a storebought rotisserie chicken instead.
Beef stroganoff is a delicious, flavorful, and comforting Russian pasta dish that is ready in under 25 minutes. The perfect weeknight dinner.
Roasted Balsamic Chicken with Cranberries
If you’re scrambling to figure out dinner with less than 30 minutes on hand, this sweet and tangy roasted balsamic chicken with cranberries will save the day. Serve with some creamy mashed potatoes or garlic mashed cauliflower.
Delicious, comforting homemade Swedish meatballs are seared and smothered in a creamy gravy sauce and taste so much better than IKEA meatballs. One of my go to winter dinner ideas.
Easy creamy ham and potatoes au gratin is a great way to use leftover ham with tender sliced potatoes and a cheesy béchamel sauce. The best comfort food.
Cheesy Tortellini and Sausage Bake
Quick and easy, cheesy tortellini and sausage bake is a delicious 30-minute dinner packed with flavour. A family-favourite comfort food for busy weeknights this winter.
Hamburger soup with macaroni is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that‘s wholesome, filling, comforting and nutritious. Prep, cook and serve under an hour.
Glazed Honey Balsamic Pork Chops
Quick and easy, glazed honey balsamic pork chops are tender and juicy, seared in thyme and coated with a honey balsamic sauce. Make it in under 30 minutes for one of the easiest winter dinner ideas.
Easy one pot vegetarian chili is the perfect warm and cozy comfort meal — it’s hearty, filling, wholesome, flavorful, delicious, and loaded with protein.
Creamy lemon parmesan chicken is a simple, quick and easy 30-minute meal that is packed with flavour. The most comforting and easiest weeknight dinner.
Ground beef meat pie with a flaky puff pastry double crust pie is filled with ground beef cooked with vegetables and seasonings. The ultimate comfort food and one of my favorite winter recipes.
Hearty Soups + Stews
Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Hearty and creamy tortellini soup with sausage, spinach and kale is total comfort food in a bowl. Make this flavourful one pot meal in under 30 minutes.
Southern Black Eyed Peas (Hoppin' John) is classic comfort food that is hearty, delicious, flavorful, and comforting. Serve it on New Year's for good luck.
Chicken and rice soup is delicious, warm, cozy, and comforting feel-good meal that can warm you up on a chilly day. Easy to make in one pot.
One Pot Coconut Curry Beef Stew
Warm and cozy, easy one pot coconut curry beef stew is hearty yet creamy, packed with tender beef chunks, potatoes and carrots, and creamy coconut milk.
Beef taco soup is a delicious take on tacos, transforming it into a hearty, wholesome, filling soup topped with all the taco fixings. Ready in 30 minutes for the perfect winter recipe.
Classic split pea soup is a wholesome, filling, and delicious one pot meal that will warm you up. It's hearty, flavorful, and is loaded with nutrients.
Smooth, hearty and light, one pot lemon chicken orzo soup is pure comfort in a bowl. This family favourite is like chicken noodle soup with a major upgrade. Serve it with some crispy sourdough discard crackers with sesame seeds.
Creamy beef wild rice soup is savory, flavorful, and delicious, packed with vegetables and beef flank steak (or leftover roast beef!), and freezes well.
Indian-inspired, vegan, creamy coconut curry lentil soup is an easy and simple 30-minute pantry meal that is packed with spices for maximum flavour. Serve it as a soup or as a curry over some coconut rice.
Better than takeout, make easy Indian butter chicken in just 30 minutes, with a creamy tomato-based sauce, charred chicken, and incredible spice + flavour.
Vegetarian Mushroom Barley Soup
Wholesome hearty vegetarian mushroom barley soup is healthy, filling, and so delicious. This one pot winter recipe is easy to make with just 10 minutes of prep.
Minestrone soup is a hearty, healthy, nourishing, and delicious classic Italian soup, packed with vegetables and pasta simmered in a rich tomato broth.
Hearty coconut lamb curry is an easy one pot meal that is packed with flavour. Make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker and freeze leftovers for later.
One Pot Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
This gluten-free, one pot Thai red curry noodle soup is so flavourful and packed with shrimp, vermicelli rice noodles, fresh herbs, lime juice + fish sauce.
Lasagna is Life
Classic easy meat lasagna is the ultimate Italian comfort food with layers of tender lasagna, meaty tomato sauce, cheese filling and melted cheese on top.
Creamy White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
Creamy white chicken and spinach lasagna with tender shredded chicken is the most comforting creamiest cheesiest white lasagna. Easy to make ahead & freeze.
Butternut squash lasagna is a delicious, warm and cozy vegetarian lasagna to make this fall when the your family is craving major comfort food this fall.
Lasagna roll ups are a twist on traditional lasagna. Lasagna noodles are filled with cheese and meat sauce and rolled up. Make ahead and freezer-friendly!
Vegetarian Lasagna with Spinach
This Vegetarian Lasagna with Spinach is creamy, cheesy, and delicious. This classic Italian dish gets a meatless upgrade in this vegetarian version.
All Things Winter Squash
Stuffed Butternut Squash with Wild Rice
Healthy, hearty and wholesome butternut squash with wild rice and mushrooms is an easy cozy vegetarian dinner or side dish for fall. It pairs so nicely with a juicy roasted turkey breast and nutty green beans.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Butternut squash mac and cheese is a flavorful and delicious fall twist on a classic, with a rich and creamy sauce that is secretly loaded with veggies.
Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas
Butternut squash curry with chickpeas is a rich hearty one pot meal that will satisfy your fall comfort food cravings. Great for weeknight family dinners.
Roasted Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Soup
Creamy roasted butternut squash and cauliflower soup has all the fall feels and is vegan and gluten-free. Plus, it's super easy to make in a sheet pan.
Slow Cooker and Instant Pot = Best Friend in the Winter
Hearty slow cooker beef chili is an easy, comforting, low-maintenance dinner in fall and winter months. It's a family favourite crockpot chili.
Instant pot whole chicken with gravy is tender, juicy, and flavorful. It's the fastest way to cook a whole rotisserie chicken for dinner in just 40 minutes.
Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
Instant pot chicken fried rice is easy to throw together, packed with flavor, and delicious. It's perfect for a weeknight family dinner or meal prep. | aheadofthyme.com
Slow cooker Korean short ribs deliver complex Asian flavours with little effort. Simply add your ingredients in the crockpot and let it cook dinner for you.
Instant pot beef curry with potatoes and carrots is delicious, hearty, comforting, and flavorful. It's made quick and easy in the pressure cooker.
Instant pot turkey breast is the most tender and juicy turkey you’ll ever try. It's so easy to make in the pressure cooker and requires little prep.
Slow cooker whole chicken is soft and tender and literally falls off the bone. It is the easiest way to cook a rotisserie chicken with a few minutes prep. Shred it and use it in any of our 25 Best Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes.
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Instant pot butternut squash soup is the perfect fall dish to cook in your pressure cooker — warm, cozy, comforting, and creamy. Make in 15 minutes.
Soft, tender and juicy slow cooker turkey breast with the crispiest skin and fresh fall herbs is the easiest way to cook a turkey this holiday season. Serve it with make ahead cranberry sauce.
Nutritious wholesome slow cooker bone broth is healing, promotes physical wellness and health, and is easy to make at home. Add it to soups, stews and more.
Instant pot mashed potatoes are the quickest and easiest mashed potatoes you’ll make in under 20 minutes (including prep!) in the pressure cooker.
Slow Cooker Asian Beef Noodle Soup
An easy weeknight dinner option, this hearty and oily slow cooker Asian beef noodle soup is packed with beef chunks, vegetables, noodles, and Asian spices and flavours.
Instant pot turkey thighs are tender, juicy, and delicious. Perfect for a small holiday dinner or weeknight dinner with little effort and 10 minutes prep.
Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb Stew
A bowl of flavourful and tender, juicy slow cooker Moroccan lamb stew served over a bowl of couscous is the ultimate Middle Eastern comfort food.
Slow Cooker Leg of Lamb with Vegetables
Easy Mediterranean slow cooker leg of lamb with vegetables is succulent, tender, juicy, and flavourful, seasoned with fresh herbs. Prep the crockpot in just 15 minutes.
Winter Salads for a Light Meal
Fall Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash and Apple
Fall harvest salad with roasted butternut squash and apple is the only salad recipe you need this fall or winter. It's healthy, wholesome, and nourishing.
Arugula Salad with Apple and Pecan
Arugula salad with apple and pecan is a quick and easy fall salad made with fresh seasonal ingredients in just minutes. Perfect for a holiday dinner table.
Butternut Squash Salad
Butternut squash salad is a light meal that's loaded with fall flavors — roasted butternut squash, baby kale, walnuts, dried cranberries, and feta.
Apple Walnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Throw together crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and sweet cranberries for a taste of the holidays in this fall apple walnut salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Winter Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans
Cozy winter kale salad with apple cider vinaigrette is easy to make with crispy apples, tangy goat cheese and crunchy spiced pecans in under 10 minutes.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
Roasted brussels sprouts salad with creamy potatoes, crispy string beans, tender brussels sprouts, is tossed in a delicious homemade dijon vinaigrette.
Goat Cheese and Tangelo Winter Salad
Healthy and light, goat cheese and tangelo winter salad with creamy caesar dressing is flavourful, crunchy and takes just minutes to prepare.
Arugula and Roasted Carrot Salad
Arugula and roasted carrot salad is one of the best spring salads, packed with a delicious combination of sweet and sour flavours, plus easy to make.
Mandarin orange salad is fresh, vibrant, tangy, and sweet, bursting with flavour, and topped with a delicious orange salad dressing.
Warm Lentil Salad with Butternut Squash
This warm lentil salad with butternut squash and shiitake mushrooms is the most comforting salad. Add it to your holiday dinner this fall.
Storing and Reheating Winter Dinners
- How to make ahead. You can prep some of these winter dinners ahead of time, up to a few days in advance. Prep any ingredients you can (such as chopping vegetables) and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- How to store: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for a few days (check individual recipe for full storage instructions). Some of these winter dinner recipes are also freezer-friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months (pretty much the case for all soups and stews!).
- How to reheat: Leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through (depending on the recipe). If heating from frozen, allow the dish to thaw first and then reheat.
More Winter Dinner Ideas
- 25 Warm and Cozy Fall Soup Recipes
- 40 Best Potato Recipes
- 60 Best Chicken Recipes
- 25 Best Ground Beef Recipes
- 40 Best Pasta Recipes
- 50 Best Bread Recipes
Did You Make Any of These Easy Winter Dinner Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these easy winter dinner ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
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PrintRecipe
60+ Winter Dinner Ideas
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Description
Over 60 popular best winter dinner ideas including easy comfort food, soups and stews, slow cooker and instant pot meals, seasonal winter salads, and more!
Ingredients
Refer to each recipe for full ingredients.
Instructions
- How to make ahead. You can prep some of these winter dinners ahead of time, up to a few days in advance. Prep any ingredients you can (such as chopping vegetables) and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- How to store: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for a few days (check individual recipe for full storage instructions). Some of these winter dinner recipes are also freezer-friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months (pretty much the case for all soups and stews!).
- How to reheat: Leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through (depending on the recipe). If heating from frozen, allow the dish to thaw first and then reheat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Various
- Cuisine: Various
Nutrition
- Calories: 400
Sally says
What a great list! We love your white chicken chili. We make it almost every week!!
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Wow thank you Sally!