Chilly evenings are all about fleece hoodies, comfy cuddle couches, holiday movies on Netflix, and hearty food. Ah, the food – it has to be the highlight. Imagine gulping down a warm bowl of creamy tomato soup, savoring every bite of a cheesy loaded baked potato, or indulging in the heavenly taste of a classic beef stew. Is your mouth watering yet?
But who wants to spend time outside the blanket, shivering while cooking up a storm in the kitchen? The good news is you don’t always have to spend a lot of time in your cookhouse to enjoy a delicious meal on a chilly night.
Here, we have some fail-proof recipes you can make on a cold winter night that your entire family will love.
Chicken and Noodles
Chicken and noodles make a perfect combination for a hearty and wholesome meal. This recipe also has a ton of veggie goodness, making it a breeze to get everyone to eat their greens without complaining. You’ll need your trusty slow cooker for this recipe.
Here’s what you need to do to put together this yummy dish:
- Add carrots, onions, and chicken breast to your crock pot.
- Pour in cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and seasoning.
- Put on the lid and let the food cook. Six hours if your setting is on low, 4 hours if it’s the high setting.
- When you near the end of cooking time, cook your pasta to al dante.
- Drain the pasta water, shred the chicken, add peas, and mix.
Check out this chicken and noodles recipe from themagicalslowcooker.com for the exact measurements and recipe details.
Warm Cauliflower and Chorizo Salad
Put together stunningly golden cauliflower, crunchy hazelnuts, and spicy chorizo to make an irresistibly delicious and warm salad. Besides being tasty, this recipe also earns bonus points in the health department. Cauliflower is high in fiber and vitamins, while chorizo packs a punch of protein. You can serve this salad with a side of rice or eat it on its own.
Follow these simple instructions to make this salad:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Spread washed cauliflower florets on a baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and sprinkle some salt and pepper.
- Roast until the edges turn golden brown.
- In a separate pan, cook diced chorizo until it’s crispy.
- Mix the cooked chorizo and cauliflower, and then toss in hazelnuts.
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Sometimes, all you need is hearty finger food to keep you warm and satisfied. These crab-stuffed mushrooms are easy to make and taste heavenly with every bite. They also make for a great appetizer if you’re hosting a dinner party.
Here’s how you can whip up these delicious morsels:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Prepare the baby Bella mushrooms by removing the stems, cleaning them, and placing them on a baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix crabmeat, cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Carefully spoon the mixture into each mushroom cap.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until the tops turn golden brown.
Dig in with the family, sharing a big bowl of polenta or garlicky white beans. Rice pilaf and a side of crunchy vegetables also make great accompaniments to these delectable stuffed mushrooms.
Mac and Cheese
Woot woot! Who doesn’t love a good helping of mac and cheese? This easy-to-make comfort food will keep you warm all night long. You can also make variations by adding bacon, chicken, or veggies to it – whatever your taste buds crave. Serve this ooey-gooey goodness with a side of crusty bread or a fresh salad.
Follow this simple recipe to make your mac and cheese:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook pasta as packet instructions say, drain, and set aside.
- In another saucepan, melt butter on medium flame, add flour, and whisk until smooth.
- Slowly pour in milk while whisking, then bring it to a boil.
- Gradually add shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta, and pour the mixture into a baking dish.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until the top turns golden brown.
Chicken and Dumplings
Depending on how much energy and time you want to invest in preparing this dish, you can either use home-cooked broth and skin-on chicken thighs or go with store-bought chicken stock and shredded rotisserie chicken. Of course, the flavor will differ, but either way, warmth is guaranteed.
Follow these easy-to-follow steps to make your chicken and dumplings:
- In a pot, cook chicken thighs until cooked and set aside to cool.
- Shred the chicken and dump it back into the pot with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme leaves, and rosemary.
- Add Worcestershire sauce and flour at this point. Give everything a good mix.
- Simmer for another 30 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
- Now, add half and half (gradually) to make the soup creamier.
- Slowly drop a spoonful of biscuit dough on top of the simmering soup.
- Cover and let it cook for 15 minutes.
Skillet Spinach Lasagna
Nothing beats melt-in-the-mouth lasagna on a cold evening. But let’s face it, making lasagna from scratch can be quite an ordeal. This recipe uses just one skillet and takes much less time to make than the traditional layered version of the dish.
Here’s how you can rustle up this skillet spinach lasagna in no time at all:
- In a pan, cook ground beef until it turns a nice shade of brown. Add tomato sauce, water, lasagna noodles, and spinach.
- Simmer until the pasta is cooked.
- Stir in garlic powder, salt, pepper, and ricotta cheese.
- Top with mozzarella cheese and cover to let it cook for another 5 minutes.
Although lasagna is pretty filling on its own, you can serve this delicious skillet version with a side of crusty garlic bread and roasted vegetables.
Warm Hearts and Full Bellies
Cooking hearty meals for your family doesn’t have to be a chore, and you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen either. These recipes are quick and easy to make, packed with delicious flavors, and will leave your hearts warm and bellies full. So, gather up the family around the dinner table and enjoy these delicious meals together.
If you have any leftovers, put them in airtight containers and refrigerate them. For a quick and easy lunch the next day, simply reheat them in the microwave or on the stove. Happy cooking!
