14 First day of winter cozy dinner recipes

The first day of winter brings crisp air, longer nights, and the perfect excuse to enjoy warm, comforting dinners.

Whether you love creamy soups, hearty casseroles, or slow-cooked dishes that fill your home with delicious aromas, these 14 cozy winter dinner recipes will help you welcome the season with flavor and comfort.

1. Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

A velvety, hearty soup loaded with tender chicken, earthy wild rice, and winter vegetables. Perfect for warming up on a cold winter night.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken

• 1 cup wild rice, cooked

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 tbsp butter

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery in butter until soft.

2. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer.

3. Stir in cooked chicken and wild rice.

4. Pour in cream, season, and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. Serve warm with crusty bread.

2. Beef Stew with Root Vegetables

Slow-braised beef with potatoes, carrots, and parsnips in a rich gravy — the ultimate winter comfort meal.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef stew meat

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 2 potatoes, cubed

• 1 parsnip, chopped

• 1 onion, diced

• 3 cups beef broth

• 2 tbsp flour

• Salt, pepper, thyme

Instructions

1. Brown beef in a pot.

2. Add onions and sauté until fragrant.

3. Sprinkle flour and stir.

4. Add broth and vegetables.

5. Simmer 1–1.5 hours until beef is tender.

3. Baked Macaroni & Three Cheeses

Cheesy, creamy, and baked until golden — this is comfort food at its finest.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked macaroni

• 2 cups milk

• 1 cup cheddar

• 1 cup mozzarella

• ½ cup Parmesan

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp flour

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Melt butter and whisk in flour.

2. Add milk to form a creamy sauce.

3. Stir in cheeses until melted.

4. Mix with macaroni and bake at 180°C for 20 minutes.

Also check: 14 Christmas morning breakfast recipes

4. Honey Garlic Roast Chicken

Crispy-skinned roast chicken glazed with sweet and savory honey garlic sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken

• ¼ cup honey

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• Salt and pepper

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

Instructions

1. Season chicken and place in a roasting pan.

2. Mix honey, garlic, and soy sauce.

3. Brush over chicken.

4. Roast at 190°C for 1 hour, basting occasionally.

5. Creamy Sausage & Potato Skillet

A warm one-pan dinner filled with sliced sausages, buttery potatoes, and creamy sauce.

Ingredients

• 4 sausages, sliced

• 3 potatoes, thinly sliced

• 1 onion

• 1 cup cream

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Brown sausages and remove.

2. Cook onions and potatoes until soft.

3. Add cream and season.

4. Return sausages and simmer 10 minutes.

6. Butternut Squash Soup

Smooth, mildly sweet, and perfectly spiced — a winter classic.

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash, cubed

• 1 onion

• 3 cups vegetable broth

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• Salt

Instructions

1. Sauté onions.

2. Add squash and broth.

3. Boil until soft.

4. Blend until smooth and season.

7. Winter Vegetable Lasagna

Layers of pasta, creamy white sauce, spinach, and roasted winter vegetables.

Ingredients

• Lasagna noodles

• 2 cups roasted vegetables (carrots, squash, zucchini)

• 2 cups spinach

• 2 cups white sauce

• 1 cup mozzarella

Instructions

1. Layer noodles, vegetables, sauce, and cheese.

2. Repeat layers and top with mozzarella.

3. Bake at 180°C for 35 minutes.

8. Garlic Butter Salmon & Rice

A wholesome dinner with flaky salmon baked in a buttery garlic glaze.

Ingredients

• 2 salmon fillets

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 garlic cloves

• Lemon

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Mix melted butter and garlic.

2. Brush over salmon and season.

3. Bake at 190°C for 15 minutes.

4. Serve with warm rice.

9. Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

A tender, hearty stew that cooks all day for perfect winter comfort.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts

• 3 potatoes

• 2 carrots

• 1 onion

• 3 cups broth

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.

2. Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours.

3. Shred chicken and serve.

10. Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

A creamy baked rice dish full of broccoli and melted cheese.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice

• 2 cups broccoli

• 1 cup cheddar

• 1 cup cream

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

2. Transfer to a baking dish.

3. Bake at 180°C for 25 minutes.

11. Hearty Turkey Chili

A warm and flavorful chili with beans, tomatoes, and ground turkey.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey

• 1 can beans

• 1 can tomatoes

• 1 onion

• Chili powder

• Salt

Instructions

1. Brown turkey with onions.

2. Add beans, tomatoes, and spices.

3. Simmer 25 minutes.

12. Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Silky, rich pasta coated in a garlic mushroom cream sauce.

Ingredients

• 300g pasta

• 2 cups mushrooms

• 1 cup cream

• 2 garlic cloves

• Parmesan

Instructions

1. Sauté mushrooms and garlic.

2. Add cream and simmer.

3. Toss cooked pasta in the sauce.

4. Top with Parmesan.

13. Shepherd’s Pie

A comforting baked dish with seasoned minced meat topped with creamy mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef or lamb

• 1 onion

• 1 cup mixed vegetables

• 2 cups mashed potatoes

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Cook meat with onions and vegetables.

2. Spread in a baking dish.

3. Top with mashed potatoes.

4. Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.

14. Chicken Alfredo Bake

Creamy Alfredo pasta mixed with chicken and baked until bubbly and golden.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked pasta

• 1 cup cooked chicken

• 1 cup Alfredo sauce

• 1 cup mozzarella

Instructions

1. Combine pasta, chicken, and sauce.

2. Add to a baking dish.

3. Top with mozzarella.

4. Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes.