Are you looking for cold weather dinner ideas that are super comforting while still being healthy? This post has 9 different healthy comfort meals that are easy to make and super delicious. From soups and stews to tray bakes and roasts, we have you covered with these easy cold weather dinner ideas.
On a cold winter day, there’s nothing I crave more than a delicious healthy comfort meal. As I’m coming back from work after a long day with the cold air on my face, my mind starts to wander to all the delicious cozy foods I can make for dinner.
Although comfort food tends to lean toward the richer and slightly less healthy side of things, there are also tons of delicious recipes that are just as cozy without being overly creamy or cheesy.
I’ve compiled this list of my favorite cold weather dinner ideas so that I could always have a place to reference my favorite meals and I hope you find these recipes as delicious as I do.
So without further ado, let’s dive into these 9 comforting and healthy cold weather dinner ideas.
Contents
- Turkey Meatballs in Pumpkin Sage Sauce
- Slow Cooker Chili
- Creamy Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup
- One-Pan Cranberry Rosemary Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tacos
- Autumn Caesar Salad with Roasted Squash Croutons
- Easy Crockpot Pot Roast
- Spicy Maple Roast Carrots with Crispy Chickpeas and Yogurt Sauce
- Homemade Chicken Soup
9 Cold Weather Dinner Ideas
1. Turkey Meatballs in Pumpkin Sage Sauce
Pumpkin. Sage. Turkey Meatballs. Need I say more?
These turkey meatballs in a pumpkin sage sauce are one of the cold weather dinner ideas that live rent free in my head. I even catch myself thinking about them mid-summer, already excited to make them in the months to come. They are great over whole wheat pasta, zoodles, or even roasted potatoes.
Prep time: 1 hour
Nutrition info: 388 calories | 25g protein | 25g carbohydrate | 21g fat
2. Slow Cooker Chili
Is there anything that screams cold weather meals more than a bowl of warm chili? This healthy slow cooker chili is a family recipe and is super easy to make. It has over 32 grams of protein per serving and makes the best leftovers so we recommend making a double batch and freezing some leftovers for a lazy night in the future.
Prep time: 5 hours
Nutrition info: 336 calories | 32g protein | 47g carbohydrate | 3.7g fat
3. Creamy Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup
There’s no way this list of cold weather meals could skip a comforting soup. And this recipe for creamy mushroom and wild rice soup is staple in my winter rotation. I love to use a mix of mushrooms like shitake, button, and dried porcinis for deep and rich flavor.
Prep time: 50 minutes
Nutrition info: 443 calories | 27g protein | 38g carbohydrate | 20g fat
4. One-Pan Cranberry Rosemary Chicken
If you’re craving the flavors of a Thanksgiving dinner but with a slightly healthier take, you’re going to love this One-Pan Cranberry Chicken. This easy cold weather dinner idea comes together in one pan and is full of hearty winter flavors including cranberries, maple syrup, and fresh rosemary.
Prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Nutrition info: 533 calories | 31g protein | 11g carbohydrate | 39g fat
5. Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tacos
Although Mexican food may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of healthy cozy meals, this Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga recipe is a favorite in my house! It’s a copycat of one of my favorite restaurants in my hometown of Los Angeles, Guisados. The rich and flavorful chicken is slightly spicy and just a little bit smokey. It’s perfect served on tacos, salads, or burrito bowls.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Nutrition info: 325 calories | 20g protein | 8g carbohydrate | 9g fat
6. Autumn Caesar Salad with Roasted Squash Croutons
If you’re looking for a lighter comfort meal, look no further than this Caesar Salad with Roasted Squash Croutons. It takes all the classic flavors of a caesar salad and gives them a wintery twist with the addition of delicata squash croutons and toasted pine nuts.
Prep time: 40 minutes
Nutrition info: 377 calories | 9.5g protein | 25g carbohydrate | 29g fat
7. Easy Crockpot Pot Roast
Pot roast is a delicisous cozy comfort food that is also fairly healthy. Because it’s packed with lean meat and healthy veggies, it’s a balanced meal that is both easy to make and super delicious. Plus, we love a recipe that doubles as meal prep for the week!
Prep time: 6 hours 45 minutes
Nutrition info: 345 calories | 39g protein | 29g carbohydrate | 12g fat
8. Spicy Maple Roast Carrots with Crispy Chickpeas and Yogurt Sauce
If you’re looking for vegetarian healthy comfort food ideas, you’ll love this Spicy Maple Roast Carrots with Crispy Chickpeas and Yogurt Sauce. The combination of spicy glazed carrots, crunchy chickpeas, and creamy yogurt is near perfection.
Prep time: 55 minutes
Nutrition info: 304 calories | 8g protein | 41g carbohydrate | 13g fat
9. Homemade Chicken Soup
Would this list of cold weather dinner ideas even be complete without a chicken soup recipe? This Homemade Chicken Soup is one we always return to. It’s full of flavor and just leaves us warm and fuzzy inside. Plus, it takes just 30 minutes to make!
Prep time: 30 minutes
Nutrition info: 319 calories | 21g protein | 38g carbohydrate | 11g fat
These 9 cold weather dinner ideas strike the balance between being comforting and healthy. They give all the cozy vibes without being overly rich or creamy.
They are the dinner recipes that I return to winter after winter and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
I’m so curious to hear if you try any of them so let me know in the comments below!
Bon appétit,
A small note to my readers â Over here at VLHhealth, we occasionally include affiliate links in our posts. This means that if you purchase using our links, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More ideas youâll love
- 21 Easy High Protein Soup Recipes for Lazy Dinners
- 7 High-Protein Crockpot Meals that Are Insanely Healthy & Easy to Make
- 11 Healthy & High-Protein Crockpot Chicken Recipe Ideas
Pin for later!
Leave a Reply