Food and Recipes Dinner 49 Winter Dinner Recipes Guaranteed To Keep You Warm All the soups and casseroles you desire on chilly evenings. By Josh Miller Josh Miller Josh Miller is a writer, editor, recipe developer, and food stylist who has been writing about Southern food and working in the publishing industry for the past 20 years. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Taste of the South, and Southern Cast Iron magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 3, 2024 Close Photo: Antonis Achilleos When the days are shorter, the temperatures are lower, and holiday plans are making things a bit more hectic than usual, we look to our winter dinner staples to keep our families warm and full. The minute our coats come out of the closet, soups, stews, and casseroles are fair game (as if we haven't been making casseroles all summer, anyway!). Even if there's likely to be a heat wave at some point in mid-December, we all love to see our most comforting recipes awaken from their summer hiatus. Southerners are ready for winter cooking regardless of the forecast. From cheesy pasta bakes, like our Extra-Easy Lasagna or our Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole, to fresh Instant Pot options, like our Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast, we've pulled together some hearty winter dinner ideas the whole family will enjoy. 01 of 49 Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Roasted in all the right ways, this recipe is prime for your favorite grilled cheese. While we recommend an immersion blender to get the perfect puree, you can also easily transfer the hot soup into the blender a few batches at a time, making sure only to fill it halfway to allow for steam. Get The Recipe 02 of 49 White Bean Chicken Chili Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This white bean chicken chili recipe has a secret ingredient that makes the flavor and consistency of the soup unmatched: tortilla chips, and no, we're not talking about the ones that top the bowl. Tortilla chips are processed with the bean mixture until smooth before being added back into the soup, which thickens the broth base while giving the soup a slight corn flavor. Get The Recipe 03 of 49 Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings Iain Bagwell Just when you think classic chicken and dumplings can't get any better, we introduce cornbread to the mix. This hearty, warm soup makes great leftovers so you can enjoy it again and again throughout the week. Get The Recipe 04 of 49 Chicken Pot Pie Soup Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer We could 't get enough of chicken pot pie, so we made it into a soup! Sit back and let your dutch oven work magic. Get The Recipe 05 of 49 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Southern Living An egg noodle base and warm, four-cheese topping sandwich together a hearty ground beef mix in this easy dinner recipe. Feel free to prep ahead and freeze it until you are ready to serve. Get The Recipe 06 of 49 Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero A new spin on the Delta classic, this pot roast is shockingly fast thanks to our favorite multicooker. No Instant Pot? No problem. This roast comes together beautifully in a slow cooker too. Get The Recipe 07 of 49 Tortellini Mac and Cheese Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This is a cheesy, creamy, crave-worthy dish that does not hold back on the dairy, or the flavor. Top with toasted bread crumbs to add a little crunch to each velvety bite. Get The Recipe 08 of 49 New Orleans Red Beans And Rice Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Easily feed a crowd with this classic New Orleans recipe, which can be modified to suit whatever's in your pantry. Get The Recipe 09 of 49 Hamburger Stew Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey This lovely stew effortlessly combines all the flavors of a hamburger for when you're craving summer cookout flavors on a chilly winter day. Bonus - it easily serves 6 and is ready in under an hour. Get The Recipe 10 of 49 Butternut Squash Lasagna Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Lucky for your tastebuds, butternut squash pairs well with a variety of flavors. This recipe is hearty enough to feed a family, whether you enjoy it yourself or gift it. Get The Recipe 11 of 49 Harry Young's Burgoo Recipe Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This Kentucky stew was originally made in giant cauldrons known as burgoo kettles meant to feed a small town. Burgoo is still meant to be shared, but with large families instead of small towns. Get The Recipe 12 of 49 Ham And Potato Soup Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox When you're craving something comforting but super easy, look no further than this ham and potato soup. It's ready within 45 minutes. Get The Recipe 13 of 49 Soulful Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell Chicken noodle soup almost defines comfort. Cooked low and slow, this slow-cooker chicken soup is the ultimate bowl of cozy for a chilly winter's evening. Get The Recipe 14 of 49 7-Can Soup Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Comfort has never been easier. With just 7 canned ingredients commonly found in the pantry and a 25-minute preparation time, this soup is best for the coldest of winter nights. Get The Recipe 15 of 49 Tortellini Soup Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Tomato soup, tortellini, and sausage is the pairing we never knew we needed. Throw it all in a pot and prepare for a bowl of hot, delicious goodness. Get The Recipe 16 of 49 Butternut Squash Soup Jessica Furniss Despite using only a handful of ingredients, this soup is decadent and rich. Sweet butternut squash pairs wonderfully with tender with onions and garlic. Get The Recipe 17 of 49 Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox No matter which dumpling style you prefer–soft drop-biscuit dumplings that float or small strips of pastry dropped into the bubbling pot and cut like noodles–this dish delivers the essential comfort and flavor you expect from chicken and dumplings. Get The Recipe 18 of 49 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez Call us old-fashioned, but we always prefer homemade. One bite of this warm pot pie, and you'll agree. Frozen options just can't keep up. Get The Recipe 19 of 49 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living We can't guarantee it'll be mess-free, but we can promise this warm winter casserole will be a step up from the classic school cafeteria version from yesteryear. It's a hearty, crowd-pleasing casserole that is easy to make. Get The Recipe 20 of 49 Quick Beef Chili Becky Luigart Stayner A warm bowl of chili in under an hour? If that's not comforting, we're not sure what is. This flavor-packed smooth chili is topped with fried onion rings, green onions, sour cream, and as much cheddar cheese as you desire. Get The Recipe 21 of 49 King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese Becky Luigart-Stayner The South's ultimate staples, king ranch chicken and macaroni-and-cheese, collide in a skillet dinner that's ready in just 45 minutes. This best-of-both-worlds recipe will be a star winter weeknight meal. Get The Recipe 22 of 49 Easy Taco Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Bring the warmth of a summer fiesta to the dinner table, regardless of the temperatures outside, with this classic casserole featuring fire-roasted tomatoes. We recommend serving with bowls of additional toppings including sliced olives, sour cream, jalapeños, and avocados. Get The Recipe 23 of 49 Beef Stroganoff Antonis Achilleos It may sound like special occasion food, but our Beef Stroganoff is best paired with a cold weeknight and a glass of wine. The key to the perfect beef tips is to sear them well in the pan. Get The Recipe 24 of 49 Extra-Easy Lasagna Photo: Lee Harrelson We don't call this recipe extra-easy for nothing. Satisfying and speedy, it's sure to land on your go-to winter dinner recipe rotation. Get The Recipe 25 of 49 Classic Patty Melt Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Pair with a side of soup, and these patty melts on sourdough are dinner-ready. Get out your cast iron pan for this recipe—it does the best job of toasting the bread and cooking the patties to perfection. Get The Recipe 26 of 49 Slow Cooker Goulash Jennifer Causey Warm up the kitchen with this long-simmered, aromatic dish. Be sure to pick a roast with good marbling to make sure your sauce is just right. Get The Recipe 27 of 49 Mini Meatloaves with Potatoes, Leeks, and Brussels Sprouts Hector Manuel Sanchez Isn't everything just a little bit cuter when mini? When it comes to these individual mini meatloaves, we sure think so. Not only does everyone get their own meatloaf, but the entire meal comes together on a single sheet pan for easy cleanup. Get The Recipe 28 of 49 Green Chile-Chicken Soup Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Family-friendly and crowd-ready, you can freeze leftover soup in a jumbo muffin pan to create individual portions you can reheat later. Flavors like green enchilada sauce and a poblano chile pack some spice. Get The Recipe 29 of 49 Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Greg DuPree When we say quick and easy, we mean it. This full-bodied pasta dish will set you up for success in just 25 minutes. Get The Recipe 30 of 49 French Onion Soup Casserole Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Who says soup has to be ladled? Complete with layers of baguette slices, this casserole will leave them begging for seconds. Get The Recipe 31 of 49 Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Put down the take-out menu. This beef and broccoli stir fry is restaurant-quality and ready in a fraction of the time (just 20 minutes!). Get The Recipe 32 of 49 Beef Stew Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Familiar yet never tiring, this beef stew is prepared in a Dutch oven for the best-browned meat base. While you may be tempted to grab stew meat from the store to save on time, it's well worth it to go for a well-marbled chuck roast. Get The Recipe 33 of 49 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Greg DuPree This pasta bake is begging you to take the easy route—we won't tell. Rotisserie chicken and store-bought sauces make a warm winter casserole nearly too good to be true. Get The Recipe 34 of 49 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree The classic combination of chicken and rice is sped up in our 30-minute take on this traditional Lowcountry dish. Rice soaks up all of the crave-able flavors. This is a great choice for a cozy night in. Get The Recipe 35 of 49 Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole Iain Bagwell Texture and flavor mingle in this elevated, mid-week chicken that brings the warm flavors of mushrooms, shallots, garlic, sage, and sherry together in one dish. Allow the dish to sit for a few minutes before serving, to give ample time for the rice to absorb the flavors. Get The Recipe 36 of 49 Baked Chicken Thighs with Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos A sheet pan supper fit for any kind of feast, this chicken supper features toasty chunks of cornbread. It's important to cut the apples and veggies as directed so that they cook evenly on the pan. Get The Recipe 37 of 49 Capitol Hill Bean Soup Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Also known as "Senate Bean Soup," this hearty soup has been on the menu in the Senate's restaurant since 1903. Say hello to comfort food at its finest. Get The Recipe 38 of 49 Classic Hoppin' John Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton Why wait for the New Year to serve a dish that promises prosperity? Bring this blend of rice and black-eyed peas to the table for a flavorful bowl of luck any time. Get The Recipe 39 of 49 White Lightning Chicken Chili Becky Luigart Stayner This chicken chili is so fast, it just might be ready before you can even get all the kids to the table. This hearty chili is best served with homemade cornbread. Get The Recipe 40 of 49 Harvest Salad Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch If you're craving something hearty, healthy, and satisfying, try our harvest salad for dinner tonight. You can add in some shredded chicken for extra protein. Get The Recipe 41 of 49 Chicken Tortilla Soup Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Tomatoes, corn, and black beans shake hands with juicy chicken in this recipe. Tortilla strips, avocado, and limes make the perfect toppings for this classic Mexican soup. Get The Recipe 42 of 49 Loaded Potato Soup Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen A comforting bowl of creamy potato soup is a Southern staple in winter months. Serve with all the toppings—bacon bits, cheese, and green onions—in bowls so guests can pick their favorites. Get The Recipe 43 of 49 King Ranch Chicken Casserole Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This Texan casserole has all the Tex-Mex flavors you desire. This make-ahead casserole stays good in the fridge for up to four days and also will stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. Freeze in individual servings inside tightly wrapped aluminum foil bundles. Get The Recipe 44 of 49 Cowboy Casserole Micah A. Leal Meet the ultimate dump-and-bake dinner recipe. Plus, with tots on top, we can guarantee the kids won't put up a fight. Get The Recipe 45 of 49 Chicken-Andouille Gumbo with Roasted Potatoes Iain Bagwell This Southern favorite dish makes for the perfect Winter night delight. Top with bacon, parsley, and hot sauce. Get The Recipe 46 of 49 Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell A pasta bake screams comfort, and this pasta-chicken-broccoli bake is no exception. Topped with grated cheese and buttery crackers, you might not be able to get enough of this scrumptious dish. Get The Recipe 47 of 49 Country Captain Chicken Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Served over a bed of rice, this Lowcountry dish mixes chicken with a tomato sauce seasoned with curry powder, nutmeg, and pepper. Use a high-quality curry powder for this recipe. Get The Recipe 48 of 49 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Becky Luigart Stayner This herby sheet pan dinner is as easy to make as it is delightful to eat. It only takes 20 minutes on your feet, so you can sit back and relax prior to dinner time. Get The Recipe 49 of 49 Poppy Seed Chicken Poppy seed chicken never goes out of style. It's a one-pot meal that makes for easy breezy clean-up and is sure to please a crowd. Serve with rice and a tossed salad to complete the meal. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit