Best Winter Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

With cooler temps in the forecast it’s time to get cozy—especially in the kitchen. We’re putting warming foods, from soups to salads, and yes, even gingerbread pancakes, on the menu this season. Brew yourself a cup of tea and get ready to bookmark some new favorite recipes to enjoy all winter long.

Which Fruits and Vegetables Are in Season in Winter?

Before planning your menu, let’s go over which fruits and vegetables are making an appearance.

• Potatoes: Typically available year-round, potatoes peak in winter, especially in December and January. When choosing your spuds, look for varieties without any bruises or sprouts growing out of them.
• Cauliflower: Cauliflower is extra versatile. From simply roasting florets to turning them into a mash or a silky soup, there’s a lot you can do with this sturdy winter veg.
• Broccoli: Another cruciferous vegetable, broccoli can grow year-round but it tastes best (aka more sweet and less bitter) when harvested in the fall and winter.
• Kale: The healthiest leaves are large, perky, and a rich, dark green. To enjoy kale raw, tear the leaves, then massage them in a large bowl with olive oil to tenderize. It’s the easiest salad ever!
  Fennel: Fennel is part of the carrot family and native to the Mediterranean (it’s quite popular in Italy). Similar to celery, the entire plant is edible, from the bulb to the frilly stems that resemble Queen Anne’s lace. Thinly slice it and enjoy raw or braise it—the sky’s the limit.
• Beets: Whether you prefer golden or red, beets are ready for cooking this season. They have an unmistakable earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with acid like lemon or apple cider vinegar. Roasted, grated into a slaw, or steamed for creamy soup, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this winter veg.
• Tangerines: Oranges and lemons aren’t the only citrus fruits offered this time of year. Tangerines were first grown in Florida in the 1800s, and were given their moniker because they were originally imported from the Moroccan city of Tangier. You can snack on them, add segments to salads, and even use the juice in salad dressings.

29 Winter Recipes

With almost 30 recipes to choose from, where do you start? We recommend beginning with the first meal of the day and working your way to dessert. From gingerbread pancakes to one-pot pastas, this list has your winter meals covered.

Delicious Winter Breakfast Ideas

On a cold morning, hot breakfasts are just the ticket to starting the day off right. Here are some of our favorite recipes for the occasion.

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Pancakes

This gluten-free shortstack is winter ready thanks to gingerbread flavors like ginger, clove, and nutmeg. To make breakfast extra easy, whisk the dry ingredients the night before so there’s less to do once you head to the kitchen.

Cinnamon and Collagen Rice Pudding

With simple ingredients and aromatic spices (ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon), your breakfast is transformed from boring to down right transcendent. A boost of collagen powder will help nourish your body while you nosh.

Turmeric Breakfast Rice Bowl

Rice, meet spice. Turmeric makes this bowl extra vibrant, while tender kale and a sunny-side-up egg add the wholesome factor you need in the morning.

Spicy Eggs in Purgatory

Get your cast-iron skillet ready for these eggs gently poached in tomato sauce. With notes of cumin, red pepper, and coriander seed, it’s a very Moroccan way to begin the day. Don’t forget the salty feta crumbled on top!

Easy Winter Lunch Recipes

Plan your midday fuel with the season in mind. We’re talking soups, slaw, noodle bowls, polenta, and more.

Camu and Beet Soup

The camu berry comes from the Amazon and is a rich source of vitamin C, so it’s a great addition to any superfood cupboard. We sprinkled it into a pot with beets, ginger, garlic, and silky coconut milk for a comforting bowl of soup.

Crunchy Brussels Sprouts Slaw

This might be the ultimate winter salad. Crunchy Brussels sprouts and gorgeous purple radicchio are tossed with a tangy apple dressing. Add cooked quinoa or a fried egg to make it even more hearty.

Tofu Soba Noodle Bowl

Tofu rides the cozy train with this steamy bowl of savory soba noodles topped with citrus-infused, cayenne-spiked tofu that’ll keep you satisfied through the afternoon slump.

Kale Salad with Sweet Potato and Tahini Dressing

All hail the kale salad. This colorful bowl will brighten your day with golden sweet potatoes, ruby cranberries, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and a creamy tahini dressing to finish it off.

Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup

Here’s a creamy tomato soup, no dairy required! It swaps in chickpeas instead of heavy cream, and we bet you already have most of the ingredients in the pantry.

Roasted Cauliflower and Pine Nut–Parmesan Pasta

Tagliatelle, oven-roasted cauliflower, and garlicky, pine nut sauce—what’s not to love? We can’t help but warm up to this meatless main.

Creamy Parmesan Polenta With Tomatoes and Kale

Polenta—also known as Italian corn porridge—tastes extra special when you stir in salty Parmesan and top it with stewed tomatoes and kale. You’re welcome.

Healthy Winter Dinners

Here’s our go-to list of winter dinners the whole family will love.

Whole30 Meatloaf Recipe

In our quest to modernize classic recipes, we’ve turned to meatloaf. This Whole30 dinner mixes ground beef with mushrooms, parsley, and chili flakes for an added kick. Serve it with cauliflower rice for the ultimate comfort food.

White Chicken Chili With Sweet Potatoes

When you’re feeling the chill, warm up with a big pot of white chicken chili. The best part? It’s Whole30-approved so you can keep your month on track!

Instant Pot Keto Ribs

Make room in your Instant Pot for these keto-friendly ribs that nix brown sugar in the dry rub and use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a Swerve sugar replacement instead.

Pumpkin Reishi Soup

Wild about soup season? You’ll love this recipe with pumpkin, curry powder, and rich coconut milk. Plus, a scoop of reishi mushroom powder makes this a plant-powered feast.

Seared Pork Chops With Sage Butter

Sage butter? Yes, please! Pork takes center stage in this perfect winter dinner that bastes a sage and garlic sauce over the top of your chop. Serve it with green veggies, mashed potatoes, or a grain salad alongside.

Italian Meatballs

Sunday supper called, and it wants a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. We use a combo of beef and pork, then mix it up with garlic, Parmesan, and parsley for freshness.

Sheet Pan Chicken With Lemon and Potatoes

Putting your sheet pan to work keeps weeknight cooking quick and easy. Chicken and potatoes get doused in olive oil and lemon before being roasted in the oven. Dinner’s done!

Lemon Chicken and Olive Tagine

This meal is slow-simmered to perfection with tender chicken thighs and a blend of spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin. Lemon and green olives add a bright, acidic punch.

One-Pot Kale and Mushroom Pasta

Change into your cozy pants and head to the kitchen for this kale and mushroom pasta that cooks up in one pot.

Smoky Roasted Eggplant Curry

Upgrade eggplant to main dish status with a blend of warming spices, including smoky paprika, vibrant turmeric, cardamom, and coriander. Coconut milk makes every bite creamy and delicious. Serve over rice or quinoa.

Harissa-Roasted Chicken With Carrots

Chicken dinner for the win! This spicy version heats things up with North African harissa and plenty of garlic cloves.

Pesto Chicken Pot Pie

Pie for dinner? We’re all about it, especially this chicken and pesto version. The filling is a little unexpected but it totally works.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Goodbye, winter blues. Hello, pot roast. This slow cooker recipes makes a melt-in-your mouth dish infused with grass-fed bone broth.

The Best Winter Dessert Recipes

Did you save room for dessert? We sure did. Indulge your sweet tooth with some of the best winter-inspired treats.

Orange-Cardamom Madeleines

Skip the Christmas cookies and try orange-cardamom madeleines. They’re shaped like seashells and doused in a sticky orange glaze for added flavor.

Apple Cider Donuts

A donut sounds indulgent, but it’s not as bad as you think, especially with a gluten-free and vegan batter that’s stirred up with sweet applesauce and a scoop of protein powder.

Cranberry Pecan Apple Crumble Recipe

A true crowd-pleaser, you’ll adore these apples tossed in maple syrup and coconut sugar. This dessert is topped with a gluten-free cranberry granola to make it even easier to throw together, even on a busy weeknight.

Chocolate Gingerbread Cake Recipe

An aromatic blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and black pepper make this gluten-free cake truly delectable. And if you sneak a few bites for breakfast the next morning, we won’t tell!

Tahini-Pear Cake

Whether it’s for afternoon tea or a post-dinner slice, this light and airy cake blends the delicate sweetness of pear with savory tahini for a perfectly balanced bite.