Healthy, Comforting Recipes for Cold Weather

When the temperature drops and snowfall cancels plans, there’s nothing better than holing up in the kitchen and making something warm, nourishing, and a little more filling than your usual weeknight dinner staples. Winter cooking is all about cozy recipes, one-pot meals, slow-simmered soups, and baked treats that fill your home with good smells. The best part? These healthy comfort meals don’t have to be complicated.

We’re rounding up some of our favorite winter recipes that deliver maximum coziness with minimal effort. Whether you’re meal-prepping for the week, feeding a crowd, or just craving something soothing on a chilly night, these recipes make it simple to eat well all season long.

Grab your coziest sweater, preheat the oven (or plug in the slow cooker), and get to cooking!

Winter Dinner Recipes

The perfect cold weather dinner recipe is equal parts hearty and healthy, with a comforting richness that leans into seasonal ingredients like root veggies and aromatic herbs. These winter dinner recipes from the Thrive Market blog also feature affordable pantry staples that you likely already have on hand (even when you’re snowed in). 

Creamy Chickpea Pasta With Mushrooms and Spinach
Cheesy but still gluten-free, this one-pot pasta recipe perfectly balances decadence while still sticking with your dietary restrictions. 

One-Pot Chile-Ginger Chicken and Rice Recipe
The fragrant taste of fresh ginger and the heat of Hatch chiles make this a recipe that will warm you from the inside out. 

Smoky Roasted Eggplant Curry
Instead of ordering takeout on your next snow day, try making this hearty, spiced curry with roasted eggplant that’s perfect served over rice.

Harissa-Roasted Chicken with Carrots
If you’re tired of your tried-and-true chicken dinner recipe, try this bold sheet-pan recipe that features juicy chicken and caramelized carrots with a hint of heat from an unexpected harissa and honey marinade. 

Pesto Chicken Pot Pie
Everyone loves a classic chicken pot pie, but this one delivers a comforting twist with herby pesto folded into a creamy chicken filling.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast
If you’ve got time to kill, making this classic, fall-apart-tender pot roast simmered low and slow with hearty vegetables is a great way to spend an afternoon indoors. 

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
If you want the filling comfort of a pot pie without so much prep work, a shepherd’s pie is a great alternative. This plant-based take on the classic dish layers savory lentils, fresh herbs, and a fluffy mashed parsnip topping.

Winter Soups & Stews

For a cozy winter lunch or dinner, soup always hits the spot. These recipes for healthy soups and stews run the gamut from light and veggie-filled to hearty, rich, and filling enough to equal a whole meal. From vegetarian soup recipes to protein-packed, slow-cooker chilis, here are some of our favorite soups and stews. 

White Chicken Chili In The Crockpot
A slow-cooker white chicken chili with sweet potatoes and warming spices that’s simple, comforting, and perfect for cold nights.

Lanae’s Cozy, Comfy Chicken & Rice Soup
A soul-soothing chicken and wild rice soup that’s easy to make—and share. To make it dairy-free, swap out the heavy cream for any plant-based milk alternative. 

Green Tea Chicken Soup Recipe
This soothing twist on traditional chicken soup is made with antioxidant-rich green tea in the broth, making it a sick season life saver.

Instant Pot Whole30® Turmeric and Ginger Chicken Zoodle Soup
This bright, anti-inflammatory chicken soup is made quickly in the Instant Pot with turmeric and ginger, and it can be enjoyed whether you’re doing Whole30 or not.

Vegan & Gluten-Free Green Bean Soup
A creamy, wholesome green bean soup that gets its thickness from hearty almond flour, not dairy.

Dairy-Free Tomato Soup
This velvety tomato soup is made with chickpeas, not cream—but it’s still full of classic comfort-food flavor.

Red Lentil Soup
This protein-packed, silky lentil soup comes together quickly with pantry staples like tomato paste, vegetable broth, and dried lentils (no trip to the grocery store required).

Pumpkin Reishi Soup Recipe
Looking for a real wellness warmer while you’re snowed in? This pumpkin soup is infused with earthy reishi for a cozy, plant-powered bowl.

Lemon-Ginger Chicken Zucchini Noodle Soup
A fresh yet comforting chicken soup brightened with lemon and warming ginger.

One-Pot Ground Turkey and Pesto Stew with Mushrooms, Sweet Potato, and Wilted Greens
This hearty, flavor-packed stew is made with ground turkey for protein, coconut milk for a rich texture, and vibrant pesto to top it all off. 

Cozy Winter Drink Recipes

Nothing warms up a cold winter morning (or even an afternoon) like a hot beverage. If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial than your usual coffee, these lattes, ciders, and teas will do the trick. 

Superfood Hot Chocolate For A Cozy Evening
This healthier hot chocolate is made with cacao and coconut for a rich, cozy treat.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider
Few drinks say “winter” more than a classic spiced apple cider, and this one is simmered with cinnamon, cloves, and orange for comforting warmth. 

Golden Milk Latte
Whether you’re feeling under the weather or just want to stay well this winter, this warm, spiced turmeric latte is perfect for cold afternoons.

Spiced Hibiscus-Pomegranate Tea
This fragrant spiced tea combines hibiscus, ginger, cinnamon, and pomegranate juice, and it’s quick to make for a group of friends or family. 

Desserts & Sweet Treats for Winter

Dessert after a meal is less of an indulgence in the winter and more of a cozy, keep-the-conversation-going necessity. Whether you’re planning a gathering with friends or adding something special to your usual weeknight meal, these winter dessert recipes all offer something warm, spicy, and sweet to the dinner table. 

Orange-Cardamom Madeleines
These tender, citrus-scented French cakes are perfumed with warming cardamom, which tastes like winter in every bite. 

Apple Cider Donuts
This warm, cozy, gluten-free treat contains an unexpected health hack: a scoop of protein powder! 

Cranberry Pecan Apple Crumble
This skillet dessert doubles as breakfast, so you can enjoy any leftovers with coffee the next morning. 

Chocolate Gingerbread Cake
Is there any more quintessential winter dessert than a spice-forward gingerbread cake? This one is made with molasses for a slightly healthier hint of sweetness. 

Tahini-Pear Cake
If you’re not a huge fan of sweets, this lightly sweet loaf with nutty tahini and pear will curb any craving without going overboard.