You want the best recipes for your family and here are 15 that should please them when it’s cold and snowy outside. You’ll love the ease of preparation and the wholesome recipe choices. Take a look at the highlighted recipe selections. You’re sure to find one or two meals that you can make for your family to enjoy on a snowy and cold day.
1. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Whether you have a slow cooker or just want to cook your chicken and dumpling meal on top of the stove, there just isn’t anything that offers coziness and comfort like chicken and dumplings on a snowy day. With this recipe, preparation time is mere minutes while you watch it cook in your slow cooker or stove top. Allow the chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, chopped onion and biscuit dough to simmer slowly for most of the day to be ready for eating anytime.
Read More »2. Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Skillet
There’s nothing like warm pasta, seasoned ground chuck, and veggies surrounded with cheese to create a tasty and warm meal. You and your family are sure to be pleased with a skillet meal based on a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. A chill in the air and snow on the ground make this meal a pleasant and comforting choice. The pasta cooks right along in the skillet with the onion, bell peppers, chicken broth and two different cheeses.
3. Cornbread-Topped Skillet Chili
You’ll love this homemade chili and cornbread recipe. Talk about a delicious combination. It’s the perfect pairing for a snowy day. All you need is ground beef or ground turkey and a few spices, tomato sauce, onions and kidney beans. Simply use a large skillet (12 inches) or a casserole dish. Brown the meat, onions and peppers and then add the other ingredients and allow the chili to simmer. You’ll want to make the cornbread while the chili simmers. Once the cornbread batter is ready, simply spread it on top of the chili and your ready to bake it in the oven.
4. Chicken Ole Casserole
What an easy, tasty and comforting meal that’s perfect for a wintry day. The cheesy and creamy tortilla layers are full of shredded chicken or turkey, chicken broth, cream of mushroom and chicken soups, onions, chilies and cheese. The different layers make for an almost complete dinner. All you have to do is serve this hot and scrumptious meal with traditional pinto beans, chips and salsa and a green salad.
5. Unstuffed Cabbage Roll
Even if you aren’t that crazy about cabbage, this recipe will change your mind. You can easily make this tasty dish without the worry of stuffing the cabbage. Use a Dutch oven to brown the ground beef and onion. Once the meat is browned, add the other ingredients in chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and seasonings and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the cabbage is tender.
6. White Chicken Chili
Who doesn’t like hearty chili on a chilly day, and this chili variation is one perfect alternative to traditional chili? All you need for this creamy and comforting chili is shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken along with great northern or cannellini beans, chicken broth, onion, garlic and other spices. Cook them in a Dutch oven for best results and serve the soup with slices of avocado, tortilla chips and Monterrey Jack cheese. This is a good recipe for a large gathering as it serves eight.
7. Meat Loaf and Mashed Potatoes
Admit it. The thought of homemade meat loaf and mashed potatoes in an instant pot is a comforting on a snowy day. You can make the whole thing in an instant-pot or bake it in the oven. Whatever you choose, you’ll need ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs for binding, diced onion, other seasonings and the secret ingredient that brings an unusual taste, barbeque sauce. Layer potatoes on the bottom of the instant-pot and place the meatloaf mixture on top of them. This tasty meal takes about 20 minutes to complete.
8. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
What’s better than hot soup on a snow day? An easy recipe makes it even more enjoyable. To limit the cooking time, microwave the potatoes first. You’ll need four potatoes, bacon slices, butter, onion, chicken stock, milk, half and half, cheddar cheese, sour cream and different seasonings. Prepare it in a large pot and allow the soup to simmer until the mixture is somewhat thickened, which is about 5-7 minutes. Add the potatoes in chunks to the pan or break them down into smaller pieces. You can garnish the soup with cheese, bacon and chives and serve it along with a salad and sour dough bread.
9. Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
With all gazillion mac and cheese recipes out there, this one recipe seems to be the most cozy for a family dinner. The mixture of cheeses that are layered and melted into the macaroni gives this dish its creamy and rich texture. It’s the perfect comfort food dinner. Simply boil and drain the macaroni. Set that aside and make the white sauce with butter, flour, and milk. Once it’s thickened, add shredded cheddar and gruyere to the mix. Combine the cheese sauce and macaroni then transfer them to a casserole dish. Sprinkle with any remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about a half hour. Once baked broil the top for 2 to 3 minutes. You want a crusty cheese finish.
10. Pizza Pasta Casserole
What’s better on a cold and blustery day than a pizza casserole, especially a recipe that makes two delicious dishes. You can eat one right away and freeze the other for another meal. All you need is ground beef, chopped onion, spaghetti sauce, spiral spaghetti, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Cook the beef and onion until done, add the spaghetti sauce and pasta. Transfer the mixture to greased 13×9 inches baking dishes. Add the cheese and place the pepperoni evenly across the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
11. Easy Tuna Casserole
A fast to put together meal is what’s needed on a snowy and cold day, and a tuna casserole fills the bill. A recipe with a few ingredients makes it easy. You’ll need cream of mushroom soup, milk, frozen peas, instant white rice (not cooked), two cans of tuna and a cup of cheddar cheese. Mix the soup, milk and peas in a pan and allow to boil. Add the rice and tuna and mix. Next, place the mixture in a 2-quart casserole dish and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Heat your oven to 375 degrees and bake for 20 minutes. Now that’s quick and delicious.
12. One Pan Skillet Lasagna
You can make this skillet lasagna with smaller pasta along with added meat, cheese and sauce to get a full flavored dish that is both quick and convenient and perfect for a snow day. You’ll want to brown the seasoned ground beef first and then make your pasta sauce with added garlic, onion, oregano, garlic and pepper flakes and other seasonings. Simmer the sauce and add your already cooked pasta. Last, but not least, add your parmesan and mozzarella cheese to the sauce mixture. Finally, add scoops of ricotta cheese on the top. Then cover the entire pot so the cheese can warm.
13. Smothered Pork Chops
If you haven’t made smothered pork chops on a cold day, you don’t know what you’re missing. They’re a classic dish that’s easy and flavorful. You want to remember to purchase thicker chops to get the full flavor and add gravy that has mushrooms and onions. It enhances any chop with a rich and mouthwatering gravy. You’ll need pork chops, olive oil, flour, chicken broth, onion and mushrooms. Season and pan sear the chops on both sides and then transfer them to a 9×13 pan and put them in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes. Return to your skillet and add the oil, onion and mushrooms and sauté them for several minutes until the mushrooms and onions are clear. Then add butter and garlic and cook for a minute. Put flour in the skillet and stir it for about a minute. Add chicken broth and simmer until the sauce thickens. Return the pork chops to the skillet and smother them with the onion and mushroom gravy.
14. Charro/Cowboy Beans
Beans are a staple and a charro bean recipe is one you should keep close at hand for a wintery day. It is the perfect complement to salsa and chips or bread and a green salad. Whether you use a slow cooker or go the stove top route, you’ll need dried or canned beans, broth, bacon, onions, jalapeno and other seasonings. Add the ingredients to the beans and put them in a pot on the stove. Allow the mixture to simmer and cook for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally to get the full flavor. You’ll see the broth thicken and the beans should be tender.
15. Creamy Chicken and Rice
There’s nothing more satisfying on a cold day than creamy chicken and rice. You’ll love the ease of this recipe and the tasty goodness from four different ingredients. All you need is chicken breasts, long grain rice, onion soup mix and a can of mushroom soup. Simply heat your oven to 325 degrees and spray or wipe a 9×13 pan with cooking oil. Add seasoned chicken breasts to the pan and pour the rice over the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with the onion mix. Then add the mushroom soup and water and pour over the chicken. Cover the pan and bake for about an hour and 15 minutes.
