Winter Delicious Comfort Food Recipes
No matter where you live, you and your family are almost certainly facing the coldest season of the year right now. Even for those who live in some of the warmer Southern states, the winter is a stranger to no one. While the changing of the seasons is quite beautiful, it also presents a slew of issues from seasonal depression to numerous unwanted illnesses. Luckily, however, for those homemakers and home cooks out there, there are some kitchen-related tips and tricks you can practice in order to put a smile on all of those cold faces. From soups to roasts and crockpot meals, the possibilities are truly endless.
Warming Comfort Food Family Recipes
We’ve taken our time, researching and perusing through recipes in order to present you with a few different recipe options that should satisfy anyone’s taste buds—even some of the pickiest of eaters out there. Let’s begin simply with a beautiful, hearty soup to warm the soul.
Chicken pot pie soup
This scrumptious, heart-warming soup has quite a simple and easy-to-follow recipe that results in a hearty, delicious bowl of soup for fans of chicken pot pie everywhere without having to mess with a tough to assemble crust.
Ingredients:
- Chicken base
- Heavy cream
- Chicken
- Butter
- Chicken stock
- Salt and pepper
- Onions
- Garlic
- Flour
- Nutmeg
- Peas and carrots
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400-degrees. Begin by seasoning your chicken generously with salt and pepper. Add oil to your Dutch oven and set over medium-high heat. Add your chicken and sauté until the meat is thoroughly cooked. Remove from heat and set your chicken aside
- Using the same skillet you used to cook the chicken, begin to melt your butter
- Throw in your onions and cook them until they are soft—approximately 3 minutes
- Add in the garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Coat your garlic and onion in flour and stir until it has the consistency of peanut butter – be careful not to brown it like a roux
- Then Add in the chicken base, stock, and heavy cream. Mix until thoroughly combined
- Add cooked chicken and juices back into the soup
- Toss in your peas and carrots while cooking on low
- Cut your puff pastry into strips and bake for approximately 15 minutes to be served atop the soup
Smothered crockpot pork chops
This is by far one of our favorite wintertime dishes. Not only it is easy to assemble, but it is also additionally ideal for anyone that works as you can set it and forget it for later.
Ingredients:
- 4 Pork Chops
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small onion
- 2 cups of mushrooms
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- ¾ Cup of beef broth
Instructions:
- Preheat your oil over medium-high heat. Season your chops with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Now brown your pork for 3 minutes on each side
- Remove the pork from your pan and replace it with the broth and soup. Stir everything together ensuring you release all brown bits from the pan
- Place onions and mushroom in the bottom of your crock pot, top with the pork and pour your soup mixture over it all
- Set your crock pot to low and cook for 7-8 hours and serve over rice or potatoes
Winter Delicious Comfort Food Recipes: Winter comfort food includes lots of vegetables and healthy ingredients.
Chicken, bacon, and brussels sprout baked penne
This cozy and comfortable dish combines the lovely flavors of chicken and brussels sprouts with some soothing, delicious pasta that truly hits the spot.
Ingredients:
- A rotisserie chicken
- 1 lb. Shredded brussels sprouts
- Pre-cooked bacon 12-ounces
- 1 lb. whole grain pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 Cups of milk
- 2 ½ cups white cheddar
- 1 ¼ cups grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add in your brussels sprouts for 2 minutes until they are bright green. Drain and dry the sprouts as well as possible
- Add more water to the pot, add pasta, and boil until the pasta is al dente
- Heat oil in a pan, add onions and garlic and sauté. Once soft, add your shredded chicken, toss everything together, and cook until the chicken is warm
- Preheat the oven to 350-degrees
- Melt butter and add flour to a medium saucepan. Cook until golden brown. Now whisk in the milk and wait for a boil. Once boiling, add your cheese and melt. When done, add salt and pepper to taste
- Take a large bowl and combine pasta, brussels sprouts, chicken mixture, bacon, and cheese sauce. Mix well then transfer to a 9X13 and top with the remainder of cheese
- Bake your dish uncovered for 10 minutes until it is warm and bubbly
- Slow cooker beef and potato stew
When winter hits, you can never go wrong with a hearty stew. This beef and potato stew cooks in the crockpot so you can go about your day without worrying about dinner.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 2 pounds of stew meat cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb. of red potatoes
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 3 Cups of the broth of your choice
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ Cup flour
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions:
- Heat your oil, season your meat, and cook over medium heat
- Toss in your meat and brown evenly
- Place your meat, potatoes, and veggies into your crockpot
- Stir in broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and spices until well combined. Add more or less for taste
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or high for 7-8 hours
- Near the end, scoop out half of the stew and quickly stir in your flour. Return all stew to the pot and cook until appropriately thickened and serve.
Using Food to Reduce the Winter Blues
From those Northern states that receive foot after foot of snow, to those Southern states who may not receive snow—the winter still affects everyone nationwide. While there are vitamins out there to assist with things such as seasonal depression, nothing beats a warm, home-cooked meal. By following these winter delicious comfort food recipes among others, your family will more than thank you for the effort!
