Forget Salads: 19 Hearty Winter Meals That Stick to Your Ribs

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Forget Salads: 19 Hearty Winter Meals That Stick to Your Ribs

Let’s face it, when it’s cold outside, nothing beats a steaming bowl of soup or a hearty casserole. It’s not just about the delicious taste, these meals are like a big, comforting hug on a cold day. And the best part? It’s all simple, honest cooking that’ll have you and your family feeling warm and well-fed.

Two servings of Cowboy Cornbread Casserole on plates.
Cowboy Cornbread Casserole. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Steak & Potato Soup

Steak & Potato Soup in a black bowl.
Steak & Potato Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Regardless of the winter weather outside, Steak & Potato Soup can make you feel warm and comfortable. It’s basically a well-seasoned steak and some good ol’ potatoes thrown together in a soup that’s filling but not overly heavy. Essentially, it gives the satiety of a full meal without making you feel bloated. Enjoy this simple, down-to-earth dish when the mercury dips down.
Get the Recipe: Steak & Potato Soup

Potato & Green Pea Chowder

A closeup of a bowl of Potato & Green Pea Chowder.
Potato & Green Pea Chowder. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

This soup, the Potato & Green Pea Chowder, well, it’s almost like a warm hug in a bowl. It’s straightforward. No gimmicks, just potatoes and green peas in a comforting broth. It’s unpretentious but hearty enough to keep you fueled through any winter activities. This is exactly what you need when the snow begins to fall.
Get the Recipe: Potato & Green Pea Chowder

Seafood Chowder

Seafood chowder with a sprig of dill, a delicious stew recipe.
Seafood Chowder. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

No fancy language here – Seafood Chowder is pure, hearty comfort food. Packed with various seafood, it’s enticing enough for a special dinner yet simple enough to eat any time. It’s a soup that warms you up entirely, a true winter essential when it’s cold and windy outside and you need something to warm the cockles of your heart.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Chowder

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole.
Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Don’t get me started on the Sweet Potato Casserole! This one is a winner! What’s more soul-warming than sweet potatoes baked to perfection in a winter staple that definitely satisfies? It’s just the thing you need when you’re cosily tucked in at home, seeing the first snowflakes fall outside.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole

Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup

A closeup of a bowl of Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup.
Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

The Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup is an ideal choice for those cold winter days. Combining cauliflower and sweet potatoes, it creates a rich and welcoming broth that’s both satisfying and beneficial. In essence, it’s like having a comfy blanket wrap around you, but in a culinary sense. That’s how comforting it is.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup

Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup

Two bowls of cream of caramelized onion & mushroom soup with garlic and thyme.
Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

I have to mention Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup as a winter must-have when your taste buds are craving for something fancy but not too overwhelming. It delivers a substantial, cozy bowl of caramelized onions and mushrooms which will warm you up and keep you full on those cold winter nights.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Two Chicken Gnocchi Soup copycat soup recipes on a table.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Now let’s talk about Chicken Gnocchi Soup, a rib-sticking winter meal that actually doesn’t make you feel too weighted down. The tender chicken and soft gnocchi combine beautifully to create a soup that’s nutritious and light, ideal for you when you want a warm, homey bowl of soup but don’t want to feel too full afterwards. Just the right mix, wouldn’t you say?
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Hungarian Goulash in two white bowls.
Authentic Hungarian Goulash. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Here’s the thing about the Authentic Hungarian Goulash: It’s a bold, hearty dish made for winter. It has a rich taste that’s satisfying and plenty comforting, especially when it’s freezing and you need all the help you can get to ease the winter blues away!
Get the Recipe: Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup

Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup in two white bowls with garnishes nearby.
Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

The Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup is a classic stick-to-your-ribs recipe. The smoky chicken and tangy soup dual combo really warms you up inside, particularly on those days where winter seems to be pushing down even harder than usual. Yep, it’s almost like having a mini personal heater for the soul.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup

Smoked Beef Stew

A smoked beef stew recipe with carrots and potatoes.
Smoked Beef Stew. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Let’s get straight to the point – the delightfully rustic Smoked Beef Stew is not just to satisfy your hunger but to genuinely warm you up from the inside. It’s a tasty and wholesome dish that you’ll appreciate when the winter chill gets too much. Simple as it is, it brings comfort and warmth straight to your plate.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Beef Stew

Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

A bowl of oven-roasted tomato soup with two spoons.
Oven Roasted Tomato Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

No winter meal list is complete without mentioning the Oven Roasted Tomato Soup. It’s hearty, it’s luscious, and it’s an absolute lifesaver during the colder months. You can’t go wrong with it when you’re longing for a genuine comfort food that will stick with you through the winter chill.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

Lobster Chowder

A bowl of lobster chowder with bread on the side.
Lobster Chowder. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Let’s face it – when it’s freezing outside, nothing hits the spot quite like a Lobster Chowder. This dish is a celebration of the sweet, rich flavor of lobster mingle with a hearty broth. Trust me, it’s more than a soup – it’s an experience. An experience that leaves you with a taste of the sea and a warm hug from the inside out. Makes winter seem less chilly, doesn’t it?
Get the Recipe: Lobster Chowder

Corned Beef Hash Casserole

Corned Beef Hash Casserole in a square baking dish.
Corned Beef Hash Casserole. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

A great antidote for winter chill is a hearty Corned Beef Hash Casserole. It’s simple but oh-so satisfying! This casserole nails the winter dinner game with its homely vibe and trusty combination of corned beef and hash. When you’re facing the harshest winter, this feels like bringing in a slice of warm summer inside your home. It’s the ultimate winter antidote for those cold nights, settle in and enjoy!
Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Hash Casserole

Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Tortellini Soup with Sausage in a white bowl.
Tortellini Soup with Sausage. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Here’s the straight talk about Tortellini Soup with Sausage – it’s comfort food with a capital “C”. We’re talking pasta, we’re talking sausages, we’re talking a savory, warming soup that fills your belly just right when the temperatures plummet. It’s the kind of soup that feels like a warm scarf on a cold day, a combo of winter pleasures in a single bowl. It’s hearty and hugely satisfying – that’s what matters, right?
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Turkey Pot Pie Soup

Two bowls of Turkey Pot Pie Soup with crackers and spoons.
Turkey Pot Pie Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

The Turkey Pot Pie Soup is one of those super filling soups that could easily be called a meal. It’s chock-full of ingredients such as turkey, cream, and veggies, all in a flavorsome broth that gives an unmistakable nod to the classic pot pie. It’s brilliant on a winter’s day, providing warmth and hunger-pang busting goodness at one go. Takes the edge off winter, wouldn’t you say?
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie Soup

Chicken & Corn Chowder

Two bowls of soup on a table.
Chicken & Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Now, Chicken & Corn Chowder, that’s a soup that knows how to handle a winter day. With tender chicken and sweet corn, it’s creamy, textured, and just plain delicious. Think of it like a warm blanket for your stomach on a frosty day. It’s food for your soul, food for your belly, and food that amps up the comfort levels on those particularly gray, cold days.
Get the Recipe: Chicken & Corn Chowder

Shrimp & Corn Chowder

Shrimp & Corn Chowder with Chipotle in a bowl.
Shrimp & Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Won’t lie here, Shrimp & Corn Chowder is an outright winter favorite! It combines shrimp, a seafood favorite, with homey corn chowder for a lip-smackingly good soup. A comfort food that’s big on warmth and flavor, making you forget about just how cold it is outside. It’s like having your own personal bowl of sunshine in the middle of the winter – pretty satisfying, no?
Get the Recipe: Shrimp & Corn Chowder

Cream of Jalapeno Soup

Cream of Jalapeno Soup in two bowls.
Cream of Jalapeno Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Let’s talk about the Cream of Jalapeno Soup. It’s a soup that packs a punch. It’s creamy yet has a hint of spiciness from jalapenos that’s just enough to warm you right up from within. It’s like a dose of summer heat in winter’s cold, keeping your insides toasty. This soup is a stick-to-ribs kinda meal that might just become your go-to when the chill sets in.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Jalapeno Soup

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

Two servings of Cowboy Cornbread Casserole on plates.
Cowboy Cornbread Casserole. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

The Cowboy Cornbread Casserole is the culinary equivalent of a big, warm bear hug on a decidedly cold day. It’s rustic, it’s zesty, it’s everything you need on a plate to face the winter season head-on without a moment’s dread. With traditional tastes mixed into a hearty casserole, it turns any dinner into a standout event that will leave the whole family feeling comforted and full.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

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