15 Restorative Must Try Easy Cold Day Dinner Ideas
Try these restorative comfort dinner ideas with simple wholesome ingredients your family will love on cold days.
Best Cold Day Dinners For A Family
A cold day calls for a comforting meal that delights and warms the soul.
Imagine a warm pot simmering on the stove filling the room with delightful aromas that feel like "home."
These recipe ideas are perfect for slow rainy days when you get to enjoy just being at home and you want something comforting to eat to restore your soul when it cold outside.
Quick Cold Day Dinner Ideas For Busy Weeknights
Enjoying a slow cooked meal offers a rich comforting supper idea and today we are going to check out recipes that deliver comfort in less time.
Let's jump right into quick cold day dinner ideas that are easy to make and that the whole family is sure to enjoy.
What's For Dinner On A Cold Rainy Day?
#1 Pork Roast Stew
Nothing like enjoying a slow cooked pork roast stew on a cold dreary day.
This recipe is literally throwing ingredients into a pot and slow cook
Boston pork butt with Yukon gold potatoes and fresh carrots delivers the ultimate comfort meal.
This is a meal that is best when done slow and low, but with the help of a Dutch oven you can get awesome results in less time.
Literally a dump and go dinner idea for cold rainy days.
Served over steamed rice or with a serving of fresh bread and you have a hardy meal that is truly comforting.
#2 A Taste Of Home Chicken Noddle Soup
Soup is always a go to on a cold day and you can't go wrong with a classic Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.
This low ingredient soup is ideal when your on a budget and delivers in satisfaction.
With its warm light broth and hardy vegetables it a great soup recipe for cold rainy days.
Served with a fresh salad and warm artisanal bread this recipe will have you feeling restored in no time.
#3 Gumbo Over Rice
Steamed rice with a hardy gumbo served overtop is a perfect cold day comfort meal that will heat you right on up.
The rich spices and the subtle heat of this gumbo deliver a hardy meal that is easy to stretch for feeding a large family.
Begin by browning your choice of sausage typically Andouille sausage, but if you want a more mild taste you can go with Italian.
Remove meat once brown and begin your roux.
Simply make a roux browning the the "holy trinity" combining onion, green peppers, and chopped celery with flour and butter continuing to cook until brown in color.
Add in tomato sauce and add back your sausage adding essential seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic, cayenne, and Cajun seasoning to your preferred taste.
A splash of hot sauce works well for a little more heat.
Once allowed to simmer and reduce about 20 minutes add in your shrimp and cook until pink about 3-5 minutes then serve hot.
#4 Chicken and Dumplings
On a cold day you need some chicken and dumplings to fill you up.
With just a handful of ingredients you can make this warm comfort food for your family tonight.
To make this recipe even easier consider using a Rotisserie chicken and Bisquick biscuits to make this comfort meal quickly.
#5 Easy Homecooked Chili
When its cold out make a big pot of homemade chili.
Chili is so versatile you can serve it with cornbread, baked potatoes, French fries, tater tots, hot dogs, or burgers.
Plus a big pot of chili can be made in under an hour with just a handful of simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
#6 A Quick Spaghetti Pot
Spaghetti is another family classic that is a great comfort meal idea that hits the spot on cold days.
With a pot of spaghetti you can feed a large family a quick comfort meal that is especially good when its cold outside.
Served with a fresh salad and garlic bread it make for a great comfort meal your family will love plus this is one that usually results in next day leftovers.
You can even go gourmet with a fried egg over top and served with sliced avocado trust me it is delicious.
#7 Roasted Chicken and Potatoes With a Kale Salad
Chicken and potatoes is a classic pairing that is delicious and simple to make.
You can roast chicken thighs in the oven alongside of potatoes for a simple oven meal that is comforting and simple to make.
Simply season chicken and potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and Italian seasoning.
Go extra and serve it with a fresh kale salad topped with pomegranate seeds for a nourishing comfort meal.
#8 Rice and Beans with Plantains
Rice and beans is a cuisine that has its roots spread throughout the world because its cheap to make and filling.
But don't let this simple meal have you fooled you can easily make this the perfect comfort meal for a cold day.
Whether you want to add a protein or just a simple starch like plantains this meal is great for feeding a family a comforting meal when its cold and rainy outside.
#9 Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parmesan can be made easily with chicken breast, marinara sauce, and provolone cheese.
Simply coat chicken breast in breadcrumbs after a simple egg wash and fry until golden brown.
Allow to rest then add marinara sauce and provolone cheese and place under broiler until cheese is melted.
This dinner idea goes great with a side of spaghetti noodles, rice, as a sandwich, or served alongside a fresh salad.
#10 Butternut Squash Soup
Roasted butternut squash soup is smooth and savory plus super easy to make.
Simply cut squash in half and drizzle with olive oil plus a simple seasoning of salt and pepper.
Place into the oven on a roasting sheet pan and allow to cook until fully softened about 45 minutes.
Then simply blend until smooth for a great comfort meal for cold days when you are carving a rich delicious soup.
#11 Shepard's Pie
This is an American classic meal for a reason combining ground beef, carrots, peas, and mashed potatoes.
With basic ingredients you can create this hardy pie your family will love.
Simply sauté ground beef till browned drain grease and add in cooked peas and carrots.
Frozen carrots and peas works great for this recipe and with a quick steam they are ready in no time to add to the ground beef.
Once cooked through place into a baking pan and cover with a layer of homemade mashed potatoes to place into the oven until lightly browned .
#12 Roasted Turkey and Gravy
When its cold outside you want a comforting meal like roasted turkey and gravy served with warm rolls and cranberry sauce.
Now I know your thinking really a whole turkey who has time for that?
No this recipe is so much easier.
By using thick cut deli turkey you can create delicious stuffed turkey roll ups filled with stuffing and served with mashed potatoes plus gravy.
Its a full on turkey dinner in half the time.
Yum!
#13 Country Fried Steaks
Country fried steaks are southerner classic that is a true comfort meals.
Country fried steaks are simple to make and go great with a serving of homemade mashed potatoes and corn.
#14 Beef Stew
On a cold day make a big pot of homemade beef stew.
Nothing screams comfort meal like a warm stew.
Simmer this stew slow and low to make a rich comfort meals for feeding your family.
With beef cut into chunks, chopped carrots, and potatoes you can create this hardy meal that is great for feeding a large family on a cold rainy day.
Served with fresh artisan bread and you have a dinner winner.
#15 Chicken Pot Pie
The flaky crust and comfort of chicken with peas and carrots has to make this a go to meal for cold days.
What to make for dinner is easy when you make a homemade chicken pot pie recipe.
This meal is rich and hardy making it a top go to meal when its cold outside.
To make it even easier substitute a Rotisserie chicken then add cream of chicken soup and frozen peas and carrots for a super quick filling.
Serve with biscuits for a super simple comforting dinner that is hands down easy to make.
What To Make On A Cold Rainy Day?
A big part of homemaking is cooking homemade meals for your family to enjoy.
In the warm summer months this may look like light and refreshing meals, but in the cold seasons comfort meals that feel like home are the way to go.
There is nothing more delightful then making warm bubbling soups and stews for your family to enjoy on cold rainy days.
These recipe ideas are just that the perfect comforting meals to make for your family that are easy to make, yet deliver on making your feel cozy at home.
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