45 Healthy Winter Dinner Recipes For A Balanced Meal

Looking for winter dinner recipes that won’t leave you hanging in the kitchen for hours? You’re in the right spot.

From cozy winter dinner recipes for two to budget-friendly family meals, this collection has got your back during the cold season. The best part? These aren’t just your regular dinner recipes – we’re talking about easy winter dinner recipes that actually taste good.

You’ll find everything from dairy-free options to instant pot shortcuts that’ll make your life easier. Kid-friendly winter dinner recipes? Check. Healthy winter dinner recipes that won’t break the bank? Double-check.

And if you’re feeling fancy, there are some winter dinner recipes that’ll make your guests think you spent all day in the kitchen (spoiler: you didn’t).

Easy Winter Dinner Recipes

1

Cheddar Bay Biscuit Pot Pie

Photo Credit: https://thesagesaver.com

A delicious, easy chicken pot pie recipe using Red Lobster’s famous and yummy cheddar bay biscuits.

Most of the ingredients you likely have on hand, so this also makes for a very budget friendly meal!

2

Crockpot High Protein Chili

Photo Credit: www.hauteandhealthyliving.com

Slow cooker High Protein Chili is so simple, healthy and delicious!

Made from scratch with ground beef, beans and corn, this kid-friendly chili recipe is non spicy, yet so thick, hearty and flavorful.

3

Easy Chicken Burrito Casserole

Photo Credit: www.hauteandhealthyliving.com

If your family loves Mexican food, whip together this chicken burrito casserole recipe for an easy, low-prep dinner!

It tastes like your favorite burritos yet can be made in one big casserole dish with simple ingredients.

Plus, it’s loaded with protein for a satisfying and healthy meal!

4

Balsamic Herb Crockpot Pork Tenderloin

Photo Credit: www.savvymamalifestyle.com

There’s nothing better than a fork-tender pork tenderloin that doesn’t require much effort.

When you want an impressive dinner on the table – without much work – make this Balsamic Herb Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin.

5

Mini Meatloaves

Photo Credit: healthykidsrecipes.com

Delight your whole family with these Mini Meatloaves!

Each mini meatloaf is the perfect size to serve young eaters, and they’re made without eggs or bread crumbs to make them suitable even for those with allergies or intolerances.

6

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Photo Credit: www.dinneratthezoo.com

This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is loaded with chunks of tender beef, potatoes, carrots and peas.

It’s a hearty and comforting one pot meal where the crockpot does all of the work!

7

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

Photo Credit: thecookinchicks.com

Hearty Cowboy Cornbread Casserole is comfort food at its finest! Perfect for busy weeknights, it seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, and a fluffy cornbread topping.

8

Easy Taco Lasagna

Photo Credit: recipesfromapantry.com

Taco Lasagna is a delicious casserole that’s the perfect mashup of Mexican meets Italian.

Layers of seasoned beef, cheese, and tortillas are cooked to perfection in the air fryer or oven. A great weeknight meal that also freezes well for easy meal prep.

9

One Pot Lasagna Soup

Photo Credit: www.chocolatemoosey.com

In the mood for lasagna but don’t have time to make one?

Luckily this One Pot Lasagna Soup is ready in under an hour by cooking the noodles directly in the broth!

10

Bubble Up Pizza Casserole

Photo Credit: happyfamilyrecipes.com

This easy dinner recipe for Bubble Up Pizza Casserole only needs 6 ingredients!

The biscuits ‘bubble up’ while baking to make a perfectly fluffy, soft, and pizza flavored filled casserole with two types of cheese, pizza sauce, and pepperoni.

11

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Photo Credit: thesavorycipolla.com

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta is a quick, creamy vegetarian pasta recipe that uses sun-dried tomato pesto and bursts with rich garlic, basil, and cheese!

It is conveniently customizable with any veggies and ready in just 15 minutes.

12

Ground Beef, Potato, and Green Bean Casserole

Photo Credit: gracefuldame.com

Ground Beef, Potato, and Green Bean Casserole is full of the savory, comforting flavors we all love but without any of those store-bought, canned cream soups.

You can cozy up to a big, satisfying one-pan dinner knowing exactly what you put in it.

13

Easy Chicken Cobbler

Photo Credit: thecookinchicks.com

Viral TikTok Chicken Cobbler is a delicious one pan meal that combines buttery biscuits, mixed vegetables, and shredded chicken into one hearty dish.

It uses simple ingredients and a shortcut box of cheddar bay biscuit mix.

14

Sweet & Spicy Chicken with Butternut Squash

Photo Credit: www.mashupmom.com

Sweet & Spicy Chicken with Butternut Squash is an easy sheet pan meal with beautifully caramelized pieces of butternut squash and juicy oven-roasted chicken thighs.

15

Pan-Seared Pork Chops and Fried Cinnamon Apples

Photo Credit: gritsandgouda.com

Pan-Seared Pork Chops and “Fried” Cinnamon Apples is easy enough for a weeknight meal but fancy enough for company on the weekends.

Deglazing the pork chops with apple juice or cider creates a sweet and savory sauce.

16

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Photo Credit: www.fitmamarealfood.com

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole is an amazing combo of sweet spaghetti squash and spicy buffalo chicken for a match made in heaven.

Just 7 simple ingredients are all you need for this healthy, protein-packed, and easy-to-make recipe.

17

One Pot Mexican Chili

Photo Credit: moderatelymessyrd.com

One Pot Mexican Chili is a quick, easy, yet delicious meal that’s perfect for a lazy Sunday or a busy weeknight.

Done in under 30 minutes and packed with Tex-Mex flavor, it’s truly comfort in a bowl.

18

Chicken with Mushrooms in Boursin Cream Sauce

Photo Credit: https://lowcarbsimplified.com

Chicken with Mushrooms in Boursin Cream Sauce is rich, flavorful, and delicious with pan-seared chicken breasts that are tender and juicy.

Best of all, it’s ready in under 20 minutes!

19

Sweet Potato and Chorizo Stew

Photo Credit: www.mychefsapron.com

Sweet Potato and Spicy Chorizo Stew is an incredibly easy, no-fuss family recipe and a savory-sweet one-pot meal just right for dinner.

Made with ground chorizo meat, sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, red bell pepper, then layered with Mediterranean spices and a rich tomato base.

20

Cheesy Ground Beef Sliders

Photo Credit: entirelyelizabeth.com

Cheesy Ground Beef Sliders with a sriracha aioli are juicy, beefy, flavorful and filled with gooey deliciousness!

They are baked in the oven, quick, easy, perfect for all types of get togethers and even meal prepping. Your family will be asking for these over and over again!

21

Beer Braised Beef Short Ribs

Photo Credit: bigdeliciouslife.com

Rich, hearty and barely clinging to the bone, Beer Braised Beef Short Ribs are comforting and absolutely scrumptious!

Serve them over mashed potatoes, rice, or parmesan polenta for the ultimate slow cooked meal. This recipe is easier than it sounds!

22

Pesto Gnocchi

Photo Credit: kellyneil.com

Pesto Gnocchi is a weeknight game changer. With only 5 ingredients, you can have dinner on the table in 15 minutes!

Using store-bought gnocchi and jarred pesto, it’s rich and creamy, with soft, tender dumplings.

23

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Photo Credit: flavormosaic.com

Tasting like Grandma used to make, Chicken and Stuffing Casserole is the ultimate comfort food.

An easy dinner recipe with chicken breasts in a creamy sauce with condensed cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup, then sprinkled with stuffing.

24

Chicken Alfredo Soup with Tortellini

Photo Credit: entirelyelizabeth.com

Quick and easy 20 minute Chicken Alfredo Soup with Tortellini is creamy and tastes just like the beloved pasta dish!

It is rich, hearty, and has super simple ingredients.

25

Tater Tot Chili Casserole

Photo Credit: www.flavorfuleats.com

Tater Tot Chili Casserole is made with a hearty, homemade chili that’s loaded with ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and spices, then topped with shredded cheese and tater tots that get baked to crispy perfection.

26

4-Ingredient Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna

Photo Credit: ourlovelanguageisfood.com

Sometimes called “lazy lasagna”, this yummy dish has all the flavors of lasagna with only 10 minutes of prep time.

The entire family is going to love this hearty meal (and you don’t even have to tell them you let the slow cooker do all the work!).

27

Simple Baked Tuscan Chicken

Photo Credit: lemonsandzest.com

Cozy and comforting creamy Baked Tuscan Chicken is a simple take on a classic dish. A dump and bake chicken breast recipe that can be prepped and served in about 30 minutes.

28

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Photo Credit: todayscreativelife.com

These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are so simple to make and fun to eat.

They’re perfect for busy fall weeknights, to serve on game day, and can be made hours in advance until you’re ready to eat.

29

Beef Enchilada Casserole

Photo Credit: busydaydinners.com

Beef Enchilada Casserole is easier and quicker to make than traditional enchiladas.

Each bite is packed with beefy cheesy flavor with a bit of a kick. It’s perfect for busy weeknights.

30

Crockpot New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

Photo Credit: cookswithsoul.com

Red beans and rice is a classic New Orleans Creole dish made with aromatic spices, savory smoked ham hocks, bell pepper, onion, and celery.

This slow cooker version is the epitome of Southern comfort food and a must-try for anyone looking to savor the essence of The Big Easy.

31

Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Thighs

Photo Credit: entirelyelizabeth.com

Oven-baked Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Thighs are easy to make, full of herbaceous flavor, and make juicy chicken every single time.

It is smothered in a rich rosemary thyme balsamic sauce and served with a side of roasted potatoes.

32

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Tomatoes

Photo Credit: bakewithjamie.com

Sourdough bread, a trifecta of gooey Cheddar, Swiss, and Provolone cheese, with bacon, fried onions, and tomatoes make this the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich!

Pair it with your favorite soup for the perfect cozy comfort meal.

33

Italian Sausage Soup with Potatoes and Kale

Photo Credit: mandiofthemountains.com

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is full of tender potatoes and robust kale.

It’s hearty, comforting, and super easy, with only 5 main ingredients, one pot, and less than an hour of time for a warm, delicious, and nutrient-dense meal.

34

Baked Curry Chicken

Photo Credit: platesbynat.com

Baked Curry Chicken is a perfect dish to spice up the dinner table.

The juicy chicken thighs are seasoned perfectly in a quick marinade, making them taste like they’ve been cooked for hours.

35

Dutch Oven Pot Roast with Vegetables

Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.com

When you want a rich, comforting, hearty dinner, classic Dutch Oven Pot Roast hits the spot. It’s a fantastic one-pot meal that makes enough to feed a family, with leftovers.

36

Pasta Spinach Meatball Soup

Photo Credit: crystalandcomp.com

This easy Meatball Pasta soup is ready to serve quickly and easily with pantry staples and supermarket shortcuts. It’s super flavorful and family-friendly too!

37

Easy Slow Cooker Smothered Chicken

Photo Credit: twokidsandacoupon.com

Dinner doesn’t get easier than this! Just toss in the ingredients and go about your day. The chicken comes out fall-apart tender and the gravy is rich and flavorful.

38

One Pan Cheeseburger Pasta

Photo Credit: littlesproutslearning.co

If you love tasty dinners but hate doing dishes, this easy one pan Cheeseburger Pasta is for you.

It’s kind of like Hamburger Helper, but with ingredients you can pronounce.

39

Crockpot Pork Roast

Photo Credit: foxeslovelemons.com

Crockpot Pork Roast requires no pre-cooking, but you still end up with succulent meat and flavorful, umami-rich gravy!

Serve it over potatoes or rice, and transform leftovers into so many amazing dinners.

40

Easy Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Rice

Photo Credit: funfamilymeals.com

Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Rice is a budget-friendly dump meal that makes for a delicious dinner with minimal effort (and clean up). Just dump in the ingredients and go!

41

Slow Cooker Tinga De Res

Photo Credit: blessthismeal.com

Expect big bold flavors from this Tinga De Res! Chuck roast is simmered in a flavorful tomato and chipotle pepper sauce, creating a rich smoky and spicy flavor.

Serve with tacos for delicious tacos or over a bed of rice for a tasty bowl-style dinner.

42

Easy Cheesy Chicken Taco Spaghetti

Photo Credit: simply-well-balanced.com

This delicious chicken taco spaghetti recipe is a quick and easy dinner that’s made with inexpensive pantry staples.

It’s full of cheesy goodness and all the flavors of chicken tacos in a single dish. A fun twist on Taco Tuesday!

43

Spicy Maple Salmon Bites with Broccoli

Photo Credit: avocadoskillet.com

Spicy Maple Salmon Bites with Broccoli is a delicious, healthy, and easy sheet pan recipe.

The hot maple sauce is so flavorful and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes. So simple to make!

44

Shepherd’s Pie

Photo Credit: www.dishbydish.net

Flavorful and hearty, Shepherd’s Pie is easy to put together and feeds a crowd! This recipe is also gluten-free and dairy-free.

45

Crockpot Cowboy Soup

Photo Credit: blessthismeal.com

Crockpot Cowboy Soup is made using simple ingredients like ground beef, pinto beans, and mixed vegetables.

Everything is slow cooked in a rich flavorful broth. Pair this hearty soup with your favorite cornbread recipe and enjoy on a cool chilly evening.

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