18 Cozy Winter Dinner Recipes for Any Night of the Week Enjoy these hearty soups, stews, pastas, sheet-pan meals, and more during the cold-weather season. Close Credit: Chris Testani Wondering what to make for dinner when it's cold outside and you're short on time? Enter our easy winter dinner ideas, most of which are made in the oven. An all-in-one sheet-pan meal, for example, gives you time to catch up on things while it bakes. But don't count out the stovetop: It wins for cozy soups and stews that can be made quickly with items you already have on hand, whether that's fresh fish, leftover roast chicken, homemade stock from the freezer, or store-bought broth. Don't shy away from dipping into your freezer in winter, since green vegetables are frozen at peak freshness and can provide what seasonal produce cannot (they'll also help you get dinner on the table in a flash). And of course, there will be pasta—it's reliably satisfying and always crowd pleasing. All to say, you'll rely on this collection of comforting winter dinner ideas until spring. 93 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes to Make Any Night of the Week 01 of 18 Pan-Roasted Chicken with Za'atar, Potatoes, and Greens Credit: Linda Pugliese In this sheet-pan chicken dinner, flavors mingle while everything cooks together. Use a herb mix such as za'atar, or substitute with your favorite spice blend, when making this simple roast, which you can enjoy on a weeknight. View Recipe 02 of 18 Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes Healthy and full of satisfying flavors, this dinner is practically hands-off—and you won't even need to wash a baking pan when you're done. View Recipe 03 of 18 Fusilli with Bacon, Onions, and Mushrooms Looking for a quick dinner that transports you to the Alps? Try this hearty pasta dish. Chop bacon, onions, and mushrooms—and you're ready to go. You'll need a pot of water for pasta and one big skillet for everything else. View Recipe 04 of 18 Shortcut Italian Wedding Soup Credit: Alpha Smoot Here's a home-style dinner that comes together fast. It might seem like hot Italian sausage is the central ingredient, but we think the real star is the pasta. You can use tiny, round pastina—but other small shapes, such as orzo or even Israeli couscous, work just as well. View Recipe 05 of 18 Bucatini with Cauliflower, Capers, and Lemon Credit: James Ransom This vegetarian pasta is a weeknight winner. It combines traditional Sicilian flavors with an innovative one-pot cooking method similar to the one we use for our famous one-pot pasta (the pasta cooks in what becomes the sauce). Then, the cauliflowers broils on top of the pasta. View Recipe 06 of 18 Cannellini-Bean and Greens Stew Credit: Julia Gartland Rustic bread toasted in olive oil and sage sets up the Tuscan flavors of this hearty vegan bean stew. Grated Parmesan on top is optional. View Recipe 07 of 18 Pork Paprikash A quick turn at the stove is all that's needed to replicate the flavors of a long-simmered paprikash when you use pork tenderloin and an irresistible creamy sauce. Serve over egg noodles for a satisfying winter dinner. View Recipe 08 of 18 30-Minute Spaghetti and Meatballs Everyone loves spaghetti and meatballs, but the dish takes time to make. Try this genius take on a weeknight—instead of making meatballs from scratch, you crumble sausages and quickly reshape them into the meatballs. View Recipe 09 of 18 Bangers and Mash Credit: Martyna Szczesna Sometimes traditional and hearty is the only thing that will do for dinner. If you can't find British bangers, carry on! Your favorite sausages will be absolutely smashing with this onion pan sauce. View Recipe 10 of 18 Picadillo-Style Chili Credit: Yuki Sugiura Beef picadillo, a comfort food in Cuba and Latin America, will fill you up when served over rice. It is simple to cook, savory, and spiced with a touch of sweetness—and it takes only 30 minutes. View Recipe 11 of 18 Beef and Cabbage Tacos Credit: Yuki Sugiura This simple pan fry of beef makes a satisfying filling for tacos. Add shredded red cabbage, lots of juicy lime, and avocados for a dish to brighten the winter table. View Recipe 12 of 18 Quick Chicken Curry With Spinach and Peas Credit: Bryan Gardner A well-stocked cabinet of warming spices will be put to good use in winter, especially in this quick coconut-milk curry that relies on ground coriander and turmeric. (It also pays to have a jar of mango chutney on hand for serving with curries and stews.) View Recipe 13 of 18 Smoky Salmon-and-Potato Stew Smart use of canned and bottled ingredients has always been the key to winter cooking—as this robust seafood stew proves. Diced tomatoes and clam juice are the key ingredients to a flavorful broth. View Recipe 14 of 18 Curried Shrimp and Noodle Soup Credit: Alpha Smoot Make this dinner as rich and spicy as you like. It's another recipe that takes advantage of pantry items and frozen shrimp, something we always keep on hand for quick meals. View Recipe 15 of 18 Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup Credit: Pernille Loof What could be more comforting on a cold night than chicken noodle soup? This invigorating, gingery dish is golden with turmeric and super quick to put together, since it starts with a rotisserie chicken. View Recipe 16 of 18 Broiled Yogurt-Marinated Chicken and Chickpeas Credit: Chris Simpson Here's a protein-packed winter dinner that's bright and lively, not heavy. For our sheet-pan meal, skinless, boneless chicken thighs are marinated in a yogurt-lime mixture, then broiled with spiced chickpeas and served with colorful vegetables and fresh cilantro. View Recipe 17 of 18 Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs Credit: Ryan Liebe This one-pot orzo and meatballs dish is filled with fragrant flavors. It's made with orzo, ground pork, fresh dill, and fennel seed cooked in a lemon juice broth. Serve this dish with freshly grated Parmesan, and you have a comforting meal in minutes with little clean-up time. View Recipe 18 of 18 Three-Cheese Skillet Lasagna Lasagna is necessary all year—especially during the cold winter months. Our three-cheese skillet lasagna comes together quickly with a simple garlic tomato sauce and an Italian cheese blend that is sure to delight on any night of the week. View Recipe 23 Quick Soup Recipes That Are Ready in 45 Minutes or Less Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Seasonal Recipes Winter Recipes