Winter recipes should be about keeping warm, staying awake, and helping to fight colds (and satisfying your sweet tooth, of course!). There are millions of dishes to choose from online, and at times it can be overwhelming. Some have to be followed by the book, some allow for wiggle room, and some just don’t taste as good as you thought they would. To help navigate through the hoard of recipes, here are a few of our favourites to choose from!

1. Gingerbread Cookies

No matter if you like them soft or hard, you can’t deny that gingerbread cookies always taste the best in the winter. You can make them into the traditional round shape, square, or, of course, man-shaped. Decorate them as you like – as long as they taste good, that’s all that matters. This may be one of the best winter recipies – nay, important – that you keep in your repitorie.

2. Hot Chocolate

Buckle down, because there are tons of options online for this classic drink alone. Will you make a basic version of it using a pre-bought mix? Make it from scratch? Make it mocha or peppermint flavoured? Whatever you choose, just make sure you add marshmallows or your other favoueite toppings.

3. Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

There is nothing that warms your bones (or soul, for that matter) than a classic, humble chicken noodle soup. This one is pretty hard to mess up, but, just in case you need a basic recipe to go by, here’s one from Tasty that’s easy to follow and comes with a video, too! With Chicken Noodle Soup being so essential to the whole winter experience, it’s easily one of the best winter recipes to have on hand.

4. Ministrone Soup

This easy-to-make Italian dish is one that differs depending on the region. Some areas use potatoes while others are more focused on the tomatoes in the broth. This recipe here is one of the more traditional ways to make this dish, and as you’ll see it’s pretty hearty. You’re going to want to keep minestrone soup on-hand this season because it’s one of the best winter recipes you’ll want to make again and again!

5. Chicken Pot Pie

No matter if you want it on a plate or in a cup, chicken pot pie is a great meal to have during winter. It utilizes several root vegetables, and you can always substitute basis like corn or tofu if you prefer.

6. Chili

Chili is relatively easy to make, good for the soul, and can be cheap to make. For these reasons, it’s one of the best winter recipes to keep on hand when the weather is frightful. As written on this website, you can add sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onions, which help to take your dish to the next level.

7. Classic Poutine

Just as with chili, poutine is a dish that warms the heart, sooths the soul, and doesn’t take too long to cook. All you really need is french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. You can always here and there to take it up a notch. To understand what goes into an authentic plate of poutine, check out this recipe.

8. Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is a great side dish to any soup you make this winter, or you can eat it as a main course. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can add different ingredients or spices. This list has a variety of different recipes – 61 to be exact – so you can try them all winter long!

9. Chicken Sausage, Pepper and Onion Pasta Fake-Bake

Don’t let the title of this dish fool you – there’s quite a bit of cooking to do. However, it still makes for a tasty meal. The fake-bake just gives the illusion that there was more baking involved than anything else. It still makes for one of the best winter recipes on the internet, and a must-try for anyone looking to eat something new.

10. Easy Chicken Curry with Vegetables

Looking for something out of your usual rotation of meals? Chicken curry and veggies isn’t all that hard to make. A quick Google search will pull up tons of recipes both for first-time chefs and experienced cooks. Here’s one of our favourite and easier versions of this meal.

11. Roasted Brussel Sprouts

The nice thing about brussel sprouts is that they’re pretty versitle when it comes to cooking. You can boil, bbq, and fry them, however, roasting them is arguably one of the more delicious ways of cooking them. Even then, you can eat them with bacon and cheese, add a side of rice, or chow down on the veggies alone. As long as you know the basics, you’ll be able to expand, making this one of the best winter recipes you’ll want to use all year round!

12. Roasted Winter Root Vegetables

As you probably figured by now, roasting is one of the best ways to prepare winter vegetables. Having a hot meal in winter is one thing, but it’s another to have a healthy hot meal that tastes great. Following this recipe, you’ll be sure to understand why.

13. One-Pot Root Vegetable and Lentil Quinoa Stew

It’s a mouthful, yes, but it’s well worth it. This dish is healthy, hearty, and will keep you happy all winter long! Following the instructions here, you’ll not only be fueling your body to combat the cold winter, but you’ll also lower the number of dishes you’ll have to wash at the end of the meal. It’s win-win! That’s why it’s on this list of the best winter recipes!

14. Roasted Carrot Soup with Ginger

Ginger is fantastic to keep in the kitchen for a number of reasons, and when combined with carrots, you’ll not just have a healthy dish, but a delicious one, too (sometimes these don’t go hand-in-hand)! It’s fairly easy to make, so be sure to keep this recipe handy!

15. Roasted Cauliflower Salad

You have to eat your greens no matter the time of year, so you might as well make it something healthy and hearty. Making a roasted cauliflower salad is easy enough, but the nice thing about it is that you get to use a variety of ingredients. For example, it uses pine nuts for a nice crunch that will surely wake you up!

16. Winter Kale Salad

Using a variety of vegetables, this winter salad will give you some pep when you need it most. It’s easy, healthy, and can be eaten without worrying if you’re getting enough nutrition. It’s also a great dish to serve at holiday parties, making the prep that much easier.

17. Winter Lentil Soup

The great thing about soups is that you can make them in large batches and freeze them for later. This soup (which is vegan-friendly, might I add), is a favourite among many. It’s exactly what you’re going to want when it’s a little too chilly outside. It’s going to be a hit, so you’re going to want to keep it in your list of best winter recipes.

18. Butternut Squash Soup

According to this recipe, if you follow along you can make yourself a tasty butternut squash soup that’ll warm you right up! It doesn’t require too many ingredients – although, interestingly enough, utilizes maple syrup. There are also a few options given to those who don’t consume dairy, which is nice.

19. Cinnamon Oatmeal

So far this list has focused on every meal except breakfast – the most important one of the day – however, it’s not forgotten! To start off, oatmeal itself is a healthy dish and is good for the heart. When you add ingredients like fresh fruit, it just keeps getting better. Follow this recipe to start your winter mornings off right!

20. Turmeric Breakfast Muffins

Turmeric is part of the ginger family, so right off the bat you know these muffins are going to be delicious! According to the recipe notes, there are some ingredients that can be added or taken out, which gives you a chance to fine-tune the end result to your tastes or dietary restrictions. Either way, if you’re looking to try something new, these muffins should be at the top of your list!

21. Gingerbread Waffles

Yes, we mentioned gingerbread at the beginning of this post, but for a completely different reason. This recipe helps you make a sweet and delicious (gluten-free, may we add) dish to fufill those #WeekendBrunchVibes you see on Instagram! It’s more for those who like to be creative in the kitchen, but if you enjoy shaking things up then give it a try! It’s definestly one of the best winter recipes you’ll find on the internet!