Winter Dinner Ideas for the Whole Family

As we embrace the cold winter weather, the cravings for classic comfort food and cozy meals start to settle in. There is nothing like a delicious winter dinner the whole family can enjoy. Who else grew up enjoying a warm bowl of chicken soup paired with crunchy bread? Or perhaps your childhood classic comfort meal was mashed potatoes and cooked chicken or maybe a hearty dinner prepared in a slow cooker.

Regardless of the meals you enjoyed as a child, we can all agree that a cold winter night calls for a cozy recipe. In today's blog post, we will be sharing 4 easy kid-friendly and cozy recipes for winter.

Winter Dinner Ideas for Kids: Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup

Our first recipe is the ultimate comfort food: Chicken soup. This comforting dish is perfect for cold winter months and is extremely easy to meal prep. We love this meal because it includes protein, tender vegetables, and creamy broth that your family is guaranteed to love.

To make this recipe kid-friendly and easy to prepare, try using a slow cooker during the day and by dinnertime, your soup will be prepared.

Here is what you will need:

• 1 rotisserie chicken (shredded)
• 4 cups of low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup of frozen vegetables
• 1 diced yellow onion
• 2 chopped carrots
• 2 chopped celery stalks
• 1/2 cup of noodles of your choice
• 2 cups of milk
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Start by shredding your rotisserie chicken with a fork before adding it to a slow cooker. Next, combine all ingredients except the pasta into the slow cooker and cook covered for 6 to 8 hours. Make sure the chicken has become tender shredded chicken and the vegetables are soft. Stir in the pasta and cover and continue to cook on lowheat for an additional 40 minutes or until pasta is al dente.

This winter dinner is so easy it is unbelievable! If you don't have a slow cooker, you could make this recipe in an instant pot or over the stove. The prep for this chicken noodle soup recipe takes less than an hour and it pairs well with a little sour cream mixed in and a warm bread roll on the side. Your family will be requesting this winter meal throughout the whole season!

Winter Dinner Ideas for Kids: The Classic Delicious Lasagna

When we think of lasagna, we think of Garfield the Cat, but also we think of a classic delicious meal. If your kids love gooey cheese, tomato sauce, and ground beef, then this is an easy recipe that is right up your alley. Lasagna is a winter staple and can be enjoyed by the whole family. We love this dinner because it won't take long to prepare and it is perfect for leftovers or to freeze and enjoy later!

Here is what you will need:

• 1 pound of ground beef (or can be substituted with ground turkey or other ground meat)
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 (26-ounce) jar of marinara sauce
• 1 (15-ounce) container of ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• 10 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain any excess fat and stir in garlic, marinara sauce, and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a simmer and set aside.

In a bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper. Set the mixture aside.

To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce into the bottom of an ungreased baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles over the sauce (noodles will not be touching each other). Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Spoon another 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce over the cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering one more time. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, being sure not to touch the cheese because it will stick.

Bake for about 25 minutes or until the lasagna is hot and bubbly. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

This recipe makes 8 servings and can be easily doubled if you are feeding a large group or want leftovers. Lasagna freezes well, so feel free to make a double batch and freeze half for another time. If your kids enjoy hot lunches, you can heat up leftover lasagna in the morning and pack into an airtight thermos to be enjoyed later. Make sure to label your kid's thermos with our waterproof and dishwasher-safe name labels!

Serve your traditional lasagna with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete winter meal that your family will love!

If you would like to try a variation to this meal and how it is traditionally served, you could try lasagna roll ups by placing the meat sauce and cheese into crescent rolls and making individual lasagna roll ups. Top your lasagna rolls with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese if your kids enjoy melted cheese and then you'll have a kid friendly take on a beloved comfort food.

Winter Dinner Ideas For Kids: Winter Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese

This next recipe is a twist on a classic macaroni and cheese. It is a great way to sneak in some extra vegetables and get your kids to eat them without even realizing it! This winter vegetable macaroni and cheese has the most creamy sauce, is extra cheesy, and has a little bit of a kick from the addition of green chilies. It is sure to be a new family favorite!

Here is what you will need:

• 1 (16-ounce) package of elbow macaroni
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 (4-ounce can diced green chilies, undrained)
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• 3 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 (10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and continue to cook until the mixture thickens and starts to boil. Stir in green chilies, salt, pepper, and 2 cups of cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted.

Stir in cooked macaroni and spinach and pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a side salad or some roasted vegetables for a complete winter meal.

This recipe makes 8 servings. This winter mac 'n cheese has all the savory flavors and is one of our kid friendly meals that will warm you up on cold winter nights.

Winter Dinner Ideas for Kids: Beef and Vegetable Rice Soup

Winter is soup season! It is the perfect time to cozy up with a bowl of soup and this next winter dinner recipe is another yummy and simple recipe. This hearty beef and vegetable soup is packed full of flavor and nutrients. It is the perfect winter meal to warm you up on a cold day!

Here is what you will need:

• 1 pound of lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion
• 1 (14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained)
• 1 (15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained)
• 1 (15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained)
• 1 (11-ounce can corn, undrained)
• 3 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Directions:

In a large pot over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until the beef is browned. Drain any excess fat and stir in tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, corn, water, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

This soup also freezes well, so feel free to make a double batch and freeze half for another time. The leftovers can become the easiest weeknight dinner if there is a busy night when time is limited to prepare and cook one of our winter recipes. We love that the savory taste of this recipe pairs well with some cornbread or crackers for a complete winter meal.

We Can't Wait to See What You Cook Up!

We hope you have so much fun preparing and cooking these cold weather recipes. When the winter blues hit, there is nothing like a cozy soup or warm pasta dish to comfort you. These winter dinner ideas will be an instant hit with your family and if you try any of our easy winter dinner ideas, make sure to share a photo with us on social media.

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