12 Winter Dinners To Warm Your Soul

From chicken pot pie to baked ziti, these cozy, soul-satisfying dinners might just make you grateful for the cold.

Chicken Pot Pie
These easy (yes, easy!) chicken pot pies are the ultimate comfort food. I use a rotisserie chicken and good quality store-bought puff pastry to save time. I also add a splash of Cognac to the broth, which adds depth of flavor and makes these individual pies next-level delicious.
Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
Similar in taste to beef bourguignon, red wine braised short ribs are the perfect comfort food. The beef is fork-tender, the sauce full-bodied — and when you add egg noodles, mashed potatoes or polenta, you have a cozy yet elegant dinner that will warm your bones (and your soul).
Moroccan Chicken Tagine
This is my favorite chicken tagine, the traditional Moroccan dish of chicken pieces braised with spices, garlic, onion, olives, and preserved lemons. It’s company-worthy yet also easy enough to throw together on a not-too-busy weeknight.
Corned Beef with Roasted Cabbage, Carrots & Potatoes + Horseradish Cream Sauce
Corned beef isn’t just for St. Paddy’s Day! While most recipes call for boiling the meat and veggies, the key here is slow-roasting the meat and horseradish-butter spiked vegetables separately in the oven. The corned beef comes out tender and flavorful, and the bronzed veggies are impossible to resist eating straight from the pan.
Stacked Beef Enchiladas (AKA Mexican Lasagna)
With layers of corn tortillas, spicy ground beef, roasted tomato salsa, and cheese, this recipe is a cross between traditional rolled enchiladas and lasagna — yet easier to make than both. It’s a great make-ahead dish for a potluck or big family dinner.
Gail Simmons’ Epic Spaghetti Pie
Featured on the cover of her beautiful cookbook, Gail Simmons’ hearty Spaghetti Pie made with broccoli and Italian sausage is comfort food defined.
Shakshuka
This warming dish of eggs poached in a smoky, spicy tomato sauce is delicious for breakfast, dinner or anytime in between. Plus, it’s fun to say: shakshuka! A good bread is a must to mop up the sauce.
Italian Wedding Soup
The name “wedding soup” comes from the Italian language phrase minestra maritata—or married soup—which is a reference to the way the flavors combine, like a happy marriage. (No, it’s not served at Italian weddings.) It will warm you up and make you happy.
Fettuccine Bolognese
This pasta in a richly flavored meat sauce is perfect for Sunday night family dinner. The sauce simmers on the stove for several hours, making the house smell delicious and inviting.
Sloppy Joes
These smoky, spicy Sloppy Joes — or “Sloppy Jenns” as we call them around here — are made entirely from scratch (read: no ketchup or mystery seasoning packets). Pile the beef onto toasted buns and serve with my Sweet & Tangy Citrus Slaw.
Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes
In this classic French beef stew, chunks of beef are seared in olive oil and then braised with garlic and onions in a wine-based broth. After a few hours in the oven, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a rich, deeply-flavored sauce.
Baked Ziti with Sausage
Loaded with Italian sausage, this baked ziti is similar to meat lasagna but without the fuss. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but also special enough for a weekend family dinner, and it also makes a great prep-ahead potluck dish.