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    Home » MSN Slideshows

    When It’s Too Cold to Function, These 25 Winter Weeknight Dinners Have Your Back

    Published: Feb 17, 2025 by Barbara Curry

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    You know those winter nights when it’s so cold that even thinking about making dinner feels like too much? Yeah, same. That’s why I’ve rounded up a bunch of cozy, easy meals you can prep ahead—so when you’re frozen and exhausted, all you have to do is heat, eat, and get back under that blanket. Trust me, these dinners will save you from another sad bowl of cereal!

    Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing

    Three bowls of crockpot taco soup.
    Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


     

    The EASIEST EVER Crock Pot Taco Soup! Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, spices and Ranch dressing for a soup bursting with flavor.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing

    Baked Macaroni Pie With Just 5 Ingredients

    A casserole dish of baked macaroni pie.
    Baked Macaroni Pie With Just 5 Ingredients. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

    FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

    Baked macaroni and cheese has a rich, creamy texture and is so easy to make. Prep in under 30 minutes, with only 5 ingredients.
    Get the Recipe: Baked Macaroni Pie With Just 5 Ingredients

    Queso Chicken An Easy Week Night Recipe

    Queso chicken baked in a casserole dish.
    Queso Chicken An Easy Week Night Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Baked Queso Chicken will be your new favorite week night meal! It’s not only QUICK and EASY, but delicious. With just a few ingredients and a special tip, you will have moist and tender chicken on the table with almost no effort.
    Get the Recipe: Queso Chicken An Easy Week Night Recipe

    Hamburger Potato Casserole Without Canned Soup

    A spoon full of hamburger potato casserole.
    Hamburger Potato Casserole Without Canned Soup. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This Ground Beef Casserole has creamy potatoes with seasoned ground beef and a homemade cheese sauce, making it an ultimate comfort meal the whole family will love.
    Get the Recipe: Hamburger Potato Casserole Without Canned Soup

    Broccoli Chicken Divan With Curry

    Chicken broccoli divan in a casserole dish.
    Broccoli Chicken Divan With Curry. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Broccoli Chicken Divan is an irresistible, chicken casserole with a creamy white wine cheddar sauce, flavored with curry
    Get the Recipe: Broccoli Chicken Divan With Curry

    Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe With Rotisserie Chicken

    A baked cheesy chicken tetrazzini casserole.
    Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe With Rotisserie Chicken. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    From-scratch chicken tetrazzini is a comfort food pasta dish with chicken, savory mushrooms, & pasta baked in a creamy homemade sauce, covered in cheese.
    Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe With Rotisserie Chicken

    Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits

    A bowl of hearty chicken and dumplings soup is shown. The bowl contains shredded chicken, vegetables like carrots, and two large, fluffy dumplings. The dish is garnished with chopped parsley and fresh ground black pepper, and a spoon rests on the side.
    Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Make this classic Southern Chicken and Dumplings. It’s made with chicken thighs, veggies, a rich broth, and steamed biscuits.
    Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits

    Lasagna With Bechamel

    Lasagna With Bechamel. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This Homemade Lasagna Recipe is an all time favorite comfort food. Smothered in a creamy béchamel sauce it’s the best homemade lasagna you’ll find. Easier than it sounds and perfect if you want to feed a crowd.
    Get the Recipe: Lasagna With Bechamel

    Oyster Stew Recipe With Fresh Oysters

    A spoon dipping into oyster stew.
    Oyster Stew Recipe With Fresh Oysters. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm up with a comforting oyster stew, featuring fresh oysters, a creamy broth, and Southern-inspired flavors.
    Get the Recipe: Oyster Stew Recipe With Fresh Oysters

    Baked Mac And Cheese With Tender Pulled Pork

    A spoon full of mac and cheese with pulled pork.
    Baked Mac And Cheese With Tender Pulled Pork. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This pulled pork mac and cheese recipe is smoky, savory, and made with juicy slow-cooked pulled pork and a classic cheesy béchamel sauce.
    Get the Recipe: Baked Mac And Cheese With Tender Pulled Pork

    Cheesy Chicken Mac

    A close-up of chicken mac in a floral-patterned dish. The pasta is covered in a creamy sauce and mixed with cooked spinach and chunks of tender chicken. A serving spoon is scooping out a portion, capturing some of the gooey, cheesy topping.
    Cheesy Chicken Mac. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This Cheesy Chicken Mac is less like mac and cheese and more like a casserole with its creamy sauce, tender chicken, and fresh spinach.
    Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Mac

    Easy Chicken Orzo Soup With Lemon

    A bowl of orzo chicken soup with lemon slices next to it.
    Easy Chicken Orzo Soup With Lemon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Lemon chicken orzo soup is the ultimate comfort food. Simple to make but packed with flavor. A cozy soup for cold winter days.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Orzo Soup With Lemon

    Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe With Ground Beef

    Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe With Ground Beef. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This traditional Shepherds Pie Recipe is a savory meat pie topped with creamy mashed potatoes. A classic comfort food for cold weather months.
    Get the Recipe: Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe With Ground Beef

    Creamy Butternut Squash And Apple Soup Recipe

    A bowl of butternut squash and apple soup with a swirl of sour cream.
    Creamy Butternut Squash And Apple Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Butternut squash, sweet apples, and a hint of cayenne come together in this flavorful soup topped with fresh apples and a touch of apple cider.
    Get the Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash And Apple Soup Recipe

    Overnight Brie And Sausage Casserole

    A scoop of brie and sausage casserole.
    Overnight Brie And Sausage Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This make ahead casserole is packed with brie and hearty sausage, and surrounded by a creamy custard.
    Get the Recipe: Overnight Brie And Sausage Casserole

    Hamburger Casserole With Buttermilk Biscuits

    A close-up of a casserole dish with a slice of cheesy, ground beef-topped biscuit bake—one of the ultimate ground beef casseroles—being lifted by a spatula. The dish is garnished with chopped herbs.
    Hamburger Casserole With Buttermilk Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Comfort food heaven! Hamburger casserole with biscuits has a layer of flaky biscuits on the bottom topped with a Sloppy Joe filling.
    Get the Recipe: Hamburger Casserole With Buttermilk Biscuits

    Baked Penne With Vodka Sauce, Ricotta & Sausage

    A spoon full of baked pasta.
    Baked Penne With Vodka Sauce, Ricotta & Sausage. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This recipe for baked penne pasta combines homemade vodka sauce, withricotta cheese and crumbled Italian sausage. An easy pasta casserole!
    Get the Recipe: Baked Penne With Vodka Sauce, Ricotta & Sausage

    Baked Ham And Spaghetti Dinner Casserole

    A serving of ham and cheese casserole in a spoon.
    Baked Ham And Spaghetti Dinner Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Made with simple ingredients, this Ham and Cheese Casserole recipe is a great way to use up leftover ham for an easy weeknight dinner.
    Get the Recipe: Baked Ham And Spaghetti Dinner Casserole

    Easy Crawfish Etouffee Recipe

    A bowl of crawfish etoufee over rice next to a bowl of green onions.
    Easy Crawfish Etouffee Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Follow these steps at home to make your very own cajun crawfish etouffee recipe. This special dish with crawfish tails takes planning, but it’s 100% worth it.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Crawfish Etouffee Recipe

    One Pot Beef And Barley Soup

    Beef and barley soup next to a plate of crackers.
    One Pot Beef And Barley Soup. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm up with beef and barley soup loaded with tender beef, veggies, and nutty barley. A thick, comforting classic perfect for any chilly day.
    Get the Recipe: One Pot Beef And Barley Soup

    Baked Italian Sausage Stuffing

    A casserole dish of baked stuffing with a serving spoon.
    Baked Italian Sausage Stuffing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    It’s not Thanksgiving without a good homemade stuffing recipe! This baked stuffing has Italian sausage and sourdough bread.
    Get the Recipe: Baked Italian Sausage Stuffing

    Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits

    A close-up of a creamy chicken and biscuit casserole, with a spoon lifting a biscuit topped with herbs to reveal the savory filling underneath—perfect for fans of comfort food recipes.
    Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Homemade Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits is Southern comfort food at its best. Buttermilk biscuits top a creamy chicken filling.
    Get the Recipe: Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs

    A bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup.
    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Homemade chicken noodle soup with tender chicken, fresh veggies, and herbs simmered to perfection—an easy, slow-cooked bowl of comfort.
    Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs

    Homemade Chili Recipe

    Homemade Chili Recipe. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

    You’ll never need another Chili Recipe again! This is the most basic, family-friendly, veggie-filled, delicious, one-pot chili recipe ever.
    Get the Recipe: Homemade Chili Recipe

    Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup Recipe (Crock Pot Make-Ahead)

    Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup Recipe (Crock Pot Make-Ahead). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Hearty Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup Recipe is an easy make- ahead soup recipe that is full of traditional Mexican seasonings and veggies.
    Get the Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup Recipe (Crock Pot Make-Ahead)

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    Barbara holds a tote bag filled with flowers, baguettes, and fresh produce at an indoor market.

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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