Winter Recipes – Comfort Foods for Weeknight Dinners

It’s hard not to love all the comfort foods that come with the holiday season. Not only do they taste amazing, they fill our homes with the delicious scents of our favorite meals. Sweet treats and savory dinners are abundant this time of year, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite winter recipes for your family to enjoy. Check out these comfort foods for weeknight dinners!

Potato Soup

If you haven’t had potato soup yet this season, it’s time! Honestly, we could probably eat potato soup throughout the whole year, but something about having it during those chilly winter evenings just hits home. Follow this recipe for the best potato soup! 

Ingredients: 

• 4 lbs potatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• ¼ cup of butter
• ½ cup of milk
• ¼ cup of heavy cream
• Salt & pepper
• Bacon crumbles, chives, cheese, and sour cream for toppings.

Directions: 

1. Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into cubes (you don’t have to peel if you want some skin chunks in your soup). 
2. Boil potatoes and half the garlic. Then drain when tender and return to the pot.
3. Slightly mash potatoes and add remaining garlic, butter, milk, heavy cream, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Let the mixture marinate together for about 15 minutes, stirring regularly.
5. Serve and add toppings!

Lasagna

While lasagna isn’t necessarily a meal you reach for to be healthy, this keto lasagna recipe is delicious AND healthy! The only difference between this lasagna and regular lasagna is switching out the noodles for a cream cheese spread, and trust us, it is WORTH IT. Since this recipe is a little longer, we’re including the link here for the whole read. Plan to be making this dish for a little over an hour from start to finish. 

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is a staple of winter and a staple of the south! Between the buttery, flakey crust, warm shredded chicken, and delicious mixed veggies, you can’t go wrong with this perfect dish. There are tons of ways to make delectable chicken pot pie, but we’ve included a link here to a traditional recipe that will knock your socks off! Try this recipe, or look up some other variations. You really can’t go wrong with chicken pot pie!

Chicken & Dumplings

Another southern staple that only seems to make an appearance during the winter is chicken and dumplings! This savory, yummy dish is sure to warm you up and bring back nostalgic memories of your childhood. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 medium chicken breasts
• 8 cups of chicken broth
• 2 cups of flour
• ½ tsp of baking powder
• 2 tbs of butter
• 1 cup of milk
• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. In a large pot, bring check and chicken broth to a boil and then simmer until chicken is cooked through.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, ½ tsp of salt, and baking powder.
3. Slowly add butter, then mix in milk until mixture is doughy.
4. On a well-floured surface, roll out your dough and cut it into 2” squares.
5. Remove chicken from the pot and shred it.
6. Add dumplings to the broth the chicken was in and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
7. Add chicken back in and add salt & pepper to taste.

Mac & Cheese

Okay, maybe we eat mac and cheese all year long, but the winter is a perfect excuse to have it as a whole meal! Mix together mac and cheese with your favorite meats like chili, ham, bbq, sausage, or chicken and you’ve got a meal fit for a king! If you just want a super gooey, cheesy, delicious mac and cheese recipe, check out this million dollar mac and cheese recipe! 

Ham & Cheese Sliders

If your mouth isn’t watering from the photo above, it’s sure to be watering after we tell you about these sliders! Not only has this recipe perfected the perfect ham and cheese combo on a soft bakers roll that melts in your mouth, they’ve added a truly perfect garlic dijon butter sauce for an extra delicious, salty and savory, sent straight from Heaven slider. Seriously, if you’ve never tried one of these little bites of perfection, now’s the time! They’re super easy to make! Just follow the recipe here. 

Shrimp & Grits

If you’re a shrimp fan, you’ll surely think of this recipe when you hear the words “comfort food.” Follow the recipe below for some delicious southern-style shrimp and grits!

Ingredients: 

Grits

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup white grits
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Shrimp

• 4 slices bacon cubed
• 2 tablespoons garlic minced, about 2-3 cloves
• 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
• 1 bunch green onions chopped, divided
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice juice from 1 small lemon
• Hot sauce to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Grits

1. Bring water and chicken broth to a boil.
2. Add in grits and salt. Stir immediately to ensure they don’t lump together.
3. Turn heat to low and simmer for 30-35 minutes.
4. Add cheese and salt when done.

Shrimp

1. Start when grits have about 15 minutes left.
2. Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove bacon from pan but leave 2 tbsp of grease.
3. Saute garlic, onions, and shrimp in the same pan with grease until shrimp is cooked through.
4. Drizzle lemon juice and stir.
5. Plate it all together and add bacon and green onions to garnish.

Don’t Forget About Your Comfort

When spending time in your home this winter, you’ll want to stay warm and cozy. While we might not need our heating systems often, you’ll want to make sure yours is working when you do need it. That’s why you should schedule preventative maintenance with Gulfshore Air Conditioning. We’ve served the HVAC needs of Niceville and the surrounding areas for over 25 years, so we know how to keep you comfortable during Northwest Florida winters.

Gulfshore Air is your local American Standard Customer Care Dealer, and Niceville’s #1 HVAC contractor. Feel free to email us at info@gulfshoreair.com with any questions or inquiries about your HVAC system. Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Instagram for more helpful home tips!