When the frosty air sets in, there’s nothing more comforting than a steaming bowl of soup or stew. These 10 cozy recipes are perfect for chilly nights, offering warmth, flavor, and simplicity. Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a family, these soups and stews are sure to hit the spot. Let’s get cooking!
1. Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups egg noodles
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large pot, sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened.
- Add chicken broth and thyme. Bring to a boil, then stir in egg noodles and cook until tender.
- Add shredded chicken and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes. Serve warm!
2. Hearty Beef Stew
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- 4 cups beef broth
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 3 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot. Coat beef in flour and brown on all sides.
- Add onion, carrots, and potatoes. Stir in tomato paste and rosemary.
- Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours or until beef is tender. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until softened.
- Add crushed tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and basil. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Spicy Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup lentils, rinsed
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until softened.
- Add lentils, broth, cumin, and chili flakes. Simmer for 30 minutes or until lentils are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve with a dollop of yogurt.
5. Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Brown ground beef in a skillet. Drain excess fat.
- Add beef and all other ingredients to a slow cooker. Stir well.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream.
6. French Onion Soup
Ingredients:
- 4 large onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 4 slices baguette
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Melt butter in a pot and cook onions until caramelized (about 20 minutes).
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Add beef broth and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Toast baguette slices. Ladle soup into bowls, top with bread and cheese. Broil until cheese is melted.
7. Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- 1 cup wild rice, uncooked
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large pot, sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened.
- Add chicken broth, wild rice, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until rice is tender.
- Stir in shredded chicken and heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve warm!
8. Potato Leek Soup
Ingredients:
- 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 leeks, sliced (white parts only)
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Melt butter in a pot and sauté leeks until softened.
- Add potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender.
- Blend until smooth, then stir in heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Clam Chowder
Ingredients:
- 2 cans clams, drained (reserve juice)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Melt butter in a pot and sauté onion until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add broth, potatoes, and reserved clam juice. Simmer until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in clams and heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper.
10. Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Ingredients:
- 2 cans chickpeas, drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until softened.
- Add spices and cook for 1 minute. Stir in chickpeas, tomatoes, and broth.
- Simmer for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with couscous or rice.
FAQs About 10 Cozy Winter Soups and Stews For Easy Cold Weather Dinners
Can I make these soups ahead of time?
Yes, soups and stews often taste better the next day as the flavors meld together. They can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
How can I thicken my stew?
To thicken a stew, you can mash some of the vegetables or add a slurry of cornstarch and water. Alternatively, simmer the stew uncovered to reduce and thicken naturally.
Can I substitute ingredients in these recipes?
Absolutely, feel free to substitute ingredients based on your dietary needs or preferences. Vegetables, proteins, and spices can be adjusted as desired.
These 10 Cozy Winter Soups and Stews for Easy Cold Weather Dinners offer a delightful way to stay warm and satisfied during the chillier months. With a variety of flavors and ingredients, these recipes provide an opportunity to enjoy comforting meals that are simple to prepare and delightful to consume. Whether you’re cooking for family or wanting to serenade yourself with a bowl of goodness after a long day, these recipes will surely become staples in your winter meal rotation. Remember, the beauty of soups and stews is their versatility, allowing you to adjust and experiment with flavors as you see fit.