Cozy February Cooking: Real-Life Winter Dinners

↓ The most delicious way to eat lentils—savory, a little smoky, and tossed in a punchy vinaigrette. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve made this!

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5 from 6 reviews

Warm French Lentil Salad with Crispy Bacon

My French Lentil Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette is a filling meal that can be enjoyed year round. French green lentils cook in a rice cooker, giving them a perfectly creamy texture with the slightest bite. They're tossed lovingly with a simple-to-make Dijon vinaigrette with tangy balsamic vinegar. Finish with bacon, capers, and fresh herbs, which really balance out the salad. My preferred way to serve it? With perfect pan-seared scallops nestled on top. Gluten-free.

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↓ Satisfying and filling, but still bright and light thanks to that peppery arugula salad. We also love this one with crispy chicken cutlets!

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5 from 1 review

Crispy Pork Milanese with Arugula Salad

My Crispy Pork Milanese features ultra-thin, golden-brown pork cutlets—crackling panko crust on the outside, tender and still-juicy within—topped with a lemony, peppery arugula salad with crisp fennel. It’s the Italian answer to schnitzel, and it’s an absolute weeknight hero: fast, flavorful, and impossibly crunchy.

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↓ The ultimate comfort food—and honestly, so much easier to make than it looks. My two youngest kiddos love to cook this one on their own (with a little help chopping ingredients from Mom 😉)!

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5 from 1 review

Cozy Shepherd’s Pie with Root Veggie Mash

Shepherd's Pie is the ultimate cozy, one-pan meal that is loved by all, and this version takes it to the next level with a root vegetable mash. The blend of savory ground lamb simmered with wine, herbs, and vegetables, pairs beautifully with a creamy mash of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and parsnips. Topped with golden-brown cheddar and baked to bubbly perfection, this gluten-free ground dinner is as comforting as it is hearty!

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↓ My favorite quick “make it fancy” salad—perfect alongside roast chicken (even store-bought) for an easy dinner.

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Crisp Endive Salad with Pear & Gorgonzola

Crisp, elegant, and bursting with flavor, this Endive, Pear, and Gorgonzola Salad is the ultimate combination of sweet, savory, and tangy. Bitter endive and tender little gem lettuce are tossed with juicy pears, creamy gorgonzola, toasted walnuts, and a zesty anchovy vinaigrette for a sophisticated salad that's perfect for holidays, dinner parties, or an elevated weeknight side.

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↓ For those impossibly cold nights when you want something rich, cozy, and slow-simmered.

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5 from 2 reviews

French-Style Provencal Beef Stew (Daube Provençale)

Daube Provençale is, at its heart, melt-in-your-mouth beef gently braised with white wine, aromatic herbs, and fresh ribbons of orange peel. The meat turns pillow-soft and the vegetables soak up every drop of winey, savory goodness, while the sauce comes together from briny black olives. It's rich, yet eats light and fresh from the citrus. Trust me, this braised beef dinner that will truly surprise you!

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↓ When you want something ooey, gooey, crispy, and cheesy (aka: peak comfort).

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Ridiculously Crispy Breaded Shrimp Parmigiana

This Crispy Shrimp Parmigiana is everything you want in a cozy Italian dinner. Breaded shrimp are fried until golden and crunchy, then topped with rich marinara sauce and gooey melted mozzarella before finishing in the oven. Comforting, indulgent, and worthy of both special occasions and relaxed family dinners at home.

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↓ Easy, elegant, only minutes of prep—this one punches way above its weight.

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5 from 2 reviews

Slow-Roasted Cod with White Wine Butter Sauce

Slow-roasted cod with white wine is an easy, effortless dinner that feels worthy of special occasions, but is simple enough for busy weeknights. It truly has just 5 minutes of prep and is one of the most flavorful cod recipes you'll make at home! It's all in the sauce, made with white wine, vermouth, shallots, and butter.

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↓ I’m no Nonna, but I sure can cook like one. 💁🏻‍♀️ (And now you can too!) Everyone needs a winter chicken recipe that’s hearty, comforting, and reliably delicious.

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5 from 2 reviews

Hearty Homemade Chicken Cacciatore (Italian Stew!)

Chicken Cacciatore is a beloved Italian dish known for its rich, savory flavors and tender, juicy chicken. Think of it as a hearty vegetable-packed Italian chicken stew that, bonus, is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. You'll want to use bone-in chicken for the best flavor, then serve over mashed potatoes, pasta, polenta, or rice.

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↓ A stick-to-your-ribs soup loaded with veggies and bread (yes, really)—truly the coziest bowl.

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Rich, Thick Ribollita (Tuscan Bread Soup)

This classic Ribollita (also known as Tuscan Bread Soup) is a seriously hearty vegetarian soup. It's packed with tons of fresh vegetables, beans, and — it's signature ingredient — stale bread. This not only thickens the soup, but gives it a rustic feel. True Italian comfort food! Easily adaptable to be gluten-free and dairy-free.

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↓ Creamy, comforting, and wildly versatile—you can swap in shrimp, chicken, white beans, even meatballs depending on what you’re in the mood for!

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5 from 1 review

Rich & Creamy Marry Me Chicken

I've been making a version of this Marry Me Chicken well before it went viral simply because I love basil and sun-dried tomatoes together so much. In fact, this is a meal I made often for my college suite mates because it's inexpensive, quick to make, and boldly flavored. I love to serve this gluten-free, Tuscan-inspired chicken with polenta, mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice. Add any and all veggies that you like!

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February is the perfect excuse to slow down and cook something worth lingering over.

If you’re in desperate need of more cozy, nourishing weeknight dinner ideas, be sure to check out the full recipe index. You can filter by main ingredient, season, and dietary restrictions, so you can easily find exactly what you want. And if you care to see a list of my personal favorite recipes, I’ve got those bookmarked here too. 😉

Cheers to realistic, nourishing, and cozy meals all month long!