Feelin' Toasty: 8 Recipes to Keep You Warm This Winter

Sage lends the perfect, wintry flavor to this pasta dish, which features butternut squash, kale and walnuts for a nutritional boost. Parmesan adds a salty contrast to the savory components. It’s a colorful meal, too, which is sure to bring you a little cheer when the ground is covered in snow and the skies are gray to match. 

With less than 10 ingredients, including salt and pepper, this warming soup will be on repeat this season. The cauliflower is roasted for a deeper flavor, then blended into a thick soup with vegetable stock. Lentils add some plant-based protein, and curry powder brings the heat to excite your tastebuds and warm you up. 

This Southern Fried Cabbage makes for a quick and easy side dish any night of the week. It combines bell peppers, onion, garlic, bacon and, of course, cabbage. Liquid smoke and paprika bring warming flavors and the whole thing comes together in under 35 minutes. We’re imagining using up the leftovers for breakfast the next morning with an oozy fried egg on top.

Lasagna is good any time of year, but turn it into soup and it’s perfect for chilly nights. This version is vegan, but feel free to swap the plant-based meats and cheeses for your favorite options. You could even switch the noodles to your go-to gluten-free options to suit your dietary needs. Any way you stew it, this soup will get you through many winter days, especially because it freezes well for several months. Make some now so you’re stocked for the colder days ahead. 

Baked oats are a wildly popular TikTok trend, because they’re fast, easy, pretty healthy and taste a lot like cake. Um, yum! This version marries two quintessential winter flavors: peppermint and hot cocoa. These gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free oats are ready to eat in just 15 minutes. Make them before school or work to really start your day off right. 

Aubergine, or eggplant, is the star of this hearty ragu. Make it spicy with some chili pepper, then add Greek yogurt and almonds for some contrast in texture and added protein. Balsamic vinegar adds a hint of acid to bring all the flavors together. Don’t like couscous? Swap in your favorite pasta or grain instead.

It’s not all gingerbread houses and cookies this season. Now, you can even fuel your post-gym sessions with these simple protein pancakes. You can top them however you’d like; this version includes yogurt, nuts and gingerbread spice for an even stronger flavor.

It’s not a winter recipe roundup without including real deal hot chocolate. Whether you pair it with the aforementioned baked oats or indulge in it on its own, don’t miss this rich, ultra-creamy hot chocolate. It starts with some coconut milk and coconut cream on the stove, then dark chocolate is whisked in. Add homemade whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings on top for an even more decadent treat. If you imbibe, you could spike this with hazelnut liqueur and vanilla-flavored vodka -- a combination that will surely warm you up in no time.