For many — myself included — the post-holiday January slump is real. Days feel exhaustingly short (even though they're technically getting longer), time seems like a construct, and getting meals on the table for your family, or just yourself, often feels like a massive undertaking.
This January, my goal is to not let myself enter my usual cooking rut, and the 31 cozy, seasonal recipes I've rounded up here are the only motivation I need. From crowd-pleasing breakfasts to cleanup-friendly weeknight dinners, these are the recipes that you'll find me cooking all month long to combat the winter blues.
Packed with spinach, feta, garlic, and herbs, these egg muffins are the perfect make-ahead breakfast. Just toss them in the fridge or freezer and reheat throughout the week.
Recipe: Spanakopita Egg Muffins
2.Gingerbread Pancakes with Spiced Syrup
3.Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Leeks, Potatoes, and Yogurt
A dinner that comes together on one sheet pan is a magical thing, especially when it's as vibrant and flavorful as this one. The garlicky yogurt sauce that's drizzled on top is the star of the show, and leftover sauce is an ideal topping for anything else you might cook — from burgers to salads to grain bowls.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Leeks, Potatoes, and Yogurt
4.Oven Risotto with Garlic Roasted Mushrooms and Arugula
With this far more hands-off, weeknight-friendly version of risotto, your oven will do most of the work for you — from helping your risotto to reach peak creaminess (minimal stirring required!) to roasting the garlicky mushrooms that you'll use as the topping.
Recipe: Oven Risotto with Garlic Roasted Mushrooms and Arugula
5.Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Not only is this a satisfying vegetarian meal, but it's also incredibly easy to put together. Use your favorite winter squash if sweet potatoes aren't your thing, and fill it with the toppings of your choice.
Recipe: Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
6.Three-Ingredient Ginger Lemon Water
This minimal-ingredient beverage is the best reason to keep fresh ginger in your home at all times. Slice some up, add in the juice of half a lemon and a scoop of turmeric, then let everything steep together with boiling water (and some honey, if you'd like). It's the perfect warm beverage for cooler weather, especially if you're feeling the post-holiday blues.
It may be simple, but this classic cabbage roll recipe is anything but boring. Plus, they're perfect to feed a crowd by making a double (or triple) batch.
Recipe: Cabbage Rolls
8.Roasted Carrots with Farro, Chickpeas, and Herbed Crème Fraîche
Potato leek soup is synonymous with winter cooking. The directions call for blending until velvety smooth, but if you're more of a chunky soup person, you can even omit the blending and opt for a rustic version.
Recipe: Potato Leek Soup
10.Lemony Calabrian Chili Pasta
Easy pasta dishes are a must during the winter. This one requires very minimal prep, and it also packs a punch thanks to a generous helping of Calabrian chiles.
Recipe: Lemony Calabrian Chili Pasta
11.Gnocchi with Lemony Sage Brown Butter Sauce
Yes, this recipe calls for making your own gnocchi, but don't be scared off! Ricotta gnocchi is actually pretty foolproof and you can still have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes. But if you want to buy the packaged stuff, I won't judge.
12.Butternut Squash Frittata with Fried Sage
Frittatas are the unsung hero of feel-good breakfasts, especially when they're as delectable and seasonal as this one. The fried sage topping makes this dish feel exceptionally fancy for something that's actually very simple, and leftovers reheat nicely in the microwave, making it meal prep-friendly.
13.Pomegranate Skirt Steak with Whipped Feta
The addition of freshly squeezed juice from oranges and limes makes this succulent chicken dish a real showstopper. If you're hesitant to use a whole (or split) chicken, opt for skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs.
Recipe: Citrus Rosemary Chicken
If, like me, you've never heard of tassies, let me be the first to introduce you to this adorable two-bite dessert. These are somewhat of a cross between a pie and a cookie, with the key ingredient being cream cheese to yield a super soft dough.
Recipe: Maple Walnut Tassies
Time to put all that incredible winter citrus to good use with this super easy one-bowl cake (that's also gluten-free!). Seriously, even the most baking-averse can make this.
Recipe: Citrus Olive Oil Cake
This twist on a margarita will give you the refreshing taste of the classic with a cozy, seasonal upgrade. Make sure to grab reposado tequila for extra depth of flavor, and if you're celebrating Dry January, swap out the tequila for an extra splash of cider or apple juice.
Recipe: Spiced Apple Margaritas
18.Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms and Red Lentils
With a tangy dressing and a subtle pop of sweetness from dried fruit, this "slaw" is more like the main event. Top with your protein of choice for a complete meal, or use it to add some crunch to a sandwich or wrap. Bonus: it gets better and better the longer it sits in the fridge.
Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Slaw
This cozy, comforting dish is the vegetarian-friendly answer to butter chicken. It's also dairy-free thanks to the addition of coconut milk, so go ahead and cook up this creamy meal for just about anyone this month.
Recipe: Coconut Butter Cauliflower
21.French Onion Grilled Cheese
On a chilly winter day, nothing tastes quite as good as a melty, ooey-gooey grilled cheese — except for this version of grilled cheese. Velvety soft caramelized onions add tons of flavor and texture to a classic grilled cheese, and the longer you cook 'em, the better they'll be.
Recipe: French Onion Grilled Cheese
22.Beet Salad with Citrus and Goat Cheese
When you're sick and tired of the same old salads, give this beet salad a spot on your weekly rotation. If beets aren't your thing, try golden beets instead; they're milder, a bit sweeter, and less earthy tasting. (And as a bonus, they won't stain your hands and cutting board red.)
23.Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Cooking these ingredients together in an Instant Pot supercharges your broth with a seriously impressive amount of chicken flavor. If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can easily recreate this recipe in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, so long as you're careful to cook the chicken until it easily falls off the bone.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
24.Winter Citrus Smoothie
Citrus is A+ this time of year, so there's never been a better time to load a whole bunch of it into a tangy, creamy smoothie. Come for the taste, stay for the serious (and necessary) hit of vitamin C.
Recipe: Winter Citrus Smoothie
25.Cranberry Orange Muffins
These muffins are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast as you dash out the door and into the winter chill — or an unfussy snack (or dessert) when you're stuck inside. The pops of tartness from burst cranberries complement the subtle sweetness of these muffins, and an easy orange glaze makes them simply unforgettable.
Recipe: Cranberry Orange Muffins
IMO, roasted cabbage is one of the most underrated foods out there, and these cabbage steaks prove it. After a visit to the oven with some olive oil and spices, thickly sliced wedges of cabbage become crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, all while retaining their substantial bite.
Recipe: Cabbage Steaks
27.Stuffed Butternut Squash with Wild Rice and Sausage
28.Winter Grain Bowl with Balsamic Dressing
Calling all people who (like me!) struggle to find quick lunches that won't make you feel blah after: this winter-inspired grain bowl is the perfect dish to prep over the weekend and devour all week long. Store the various accompaniments separately, then pile high over your grain of choice when lunchtime rolls around.
29.Rosemary Garlic Parsnip Fries
You know what seriously underrated ingredient we don't talk about enough?! Parsnips. On your next burger night, switch things up by cooking up a batch of these crispy parsnip fries in your oven or air fryer, and you may never go back to potato fries again.
Recipe: Rosemary Garlic Parsnip Fries
30.Farro Salad with Arugula and Apple
Quick-cooking farro (I love the 10-minute Trader Joe's version, just FYI) is the perfect hearty base for this seasonal salad. If you find radicchio too bitter, just double up on the arugula instead — and either way, don't skimp on the parm shavings.
31.Chocolate Dipped Clementines with Sea Salt
This sweet and juicy dessert is as easy as it gets, and it really gives chocolate-covered strawberries a run for their money. They're also a great dessert for entertaining since you can make them ahead, and they're best straight out of the fridge.
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