When the air grows frosty, and you have to start bundling up in extra layers, there's nothing better than coming home to a warm, comforting meal to help you thaw out. From steamy soups to fresh-out-of-the-oven casserole, and everything in between, these cold-weather recipes will warm you to your core. Plus, they're lighter alternatives to recipes that are often laden with excess fat and carbs, so you can feel good about eating them.
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Herbed Broccoli-Cauliflower Soup
This herbed soup is the definition of homey. Tender broccoli, cauliflower, and celery add a bit of crunch while a variety of spices provide a punch of flavour. The whole family will love this delightful soup, which pairs perfectly with a piece of crusty bread and a tossed salad.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Pumpkin Coconut Thai Curry
Pumpkin is one of our favourite fall foods - it's low in kilojoules, rich in beta-carotene, and packed with fibre. This recipe incorporates the squash into a creamy, tasty curry along with pumpkin puree, kale, and a host of spices. Served over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or your favourite low-carb rice substitute, this 2,092kJ (500cal) meal is a lighter take on classic curry that will still leave you and your family satisfied.
Get the recipe from Tastes Lovely »
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Pasta-Ratatouille Casserole
While most casseroles are an indulgent mix of cheese and meat, this lighter alternative incorporates ratatouille, which is a flavoorful and nutrient-rich mix of eggplant, zucchini, yellow pumpkin, capsicum, mushrooms, and plum tomatoes. Combined with a whole grain pasta and reduced-fat cheese, this comforting dish is perfectly healthy and tasty for the entire family.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Potato, Chorizo and Winter Greens Soup
Enjoy this classic Portuguese soup, caldo verde, on a chilly night when you have plenty of winter greens in the fridge but have no idea what to make. Traditionally, it's made with kale, but you can swap in your favourite veggies to make this simple, dairy-free soup your own.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Middle Eastern Rice Salad
Brown rice, warm lentils, and an assortment of chopped and shredded veggies join together to create this delicious, vitamin-packed Middle-Eastern salad. It comes together in just 25 minutes, but if you're especially short on time, you can opt for precooked lentils instead of boiling the raw kind. Who said eating healthy had to be time-consuming?
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Curried Sweet Potato and Apple Soup
If you love winter as much as we do, you'll be obsessed with this satisfying soup that uses a seasonal favourite: sweet potato. This super veggie is packed with vitamins A and C, as well as other nutrients that will help keep you healthy through the colder seasons. Granny Smith apples add a layer of tangy sweetness while curry powder, cinnamon, and cumin infuse this dish with fall flavor.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Savoy Cabbage, Bacon, and Pear Salad
This warm salad uses a base of savoy cabbage, which is in peak season throughout winter. Not only is the veggie an excellent source of vitamins K and C, but it's also soft with a milder taste, so it pairs perfectly with salty bacon and sweet, crunchy pears. A light dressing of cider vinegar, olive oil, and Dijon mustard add extra flavour while still keeping the dish light.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Chicken Soup with Asian Noodles
Nothing beats a hot bowl of noodles on frigid nights. This fragrant recipe keeps things delicious and nutritious with several crunchy veggies, reduced-sodium broth, and Thai-style brown rice noodles, which are gluten-free and 100 percent whole grain.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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One-Pan Chicken Dinner
Sheet-pan dinners take a lot of the work out of cooking a meal; plus, they leave you with way fewer dishes to wash! Marinated chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts, fuji apples, and shallots are seasoned and cooked with the chicken, filling your kitchen with irresistible smells that will remind you of autumn.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy »
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Carrot Quinoa Soup
This super simple soup comes together in less than half an hour, and it's perfect for taking to work in a thermos or enjoying as a quick evening meal. You'll get a megadose of beta-carotene to bolster your immune system along with a solid protein and fibre boost from the quinoa.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Italian Seafood Stew
This gorgeous stew looks like a tonne of work, but trust us - it's super easy and comes together in under 30 minutes. With a mouthwatering (and high-protein) mixture of mussels, prawns, and white fish in red wine-infused broth, this meal is perfect for indoor date night on a chilly evening.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Winter Pizza
Ah, pizza: the ultimate comfort food. Instead of giving into your cravings and ordering delivery, try this homemade version instead. This pizza features leeks, which are packed with vitamin K, beta-carotene, manganese, and iron - plus, they smell amazing while cooking. Combined with puréed butternut pumpkin and topped with shredded cheese, this recipe is so good you won't even miss the tomato sauce.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Curried Carrot-Lentil Soup
This colourful soup may look simple, but the ingredients used to create it are anything but boring. In addition to vitamin-rich carrots, the recipe calls for red lentils, which are high in fibre and low in kilojoules. The spice mixture that takes this dish to the next level includes a trendy favourite, turmeric, which is not only anti-inflammatory but is also shown to boost memory and relieve joint pain.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Turkey Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo
Nothing warms the belly (and the soul) like spicy Cajun stew - and the extra protein doesn't hurt either. Turkey sausage, small shrimp, and strips of chicken combine with nutrient-rich veggies like capsicum, okra, and diced tomatoes for a hearty meal that will keep you happy and full for hours.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Spaghetti squash is among our favourite seasonal produce, and for good reason: it's low-kJ, low-carb, and rich in fibre, vitamin A, and vitamin C. In this instance, the pumpkin is cooked and separated into individual strands, paired with onion, garlic, basil, tomato, breadcrumbs, and cheese, to create a tasty winter casserole you'll want to make again and again.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
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Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Fresh, flavourful sweet potatoes roasted with onions and rosemary makes for a healthy vegan side dish you can easily throw together for a winter meal. Spicy chilli flakes add an extra kick that's irresistible. Even better, this dish weighs in at just 837kJ (200cal) per serving and is packed with vitamin A.
Get the recipe from Tori Avey »
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Cream of Asparagus Soup
Light coconut milk is substituted for heavy cream in this simply delicious and creamy soup, which can be served hot or cold based on your preference. Whether you eat this as an appetiser or main course, this low-kJ (and low-effort) soup is sure to impress.
Get the recipe from Evolving Table »
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Roasted Butternut Pumpkin Quinoa Salad
This fantastic fall salad offers yet another reason to love quinoa, a complex carb with a host of nutrients like fibre, magnesium, and zinc. Even better, this recipe incorporates roasted butternut pumpkin, which is packed with vitamin A and beta-carotene, crunchy pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and other delicious ingredients to make this one salad bowl you'll whip up again and again.
Get the recipe from One Sweet Mess »
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Lemon, Garlic, and Thyme Baked Salmon
This has to be the simplest weeknight dinner ever, and honestly, it doesn't get much more delicious than tender, flakey salmon with a marinade of honey, garlic, lemon, and thyme. Plus, salmon's a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. The best part about this recipe is you can mix it up - salmon pairs well with rice, salad, potatoes, and practically anything else!
Get the recipe from Baker By Nature »
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White Bean Soup
White beans are an excellent source of protein and antioxidants, and they're paired with tasty orzo in this slightly spicy dish. Kale also amps up this meal's nutrition, although you can switch in spinach, or any other veggie that you prefer.
Get the recipe from Savor and Savvy »
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Chopped Red Cabbage Kale Salad
This gorgeous winter mix is proof that salads never have to be boring. Vitamin-rich kale is tossed with chopped red cabbage, slivered almonds, and sliced apple for natural sweetness along with a simple homemade dressing. At under 837kJ (200cal) per serving, this nutritious salad pairs well as a side dish or can be topped with grilled chicken, steak, or fish for an easy workday lunch.
Get the recipe from Primavera Kitchen »
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Slow-Cooker Turkey Chickpea Chili
Prep the ingredients in your slow-cooker before heading to work, and you'll come home to a deliciously warm dinner that's as comforting as it is healthy. Lean ground turkey and chickpeas are the secret to this protein-rich meal, and with such an appetising mixture of spices, picky eaters won't even mind the veggies.
Get the recipe from Kristine's Kitchen »
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Creamy Butternut Squash Alfredo Pasta
Anyone else drooling? This creamy pasta looks indulgent, but the blogger behind this gorgeous dish used quinoa pasta instead of the traditional white kind and incorporated butternut pumpkin for added nutrition. This mouthwatering dish is just 1.673kJ (400cal) per 1 1/2 cup, but if you want to lighten the recipe even more, omit the bacon bits and cut the butter you use in half.
Get the recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats »
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Red Beet and Apple Soup
There are plenty of reasons to make beets a staple in your diet - they can lower your blood pressure, boost your energy, and are loaded with antioxidants to ward off certain diseases. This cozy soup recipe showcases just how delicious and sweet they can be, especially when combined with tart green apples, savory celery, and fresh herbs.
Get the recipe from Fork in the Road »
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Slow-Simmered Black-Eyed Peas and Greens
Black-eyed peas aren't just for good luck around the New Year - they're also a great source of protein and fibre to keep you feeling satisfied. This cozy meal is a bit more time-consuming as you'll need to soak the peas overnight and simmer through several different stages, but the pay-off is absolutely worth it on a chilly weekend when you're stuck inside anyway. You can use any hearty green you'd like, whether that's kale, spinach, or collard greens, and serve this delicious concoction with crusty bread or rice.
Get the recipe from Budget Bytes »
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