Winter’s Final Stretch Calls for One Last Round of Comfort Food

This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy + disclosures for details.

Winter’s dragging its feet, and that means one thing—comfort food is still very much on the menu. Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Cilantro Coconut Pineapple Rice bring the heat, while Polenta Fries and Cheesy Pretzel Twists keep things crispy and cozy. Booyah Stew and Instant Pot Pot Roast are here for those extra-chilly nights, and Sweet Potato Biscuits or Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes) with Bacon prove carbs are still king. Need something melty? Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwiches deliver. Or, if you’re just here to eat your feelings, Garlic & White Wine Pasta with Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Poblano Enchiladas have you covered. Stay warm, stay full, and let’s power through winter’s last stand!

Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Cilantro Coconut Pineapple Rice

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
firecracker chicken meatballs in a pan with rice
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

Firecracker Chicken Meatballs bring the heat, while Creamy Coconut Pineapple Rice cools things down—because winter deserves a little spice and a little comfort all in one pan!
Get the Recipe: Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Cilantro Coconut Pineapple Rice

Polenta Fries

Crispy air fryer Polenta Fries! Whether you enjoy them as a snack, side dish, or appetizer, these polenta fries offer a delightful twist on a classic favorite. Give them a try and savor their crispy, tender goodness! Vegan and Gluten-free. (Directions for conventional oven included.)
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Crispy Polenta Fries are golden, crunchy, and downright addictive—especially when dunked in warm marinara and topped with melty mozzarella. Air fryer or oven, they’re a winter snack worth staying in for!
Get the Recipe: Polenta Fries

Booyah Stew

Booyah stew in a Dutch oven.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Booyah Stew is Midwestern comfort in a bowl—packed with chicken, beef, and enough heartiness to power through winter’s final stretch. Perfect for potlucks, tailgates, or just hunkering down at home!
Get the Recipe: Booyah Stew

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Best Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Biscuits are fluffy, buttery, and packed with just the right amount of Southern charm. Baked with tangy buttermilk, they’re the perfect cozy bite for chilly days!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits

Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes) with Bacon

Colcannon Irish mashed potatoes and kale with bacon in a bowl
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

Colcannon is the ultimate Irish comfort dish—creamy mashed potatoes meet tender cabbage (or kale) with crispy bacon sneaking in for extra indulgence. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any day winter won’t quit!
Get the Recipe: Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes) with Bacon

Spanish White bean, Shrimp and Sausage Skillet

Spanish White bean, Shrimp and Sausage Skillet- a simple, healthy & flavorful, one-pan meal that can be on the table in 20 minutes! | www.feastingathome.com
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Spanish White Bean, Shrimp, and Sausage Skillet is a one-pan wonder packed with bold flavors, hearty beans, and just the right kick from smoky sausage. A 20-minute meal that tastes like it took all day—because winter weeknights don’t wait!
Get the Recipe: Spanish White bean, Shrimp and Sausage Skillet

Garlic & White Wine Pasta with Brussels Sprouts

Swirling a fork in a plate of White Wine & Garlic Alfredo Pasta with Brussels Sprouts
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

Garlic & White Wine Pasta with Brussels Sprouts might just ruin all other Alfredo-style pastas for you. The secret? A garlicky, wine-infused sauce that clings to every bite—plus Brussels sprouts that bring just the right balance of cozy and crisp.
Get the Recipe: Garlic & White Wine Pasta with Brussels Sprouts

Cheesy Pretzel Twists

overhead image of cheesy pretzel twists
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Cheesy Pretzel Twists start with a simple homemade dough and end as the ultimate comfort food—golden, soft, and packed with melty cheese. Perfect for football season or anytime you need a snack that disappears in minutes!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Pretzel Twists

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Arugula Pesto- a toasty, melty grilled cheese sandwich with flavorful arugula pesto.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich takes everything you love about the classic salad—fresh mozzarella, juicy summer tomatoes, and bold arugula pesto—and stuffs it between crispy, golden bread. Melty, toasty, and downright irresistible!
Get the Recipe: Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Roasted Poblano Enchiladas

white chicken enchiladas (creamy chicken enchiladas with green chilies )
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Creamy Poblano Enchiladas bring the heat in the best way, smothered in a silky poblano sauce with just the right kick. Whether you go for chicken, roasted cauliflower, or both, the corn, cilantro, and lime zest tie it all together for a dish that tastes like pure comfort.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Poblano Enchiladas

Instant Pot Pot Roast

Pot roast in an instant pot.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

With the Instant Pot Pot Roast, you get all the rich, slow-cooked flavor without the wait. Fall-apart tender beef, hearty veggies, and savory goodness—ready in a fraction of the time, because patience is overrated.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pot Roast

Crockpot Black Eyed Peas

crockpot black eyed peas in a white bowl with a spoon.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Packed with Cajun Crockpot Black-Eyed Peas, smoky sausage, and just the right kick from jalapeños, this slow-cooked classic brings warmth when winter refuses to take a hint. Cozy, spicy, and downright delicious!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Black Eyed Peas

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

close-up of chicken bacon ranch pasta in a white bowl
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the kind of comfort food that makes winter a little more bearable. Creamy, smoky, and loaded with flavor, this one-pan wonder comes together in just 30 minutes—because patience runs thin when you’re hungry!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Chana Masala

The best Chana masala recipe!
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Chana Masala brings bold, warming spices to your table, whether you’re using an Instant Pot or simmering it stovetop. Go classic with dry chickpeas or keep it easy with canned—either way, it’s a bowl of pure comfort for the lingering cold!
Get the Recipe: Chana Masala

Bread & Butter Pudding

Individual bread & butter puddings, in mini copper pots, with toasty buttered bread, dried cranberries, and powdered sugar, on a wire cooling rack.
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

Bread & Butter Pudding is the cozy hug you need in dessert form—golden, buttery-crisp bread soaking up a rich vanilla custard. It’s the kind of old-fashioned comfort that makes winter’s last stretch a little sweeter!
Get the Recipe: Bread & Butter Pudding

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls Recipe

Fried Mac n Cheese Balls | #bites #recipe #easy foodiecrush.com
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

Potato Chip Mac & Cheese Bites take classic comfort food and make it snackable, with a crispy, salty crust giving way to creamy, cheesy goodness. Because sometimes, using a fork is just too much effort!
Get the Recipe: Fried Mac and Cheese Balls Recipe

Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Cranberry Mostarda

Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Cranberry Mustard - a delicious way to use leftover Thanksgiving Turkey and your Cranberry Sauce! #turkeysandwich #grilledcheese #brie #cranberry #thanksgiving
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Turkey Grilled Cheese with Cranberry Mustard turns leftover turkey into a melty, savory masterpiece, complete with a tangy-sweet kick. Who knew leftovers could be this irresistible?
Get the Recipe: Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Cranberry Mostarda

Crispy Mushroom Crepes with Spaghetti Squash and Sage

Savory Mushroom Crepes filled with roasted spaghetti squash, drizzled with bechamel sauce, and topped with sagey mushrooms - a luxurious, decadent vegetarian dinner recipe, perfect for special gatherings, birthdays, or Valentine's Day.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Savory Mushroom Crepes bring all the cozy vibes with a rich filling of roasted spaghetti squash, a drizzle of velvety béchamel, and earthy sage-kissed mushrooms. Perfect for when winter just won’t take a hint.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Mushroom Crepes with Spaghetti Squash and Sage

Easy Baked Ziti

A white casserole dish filled with baked pasta, topped with melted cheese and fresh herbs, alongside a serving spoon.
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

Baked Ziti by Love and Lemons is the ultimate weeknight comfort fix—tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, and layers of melty cheese baked to bubbly perfection. Because winter calls for extra carbs and extra coziness.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked Ziti

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *