15 Awesome Healthy Winter Dinner Recipes
Almost anywhere you live, this time of year the weather is getting colder. Colder weather means a desire for recipes that warm our tummies and give us a comforting feeling. But we still want recipes that are healthy and good for us. Here is a collection of 15 awesome healthy winter dinner recipes.
As the winter chill sets in, our bodies crave warm, comforting meals that nourish and satisfy our cravings..
Healthy winter dinner recipes are the perfect way to embrace the season while maintaining a balanced diet. These dishes not only warm you from the inside out but also provide essential nutrients to boost your immune system during the colder months.
What makes a recipe ideal for winter?
The best winter meals incorporate seasonal ingredients, hearty textures, and warming spices. They often feature slow-cooked methods that allow flavors to develop and create rich, comforting dishes
Enjoy this collection of tummy-warming winter recipes that focus on healthy ingredients and delicious flavors.
Welcome to Bluesky Browinsg #170.
Winter Ingredients
Ingredients for winter dishes differ from other seasons. Key ingredients for winter recipes include:
- Root vegetables: carrots, parsnips, turnips, and rutabaga
- Winter squashes: butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash
- Hearty greens: kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts
- Legumes: lentils, beans, and chickpeas
- Lean proteins: turkey, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and fish
- Warming spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
These ingredients not only provide essential vitamins and minerals but also add depth and complexity to your winter meals.
Since we may not get as much exercise in the winter because of inclement weather, it’s important to watch our intake. I am certainly not a nutritionist, but I do know that the less we exercise, the more we need to watch what we eat.
When creating healthy winter recipes, we should focus on balancing comfort with nutrition. Incorporate whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of vegetables to create satisfying meals that support our well-being.
By choosing nutrient-dense ingredients and mindful cooking methods, you can enjoy delicious, warming dinners that keep you energized throughout the winter season.
Personally, I try to limit heavy cream-based sauces. A few of these recipes use lighter options, such as chimichurri and vinegar-based sauces. We also use extra virgin olive oil quite a bit and limit our use of butter.
Winter Healthy Recipes: 15 Salads, Soups, and Main Dishes
This collection of healthy winter recipes includes salads, soups, and main courses. There is an opportunity to mix and match some of these recipes or let them provide the entire meal.
I looked for recipes rich in flavors. The more satisfying a dish is, the less we feel the need to eat more than we should.

Enjoy them all.
Healthy Winter Recipes: 15 Awesome Ideas for Dinner
These recipes, except for the salads and soups, are intended to be prepared for dinner. They are all perfect for family weeknight meals or weekend entertaining.
Winter Meal Plan
Stella of Beauty Bites provides a comprehensive overview of how to eat healthy during the winter months. She shows you how to stay healthy with a 7-Day clean eating winter meal plan! The menu is packed with easy winter recipes and meal ideas that are perfect for the cold weather! Use this post as both inspiration and information for winter dining.
Winter Lentil Salad
Winter lentil salad is a comforting warm salad made with green lentils, roasted vegetables, fruits, and seeds. Vanana of Green Bowl 2 Soul says that it has a delicious sweet and citrusy dressing which goes very well with all the other ingredients of this salad. This filling vegan salad is also a great option for healthy weeknight dinners.
Tricolor Quinoa Salad
Amy, Sammy, and Phenie of The Sidesmith are the creators of this delicious vegan tricolor quinoa salad mixed with sweet roasted baby peppers, caramelized eggplant, and tangy lemon. All tossed together with a zesty lemon garlic dressing. This is the perfect side dish recipe of healthy vegetables for potlucks and parties.
Beef and Broccoli
This easy beef and broccoli recipe isn’t just about dazzling your taste buds. It’s about bringing you a healthier, cost-efficient alternative to your takeout cravings. With fresh, quality ingredients and a tad of cooking magic, Krystel of Krystel’s Cooking is all set to transform your dining experience.
Vegan Sweet Potato Winter Salad
Here is a yummy vegan sweet potato winter salad with toasted pecans from Caroline of Nourished by Caroline. This nutritious salad is packed with roasted sweet potatoes, toasted pecans, homemade croutons, cranberries and leafy greens of choice. Serve it with a light lemon vinaigrette for a fresh yet hearty salad. Perfect in winter alone or with a light piece of chicken or fish.
Vegan Cabbage Soup
This Vegan Cabbage Soup is the perfect hearty meal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays. It’s easy to make, budget-friendly, and Melissa of Vegan Huggs says it is darn tasty – even her kids love it.
Healthy Vegetable Stew
Lisa of 100 Days of Real Food offers up Vegetable stew made with a variety of vegetables cooked in a flavorful broth! It is a healthy and versatile meal. Great for the colder weather, family dinners, meal prep, and leftovers! This hearty stew is chunky, filling, and tasty. It is loaded with nutritious ingredients and delicious flavors!
Perfectly Baked Salmon and Lentils
Perfect baked salmon is the main dish of this one-pan meal. Lindsay of Pinch of Yum is known for healthy and unique dishes and this is one, for sure. Lentils, rice, quinoa, and vegetables add to the easy-to-make and healthy meal for a weeknight dinner. It’s very one-and-done in terms of preparation. Another light sauce features herbs for added flavor.
Vegan Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms
Some dishes are so comforting; they’re like a hug from your kitchen. This creamy Vegan Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms from Emily of Resplendent Kitchen is one of them. Delicious, smooth, and satisfying, the mushrooms make it the perfect meal for a chilly night. Even if you are not vegan (we are not), polenta is a great grain and filling – just don’t eat too much!
Chicken and Sweet Potato in a Skillet
This chicken and sweet potato skillet recipe is a game-changer for busy nights when you need something quick but satisfying. Bursting with bold flavors, tender chicken, and caramelized sweet potatoes, it’s a dish you’ll want to make again and again. Halit of Better Home Base shares detailed instructions for making this simple dish.
Baked Lamp Chop with Chimichurri
One way to make a recipe healthier without decreasing the flavor factor is to replace heavier cream sauces with lighter choices. Sondra of Cruisine and Travel shares this super easy baked lamb chop recipe made with mint chimichurri sauce that reduces calories and takes this dish up a notch.
Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Thighs
This oven-baked Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Thigh recipe is easy to make, full of herbaceous flavor, and makes juicy chicken every single time. Another healthier sauce option, a rich rosemary thyme balsamic sauce, makes a lovely winter dinner. Elizabeth of Entirely Elizabeth uses herbs for flavor served with a side of roasted potatoes.
Ginger Soy-Glazed Cod
This Ginger Soy-Glazed Cod is not just a delightful dinner option; it’s a burst of flavors that will make your meal unforgettable. Mari of Chyachya packs this seafood dish with nutritious ingredients that are incredibly easy to prepare. This recipe is a ticket to a healthy and satisfying dining experience.
Baked Mahi-Mahi
Mahi Mahi is a light white fish that has a wonderful mild flavor with a bit of sweetness and a nice, firm texture. Emily of This Healthy Table pairs it with butter, lemon, and just the right seasonings, then baked to perfection, it’s a really tasty fish. It won’t add a lot of calories to your meal.
Butternut Squash and Pasta
I think we all love pasta, but it can be heavy and add lots of calories to our diets. Lori of My Quiet Kitchen reduces the pasta and tosses butternut squash noodles with tender pasta, kale, sage, and plant-based Italian sausage. A simple white wine sauce brings it all together! Easily adapted for gluten-free diets, this flavorful and easy dinner recipe is ready in just 30 minutes!
You may like to check out these other winter recipes:
- Beef Short Ribs with Chocolate Rosemary Sauce
- 15 Delicious Winter Recipes
- Classic French Beef Bourguignon
Visit this Winter Recipes Pinterest Board for more ideas for delicious winter recipes.
I hope you PIN this post, visit each recipe, and PIN each one.
I’d love to know what subjects you are most curious about. Let me know in the comments and I’ll search browse for them. Be sure to PIN to keep these ideas handy.


I’ll be browsing away between writing posts, listening to podcasts, reading, doing various blogging tasks, playing tennis, and walking Nola.
