Top 22 winter dinner ideas

When the weather outside is cold and icy, there’s nothing better than sitting down to a hearty home-cooked meal. We’ve got everything you need for a magnificent spread, from soup starters, filling ragu and stews, and winter cakes and compotes. Finish your meal by warming your hands around a delicious hot chocolate or feel the burn of a little nightcap.

Check out our winter warmer recipes for more inspiration on keeping your spirits high and your stomach full this winter. There are plenty more delectable desserts to try with our winter dessert recipes, and why not check out our guide to the best-mulled wine to buy? If alcohol doesn’t take your fancy, we have plenty of non-alcoholic drink recipes and mocktail recipes to try.

Add more recipes to your rotation with our top dinners for when you don’t know what to cook.

Starters

1. Leek & potato soup

Of the winter soups, leek and potato is one of the most comforting and familiar. This recipe can be on the table in under an hour and is freezable, so if you batch cook it, you can reheat it later for a fuss-free lunch or dinner. You can also follow along with our helpful video tutorial.

Discover more winter soup recipes.

2. Winter panzanella

This winter panzanella is made using winter produce, such as cauliflower and radish. Toast cubes of leftover bread for an extra-crunchy panzanella – an Italian salad packed with flavour.

Discover more panzanella recipes.

3. Parsnip & miso soup with sesame croutons

Make the most of seasonal parsnips in this sweet, savoury miso soup. Naturally low in calories and high in fibre, it makes a nourishing starter or light lunch. It also freezes beautifully so that you can stash away extra portions for an easy meal on busy days.

Discover more parsnip recipes.

4. Winter salad

Salads don’t have to be enjoyed only in the summer. Make this salad where wonderful seasonal produce, such as cauliflower, is mixed with wintery flavours like dill and walnuts. Not only is it high in fibre, but it’s also vegan-friendly and gluten free.

Discover more winter salad recipes.

5. Mushroom soup

Make the most of mushrooms with this comforting soup recipe using cream, onions and garlic. It’s super simple – taking only three steps to make – and freezable, so you can save the leftovers for another day. It goes perfectly with crusty bread, so why not impress your guests by making your own with our easy white bread recipe?

6. Charred leeks with anchovy dressing

We’ve made leeks the star of our elegant, simple starter. Hazelnuts add a creative crunch and the anchovy dressing gives the dish an umami depth of flavour.

Discover more leek recipes.

Mains

1. Chicken pot pie

Rustle up this chicken pot pie for an easy dinner. A family favourite, it can be made ahead and frozen for another day to make mealtimes easy. It’s high in protein and low in sugar and will warm you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

Discover more chicken pie recipes.

2. Beef stew

A traditional braised beef casserole with thick, rich gravy and chunky veg – it’s an ideal recipe for cheap cuts, as slow-cooking guarantees a tender dish. It’s a beautiful mid-week meal that only takes 15 minutes to prepare.

Discover more winter stew recipes.

3. Sausage & mash pie

Enjoy this ingenious take on a family favourite – sausage and mash. It combines two storecupboard ingredients into one hearty pie that can be easily frozen. It’s also high in fibre!

Discover more sausage pie recipes.

4. Sausage, lentil & leek casserole

This hearty sausage, lentil and leek casserole comes together in just 40 minutes in your air fryer. It’s comforting, full of flavour and ideal for a chilly winter’s day. Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the sauce or a spoonful of creamy mash for a cosy, satisfying meal.

Discover more air fryer recipes.

5. Porchetta ragu

Be inspired by porchetta, the Italian rolled-pork dish. This ragu is ideal for guests as you can leave it simmering while you’re entertaining. This recipe serves 6-8 people but is also freezable, so if you have leftovers, you can reheat them quickly for a fuss-free supper.

Discover more dinner party main recipes.

6. Chicken pasta bake

Curl up with a bowl of piping hot pasta on a chilly winter’s night. This gooey cheese and chicken bake is a winning weekday dinner for the whole family, served straight from the dish with a dressed green salad.

Discover more pasta bake recipes.

Desserts

1. Marmalade & whisky bread & butter pudding

Upgrade the ultimate comfort dessert, bread and butter pudding. This one has citrus flavours from Seville orange marmalade and a woody kick from the whisky.

Discover more bread & butter pudding recipes.

2. Squidgy chocolate pear pudding

This hot, gooey chocolate pud, with dark chocolate and canned pears, can be made ahead and frozen – a perfect no-fuss dinner party dessert.

Discover more chocolate dessert recipes.

3. Self-saucing sticky toffee chocolate pudding

Combine sticky toffee pudding sponge with a generous helping of chocolate chunks and chocolate sauce for the ultimate indulgent dessert. It pairs perfectly with our ultimate vanilla ice cream or homemade custard.

4. Dark & stormy fruit cake

Enjoy this classic winter cake as a gorgeous centrepiece for your winter meal. Make this Christmas cake a couple of months in advance, if you can, and feed it with rum to give it time to mature and develop deep flavour and texture.

Discover more inspiration for Christmas cake decoration.

5. Winter compote

These winter compote tumblers make for a great breakfast or healthier dessert. They need 20 minutes of cooling time, so they’re a great make-ahead dessert to pop in the fridge the night before.

Discover more compote recipes.

Drinks

1. Classic mulled wine

Hosting a dinner party over the festive period? Impress your party guests with our easy recipe for mulled wine, flavoured with warming spices.

Discover more mulled wine recipes.

2. Cinnamon butter rum

Warm up in winter with a glass of fabulously decadent cinnamon butter rum. Gently heat all the ingredients until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved and then serve.

Discover more rum recipes.

3. Triple choc hot chocolate

Take a humble hot mug of cocoa to the heights of luxury with this super decadent recipe that combines double cream and whole milk with three types of chocolate.

Discover more hot chocolate recipes.

4. Winter whisky sour

This classic bourbon cocktail takes a festive turn with a splash of orange juice and edible gold glitter.

Discover more bourbon cocktail recipes.

5. Mulled apple juice

This drink is perfect for getting you in the spirit of winter without the dreaded hangover. With flavours of orange, cinnamon and cloves, it’s the ideal mulled alternative for drivers or children.

Discover more mulled drinks recipes.

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