Let One Pot Meals Warm You this Winter

When I think of “comfort food” the first thing that comes to mind are one-pot or one-dish meals like soups, stews and casseroles.  And, there is no better time to enjoy these foods than during the winter season when we’re looking for any way possible to keep warm and cozy.  I’d also like to mention that comfort food doesn’t have to be unhealthy–at least not in my book.  All of these dishes can be both hearty and filled with lots of vegetables that will not only fill you up, but also provide loads of nutrition.

As you may know from an earlier blog entry, one of my favorite things to cook during cooler weather is soup.  Chicken soup and minestrone are two of my favorites, but bean soups are especially satisfying this time of year.  Two healthy recipes I’ve found are Governor’s Black Bean Soup and Macaroni Chickpea Soup.

I personally consider chili to be a type of stew and it’s one of my favorite meals.  There are so many variations of chili–you can use lean beef, turkey or go completely meatless.  I typically make it using ground chicken breast and I do use beans in my recipe.  The recipe I’m sharing with you is 3-Bean Chili with Chunky Tomatoes.  I like that it’s vegetarian and that it uses three different kinds of beans to give it more variety and extra fiber.

Finally, any one-dish meal can be considered a casserole–even lasagna.  Skillet Lasagna is a veggie version that takes only 40 minutes to prepare and adds in some tasty vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes and onion.  Another quick option is Cabbage Roll Casserole, which uses lean, ground turkey, cabbage, crushed tomatoes, garlic, onion and brown rice.  Both recipes are perfect for busy weeknight suppers.

So this winter stay warm with these recipe ideas.  They’ll not only keep your family feeling satisfied, but you’ll know they’re good for them too!

See all posts