Food does more than just fuel your body–it feeds the soul. When the days get shorter and the nights get longer, you’ll be craving cozy, seasonal dinners. These winter recipes with hearty beef and bright citrus will help you fight away those winter blahs.
Eating seasonally has perks for you and the environment. Fruit and vegetables that are at the peak of their season will be sweeter, juicier, and overall more flavorful. Shopping for items that are seasonal to your area means they have shorter to travel from farm to table. Fresher produce, less transportation emissions, and lower shipping cost makes it a win-win-win.
Fruit and veg aren’t the only foods that are seasonal. If you consume animal based products like beef and pork, what the animal eats seasonally affects the taste of the meat you eat too! Grass-fed beef will have better marbling in late fall to early winter due to a higher fat content in grass when it goes to seed. Free range hogs and goats will find and eat apples in the colder months leading to sweeter and more flavorful meat.
The best foods to eat during the winter are:
- citrus like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons
- root vegetables like potatoes, yams, onions, and leeks
- dark leafy greens like kale, collards, broccoli, and brussels sprouts
- Grass-fed Beef
- Free Range Pork
These 24 winter recipes will prove to anyone, seasonal eating in the cold months doesn’t have to be boring! Check out our seasonal eating guide for Fall for more ideas.
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Winter Cocktail Recipes
Let’s kick off our round-up with happy hour! Pomegranates are in season and add a bejeweled touch to any fruity cocktail.
Ginger Pomegranate Cocktail
Ginger Pomegranate Spritz is a loose take on a classic cocktail. This refreshing drink is made with ginger beer, pomegranate flavored Italian soda, fresh lime, vodka, and some fresh herbs. It’s the perfect refreshing holiday cocktail this season.
Mulled Wine Recipe
Mulled Wine is a comforting winter drink made from a blend of red wine, spices, and citrus, served warm. This holiday classic recipe is easy to make and is a great cocktail for winter parties.
Pomegranate Mimosa
A delicious and festive Pomegranate Mimosa made with sparkling wine, Cointreau, and pomegranate juice. The perfect champagne cocktail recipe for holiday parties!
Winter Salads
Clean eating January anyone? These salads are perfect for a lighter winter lunch or dinner.
Grilled Salmon Salad Recipe
Grilled salmon seasoned with blackening spices tossed with a homemade citrus vinaigrette dressing makes for a hearty salad.
Grilled Chicken Salad with Candied Pecans and Balsamic Dressing
Candied Pecans for crunch, perfectly grilled chicken with a savory honey balsamic dressing makes this a grilled chicken salad with amazing flavor.
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad
Healthy Grilled Buffalo Salad recipe that satisfies all your wing cravings, without the guilt. Keto friendly, gluten free, sugar free, low carb, and can easily be adjusted for Paleo and Whole 30.
Hearty Soup Recipes for Winter
On a cold winter day, nothing beats a dish of healthy chicken, mushroom, and lentil soup.
Smoked Salsa Verde Chicken Soup
Recipe for Smoked Chicken Salsa Verde Soup. A quick, easy, soul-soothing, cold-calming, smoky delicious soup for when you’re not feeling well. And three ways to prepare in advance of cold season.
Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Slowly smoked chicken adds great flavor to a classic chicken tortilla soup. This soup starts with quality ingredients, like homemade chicken stock, chipotle and other flavorful ingredients.
Smoked Mushroom and Lentil Soup
Vegetarian and vegan, dairy free, sugar free, Smoked Mushroom Soup. Incredibly nourishing and wholesome! Not to mention ridiculously delicious!!!
Hearty Dinner Ideas
These stick-to-your-ribs recipes will warm up your house and your heart.
Shepherd’s Pie on the Grill
A Classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe cooked on any grill or smoker for great smoky flavor. This recipe is easy, healthy, delicious and perfect for your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations!
Cheese Fondue Recipe on the Grill
A twist on a classic fondue made with sauteed mushrooms and Comté and Emmenta cheeses cooked on the grill.
Smoked Leg of Lamb Recipe with Garlic, Wine, Butter Sauce
Bone-In Smoked Leg of Lamb with an herb rub and finished at high heat for a reverse sear, and topped with a rich garlic infused butter sauce.
Cowboy Ribeye
This recipe for Cowboy Steaks with a Coffee Ancho Chili Dry Rub will wow your guests! Using the reverse sear method for the perfect thick cut ribeye steaks!
Grilled Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce
How to grill oysters in the half shell with a herb wine butter sauce.
Smoked Ham and Brown Sugar Glaze
Smoked Ham is the perfect meal for any holiday, like Christmas or Easter dinner. This brown sugar glaze is absolutely incredible over the top of your smoked ham!
Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe
An herbal and fragrant lamb seasoning slowly smoke roasted in a grill and cooked to medium rare.
Double Smoked Ham with Cherry Bourbon Glaze
Recipe for double smoked ham with cherry and bourbon glaze. The ultimate holiday ham!
Grilled Filet Mignon with Mushroom Brown Butter Sauce
Grilled Filet Mignon with Mushroom Brown Butter Sauce is a fantastic steak recipe for a special occasion or holiday meal. Filet Mignon is incredibly tender with a buttery flavor, and when topped with a decadent brown butter mushroom sauce, your mouth will water for days!
Grilled Chicken with a Cranberry Chipotle Citrus Glaze
Recipe for Grilled Chicken with a sweet and spicy Cranberry Chipotle Citrus Glaze. This chicken is sweet, spicy, tangy.
Side Dishes
Make the most of winter produce with these veggie forward side dishes. Grilling vegetables adds an extra layer of smoky flavor.
Grilled Brussels Sprouts
Grilled Brussels Sprouts are the ultimate vegetable side dish! When you add bacon and balsamic to your Brussels this grilled side dish is over-the-top.
Grilled Sweet Potato Recipe
A grilled sweet potato with savory dry rub. Soft, flavorful, and easy to make on any grill. This is a great alternative cooking method for a baked sweet potato.
Collard Greens Recipe With Smoked Turkey Leg
How to make smoked collard greens with a homemade smoked turkey leg. One key tip is to be sure the collards are gently rolled or massaged to tenderize them.
Perfect Oven Roasted Potatoes
Learn the secret to restaurant quality roasted potatoes. From which potatoes to use, to how to par boil them to get them creamy, and finish in a hot oven.
Grilled and Glazed Carrots
Grilled Carrots with a Honey Brown Sugar Glaze are a fantastic side dish to any holiday or casual meal. Perfect side dish for Easter or Christmas dinner or summer grilling season.
Dessert Recipes
A little dark chocolate is scientifically proven to help fight winter blahs. Don’t thank me; thank science!
Chocolate Truffles with Red Wine
Homemade Chocolate Truffles infused with red wine are a decadent treat. These chocolate truffles are quick and easy to make and have 5 ingredients. You can also coat them with your favorite toppings for added flavor.
Skillet Brownies on the Grill
Made to be dense and rich in chocolate, these Skillet Brownies are cooked on the grill and then topped with a chocolate drizzle and vanilla bean ice cream. Gluten free.
Smoked Chocolate Pot de Crème (no bake)
How to make a chocolate pot de crème with a smoky undertone. Smoke milk and cream to create a rich smokiness, then combine with the remaining ingredients for an easy, silky, and indulgent no-bake Chocolate Pot de Crème
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