Winter has been all over the place here. It’s below zero one day then 60 degrees the next. It’s not a typical winter but I am still craving typical winter meals. This winter meal plan consists of hearty and cozy family-friendly dinners that won’t have you in the kitchen all evening.

Check out our Winter Meal Plan.

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

Chili  

This is our go-to chili recipe. Simple and not too fussy, it’s perfect for kids. Don’t be put off by the chili powder in there. It adds a lot of flavor without being overpowering or spicy. You can certainly lower the amount. However, I highly suggest you do so incrementally and taste as you go. You may be pleasantly surprised.

When serving we put out all the toppings, Fritos, sour cream, cheese, and cilantro and everyone makes it the way they like. I’m convinced that my little guy just eats it for the Fritos. But truth be told, I love eating this so much that I’m looking the other way.

This recipe is easily doubled and freezer-friendly. This makes it two dinners in one!

https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/tex-mex-corn-chip-chili

Rainbow Quinoa Salad

A great change from the usual winter meals this quinoa salad is filled with vegetables. You will notice in the photo that there isn’t a red bell pepper in it. I simply didn’t have one on hand. When I first started cooking I would NEVER had made a dish without having every single ingredient on hand. What a mistake that was! I learned so much from having to substitute things. And not every ingridient is a make or break. This dish has a bunch of veggies. If you don’t have one or don’t like one, it’s ok to leave it out!

I used 1.5 cups of quinoa and this recipe still yielded a ton! It keeps well so it’s great to make early in the week and enjoy leftovers for lunch.

There is protein in the quinoa which makes it quite filling so I served this on its own. but you could certainly serve it with chicken, tofu, or shrimp.

I found that it worked best to cook the quinoa first. As it is cooking, chop the vegetables and place them a large serving bowl. Then make the dressing. I added all the ingredients to the measuring cup used for the soy sauce and whisked away.

After the quinoa is done add the dressing to the pot and mix well. This will help the quinoa absor the flavors. Then you mix the quinoa and vegetables together. This strategy will help you cut down on dishes.

Wondering what your kids will eat?

Take a bunch of the chopped veggies and put them on a plate. Leave the quinoa plain and serve it with any protein they like.  Whenever I serve my kids a new food I always serve it with something I know that they will eat. It helps them to feel a little more comfortable trying new foods.

http://theseasalt.com/2018/04/10/rainbow-quinoa-salad/

Hawaiian Fried Rice

Add a little of the tropics to the winter. My kids love this one! Feel free to make the rice (brown or white) the day before. I think it tastes even better that way. Day old rice is a bit firmer and gives stops the meal from being mushy.

I have tried pre-chopped ham and it’s ok but if you can find ham steaks in the store (Costco sells them) the flavor is much more pronounced. A simple meal for the win!

If you are crunched for time Trader Joe’s makes delicious frozen brown rice packets that would work well in this recipe. There are three pouches of rice to a box and the recipe would use all three. Just pop them in the microwave as you cook the ham and vegetables. It may not be as good as day old rice, but will certainly work if you are in a pinch.

Wondering what your kids will eat?

I was cautiously optimistic that my kids would eat this. One did while the other thought I was nuts! If your kids won’t eat this as is, here’s what worked for me. While you are prepping, put aside some pineapples and red bell peppers. Serve them with warm ham and plain rice. If they don’t eat ham you can give them scrambled eggs as their protein.

https://therecipecritic.com/hawaiian-fried-rice/

Chicken Meatball Soup with Pasta

Filled with veggies, pasta, and beans, this is a great chicken meatball soup with pasta recipe, sure to become a family favorite all year round.

I heard Rachel Ray use the term stoup, half soup, and half stew, years ago. This recipe would be in that category. It is not very brothy since the pasta, meatballs, and beans absorb a great deal of it. This makes it hearty but not at all heavy.  

While you are prepping, pack the meatballs tightly so that they don’t fall apart when cooking. Also, make sure the oil is heated up before you place the meatballs in it to get a good crust on the outside.

https://thekitchenchalkboard.com/chicken-meatball-soup/

Try this recipe your family will love.

Fish Sticks

Do you have a super busy night this week? These fish sticks are perfect for that night. They can be made up to three days in advance a take only minutes to cook up. Serve it with leftover quinoa or even macaroni and cheese. Dinner done in twenty minutes!

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/crispy-fish-sticks

There you go!

So there you have it, a delicious winter meal plan that is sure to satisfy your whole family. Download the shopping list for the week here and after you try the winter meal plan and let me know in the comments below how it turned out.

And be sure to check my Weeknight Meals Pinterest Board for more winter meal ideas and inspiration.

Happy Winter!