Best Recipes To Make In January: 31+ Most Popular Winter Meals To Try! (2024)

The new year has started, and winter's going strong, so what are the best recipes to make in January? In addition to lighter fare for weight loss resolutions, there are a ton of great comfort food dishes to try, too! The last priority on the list, but certainly always a great thing to consider, is how quick and easy a dish is to get on the table to feed your family!

Popular dishes at this time of year include chili recipes, casserole dinners, and egg breakfast recipes!

Try January's Most Delicious Trending Recipes

With a new year comes fabulous new recipes, and January sets the bar for a year of great food! Leave the 'what's for dinner' question in the past and start brainstorming your weekly meals using these recipes for inspiration!

As for what's popular this month, you can expect some delicious lighter fare for the New Year's resolution crowd and plenty of warm and cozy comfort food! School is back on after the winter break, so easy family dinners like casseroles and one-pot meals are trending, too!

1. Million Dollar Baked Chicken Breast

Say goodbye to boring, plain chicken breasts and say hello to million-dollar chicken breasts with crispy bacon and three types of melted cheese. Some ingredients keep this rich dish relatively low-calorie, so you can make this dish a regular part of your dinner rotation!

Finally, here's a chicken breast recipe you can look forward to making every week!

2. Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Cracker Barrel's famous meatloaf recipe tastes even better when it's made in the comfort of your own kitchen! This copycat recipe includes their signature ingredient, Ritz crackers, as well as their classic ketchup glaze!

3. Paula Deen's Mac And Cheese

When it comes to Southern baked mac and cheese, Paula Deen knows a thing or two. This macaroni is so rich and indulgent, with only a handful of common ingredients and bout 30 minutes of time!

4. Pork Shoulder Roast

Pork shoulder roast is a flavorful cut of meat taken from the shoulder area of the pig that is known for its tenderness and rich taste. A generous coating of my homemade pork seasoning and a little olive oil is all it needs!

5. Air Fryer Pancakes

Work smarter, not harder, with these easy air fryer pancakes that taste just as soft and fluffy as pancakes off a griddle, and you never have to flip them! Just add maple syrup and all of your favorite pancake toppings!

6. Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

Indulge in a single serving of fluffy chocolate chip cake whenever your sweet tooth strikes. Just mix the ingredients in a coffee mug and pop it in the microwave to bake!

Not a fan of chocolate chips? I have a variety of delightfully fluffy mug cake recipes to choose from!

7. Homemade Chili

Winter is the best time to bust out your favorite chili recipes, and my homemade chili is a great place to start. I like mine with crackers, shredded cheese, and a scoop of sour cream, or you can check out what to serve with chili for more suggestions!

8. Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Busy weekdays call for easy air fryer recipes, and frozen french fries have never tasted better! Of course, you can cook homemade fries in the air fryer, too, but there's nothing wrong with choosing convenience when it tastes this good!

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

9. Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing

My copycat recipe for Benihana's signature salad dressing is a great way to bring the Japanese steakhouse experience home. It's sweet, creamy, tangy, and light for the perfect balance of flavors.

10. Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Broccoli and cauliflower have the perfect level of crunch for a satisfying and refreshing salad! Craisins add small bursts of sweetness to every bite, and I highly recommend the optional crumbled bacon for an extra savory element!

11. Lobster Salad

Chunks of buttery sweet lobster meat tossed with crispy celery in a creamy mayo dressing. You can even serve it on a toasted hot dog bun with butter lettuce for a classic New England lobster roll!

12. Air Fryer Grilled Ham & Cheese

With your air fryer, you can make an easy, cheesy ham sandwich with toasted bread in minutes! Slice it in half and serve it with a warm bowl of soup for a satisfying lunch!

13. Detox Cabbage Soup

A big batch of cabbage soup is the perfect way to start the new year fresh. It's low-carb and low-calorie but so savory and flavorful, with plenty of tender cabbage and other veggies to keep you feeling full!

14. Lobster Risotto

Lobster risotto makes any meal feel like a special occasion, so it's a great choice for a date night dinner for two. The rich and creamy risotto is only surpassed by the tender chunks of sweet, succulent lobster meat!

15. Walking Taco Casserole

Walking taco casserole is made with crispy taco-flavored Doritos, lean ground beef seasoned to perfection, green chiles, and a touch of optional cream cheese. Baked to golden perfection and topped with a melted blend of Mexican cheeses, this family-favorite meal is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

16. Baked Italian Meatballs

Whether served over spaghetti with marinara sauce or enjoyed on their own, these juicy Italian meatballs will be the star of the show! You can even use sweet, mild, or hot Italian sausage as preferred by your family.

17. Antipasto Salad

This antipasto salad is filled to the brim with cured meats, briny olives, fresh mozzarella, Colby Jack cheese, pickled peppers, and more fresh veggies! It features a simple olive oil and balsamic dressing, or you could toss it with some tangy Italian vinaigrette dressing!

18. Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup is a rich and savory soup made with green legumes, broth, veggies, and ham, or, in my case, ham hocks. The smoked ham hocks are simmered low and slow in the soup to give it the most wonderful smokey ham flavor!

Discover the best recipes to serve with split pea soup here and make it into a fabulous family meal!

19. Lasagna

Winter is here, and when you're craving a warm and cozy home-cooked meal, nothing beats lasagna. This is my signature lasagna I have been making for years!

It freezes beautifully if you like to keep a grab-and-bake freezer meal on hand for easy family meals. You don't need side dishes, but if you'd like a more well-balanced plate, you can find what to serve with lasagna here!

20. Chicken Schnitzel

These thin and crispy fried chicken cutlets are a family favorite dinner recipe that both kids and adults will enjoy. Check out what to serve with chicken schnitzel for side dish ideas and more serving suggestions!

21. Avocado Egg Bake

Thanks to these baked avocado egg cups, you can stick to your New Year's resolutions without settling for a boring breakfast! Top them off with extra shredded cheese, Cajun seasoning, or a dash of hot sauce to customize them to your tastes!

22. Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are perfect for busy mornings when you're lucky to make it out the door on time, much less cook breakfast. Combine the oats with milk and your favorite mix-ins, and let refrigerate overnight to have breakfast ready to eat in the morning!

23. Pasta e fa*gioli

Pasta e fa*gioli or 'pasta and beans' is an Italian soup made popular by Olive Garden and easy to recreate in your own kitchen! It's filled with rich tomato-based broth, tender ditalini pasta, two kinds of beans, and Italian sausage!

24. Garlicky Shrimp Alfredo Bake

This satisfying pasta casserole features juicy shrimp, perfectly cooked penne pasta, and rich alfredo sauce with three cheeses. The shrimp cooks right alongside the pasta, so

25. Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Jumbo shrimp butterflied and breaded in Panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut, then air-fried to crispy golden perfection! Paired with my homemade co*cktail sauce for dipping, they make an excellent appetizer to share!

26. Pineapple Apple Banana Bread

This year is all about elevating classic recipes, so it's easy to see why my pineapple banana bread has been so popular! It has the signature moist texture and condensed flavor of my classic banana bread but with a tasty tropical twist: pineapple!

If you store your banana bread correctly (or freeze it), you can enjoy a slice whenever you like!

27. Buttered Noodles

Buttered noodles are the perfect example of a recipe that doesn't have to be complicated with tons of ingredients to turn out delicious. There are just 4 ingredients, and it makes a wonderful base for proteins, or you can simply enjoy a big bowl of buttery egg noodles on its own!

28. Egg Salad

Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, an egg salad sandwich always hits the spot. With the perfect blend of mayonnaise and mustard, my classic egg salad is delicious on bread, lettuce, or on its own!

29. Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Warm, rich, and creamy roasted tomato basil soup is perfect for cold and rainy January weather. Pair it with an air fryer grilled cheese for dipping (a classic lunch or dinner combination)!

30. Venison Chili

January means deer season, and if you're fortunate enough to have some ground venison stored away, you can make the most incredible chili! It doesn't taste gamey at all and is the perfect way to clear your freezer of last season's venison.

31. Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Homemade vanilla buttercream frosting makes the best cakes, cookies, and cupcakes! You can add food coloring to make it fit a theme or simply enjoy it in its naturally sweet, vanilla-flavored glory!

See my full collection of buttercream frosting flavors here for more of my most popular frostings.

More Great January Dishes

• Easy Air Fryer Recipes
• Comfort Food Recipes
• Butternut Squash Risotto
• Beef Stew
• Chili Recipes
• Chicken and Dumplings
• Ground Beef Casserole

Planning January Meals

When planning meals for January, it's important to consider the characteristics of the season and available ingredients. This month is typically cold in many regions, making it an ideal time for warm, hearty dishes.

Featuring seasonal ingredients (foods that store well over winter) is key to making great family meals this month! Keep these dishes in mind for keeping your body warm and nourished.

Hearty Soups & Stews

Soups and stews are staple dishes for January. They are warm and cozy but also versatile, allowing you to use a variety of ingredients. Soups and stews can range from light and brothy to thick and hearty, so there's always a recipe that will hit the spot.

Casseroles

Casseroles are comforting, can be prepared in advance, and are perfect for easy family dinners or meal prepping.

Usually, casseroles include protein, vegetables, and starches in one dish, making them a balanced one-pan meal.

Root Vegetables

Potato recipes are a great way to add more substance to your winter meals! Other root vegetables, like carrots, turnips, or parsnips, are also in season. Root veggies are versatile ingredients perfect for roasting, mashing, or adding to soups and stews!

Winter Squash

Butternut, acorn, buttercup, and spaghetti squash are great options. They can be roasted, turned into soups, or used as a base for other recipes.

See my tasty roasted butternut squash recipe for the base of soups, risotto, and more. Or try my easy acorn squash that can be served sweet or savory!

Slow Cooker

Slow cooking is ideal for developing deep, rich flavors, especially in soups, stews, and braised dishes (and makes your house smell amazing). It's also one of the most convenient cooking methods, with minimal prep time and easy cleanup.

Try some simple and hearty slow cooker casseroles or crockpot soups to warm up this winter!

Baked & Roasted

These are great ways to create satisfying family meals with minimal effort. Baking and roasting also preserve and concentrate the flavors of the ingredients!

These cooking methods work for main course proteins and vegetables. You can even cook both on the same baking sheet for an easy sheet pan meal like my sheet pan steak fajitas!

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