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29 Cozy February Dinner Ideas to Cook Every Night This Month

Including a romantic V-Day meal

february dinners 2024: baked ziti pasta pie on a plate
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Why does the shortest month of the year always feel so...long? February gets a bad rap for being dreary, cold and causing way too much stress on the 14th. The bright side? It's also a great time to stay in and cook hearty, comforting dishes that will make you legitimately grateful for winter weather. So order a grocery delivery, grab your favorite blanket and cozy up to 29 February dinner ideas to cook every night this month, from soups to pastas to skillet dishes.

73 Hearty Winter Dinner Ideas That Take 1 Hour or Less


February 1: The Ultimate Pasta Pie

Found: Your kids' new favorite dinner. It's as easy as layering rigatoni marinara, crumbled Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese in a springform pan and baking to perfection. Serve it with Caesar salad or crusty bread.

February 2: Winter Red Cabbage and Apple Soup

Thanks to red wine vinegar and caraway seeds, this vibrant soup has unexpected zing and an earthy edge (not to mention stunning color from the cabbage). Finish your bowl with a swirl of Greek yogurt or plant-based crème fraîche.

February 3: Hot Chili Oil Noodles with Kale Chips

When you have salad ingredients in the fridge but are craving lo mein, this healthy-ish noodle recipe is a tasty compromise. The rice noodles are naturally gluten free, but if you want the whole dish to follow suit, use tamari in place of soy sauce.

February 4: Hash Brown Fish

Spuds are always invited to dinner. Even alleged fish haters will have nothing negative to say about this crispy, 25-minute invention. It's Paleo-friendly, high in protein and loaded with brain-boosting omega-3s.

February 5: Cacio e Pepe

Warning: Once you’ve mastered this five-ingredient pasta dish, you might never want to eat anything else for dinner—or any meal—again. Did we mention it only takes 20 minutes to prepare?

February 6: Creamy White Beans

Mild white beans are brought to life (from scratch!) by smashed garlic, Calabrian chile, fennel seeds and fresh rosemary. Make double of the spicy herb oil—you'll want to drizzle it over everything from soup to sandwiches.

February 7: Philly Cheesesteak-Stuffed Mushrooms

Keto dieters will be more than happy to sink their forks into these Portobellos, stuffed with steak, caramelized onions and peppers and provolone cheese. We promise you won't miss the bread...but we wouldn't blame you for topping each 'shroom with a dollop of Whiz.

February 8: Curried Chicken and Kale Salad with Creamy Harissa Dressing

The leftovers will hold up like a charm, so you can savor this loaded salad tonight and do it all over again tomorrow at lunch (while making your deskmates so jealous). The tangy, spicy dressing is nothing but goat cheese, store-bought harissa and a handful of pantry staples.

February 9: Sweet Potato Chowder

Starring sweet potatoes, kale and a generous amount of bacon (life is about balance, people). Finish each serving with a dash of fancy vinegar, a dollop of sour cream or a flurry of crushed red pepper flakes.

February 10: Soy-Ginger Salmon Bowls with Coconut Rice

This dinner is loaded with protein, topped with crunchy veggies and ready in 35 minutes flat—what's not to like? The soy-ginger glaze would taste divine on chicken, pork or tofu too, in case fish isn't your style.

February 11: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

If you don't have Buffalo sauce on the table, is it even Super Bowl Sunday? Chicken meatballs are much more foolproof than wings, and they won't leave sticky bones behind for the host to clean up. Stick 'em with toothpicks for easy noshing during the game.

February 12: Mini Mason Jar Chicken Potpies

Round up your mason jars for this Insta-worthy, decidedly adorable cold weather twist on a classic. The filling stars store-bought rotisserie chicken, in case you need more convincing.

February 13: Antoni Porowski’s Lazy Pierogi with Wild Mushrooms, Cabbage and Prunes

Can you believe you only need 35 minutes to pull off these fresh Polish dumplings, smothered in earthy veggies, brown sugar-y prunes and fresh herbs? Color your dinner guests impressed. You'll never go back to the frozen kind, trust.

February 14: Lobster Risotto

Happy Valentine's Day! Nothing says "I love you" like a homemade meal. No matter who you're cooking for or with, this indulgent lobster risotto is worth staying in for. Don't forget the chardonnay—or dessert.

February 15: Shallot and Spicy Mushroom Pasta

Shallot lovers, this one's for you. Thinly sliced and caramelized, they create a savory-sweet foil for meaty mushrooms. Top the pasta with roasted chestnuts if you're feeling fancy, or substitute Parmesan with fried or grilled halloumi.

February 16: Cheddar Biscuit Chili Pot Pies

Behold: the definition of comfort food. The tomato-based chili, which can be made with ground beef or turkey, quickly comes together in a skillet instead of a Crockpot or Dutch oven. In other words, the recipe isn't nearly as time-consuming as you may expect.

February 17: Ina Garten’s Creamy Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Thyme

Fetch your finest chambray shirt to prepare this dinner party-worthy dish, crafted by the Barefoot Contessa herself. The crispy chicken thighs are nestled in a wine-kissed sauce teeming with onions, leeks, lemon and thyme.

February 18: Puff Pastry Pizza Bundles

Picky eaters will have no complaints about this nostalgic, seven-ingredient meal made with store-bought dough. Dunk to your heart's content in pizza sauce, pesto or garlic butter.

February 19: Lemony Swiss Chard Salad with White Beans and Garlic Breadcrumbs

Did you know that Swiss chard can be enjoyed raw? Its tender leaves and sturdy stalks make for a great salad, since they hold their own against weighty toppings (like white beans and dressing) without turning soggy. Use stale bread to make the homemade breadcrumbs as crunchy as possible.

February 20: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Fact: There's no such thing as too many soup leftovers. Ward off any impending winter sicknesses with this feel-good staple that blows the canned kind way out of the water. It's picky kid-proof, promise.

February 21: Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Sausage and Kale

How does a plant-based soup achieve a decadent texture without the help of cream, you ask? This dish's richness is courtesy of soaked cashews and a quick spin in the blender. Save time before dinner by cooking it in your Instant Pot.

February 22: 5-Ingredient Smoked Gouda-Thyme Mac and Cheese

Save the boxed mac for another night. We cut down on time here by cooking the orecchiette in milk instead of waiting for a separate pot of water to boil, so this smoky masterpiece is just as convenient *and* ten times more delicious.

February 23: 30-Minute Cheater’s Beef Stroganoff

Buttery noodles. Succulent beef tenderloin. Tangy Dijon-sour cream sauce. Sorry, were we drooling? Pair the hearty gem with a glass of red wine and let the compliments roll in.

February 24: Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken

Winner, winner, the coziest, most soul-warming, thoroughly spiced chicken dinner. (Ever.) It only requires four ingredients, including flavor-packed chipotles in adobo sauce.

February 25: Swedish Meatballs

Sorry, IKEA—we've got it covered. Might we suggest serving these savory, creamy meatballs with savory gravy over 20-minute mashed potatoes? Ja, please.

February 26: Spicy Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili

You can stand at the stove for hours crafting a stellar pot of chili...or you can let your Crockpot do all the work for you. This protein-packed powerhouse only requires 15 minutes of active prep and it can be frozen for up to three months, if you're in need of make-ahead meals.

February 27: Skillet Gnocchi Bake with Sausage and Kale

For your skillet's next trick, it'll transform store-bought pasta into something spectacular that even persnickety kids will want seconds of. Better yet, it only takes 45 minutes to prepare from start to finish.

February 28: Spiralized Winter Vegetable Gratin

Sweet potatoes, butternut squash and two types of gooey cheese? How fast can we get to the grocery store? A trio of fresh herbs—thyme, rosemary and parsley—take this decadent dish over the top.

February 29: Instant Pot Miso Salmon Chowder

Leave it to the handy pressure cooker to prepare this umami-rich meal in 35 minutes flat. If you're not a fan of soy milk, use whole milk, heavy whipping cream, almond milk or any other kind you prefer—just stay away from skim to ensure a rich, silky broth.


taryn pire

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...