31 Supremely Seasonal Recipes To Make Every Night In December
Welcome to peak comfort food season.
Hello and welcome to December! 🎁
We can all be thankful that 2020 is almost over and that it's officially peak comfort food season. Maybe you already have your Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year's Eve menus planned — so here's a ton of delicious and super-seasonal recipes to get you through the rest of the month.
Here's what's in season this month:
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there's no bad time for baked eggs, especially when they're nestled in a bed of roasted sweet potato. Get creative and toss in any additional winter veggies, like mushrooms, kale, and Brussels sprouts.
2. Garlic Shiitake Mushroom Breakfast Toast
Use a mixture of mushrooms — like baby bellas, shiitakes, and creminis — for maximum flavor.
3. Ginger-Coconut Braised Chicken With Leeks and Tarragon
Packed with citrus, ginger, coconut milk, and spices, this Asian-inspired chicken recipe is both wholesome and comforting.
Recipe: Ginger-Coconut Braised Chicken With Leeks and Tarragon
4. Winter Citrus Butter Salmon
Basic salmon gets a zesty upgrade when it's topped with a fresh winter salsa. Grab some blood oranges and grapefruit and mix the citrus with jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
Recipe: Winter Citrus Butter Salmon
5. Pear and Gorgonzola Galette With Caramelized Onions
Pie for dinner? Twist my arm. This savory version is loaded with sweet pears, tangy Gorgonzola cheese, and sweet caramelized onions wrapped up in a buttery, flaky tart.
This Spanish-inspired dish of roasted potatoes tossed in a spicy aioli makes for a craveworthy side dish. Or you can top it with a fried egg and call it a meal.
Recipe: Patatas Bravas
A brunch or dinner recipe ideal for feeding the whole family, this starts with leftover sourdough, eggs, and a whole lot of vegetables.
Upgrade your classic grilled cheese with a few seasonal ingredients and you've got a timeless comfort food the whole family will enjoy.
Forget about all that stove-top stirring and say hello to your handy Instant Pot. Just combine the ingredients and wait for creamy risotto to cook itself.
A mixture of cannellini beans and potatoes gives this vegan soup a deliciously creamy texture. Be generous with the gremolata, a savory and herbaceous blend of parsley and basil in olive oil, garlic, and lemon.
Recipe: Vegan Creamy White Bean Soup with Kale and Gremolata
11. Arugula and Delicata Squash Pasta
This pasta happens to be vegetarian, but you can always bulk it up with hot Italian sausage, pancetta, or grilled chicken if you want more protein.
Serve this Middle Eastern–inspired meal with pita bread on the side for dipping.
13. Savory Cabbage Pancakes (Okonomiyaki)
This budget-friendly meal comes together with just a few basic ingredients, like cabbage, eggs, scallions, and flour, but the best part is that you can dress it up with pretty much whatever's in your kitchen — from canned salmon to extra veggies.
Grab your favorite store-bought curry paste, a can of coconut milk, and some vegetable broth and whip up this hearty, decadent stew. You can always add your favorite protein, like chicken, shrimp, or tofu.
Recipe: Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry
15. Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
No tortillas? No problem. These baked sweet potatoes can be filled with any of your favorite taco toppings.
Recipe: Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
A vegetarian take on the fan-favorite Chinese dish, cauliflower florets are roasted and tossed in a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, brown sugar, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger.
Recipe: Kung Pao Cauliflower
17. Crunchy Ramen and Bok Choy Salad
Turn Instant ramen noodles into a sophisticated salad with the help of crunchy bok choy, kale, sliced almonds, and scallions, all tossed in a sweet and salty dressing.
Recipe: Crunchy Ramen and Bok Choy Salad
This one-skillet meal is guaranteed to impress. Serve it with tortillas and your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings.
Cut back on carbs, but don't sacrifice flavor. This roasted stuffed acorn squash is filled with a savory mixture of ground sausage, baby bella mushrooms, apple, onion, and Parmesan cheese.
Recipe: Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
20. Roast Beef With Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
You don't need to use a fancy cut of meat for this satisfying and cozy winter dish. Just start with beef chuck, which gets super tender as it slow-cooks in the oven.
Brussels sprouts give classic carbonara a seasonal twist. The creamy sauce — made with eggs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and crushed red pepper — is pretty much irresistible.
Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Carbonara
You might be used to the classic combination of butternut squash and apple, but persimmon steps in here to give this creamy soup a silky and tangy taste.
23. Keto-Friendly Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese
This keto-friendly mac 'n' cheese calls for cauliflower florets in place of noodles. But don't worry, it's still creamy and decadent in all the right ways.
Recipe: Keto Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese
24. Brussels Sprouts au Gratin
The best way to eat your greens is to bake them with bacon and cream sauce, then smother them in a thick and melty layer of cheddar and Parmesan cheese, of course.
Recipe: Brussels Sprouts au Gratin
Not your average nachos, this grown-up comfort food starts with a layer of roasted sweet potato fries. You can keep things meatless or add some pulled pork, ground beef, or shredded chicken.
26. Cabbage Roll Soup
You can never have too many cozy soup recipes to get you through winter. This blend of cabbage, rice, and ground beef in a rich tomato broth will quickly become a new favorite.
Recipe: Cabbage Roll Soup
This Middle Eastern–inspired dish is packed with flavor. The mushrooms are marinated in a blend of smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and chili powder. Serve it with a bunch of toppings, like pickled onions and tabbouleh or tzatziki and hummus.
Recipe: Easy Vegan Mushroom Shawarma
Citrus is in season, and you should be taking full advantage. Zesty grapefruit juice provides the perfect contrast to the light and buttery yogurt cake.
Recipe: Grapefruit Yogurt Cake
29. Ginger Persimmon Scone Muffins
These scone-muffin hybrids are packed with sweet persimmons and spicy candied ginger. They're crumbly on the top but dense on the bottom, and they're perfectly appropriate for breakfast or dessert.
Recipe: Ginger Persimmon Scone Muffins
30. Pear Crisp
Apple was so last month. Try swapping your apple crumble for this version, packed with juicy, ripe pears.
Recipe: Pear Crisp
In this dessert lover's dream, tart pomegranates are the perfect complement to a luxurious dark chocolate and salted ganache tart.