Cozy Winter Meals for Preschoolers

When the cooler winter weather sets in, many of us begin to crave warming comfort food. If you’re looking for cozy winter meals that your preschooler will enjoy, read on for quick and easy ideas.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

There’s nothing more cozy than soup on a chilly winter day, and this slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is as warming as it is easy. With a slow cooker, you can start dinner when you leave for work, or a few hours before dinnertime. This recipe is also highly customizable to your family’s tastes.

Ingredients:

  • ½ pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 3 cups of salsa
  • 1 cup of chicken broth
  • 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 cup tortilla strips
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Garnishes such as chopped avocado, shredded cheese, or sour cream

Method:

  1. In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except for garnishes. Stir to combine.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  3. Remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred with two forks. Return the shredded pieces to the slow cooker.
  4. Stir in the garnishes and serve.

One Pot Pizza Pasta Bake

Young children love pizza, but ordering pizza can become expensive. Instead, try this pasta bake that has all the flavors of a classic pepperoni pizza. You can customize this recipe to add your preschooler’s favorite pizza toppings such as mushrooms or tomatoes, and there’s just one pot to wash afterwards. To make it a complete meal, add some veggies and dip or fruit on the side.

Get the One Pot Pizza Pasta Bake recipe here.

Pizza Crescent Rolls

For another pizza-inspired meal that would be ideal for lunch at home, try making pizza crescent rolls. All you need is frozen crescent roll dough, a bit of pasta sauce, and your child’s favorite pizza toppings.

Roll out the dough onto a baking sheet. Have your child help you add toppings, remembering not to overstuff the rolls. Then, roll up each one into crescent roll shapes, and bake at 375°F for 10-13 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with warmed pasta sauce for dipping.

Muffin Tin Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a classic comfort food, but cooking it the traditional way can take a long time. Instead, try portioning the meat mixture into a muffin tin. This way, you can have dinner on the table in just half an hour. Simply prepare a typical meatloaf recipe, but bake in a muffin tin at 400°F for 20 minutes.

Asian Noodles With Peanut Sauce

Many kids love peanut butter, so noodles with peanut sauce can be a fun meal for young children. This Asian Noodles With Peanut Sauce recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, and uses only a few ingredients. You can substitute Thai rice noodles or udon noodles, and make any protein and vegetable additions your child likes. Your preschooler can help you by mixing sauce ingredients and adding their own toppings to the noodles.

No matter what food your preschooler enjoys, there is a cozy and comforting winter meal they’ll love. Try these five cozy winter recipes for warming family meals.