Fuel With Hearty Winter Dairy Meals

We often think of the holiday season as a time of decadent, rich foods. And while we are sure to indulge often during the fall and winter months in celebration of family and friends, these rich foods are not the only foods we turn to. Making rich hearty dairy meals can keep hunger at bay and make you feel warm and cozy inside.

Winter brings colder temperatures and dark evenings. We bundle up to stay warm and take measures throughout the day to help our body recover from the weather, like choosing to drink more fluids or seeking snacks that provide more energy. Another popular is to serve hearty dairy meals to your family.

Choosing hearty meals during this time of the year is almost a necessity. We need energy and warmth, and these foods satisfy these needs while tasting oh-so-delicious! And you can’t have a hearty meal without milk! Each of these recipes uses milk and other dairy products to help you during these chilly winter months. You can fight fatigue and fuel your body with the four B vitamins naturally found in milk (riboflavin, B-12, niacin, and pantothenic acid) that help your body turn food into fuel. Try these five warming, hearty meals that use real milk to provide you with the energy you need this winter season.

Delicious and Hearty Soups and Stews

Chili

Please family and friends with this hearty Chili with Cheesy Corn Muffins that complement the chili as a satisfying side dish.

To prepare the chili, cook ground beef or turkey. Add chopped onion and cook until it is tender. Mix in kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and garlic. Stir in chili powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Before serving, top each bowl with cheese.

While the chili cooks, combine a corn muffin mix with eggs and milk. Add cheddar cheese to the mixture, pour into lined muffin tins, and bake until golden brown.

For a vegetarian option, try the Three-Cheese Black Bean Chili with Cheddar Crust. This veggie-packed black bean chili features two types of cheese stirred into the chili and a Cheddar cheese topping.

Sauté onions in a large Dutch oven until translucent. Add tomato paste, chili powder, cocoa powder, and cumin. Once the mixture caramelizes to a dark brown, stir in carrots, celery, jalapeños, crushed tomatoes, and black beans. Stir in tomato juice to your preferred consistency. Simmer for 1 hour before stirring mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheese into the chili. Top with shredded Cheddar, broil until cheese is bubbly, and then serve.

Chowder

Chowder is made with broth and thickened with flour and cream, often with vegetables mixed in. This hearty White Bean Corn Chowder gets its creamy texture, as well as protein, from mashed beans plus milk and cheese.

Melt butter in a large heavy-bottom pot and stir in chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Cook and stir in garlic. Mix in flour and gradually pour in warmed milk. Bring to a simmer until the soup begins to thicken. Pour in warmed vegetable broth.

Add mashed white beans, whole white beans, corn, and diced green chilies to the pot. Add cumin, chili powder, and salt. Simmer before melting Cheddar cheese. Serve with additional cheese and fresh cilantro.

The milk in this recipe brings more than creamy textures. Milk is naturally nutritious. Milk is a natural source of zinc, selenium, and protein, which are essential nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. So the nights you are staying in, eat hearty dairy meals with real cow’s milk and help your body recover from the weather outside.

More Hearty and Creamy Dairy Meals

Risotto

The key to making creamy risotto is folding in whipped heavy cream and lots of parmesan cheese! The Creamy Spinach Risotto with Roasted Tomatoes is a fresh take on the Italian staple that can be made easily in under 45 minutes.

First, prepare the tomatoes by tossing tomatoes with butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Roast the tomatoes in the oven while you prepare the risotto.

Melt butter and add shallots, garlic, salt, and pepper. Sauté just until tender. Feel free to experiment with other vegetables like asparagus, mushrooms, or peas. Add arborio rice to the mix and toast. Deglaze with white wine and add vegetable stock. Stir in fresh spinach or arugula. Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then gently fold the whipped cream and parmesan cheese into the risotto mixture. Divide equally into bowls and serve topped with roasted tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and protein of choice like shrimp or chicken.

Casseroles

This hearty Grilled Chicken Cheddar Casserole with Mushrooms features the delectable flavors of grilled chicken, carrots, and mushrooms combined with creamy pasta.

To make, cook and drain penne pasta according to package directions.

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Stir in flour and whisk in milk, Dijon mustard, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and white pepper. Once the sauce thickens, stir in green onions, carrots, mushrooms, and Cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted. Mix pasta into the sauce and pour into a prepared pan. Arrange sliced grilled chicken over pasta. Mix breadcrumbs, parsley, and butter together and sprinkle over pasta. Bake and enjoy!

Meatballs

The creamy tomato cheese sauce in this Meatballs in Creamy Tomato Sauce with Burrata is the perfect partner for meatballs. Topping it with decadent, rich burrata cheese takes it to a whole different level. And bonus, there’s plenty of extra sauce for dipping the crusty, chewy bread in!

Melt butter and add diced shallots. Sauté until translucent. Add garlic and sauté until soft, then season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over the shallot mixture and gradually pour in milk. Bring to a simmer so the sauce can thicken.

Add fontina cheese, crushed tomatoes, and sundried tomatoes. Add pre-made meatballs and cover with sauce. Place Burrata balls on top. Bake until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese has begun to melt. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with toasted crostini.

Check out this blog to learn how else dairy helps you reach balanced nutrition this season.