5 Warming Lunch Recipes for Winter

December 12, 2022

One of the best ways to indulge in comfort throughout the frigid months of winter is by staying nourished with warm meals. Eating seasonally is the hot thing to do…especially when it starts to get cold. Fresh salads and sandwiches are perfect for summer, but when those first flakes of snow are falling that’s when it’s time for ramen, warm veggie bowls and oatmeal to shine. No sad desk lunches here.

Read on for your winter lunch menu inspiration!

Build Your Own Burrito Bowl:

Skip the line at Chipotle and make this delicious and customizable burrito bowl right at home! This is a super easy meal to prep in small or large batches.

Here’s what you’ll need to get cooking.

For one serving:

3/4 cup of cooked rice (tip: prep the rice ahead of time to make this even quicker)
1/4 cup of pico de Gallo (store-bought or homemade both work!)
Half a white onion, diced
3 large tomatoes, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Seasonings: A dash of salt, pepper, lime juice, chili flakes and chili powder
Protein: Choose 1/2 cup of sliced or shredded chicken or make it vegan by using black beans
Optional toppings: cilantro, avocado, lime wedges, shredded cheese (vegan or dairy, your choice!)

*increase amounts to batch prep it for multiple meals.

How to make it:

Prepare your rice according to package directions and divide in your lunch containers
Sautee your protein of choice with garlic and spices
Add your protein and diced vegetables to your rice
Top with cheese, pico de Gallo and enjoy!

Fried Rice

A little meal prep goes a long way with this warming and filling meal. Completely customizable you can pick your protein and swap out different veggies. Try a new variation every week for a meal that you’ll never get tired of! Plus the precooked rice makes this quick to make ahead of time or while you’re on a WFH lunch break.

Here’s what you’ll need to get cooking.

Choose your protein:

Shrimp
Chicken
Steak
Tofu

Prep the following:

3 cups of cooked rice (white or brown both work well)
1 cup of frozen peas
1/2 cup of carrots, finely diced
2 scrambled eggs (omit if vegan)
1 chopped small onion
2 chopped green onions
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
2 tablespoon of sesame oil
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon grated ginger

Start by frying your vegetables in sesame oil. Once they’re cooked, add your garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Then add your precooked rice and soy sauce. Cook until the rice is well coated and starting to get crispy. Top with scrambled eggs and your protein of choice!

Baked Oatmeal:

Oats are a “stick to your ribs” meal. They keep you feeling full and help balance blood sugar. In other words, they’re perfect for a warm, wintery snack, breakfast on the go or when you want to enjoy breakfast for lunch!

Here’s what you’ll need to get cooking.

2 cups of old-fashioned oats
3 cups of water or milk of choice
2 chopped apples
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup

Start by adding your oats, spices, brown sugar and liquid (water or milk) to a pot on the stove over high heat, and bring to a boil. Once well combined and softened put the oats in a pie dish, mix in your apples and place it in the oven at 375 until golden brown.

Quesadillas

Another great customizable option. Prep your ingredients in advance and enjoy these delicious quesadillas all week long. No more sad sandwiches when you have quesadillas on hand!

Here’s what you’ll need to get cooking.

1 small red onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 small jalapeño, diced (omit to reduce spice-level)
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Pinch of salt and pepper
1 teaspoon of Chili powder
1 teaspoon of cumin
Cheddar cheese
Corn or Flour tortillas
Choice of protein:
- Chicken
- Steak
- Ground beef
- Shrimp
- Beans
- Tofu

In a pan, heat up some olive oil and cook all of the veggies together with salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Once cooked, set aside and then cook your choice of protein. Now it’s time to assemble!

Heat up your tortilla with cheese and start building your quesadilla. Add your veggies, protein, sour cream, extra cheese, salsa, lettuce, corn, avocado, you name it!

Mason Jar Ramen

If you’re looking for something with the simplicity of Mr. Noodles that’s filled with your favourite veggies and filling protein then this recipe is for you. It’s so simple to put together and once you’re ready to eat all you need to do is add boiling water!

Here’s what you’ll need to get cooking.

2 packs of instant ramen noodles
2 cloves of minced garlic
Pinch of chili flakes
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of better than bouillon soup base
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
Shredded tofu or cooked shredded chicken
1 teaspoon of furikake seasoning or everything bagel seasoning
Frozen peas, carrots and corn
Mushrooms
1 teaspoon of chopped green onions

Add your soup base, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and seasonings to the bottom of a mason jar. Top with your shredded tofu or chicken. Add your veggies and then top with your dry ramen packs. Once you’re ready to eat, boil water and pour it over! Let sit for 5 minutes, then mix and get ready to enjoy your very own homemade instant noodles.

Note: Make sure your jar is temperature safe and won’t crack when boiling water is added.