Ina Garten Recipes That Are Perfect for a Cold Winter Day

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.

There’s a big snowstorm hovering over the Northeast this week, and kids and adults alike are reveling in the coziness of a wintry snow day. Even our favorite celebs, like Ina Garten, have been known to sit back and relax while watching the winter wonderland outside and trying to stay cozy and warm at home. We love to tackle a nice comfort food cooking project when it’s cold outside and we have nowhere to go, so we started wondering – if we were Ina Garten, trapped in our beautiful Hamptons home during a snow storm, what would we make? These are just a few of the best Barefoot Contessa recipes for snow day cooking, from Modern Comfort Food and beyond.

More from SheKnows

• Keep Dinners Simple With Giada De Laurentiis' Easy & Delicious One-Pan Salmon

Beef Stew

Of course, only Ina could take a traditional beef stew but dial up the flavor with full-bodied red wine and cognac. Ina also swaps out traditional chuck for boneless short ribs because they get much more tender as they cook.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu

Pasta is always a safe bet when you want something hearty that will warm you from the inside out. Garten’s recipe combines rigatoni with a rich lamb ragu and plenty of cheese, ideal for chilly winter nights.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

When you’re wrapped up in blankets and sitting in front of the fire (or watching a yule log video on YouTube), nothing makes you feel more cozy and cheerful than a mug of hot cocoa, and Garten’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate take things to the next level.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Cauliflower Cheese Toasts

Garten’s Cauliflower Cheese Toast sounds simple, but the flavor is deliciously complex, thanks to a combination of roasted cauliflower, mascarpone and Gruyere cheese, crispy prosciutto, and a sprinkle of Parmesan to finish. Enjoy with your favorite soup, or on its own with a big glass of red wine.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Chicken

If ever a recipe was more than the sum of its parts, it’s this one. Garten’s perfect roast chicken comes out tender, moist, and full of flavor, thanks to the generous amount of herbs, lemon, and butter called for. It’s everything you want for dinner on a cold night (and the leftover lemony chicken makes amazing soup!).

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Winter Minestrone & Garlic Bruschetta

We know that Garten made this winter minestrone with butternut squash, pancetta, and pesto during an early January snow storm, and it just might be worth a repeat.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Ina Garten’s Overnight Mac & Cheese

If you have lots of time to cook on your snow day, get a head start on tomorrow’s dinner by making Ina Garten’s overnight macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s rich, decadent, and cheesy, but you don’t even need to make a bechamel to assemble the dish.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

Before you go, check out Garten’s best dinner recipes below:

Best of SheKnows

• The Sam's Club Products Costco Fans Will Love

• The Best Store-Bought Soups to Stock Up On This Winter

• Costco's Bakery Section Is Severely Underrated — Here Are the Items You Need to Try

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.