Warm and Comforting Meals to Make Every Night in February

Dust off your slow cooker (if it's even been put away in January), and let it do the work of making this ultracomforting dish. Several reviewers suggest doubling the sauce recipe, so if your family likes lots for dipping and smearing, take note of that tip.

Tonight's the big game, and you've got one competition on your mind: how many chicken wings you can take down before halftime. These Lemon Pepper Wings provide plenty of spice without being tongue-torching hot. (Sprinkle some hot sauce if you like to feel fire come from your mouth.) Recipe creator EatThis says they use a lemon pepper seasoning made with white pepper instead of black, which is a bit tamer.

Pantry staples like ziti pasta, jarred salsa, black beans, and canned corn combine into a fun and flavorful pasta bake. You could speed things up with a rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken you might have on hand from last night's Super Bowl party.

Related: Browse our best Skillet Chicken Recipes.

"Chef John, you have done it again," wrote reviewer dersam. "We made this tonight and it turned out perfectly. Really easy to make and has a wonderful flavour."

Low-carb? Check. Comforting? Check. Filled with veggies? Check. Everything you could want in a vegetable-rich lasagna is here, and it's so flavorful and warming, you'll never even know there are no noodles.

Smoky-hot chili powder and umami-rich tomato paste bring together a plethora of chopped veggies for a deeply satisfying meat-free sandwich. Kidney beans add filling protein and fiber. And despite the recipe name, we don't promise this won't be sloppy. Serve with a side of air-fried onion rings.

Settle into a restaurant-quality dinner without the wait or reservations. "I can't tell you how many times I've made this recipe. It's amazingly easy and you'll get rave reviews from anyone who hasn't tried it yet," says reviewer NYPD K9 COP.

"This simple, earthy, rich, and satisfying soup is easy to make in your Instant Pot® or electric pressure cooker," writes recipe creator bd.weld. "This recipe uses pork and hominy along with spices and herbs. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Serve in bowls and add your favorite toppings, such as sliced radishes, shredded cabbage, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and sliced jalapeños."

Strike up a big pot of chili for tonight's Oscars celebration. This is a great option for a crowd, if you're hosting a viewing party, because people can customize with their own toppings. Got a big group? Offer a white chili alternative, like this Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. That way people can get a bowl of each, or settle into seconds of their favorite type.

Sure, it's got some spice — from cayenne pepper, jalapeños, and enchilada sauce — but the cream cheese and Monterey Jack cheese help blunt the heat. And you can personalize it any way you want. Try sautéed mushrooms and spinach for the filling. If you like the smoky flavor of red enchilada sauce, you could use it instead of the green.

You're just six ingredients and 25 minutes from a bowl full of comforting pasta and tangy fresh tomato sauce. Roma, or plum, tomatoes are available year-round, and their flavor tends to be quite nice even in cold February, unlike slicing tomatoes. Serve with crusty baguette so you can sop up any drips of sauce at the bottom of the bowl.

Gather the family (and a few friends) for a tray of crispy, crunchy, ooey-gooey nachos. You can scale up or down (the original recipe feeds 12) for your crowd, and personalize the toppings so everyone gets nachos the way they want them. Now that's super.

One of the best things about fish is how quickly you can cook it, and because it's so versatile, you can put some bold flavors with it. "I had a craving for fresh fish and dill, so I played around and came up with this," writes recipe creator Countess. "It's been rated one of my greatest hits! Great with rice or potatoes and steamed green beans."

Related: 16 Most Popular Side Dishes to Serve with Fish

Send the kids to bed early, and tell honey you'll take care of dinner tonight. This rich and savory steak recipe cooks the beef and makes an unforgettable pan sauce. Don't like beef? No worries. "The rich, sweet, peppery flavor profile also works wonderfully with pork chops and grilled chicken," writes Chef John. "You can also switch up the bourbon for another liquor, since this really is just a technique recipe." Serve with a side of Buttery Garlic Green Beans.

The restaurants will still be busy with love birds, so give dinner at home a bit more care and attention — it's the weekend after all — and serve up this classic shrimp and grits. "Absolutely the BEST Shrimp and Grits I have ever made! My son does not like Shrimp and Grits but after trying this, his response was 'This is how Shrimp and Grits should be made,'" writes WHMAMA1.

"This is one of my favorite soups and it always gets rave reviews! Salad, hard rolls and wine make a meal," writes recipe creator Perri Pender. "You can make this 24 hours ahead of time without the noodles and wait to add the spinach noodles until soup is reheated for serving. Yummy! Serve topped with grated Parmesan!"

20 minutes. Creamy pan sauce. Crisp mushrooms. This easy dinner is more comforting than anything ready in 20 minutes should be. "A wonderful and quick dish just what I was looking for to use some pantry items," wrote reviewer Lucky Noodles.

It's a breakfast for dinner kind of night, and this fried eggs-in-bread dinner bridges the gap from evening meal to breakfast beautifully. And you can get cute with the cookie cutter and try fun shapes like hearts and stars.

"This microwave recipe is quick and very simple, and is a good meal for a busy work week," writes recipe creator Jen. "You can use any color peppers you like. Try using garbanzos instead of the kidney beans for a variation on this recipe."

There may be no food more comforting and cozy than baked macaroni and cheese. You'll be rewarded for making your own over the boxed kind by an ooey-gooey topping and rich sauce that will have you wanting to lick the pan when you're finished. Serve with a green salad, and dinner is done. It almost can't get more simple than this.

It's a pizza and movie kind of night, and while basic pepperoni would probably be fine, you don't do basic when you can do fantastic. This fun spin combines the crunchy-spicy jalapeno slices with cooling hits of cream cheese.

"I used this recipe for my first roast and have used it religiously since," writes reviewer Tom G. "My only advice would be to watch your cooking time." But because it's the weekend and you're cooking this in a slow cooker, you can keep an eye out and when the roast is nearing ready, make up a bowl of Basic Mashed Potatoes and a side of roasted asparagus.

"A spicy, hearty, and easy-to-make soup with tender chunks of sausage, potatoes, and corn. Can be made without cayenne to cater to the kids," write recipe creator Toni D. If you like heat, reviewer Paula says she uses hot breakfast sausage and omits the cayenne. Don't skip the side of corn muffins.

It's Monday night, so there's no need to complicate dinner. This pasta dish is the height of simplicity, and once you make it perfectly the first time, it'll quickly become a back-pocket meal: "The key is slowly toasting the garlic slices to a perfect golden-brown in the olive oil," writes Chef John. "If it's too light, you don't get the full flavor and if it's too dark it gets bitter. My advice? Do it perfectly."

Related: The 15 Best Dishes to Serve with Your Spaghetti Dinner

It's Mardi Gras, and while traditional gumbo is rich and comforting, it takes hours upon hours of cooking. This recipe speeds it up so you can still get the classic sausage and seafood stew on the table for dinner tonight. Don't forget the King Cake!

"Delicious and bursting with flavor, Asian lettuce wraps are a great idea for entertaining or a family style meal," writes recipe creator Rachel Castro. "Each person can build their own fresh, delicious wrap. Just be sure to have plates or napkins available since the mixture can sometimes drip a little. To serve, allow each person to spoon a portion of the meat into a lettuce leaf. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito and enjoy!"

Erase any notion you may have that frittatas are breakfast food. With a side salad, the crustless quiches work beautifully at dinner. And the best part about them is they're endlessly versatile, so you can either follow the recipe as written, or use up leftover bits and pieces you have on hand. It'll all come together perfectly in a rich custardy egg pie.