Quick Hot Meal Ideas For When You’ve Been Outside All Day

I’m not sure how you spent your weekend, but mine was spent outside in the chilly cold getting my yard prepped for winter. It was a beautiful 50F, which is just a little colder than I like. I know that real fall and winter are just around the corner, which means that those Saturdays spent outside are just going to get chillier.

When I’ve spent all day outside, the last thing I want to do is spend hours cooking to get a nice home-cooked meal. So I did a little research and work and found some awesome hot meal ideas for quick, hot meals that will warm your belly and keep you full!

All of these meals go well with hot chocolate, so be sure to check out our article on how to make hot cocoa bombs. If you have the cocoa bombs ready, you can whip up a warm cup alongside any of the following recipes.

Quick Hot Meal Ideas For When You’ve Been Outside All Day

Recipe 01: Beef Stroganoff

There’s a reason this is a classic. It’s warming, savory, and quick to cook!

Ingredients:

• 1-12 oz. package egg noodles
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 lb. beef chuck roast cut into 1″ pieces
• salt and pepper
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1 lb. thinly sliced baby Bella mushrooms
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
• 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 4 c. beef or chicken broth
• 2 tsp. dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp. sour cream, plus more for garnish

Process:

Begin by cooking the egg noodles according to their package instructions. When the noodles are done, drain and toss noodles with butter so they don’t clump. Then cover and set aside. Next, heat a skillet (like this one) over medium-high heat with the vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, add the beef and sear for about 8 minutes until every side is a golden brown. While the beef is cooking, season with salt and pepper. When you’ve seared all of it, remove the beef and put in a covered bowl. Don’t wash the skillet! You want those golden bits.

Next, lower the temperature to medium and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Then toss in the mushrooms and cook for about 8 minutes, or until they are tender. When the mushrooms are ready, place them with the beef before adding the last tablespoon of oil. When the oil is warm, add in the onion and cook until tender, which should take about 5-6 minutes. Before removing from the pan, add in the garlic, thyme, and tomato paste and allow everything to marinate for a minute or two before adding in the mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Then scrape the bottom of the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer.

While the mixture is simmering, make the cornstarch slurry by whisking a little of the broth into the cornstarch. Then stir the cornstarch into the broth, adding back in the beef and mushrooms. Continue to allow the mixture to simmer for about ten more minutes so that the mixture begins to thicken up. When the mixture is thicker, remove the skillet from heat and stir in the sour cream.

To serve, spoon the beef mixture over the egg noodles and garnish with some more sour cream if desired. Enjoy!

Recipe 02: Instapot Roast And Veggies

A dish that goes back generations in my family, this version only takes an hour to do what took my grandma half a day. This is one of my favorite hot meal ideas!

Ingredients:

• 3 lb. chuck roast
• salt and pepper
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 tsp. chopped rosemary
• 1 tsp. chopped thyme
• 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2 c. red wine
• 3 c. beef broth
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb. halved baby tomatoes
• 4 medium peeled and cut carrots

Process:

Start by seasoning the beef nicely. Then, turn your Instapot to “Saute” and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the chuck roast and sear on each side for about five minutes. After the roast is seared, remove from the Instapot and add the chopped onion. Continue to saute for about five minutes so that the onions are tender, before adding in the garlic, herbs, and tomato paste. Next, cook the onion mixture for a minute more before whisking in the flour, followed by the wine, and cooking the mixture for another two minutes.

Then, add in the broth, Worcestershire sauce, potatoes, carrots, 1 Tbsp. salt, and some pepper. Next, place the chuck roast on top and lock the lid, making sure the vent is set to “sealed.” Cook on “high” for 1 hour. When the time is done, follow the instructions to release the pressure and remove the lid. Allow the meat to rest for at least ten minutes before slicing against the grain. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe 03: Tater Tot Casserole

This childhood staple has made a comeback! It’s the ultimate warm-me-up comfort food.

Ingredients:

• 1 diced onion (medium)
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 lb. lean ground beef
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 c. chicken broth
• 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 1/2 c. frozen peas
• 1 1/2 c. frozen corn
• 1 lb. frozen tater tots
• 3 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled

Process:

Begin by heating your oven to 425F. While it’s heating, cook the onions in a skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil for about three minutes, or until they begin to soften. Then add the garlic and cook for another minute or so before adding in the ground beef. Next, season the beef with salt and pepper and continue to break it up as it cooks until it’s no longer pink. If there is any fat, remove it from the pan.

Next, add in the cayenne and flour and stir for a minute or two before adding in the broth and bringing the entire mixture to a simmer. Continue to allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes before folding in 1 cup cheese, peas, and corn. Then transfer to a 9×13 baking dish like this one, and top with remaining cheese. Lastly, scatter tots and bacon over the beef mixture and bake the entire thing for about 30 minutes, or until everything is gold and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!

So the next time you’re coming in cold and ready for something to warm you up, try one of these classic hot meal ideas! It’s sure to do the trick. Happy Cooking!