Why I Always Cook More Italian Food in December
There’s something about December that pulls me straight toward Italian comfort food. Maybe it’s the early sunsets, the cold evenings, or the need for something warm and deeply satisfying, but this time of year my kitchen leans heavily into garlic, tomatoes, herbs, and long-simmered coziness. Winter practically begs for bold flavors and dishes that warm you from the inside out, and Italian cuisine delivers every time.
Every December, without fail, my cooking drifts straight into Italian territory. I don’t plan it. I don’t announce it. It just happens. Something about colder evenings and earlier sunsets flips a switch in my brain, and suddenly garlic, tomatoes, herbs, and cheese feel less like ingredients and more like survival tactics. Winter does that: it whispers “comfort food,” and I whisper back, “Fine, but don’t expect leftovers.”
Italian food also just fits December in a way nothing else does. The dishes feel grounding and satisfying in a month when everything else is sugar-coated, gift-wrapped, or shaped like a reindeer. And with December basically turning every flat surface into a decor or dessert zone, having a real, substantial dinner somehow makes all those treats feel… earned. These meals give you that warm, steady pause in the middle of the chaos without asking you to spend your whole day on them.
One of the first things I find myself reaching for is my Spicy Marinara Sauce. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it always tastes like I tried harder than I actually did. A win-win. It’s also the perfect December staple because it delivers warmth without requiring me to stand over the stove for hours—which is ideal, considering the sun now sets at 3 p.m. and my motivation follows it right out the door. I toss it over pasta, roasted veggies, meatballs—basically anything that’s not fast enough to escape the skillet.
Then there are the nights when I need actual comfort, but in a “don’t make me chop 47 things” kind of way. That’s when my Crispy Skillet Chicken Parm steps in like a dependable older sibling. It gets golden and crisp, the cheese bubbles dramatically (as it should), and everything comes together in one pan. Plus, the smell is pure December magic—the kind that makes you want to lean against the stove like it’s a space heater because, honestly, it is.
When I want something cozy I can eat with a spoon—which is most of the winter, let’s be honest—I turn to my Lasagna Soup. It has all the vibe of classic lasagna but without the structural engineering. It’s warm, cheesy, saucy comfort in a bowl, the culinary equivalent of putting on sweatpants at 4:30 p.m. and calling it “seasonal living.”
Of course, some days deserve the real, layered deal. My Yes, Please Lasagna is a December classic around here because the whole house smells like you’re hosting Italian relatives you forgot you had. It’s rich, indulgent, and exactly the kind of meal that makes people wander into the kitchen asking, “Is it ready yet?” even though you literally just put it in the oven. Honestly, that’s half the charm.
And when I want something indulgent but still slightly sophisticated (because I’m trying, okay?), I go straight to my Quattro Formaggi Spinach Farfalle. Four cheeses, spinach, silky sauce—this pasta is basically winter’s version of self-care. It looks impressive, tastes luxurious, and requires zero emotional bandwidth. Ideal.
These recipes have become my unofficial winter coping mechanism (not that we have it rough in Texas). To our credit, if it freezes, thaws, and re-freezes, black ice is BRUTAL with no reinforcements. We’re better off staying home with our pasta water and Italian recipes. And if they distract me from the fact that I still haven’t finished wrapping gifts or where I hid half of them last March? Perfect. That’s the kind of multi-tasking my Xennial heart can get behind.