All the big flavors from a south-of-the-border Posole are found in this freezer-friendly stew. Ideal for feeding a crowd during a gameday party, serving the family for a weeknight meal, or enjoying the leftovers for lunch, this recipe deserves a spot in your list of favorite cool-weather soups and stews. Get maximum taste by using bone-in chicken thighs. To freeze, let the stew cool, then pour into large freezer bags, seal, and flatten so you can stack them into your freezer. Or freeze small servings of stew for quick and satisfying lunches. Ladle the cooled stew into the cavities of a jumbo muffin pan and freeze. Once frozen, pop out of the muffin tins and store in a plastic freezer bag. Reheat individual portions in the microwave as needed and pair with warm bread or your favorite corn chips.

This Instant Pot soup comes together in 60 mins and is full of flavor. No Instant Pot? No problem! Prepare the recipe as directed in Steps 1 and 2, substituting a Dutch oven (perfect for making comforting soups and stews), over medium-high for an Instant Pot. Omit Step 3. Bring mixture in Dutch oven to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, until beef is fork-tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Proceed with recipe as directed in Steps 4 and 6, omitting step 5.

Plan to put this easy and comforting vegetarian pozole on repeat all season long. The vibrant stew offers the smoky, delicately spicy, and bright flavors characteristic of traditional pozole, simply without the pork. Fresh spinach and red kidney beans add color and hearty texture, while also upping the iron and protein content of the pozole. So whether you or loved ones follow a meat-free diet or are simply looking to cut back a little on the animal protein, it’s a perfect (not to mention, perfectly simple) dish that’s sure to impress. 

  Flavorful chicken mole is an exceptionally great use of the Instant Pot. Making traditional mole is typically a labor-intensive process that requires slow simmering to build the sauce’s mellow depth and rich layers of flavor. However, this Instant Pot chicken mole delivers all of the bitter, sweet, toasty, aromatic goodness you want when a mole craving strikes—in a fraction of the time. Serve your speedy chicken mole over rice with black beans, radishes, cilantro, pepitas, and any other desired accouterments. 

  This hearty, homey take on French onion soup celebrates Georgia-grown Vidalia onions, which typically come into season in late April. Naturally sweet Vidalias are perfect for caramelizing, and this indulgent casserole with layers of bread, onions, and cheese is a terrific way to enjoy them. We didn’t think French onion soup could get any more comforting, but we took the Southern route and made it into an even cozier casserole. This dish amplifies the richness of the classic soup you crave, and it’s ideal to serve as a hearty family dinner or pack up and bring to the church potluck. It takes time to slice and caramelize the onions, but you can do this step a day ahead and store the cooked onions in the refrigerator.