Oklahoma Comfort Foods for Cold Weather

When it comes to favorite foods in Oklahoma, most of them revolve around a grill. Steak, burgers, dogs, BBQ, beer can chicken... If it can be grilled, it’s an instant favorite across all palates in this state. But once the temps drop low enough for jeans and a hoodie, things change in Oklahoma kitchens.

When that first cold snap hits, the slow cookers come out. Chili season starts strong and everybody’s got their own “best ever” recipe. Stew pots fill up with deer meat, potatoes, and thick broth. It’s the time of year when cornbread becomes a side dish for everything, and you can finally justify making a second batch.

Soups start showing up, too. Chicken and noodles, potato, even the classic bean and ham combo. If it’s warm, hearty, and fills the house with a smell that makes you hungry all over again, it’s Oklahoma-approved.

So while summer belongs to the grill, winter belongs to the pot, the pan, and the crock. Here’s a quick list of things every Oklahoma home should be cooking when the cold finally moves into the Sooner State.

1
Grilled Cheese
Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash
Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash
Who doesn't love sandwiches? They're the best. Delicious, storable, and all around a good snack that travels well. But when it's cold outside, nobody really wants to chow down on a crisp and cold sandwich.
It's understandable. But if you take just about any sandwich and toss it in a skillet with some butter, that becomes a rare cold-day epic dish that's both easy to make and easy to mess up.
First off, you have to use cheese. Not cheese food. Not cheese product. It has to be real cheese so it'll melt evenly and creamy within your 'wich.
Secondly, when using standard-cut sandwich breads, only use one slice of cheese. There's no reason to make a grilled cheese sandwich a stringy, half-melted mess. That ain't right. If you're busting out the Texas Toast that'll take enough of the heat, then two slices would be appropriate.
Third, you have to use butter. Margarine doesn't melt into oily goodness like butter does. It might taste like butter, but you'll burn your bread super quickly and not in a good way.
If you have to use a sandwich press cooker, that's fine. I like that hard, over-cooked, chewy nub of cheese that always finds its way out of the seam. Also, if you want to really pack a punch in that sandwich, put in a little baby spinach and a very thin layer of mayo. Serve with your choice of tomato soup.
2
Deer Chili
Photo by American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash
Photo by American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash
Although it's hard to mess up chili, I've had to throw away whole six-pound pots before because I didn't know how to cook with ultra-lean venison.
Keep it simple and only loosely follow the online recipes. Better yet, buy the chili kits if you're more comfortable with that.
Most importantly, don't overcook the deer meat and balance it 50/50 with a quality sausage. Jimmy Dean is hands-down better than Potters, and the hot variety really packs a flavor punch.
Also, toss a can or two of beans in it. While a lot of people swear that beans don't belong in chili, they're wrong. Beans do belong in chili.
3
Tacos
Photo by Creative Headline on Unsplash
Photo by Creative Headline on Unsplash
This one is super easy too. You basically make chili but substitute the tomato sauce/paste for a bunch of cumin. Make it super complex with a touch of chicken stock and your basic "White People Taco Night" will elevate to a true level of Tex-Mex.
You can even make it a truly cold weather eat by adding that chicken stock and either queso blanco or regular old cream cheese to the meat in the skillet to make a very rich and creamy taco soup. Just top it with cheddar and sour cream. Maybe even green onion if you're fancy. It's the bomb.
4
Fried Bologna
Photo by Gio Bartlett on Unsplash
Photo by Gio Bartlett on Unsplash
I know the idea of eating bologna isn't super appealing. It's a mystery meat, but it's also delicious when cooked in a skillet, if you do it right.
Step 1: Toss some bologna into a hot skillet. That's it. Wait until it starts turning a little black... the carcinogens are where all the flavor is.
Some like it with mustard, others like it with BBQ sauce. Add a slice of cheese and slap it in some bread, it's amazing.

15 More Amazing Southwest Oklahoma Hole-In-The-Wall Eats

It's far too easy to be lulled into thinking the same old chain restaurants are the "good" places to eat across Southwest Oklahoma. You won't find a single franchise on this list. It's all locally owned, locally run, and sometimes a little run down, but you'll agree the meals are outstanding when you walk away with a belly full of the good stuff.

In no particular order, here are another fifteen amazing local Southwest Oklahoma eats, and be sure to check out the O.G. 15 Amazing SWOK Hole-In-The-Wall Eats right here when you're done...

Gallery Credit: Kelso

Eleven Things Oklahoman's Eat When It's Cold

When it comes to the favorite foods in Oklahoma, most of them revolve around a grill. Whether it's steak, burgers, dogs, BBQ, beer can chicken, etc... If it can be grilled, it will be an instant favorite across all palates in this state. But what do Okies survive on when it's cold enough to require the wearing of pants and a hoodie? Here's the quick list of things every Oklahoma home should be pumping out when the endless Summer finally ends.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

Oklahoma's Highest Rated Steakhouses

Being a Top-5 cattle producer, you might expect to find a great steak on the menu of nearly every restaurant in the state, but life is never that simple or easy. The biggest hurdle isn't a lack of steak options on menus, it's the variation of personal tastes that drives reputations and reviews, but here are the steakhouses most Oklahomans can agree on.

Gallery Credit: Kelso