January seasonal eating is about storage, preservation, and warmth! We're leaning into roots, brassicas (kale, cabbage), citrus, and well-kept fall harvests that nourish us through the coldest stretch of the year.
If you've ever felt eating seasonally in August is way easier than eating seasonally in January… I totally get it. I live in Wisconsin, where winters are cold and the ground is frozen solid. But eat seasonally is still completely possible, even in January!
Winter seasonal eating just looks a little different.
To find what's local near you in January, check out farmers markets, co-ops, and winter CSAs. Local farms are the real experts on what can grow (and be stored!) where you live.
And don't underestimate frozen and canned produce. Preserved at peak ripeness, they're a true unsung hero of affordable, farm-to-table eating.
Either way, there's still plenty of January seasonal produce to enjoy (hi, citrus). Below, you'll find what's in season this month, plus recipe ideas to help you turn it all into nourishing meals.
Jump to:
- What's in Season in January?
- Seasonal Recipes to Make in January
- Citrus Mint Salad with Fennel + Avocado
- Easy Lemon Vinaigrette for Salads
- Blood Orange Maple Pecan Yogurt Bowls
- Easy Cranberry Relish with Orange & Apple (5 Minutes!)
- Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potatoes & Kale
- Cozy Carrot Cake Baked Oats (Meal Prep Friendly!)
- Easy + Savory-Sweet Honey Roasted Parsnips
- Quick Moroccan Roasted Carrots with Creamy Tahini Sauce
- Healing Ginger Lime Chicken Noodle Soup
- Veggie Black Bean Tacos with Carrots + Lime
- Air Fryer Parsnips
- Simple Citrusy Greens Salad with Beets and Carrots
- Fast & Easy Oven Roasted Beets Without Foil
- Simple Herb Roasted Beets
- The Coziest Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup You'll Make All Season
- Ground Chicken Taco Sweet Potato Bowls
- Easy One-Pot Sweet Potato and Turkey Chili
- Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Smoky Black Beans
- Baked Japanese Sweet Potatoes with Butter & Cinnamon
- Kale Potato and Onion Frittata
- Maple Walnut Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad (Vegetarian!)
- Bright + Crunchy Healthy Vinegar Coleslaw (Meal Prep Friendly!)
- Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup with Kale
- Kale Caesar Salad with Chickpeas and Avocado
- Kale Salad with Feta and Pomegranate
- Delicious Savory Crustless Kale Pie with Chickpea Flour
- Seasonal Eating Challenge!
What's in Season in January?
For starters, let's talk about what to stock up on in January. We've got quite a bit of overlap with what's in season in December, with some new peak produce.
- Citrus: oranges (all kinds), grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarins
- Storage fruits: apples, pears
- Roots: carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, celeriac
- Potatoes: potatoes, sweet potatoes
- Alliums: onions, garlic, shallots, leeks
- Winter squash: butternut, acorn, kabocha, delicata (early winter, fading by late Jan)
- Winter greens: kale, spinach, collards, Swiss chard, mustard greens
- Brassicas: cabbage, Brussels sprouts
- Aromatics & herbs: fennel, rosemary, thyme, sage
Underrated & Amazing: Canned & Frozen Produce
Canned goods and frozen produce are packed at peak ripeness, preserving their nutrient density (honestly, even moreso than some fresh produce) and making them perfect for off-season use.
My favorites are canned tomatoes and sauces for cozy soups, like tomato and red lentil soup or sweet potato turkey chili. Frozen berries are great too for thawing and snacking, simmering, or blending into a mixed berry protein smoothie.
Seasonal Recipes to Make in January
Citrus
Citrus in January is truly elite. So sweet, so JUICY! I don't live in a climate with citrus, so this is one example of a fruit I don't get locally and refuse to give up. And that's okay! My philosophy is to eat seasonally when you can (no perfection expected), and those small efforts will all add up.
Citrus Mint Salad with Fennel + Avocado
This citrus mint salad is paired with delicate shaved fennel, avocado slices, fresh mint, and crunchy sliced almonds for an incredibly refreshing salad! It's a brunch favorite, but can also be enjoyed for breakfast, snack, or any time of day.
Easy Lemon Vinaigrette for Salads
This simple lemon vinaigrette bright, sunny and versatile. Use it in veggie salads, pasta salads, grain salads, or as a fish/meat marinade.
Blood Orange Maple Pecan Yogurt Bowls
Blood orange maple pecan yogurt bowls make a delicious and uniquely flavored, lightly sweet breakfast for any day of the week. They're quick and easy to make, hearty and delicious to eat.
Easy Cranberry Relish with Orange & Apple (5 Minutes!)
My family favorite cranberry relish recipe made with orange, apple, and fresh cranberries. Ready in 5 minutes for a bright, tangy, no-cook Thanksgiving side that you can make advance!
Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potatoes & Kale
This black bean quinoa salad tastes delicious in cooler months and uses winter produce - kale, onion, and clementine. Cozy roasted sweet potatoes, punchy pickled red onion, salty feta, and a tangy cumin orange vinaigrette make this salad pop with flavor. Enjoy as a delicious meal prepped lunch or winter potluck dish!
Root Vegetables
My recipes currently focus on beets, carrots, and parsnips, but you can also find celery root (celeriac), rutabagas, and turnips during cooler seasons.
My two absolute favorite ways to eat root vegetables in January are roasting and soups, but you could totally use them in a salad too.
Cozy Carrot Cake Baked Oats (Meal Prep Friendly!)
These carrot cake baked oats are a wholesome breakfast that tastes like dessert and can easily be prepped in advance! Naturally sweetened, easy to make, and perfect for Easter brunch.
Easy + Savory-Sweet Honey Roasted Parsnips
Sweet, caramelized, and perfectly roasted, these honey roasted parsnips are a simple yet flavorful side dish. With caramelized edges and a tender center, they balance earthy sweetness with a touch of honey and a hint of salt. Perfect for cozy dinners, meal prep, or adding to salads and grain bowls!
Quick Moroccan Roasted Carrots with Creamy Tahini Sauce
These sweet, savory Moroccan-spiced roasted carrots might just become your new favorite easy side dish. Roasted until caramelized with warm spices like cinnamon and cumin, then drizzled with a simple tahini sauce, they're flavorful, nourishing, and perfect alongside any protein or grain bowl.
Healing Ginger Lime Chicken Noodle Soup
A simple twist on the classic, this chicken noodle soup features ginger, garlic, lime, and cilantro for added flavor and health benefits. With brown rice noodles, this soup is also gluten-free!
Veggie Black Bean Tacos with Carrots + Lime
Easy black bean tacos baked with carrots on a sheet pan! Done in about 30 minutes for an easy weeknight meal that will satisfy any taco craving.
Air Fryer Parsnips
Air fryer parsnips are the quick and easy side dish you've been looking for! These delicious root veggies are transformed by the air fryer into a slightly sweet roasted veggie with soft insides and lightly crisped outsides. Done in just 20 minutes (prep time included).
Simple Citrusy Greens Salad with Beets and Carrots
This simple citrusy salad with beets and carrots is fresh, vibrant, and packed with winter flavors. Featuring leafy greens, crisp raw beets, crunchy carrots, and a bright citrus vinaigrette, it comes together in just 15 minutes. Enjoy it as a refreshing side or add protein for a hearty, nourishing meal!
Fast & Easy Oven Roasted Beets Without Foil
No foil required! Just tender, caramelized roasted beets that cook faster when halved, and peel easily after cooking (no more stained cutting boards!). Perfect for tossing into bowls, salads, or enjoying on their own.
Simple Herb Roasted Beets
These simple herb roasted beets and sweet, savory, and one of my favorite salad ingredients! Roasting beets caramelizes their sugars and brings out their sweetness, while olive oil, herbs, and salt add a savory flavor.
Sweet Potatoes & Potatoes
The Coziest Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup You'll Make All Season
This carrot and sweet potato soup is the coziest one-pot meal for chilly days! It's warmly spiced, silky, and packed with nourishing veggies. Made with carrots, sweet potatoes, aromatics, and broth, it blends into a smooth, feel-good soup for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Ground Chicken Taco Sweet Potato Bowls
Cozy, flavorful, and ready in about 30 minutes! these ground chicken taco sweet potato bowls make the perfect weeknight dinner or meal prep lunch. With seasoned taco meat, roasted sweet potatoes, and all your favorite toppings, they're hearty, nourishing, and endlessly customizable.
Easy One-Pot Sweet Potato and Turkey Chili
A nourishing sweet potato turkey chili recipe that comes together easily! Perfect for keep it simple, cozy, and protein-packed any night of the week.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Smoky Black Beans
These stuffed sweet potatoes are loaded with smoky, saucy black beans and all your favorite toppings. Cozy, nourishing, and made almost entirely from pantry staples.
Baked Japanese Sweet Potatoes with Butter & Cinnamon
These Japanese sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamon are simple and SO cozy! Make them baked or steamed, depending on your texture preference and how much time you have. Naturally sweet, creamy, they're the perfect easy side dish or healthy snack (for kids & adults alike!).
Kale Potato and Onion Frittata
This kale, potato, and onion frittata is a creamy, cheesy, and healthy brunch option that can use the produce of the season. Frittatas are great for brunch or making ahead for protein-packed breakfasts or lunches. They're also great for an easy dinner!
Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts
Maple Walnut Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Maple walnut roasted Brussels sprouts are perfect for cozy fall and winter dinners! Crispy edges, caramelized flavor, and just enough sweetness to steal the Thanksgiving side show.
Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad (Vegetarian!)
Fresh, crunchy, and bursting with flavor! This Italian chopped Brussels sprouts salad comes together in 15 minutes with peperoncini, olives, and a zesty brine dressing. Perfect for pizza night, meal prep, or your holiday table.
Bright + Crunchy Healthy Vinegar Coleslaw (Meal Prep Friendly!)
This vinegar-based, simple everyday coleslaw recipe is our absolute favorite! It's all-purpose, so it can be used as a stand-alone side or salad, or as a crunchy topping for tacos, BBQ, or any sandwich/wrap.
Kale
Kale is one of my favorite greens! It's so easy to throw a handful into some soup, pasta, or a frittata, and it'll cook down quickly.
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup with Kale
This easy chicken tortilla soup recipe is the perfect nourishing, warming, delicious soup for winter! Using canned pantry staples and winter-hardy kale helps include seasonal produce, while freshly pan-fried corn tortilla strips add the best flavor and keep this soup gluten free. Yum!
Kale Caesar Salad with Chickpeas and Avocado
This kale Caesar salad is vegetarian-friendly and nourishing! Complete with garlic roasted chickpeas for protein, buttery avocado for creaminess, parmesan for that salty goodness, and yogurt-based homemade Caesar dressing.
Kale Salad with Feta and Pomegranate
This kale salad with feta and pomegranate is loaded with superfoods and other flavorful ingredients: sweet pomegranate arils, finely shredded kale, salty feta, red onion, salted maple butter almonds, and a simple homemade vinaigrette. Bring as a dish to pass over the holidays, or start the New Year with something healthy and fresh!
Delicious Savory Crustless Kale Pie with Chickpea Flour
A savory crustless kale pie recipe made with kale, caramelized onions, chickpea flour, feta and eggs. It's the perfect make-ahead meal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or any meal of the day. And it's vegetarian!
Seasonal Eating Challenge!
Ready to start eating seasonally, or max out your CSA or garden produce? Try completing the challenge steps listed below to nourish yourself and the planet.
- Connect! Sign up for my newsletter and follow me on Instagram @rootsnradishes for more seasonal recipe guidance and inspiration.
- Farmers market field trip. Take one trip to a local farmers market or farm stand (better yet, combine it with social time with a friend or family!). A local co-op or grocery store with some local produce is okay too!
- Pick a veggie or fruit. Pick up one or more of the ingredients featured here.
- Make a new recipe. Make one of the recipes in this produce guide!
- Tell me about it! Let's be a community of seasonal eaters! Tag me on Instagram or email me 🙂 I want to hear about what you bought and what you made with it <3
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