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30 Easy One Pot Meals

Like cooking a hearty dinner but hate the following clean-up? One-pot meals are the way forward! An easy and delicious meal can still be achieved without the hassle of multiple pots and pans. You can serve up a filling family meal full of flavor using just one.

One Pot Meals

One-pot recipes are perfect for when you’re short on time or energy. Less equipment does not mean less taste, however, and these fabulous recipes will be sure to satisfy a host of hungry appetites.

Tasty pasta, flavorful rice dishes, or scrummy soups are just some of the easy one-pan dinners you can create.

There are sure to be many mouthwatering ideas on this list to inspire you to embrace the wonder of one-dish meals.

1- Smoked Sausage and Rice

Easy one-pot meals don’t come much simpler than this smoked sausage and rice casserole dish. The rice soaks up all the smoky flavors of the sausage to create a juicy, moreish meal.

The sausage is cooked in the pot along with onion and garlic. Then just add seasonings like capsicum and paprika along with the chicken stock, rice, and peas.

As everything cooks, the rice takes on the beautiful flavors of the ingredients.

To change the tastes slightly, try using different brands of smoked sausage as they have different seasonings to influence the overall result.

All this with one dish? You betcha! Once you’ve served this up, you’ll only have one solitary pot to clean up. Leaving you more time to enjoy the food.

2- One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

Stroganoff may seem like a decadent dish that could only be achieved by a significant investment of time, effort, and money. How about a creamy one-pot beef stroganoff on a budget? Now that’s more like it!

This recipe cooks up ground beef, mushrooms, garlic, and other seasonings. Wine and beef stock are then added along with egg noodles so they can be softened and flavored by the sauce.

Then as a final flourish to add extra texture, stir in a bit of sour cream. Delicious!

It’s a sinfully simple way to get a scrumptious stroganoff. This is a perfect example of one-pot dinners that are destined to impress!

3- One-Pan Creamy Salmon Pasta

Are you a fan of seafood in your pasta dishes? Then this sumptuous salmon pasta recipe is going to be one of your new favorites. As well as only needing one pot to create, it has the added bonus of being healthy.

Salmon fillets are cooked, along with garlic, onion, diced tomato, spinach, and other seasonings to add to the flavor.

The penne pasta is then cooked in the same pot once water is added.

The key to getting the beautifully smooth sauce in this dish is Greek yoghurt, introduced when it reaches room temperature to avoid curdling.

Everyone will enjoy this one-pot pasta wonder. With its simple recipe, creamy consistency, and delicious taste, what’s not to love?

4- One-Pot Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice dishes are loved for their filling and comforting nature. This yummy recipe is no different. Presenting as a mix of beautiful broth and creamy risotto, it makes for a truly satisfying dinner.

Ingredients such as carrots, onions, and garlic are sauteed in butter before rice and chicken stock are added. Using good quality rice is key here to get the right consistency for this dish.

You can also use different vegetables like leeks and celery too to change things up. Once the diced chicken has been added and cooked through, you’re done. Easy!

This recipe is straightforward and uses many ingredients you will have in your kitchen already. It’s an ideal one-pot meal to throw together at the end of a busy day and enjoy with the family.

5- One-Pot Spaghetti

Spaghetti as a one-dish meal? Can it be done? Of course! And without sacrificing any of the familiar flavors expected from this firm favorite. Once you’ve experienced the inspired simplicity of this recipe, you’ll never look back.

Your choice of ground meat is at first cooked. Ground beef, turkey, or Italian sausage are some scrummy recommendations.

Just stir in some marinara sauce, store-bought for convenience, and since you’re cooking your spaghetti in the same dish, some broth too. Then cover, and cook. That’s it!

You can flavor this spaghetti with you’re preferred seasonings, maybe even add a kick of red pepper flakes. Whatever your choice, this is a one-dish meal that will always go down well.

6- One-Pot Chicken and Curry Rice

Who doesn’t love a bit of curry? How about a chicken curry rice? Yes, please! Look no further than this gem of a recipe for quick one-pot meals with a little added heat.

It is a great mix of healthy vegetables like cauliflower, peas, green beans, and onions. Also, hearty basmati rice, diced chicken breasts, and a fabulous broth of chicken stock and coconut milk. Don’t forget those curry tastes, either!

A bit of curry paste, cardamom, cinnamon, and turmeric will get you the fabulous flavor you need.

You just need to throw everything in a pot and leave it to simmer its way to scrumptiousness. Maximum taste with minimum effort!

7- One-Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

For another one-pot recipe which features some chicken and a bit of spice, why not try this delicious creamy cajun chicken pasta? This recipe features a homemade cajun spice mix made of many of the seasonings you will have in your cupboards already.

You can adjust the heat of this dish by controlling the amount of cajun pepper in the cajun mix. Similarly, you can also control the creaminess by choice of how much cream cheese you add to the pasta.

Once the diced chicken is cooked with the spices, simply add chicken broth and pasta and let the flavors combine perfectly.

Whatever your spice level, this will be a warm and addictive pasta meal you will return to time and again. How could you not when it tastes this good?

8- One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Is chicken parmesan a one-pot pasta dish? Are you intrigued? This quick and easy recipe gives you a pot of cheesy chicken in just 30 minutes. It’s a chicken parmesan without the breading but still full of flavor.

Seasoned, diced chicken is cooked along with pasta and marinara sauce, all in one pot, of course. It’s the cheese that is the scrummy star of this recipe, though.

Both Parmesan and mozzarella bring a gorgeous gooey taste and texture to the dish.

This parmesan pasta is great eaten straight away but can be handily re-heated for tomorrow’s lunch too. That’s in the unlikely event you have any leftovers.

9- Easy One-Pot Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Mac ‘n’ cheese is a tried and tested household favorite. This one-pot recipe is so easy. It’s as quick as a boxed variety but tastier, of course. It serves more people too!

The simple ingredients consist of milk, macaroni, butter, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, and parsley. Cook these together in one pan until the cheese and butter melt into the milk for a moreish thick sauce.

You can change up the recipe by trying different cheeses like mozzarella or parmesan, or maybe even spice it up a little with some cayenne pepper.

However you customize it, this mac ‘n’ cheese meal will become a staple of your easy one-pot dinner hit list.

10- One-Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff

Do you want to try a fancy stroganoff but feel like it’s too big of a meal endeavor to tackle? This straightforward ground beef stroganoff is here to save the day.

You just need one pot, some simple ingredients, and about 35 minutes.

Mushrooms, onions, and garlic add rich flavors to the ground beef with a sprinkle of paprika for some seasoning. Then just add beef broth and pasta and bring everything to a boil. Done!

Sour cream is mixed in to make the sauce beautifully creamy, but greek yoghurt can be used here instead if preferred.

That’s all there is to it! This sublime stroganoff will be sure to make an appearance more often at dinner times as family and friends start to request it.

11- Easy One-Pot Jambalaya

This traditional casserole containing shrimp, chicken, and sausage has now been given the one-pot treatment. It’s one of the best one-pot meals to serve up if you want a rice dish full of juicy meat and cajun spice.

Luckily, it’s easy to make too! You’ll need seasonings like cajun spices, red pepper flakes, thyme, and basil to make the chopped chicken breast, sliced sausage, and peeled shrimp burst with fabulous flavors.

The meat is cooked together with onion, celery, and bell peppers, then stirred and simmered with the rice in chicken stock. Not too difficult, right?

Jambalaya was made famous in New Orleans, and now its fame can spice up your evening meals at home. All with the use of just one pot!

12- One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

Pasta is a common ingredient in many one-pot meal recipes due to its versatility. This particular pasta dish is also trying to emulate another favorite food.

Cheeseburgers. A cheeseburger pasta? Now that’s something worth investigating!

You’ll need ground beef, onion, garlic, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce to bring those burger flavors.

Just cook them in a pot with some beef broth and pasta, and you’re nearly done. The final flourish is the cheddar cheese and milk for the sauce because, let’s face it, what’s a cheeseburger pasta without cheese?

It’s an enticingly easy idea and a great recipe to throw together quickly for a weeknight meal or tasty lunch. Just try it!

13- One-Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet

All the wonderful tastes and textures of a taco cooked up in just one dish? These one-pan dinner ideas just keep getting better and better! This recipe is low-carb but full of flavor.

It’s also a great way to trick kids into eating their vegetables.

Cook up some ground beef with onion, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, chillies, and greens like spinach or kale. Mix in some taco seasoning, cover with shredded cheese, and when the cheese is melted, your taco dish is good to go. Simple!

You can serve this cheesy taco dish with salads in a taco or burrito bowl or even bulk it up with some rice.

However it ends up on the table, it will be a hit!

14- One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta

If you like your pasta dishes creamy and full of rich flavors, this mouthwatering mushroom creation is just what you’ve been looking for. The ingredients are super-simple, and the recipe is easy to follow.

Unsurprisingly, mushrooms are the star of this recipe. Baby Bella mushrooms are recommended, but white button or portobello mushrooms can also be tried if preferred.

They are sauteed in butter with garlic and then cooked in vegetable broth with fettuccine.

Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese to create the luscious sauce, and you’ll have a decadent one-pot meal to die for. Sumptuously simple!

15- One-Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

There is nothing more comforting than a satisfying soup. Or is there? Oh yes! A satisfying soup made in one dish. No muss, no fuss, and less to clean up.

This chicken and rice soup recipe is tasty and just waiting to warm you to your toes.

Bone-in chicken breasts are recommended for this recipe to add more flavor, but boneless alternatives can be used too. Put the chicken in the pot with rice, onions, carrots, celery, and garlic cloves, and simmer away!

To add a deeper flavor, remove the cloves of garlic and smash them into a paste before returning them to the pot. Yum!

Add a dash of lemon juice, and this scrummy soup is ready to warm the hearts and fill the bellies of your family and friends.

16- One-Pot Stuffed Pepper Casserole

A hearty casserole is a great option if you’re in need of quick one-pot meals. There are many different recipes available, but this stuffed pepper casserole creation has to be one of the best!

You’re going to need some bell peppers. These will be combined with ground beef, onion, tomatoes, and garlic and flavored with tomato sauce, soy sauce, and Italian seasoning.

Rice is added and cooked with the help of beef broth, and then a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese will finish things off to perfection.

This delicious dish will be well appreciated at any dinner table, but on the slim chance there is some left at the end of the night, you have a perfect filling for tomorrow’s lunch wrap. Perfect!

17- One-Pot Paprika Chicken Thighs

Chicken is a wonderfully versatile ingredient and an ideal addition to many a one-dish meal. It is certainly the star of this recipe, which features paprika chicken thighs in a healthy and filling dinner.

Along with the paprika-seasoned chicken, garlic, onion, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots are also added to the pan.

The chicken stock for cooking is helped along by the yummy inclusion of wine or white grape juice to add to the flavor.

You can serve this delicious chicken dish as a stew or along with rice or quinoa if you don’t mind the extra carbs. It will satisfy a sizable appetite either way!

18- Easy One-Pot Burrito Bowl

Are you a fan of Mexican food? If so, this one-pot burrito bowl will become a go-to recipe when you’re in the mood for those fun and frisky flavors. 30 minutes is all it takes!

A fabulous mix of ground meat, vegetables, rice, and black beans is required. You can use beef or chicken for the meat.

Chilli powder and taco seasoning will also add to the terrific taste. Everything is simply sauteed and then cooked together with rice and chicken stock. Oh, and don’t forget the shredded cheese for a marvelous melted topping!

You can dig into a bowl of this, use it as a topping for nachos, or roll it up in a tortilla. It’s appetizingly addictive!

19- One-Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta

Easy one-dish meals don’t get much more hassle-free than this hearty zucchini mushroom pasta. There is no pre-cooking required at all. Just throw everything into a large pot and let the ingredients work their magic!

Bring mushrooms, zucchini, peas, and garlic to a boil along with some spaghetti, and add some seasoning. Then once the pasta is cooked, add heavy cream and parmesan cheese to make a creamy sauce. Job done!

It tastes so good no one will be able to believe how easy it is to put together. You may as well take the opportunity and pretend you’ve been slaving away in the kitchen to create this new culinary classic.

20- One-Pan Mexican Quinoa

Want a lighter option than rice for your one-pot meals? Why not try quinoa instead? This Mexican quinoa recipe is a healthy alternative to more carb-filled dishes. It’s full of spicy, tangy flavors too!

Garlic, jalapenos, beans, tomatoes, and corn will combine perfectly with chilli powder and cumin seasoning. These flavors will be soaked up by the quinoa, which is added and cooked with vegetable broth.

Then just stir in a bit of avocado, cilantro, and lime for a fabulous finish.

Say goodbye to boring salads. This fun and flavorful quinoa dish are here to liven up healthy eating!

21- One-Pot Healthy Mexican Beef Mince

If 1 pot meals with healthier ingredients are more to your liking, then this recipe is a must-have. The healthy Mexican beef mince will satisfy the appetite without piling on the calories.

You will need to use salt-reduced variations of beef stock and tomato paste in this recipe. Otherwise, the ingredients are simple staples like beef mince, onion, garlic, and avocado.

Cook everything together with herbs and seasonings, then simmer with rice and stock. Easy!

Top this dish with some chilli and sour cream, and you’ll have an ideal weeknight meal that everyone will love!

22- Best Ever One-Pot Beef Stew

A stew makes a substantial meal that the whole family can enjoy. This recipe for one-pot beef stew just happens to be the best ever. While it’s simple enough to prepare, the cooking time is around 4 hours to allow the beef to stew to perfection.

Stewing beef is seasoned and placed in a pot to brown before onions, garlic, celery, and carrots are added to soak up the drippings.

Yum! Red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste provide rich flavors before beef stock and potatoes are added. Then just leave everything to simmer in the oven for several hours.

This recipe is well worth the wait. Serve it up with some crusty bread and savor the juicy, tender meat and flavorful sauce. Delicious!

23- Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice

The clues to the success of this one-pot recipe are in the title. Do you like your chicken and rice with a dose of decadence? Just add garlic butter!

The butter is first melted and combined with garlic and onions. Then stir in some rice and place some chicken seasoned with paprika and thyme on top of it.

Add a bit of chicken broth, leave it to bake, and after 20 minutes your mouthwatering meal will be ready. Most rice will work well with this recipe, although bone-in chicken thighs are particularly recommended.

This dish benefits from its rich flavors that make the succulent chicken all the more delightful. Just give it a try and see!

24- Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet

For this recipe, just get out your skillet and prepare to embrace the quick and easy triumph that is this Mexican beef and rice meal. Easy one-dish meals don’t get much more satisfying than this.

Brown some ground beef with garlic and onion, then cook with some peppers and seasoning. Add rice, broth, salsa, corn, and black beans and simmer until ready.

Then you can have some fun with toppings. Try shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, or avocado.

However you choose to top this dish, it’s bound to be scrumptious. Enjoy experimenting with flavors!

25- Easy Instant Pot Pot Roast

A pot roast is an ideal family meal. Filling and full of flavor, it is sure to please even the fussiest of eaters. This easy Instant Pot pot roast is delicious and can also be cooked in a pressure cooker if you don’t have the pot brand in question.

For the juiciest and most tender results, a chuck roast or brisket is recommended.

The meat is seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika, then roasted in the pot with potatoes, onions, and carrots. Add some beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, then leave to cook. Delicious!

You can also use the leftover liquid from the roast to make a gorgeous gravy. This is definitely a must-have one-dish meal to add to your recipe book.

26- One-Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup

Ever heard of zuppa toscana? It basically stands for Tuscan soup. This Italian-inspired soup is creamy, filling, and absolutely irresistible. And now, thanks to this one-pot recipe, it is simple to make.

You’ll need some spicy Italian sausage, bacon, onion, and garlic.

These are cooked with chicken broth, russet potatoes, kale, and seasoning. The flavorful soup is then thickened with some heavy cream and served with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

It tastes just as good without the cream as well, though, if you prefer not to add it.

This soup is so simple to make yet feels like an indulgently fancy dish. It will certainly impress family and friends at mealtimes!

27- One-Pot Orzo with Peas and Parmesan

Whether you’re an old fan of orzo, or it’s your first time hearing of it, this recipe should definitely be tried. Orzo is a short-cut pasta that looks a little like rice. It cooks quicker and is lighter than a risotto, though, for example.

For this dish, you’ll need onion, garlic, vegetable broth, and frozen peas to go along with the orzo. Parmesan cheese and a bit of lemon juice are also important to add depth and flavor.

The ingredients are simply combined and cooked before being simmered with orzo in the broth.

Serve it up with an extra sprinkle of cheese and some chopped parsley for an irresistibly appetizing finish.

This tender pasta alternative will soon become a new favorite. If it is not already!

28- One Skillet ‘Egg Roll In A Bowl’

With this recipe, you can experience all the favorite flavors of an egg roll in a one-skillet meal. Sound good? Of course! Who wouldn’t like an easy and healthy meal full of protein and fresh vegetables?

You just need some ground meat of your choosing, a bag of coleslaw mix, and your preferred fresh veggies. Funnily enough, you don’t need eggs since you’re not actually going to be rolling anything up.

That Asian egg roll flavor will instead come from the stir-fry sauce and toasted sesame oil.

All you need to do is stir fry everything together and serve it up with green onions. A bowlful of tasty goodness in just 20 minutes. Genius!

29- One-Pot Creamy Tomato Spinach Gnocchi

Do little pasta dumplings sound like an appetizing one-pot meal ingredient? That is essentially what gnocchi is, and it makes a wonderfully filling and textured alternative to standard pasta.

This yummy gnocchi recipe is suitable for vegetarians and features a lusciously thick and creamy tomato sauce. You just need 10 ingredients and one pan!

Cook some leek and onion, add garlic and cherry tomatoes, then butter, stock, spinach, and the gnocchi.

To get the sauce suitably cheesy and creamy, the final touches require some parmesan cheese and half-and-half cream.

With just a little cooking and mixing, you can enjoy a luxurious pot of pasta. This is a recipe you’ll be trying again and again. Better get in a supply of gnocchi.

30- One-Pot Chicken Stew

There’s nothing better than a hearty stew that requires little effort to make and only one pot to make it in. That’s the case with this yummy one-pot chicken stew recipe full of simple ingredients and tender flavors.

Chicken thighs, carrots, onions, and garlic are needed along with some potatoes. The ingredients are cooked in a broth with a slurry as a base.

The slurry is made by whisking flour and broth together before adding the remaining stock and ingredients. If you prefer an even thicker stew, make a thicker slurry.

After just 20 minutes of simmering, you and your family will be able to enjoy a delicious, comforting stew, certain in the knowledge there will be little to clear up afterward. Perfect!

One Pot Meals

30 Easy One Pot Meals

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 c long grain white rice
  • 5 c chicken stock, divided
  • 2 tbsps vegetable oil
  • 1 lb smoked pork sausage, sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare a medium saucepan in which to make the rice. Take the 2 cups of white rice and 4 cups of chicken stock and combine them in the saucepan.
  2. Bring the mix to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the stock has been absorbed.
  3. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan, add the sausage and brown it over medium heat. Then add the onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Cook these for approximately 5 minutes until softened.
  4. Once softened, season with salt and pepper, then add the cayenne and one cup of chicken stock. Reduce the stock a little by cooking for a few minutes.
  5. Once the stock is reduced, add parsley and the cooked rice. Stir thoroughly, adding salt and pepper to taste.

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