50 Easy One-Pot Meal Ideas To Try Out This Month
Give your dishwasher the night off.
The best way to do your future self the biggest favor? Save time and throw all your dinner ingredients in one pot! Yes, really. With just a bit of prep (and one pot, one skillet, or one Dutch oven), you'll be on your way to feasting on a dinner that'll keep future you from all that dishwashing. As it turns out, pretty much all the best dinners can be made in just one pot, including fancied-up special occasion meals. Go on and give your dishwasher the night off this week with these 50 easy one-pot recipes!
If you think that one-pot meals sound a bit boring, think again. When you layer all your ingredients in just the right way (like rice, aromatics, and spices), some real magic happens. Look no further than classic paella for proof. Between the crispy rice, tender shrimp, and spicy chorizo, the resulting dish is a true party on your plate. And the same is true for many classic dishes, like coq au vin, braised short ribs, and, of course, pot roast.
Only have a short amount of time, but still want to get something exciting on your weeknight dinner plate? We've got you too. Our one-pot Greek chicken drumsticks, our Mexican beef 'n' rice skillet, our one-pot creamy tortellini & greens, and our one-pan coconut-lime chicken are full of flavor (and color!), without taking too much time in the kitchen.
Best of all, we love that we don't need to dirty up more than one pot to make our favorite pasta dishes now either. No need to take our word for it, just try any of these recipes out and you'll soon see. We have a feeling you'll be stunned that our one-pot French onion pasta, our creamy chicken piccata with gnocchi, and our shrimp fettuccine Alfredo all came together in the same pot, but one bite will make you into a believer.
Chicken Alfredo
While it may seem fancy, this chicken Alfredo recipe is a beginner-friendly dish that truly anyone can master. This one-pot dinner comes together in 30 minutes, making it a perfect easy meal to whip up for any occasion, whether you're searching for a romantic meal for two or the most satisfying weeknight dinner.
Get the Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Classic Paella
This Spanish dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing centerpiece for special occasions and parties, but honestly, this dish is enough reason to celebrate all on its own. Listen to the crackling and peek through the rice in the middle to ensure that it’s browning properly and not burning (you can always hide the hole with a piece of shrimp 😉).
Get the Classic Paella recipe.
One-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken
If our creamy Tuscan chicken is a mainstay at your house, this recipe is going to be just the thing to shake up your weeknight dinner routine. We paired quick-cooking chicken cutlets with a spicy-sweet coconut milk sauce that’s out-of-this-world tasty.
Get the One-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken recipe.
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
This savory-sweet salmon is quick and easy enough for weeknights (ready in under 30 minutes), but is also fancy enough for special occasions. If you’re a seafood novice, don’t sweat it: Searing fish might seem intimidating, but with our top tips, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.
Skillet Eggplant Parm
This dish has all the eggplant Parm flavors you love—including sliced rounds of tender eggplant, tangy marinara sauce, and plenty of cheese. Instead of breading each slice of eggplant, though, you'll top the entire skillet with panko bread crumbs, making it easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Skillet Eggplant Parm recipe.
One-Pot Creamy Tortellini & Greens
Here, cheese-filled tortellini are delicately simmered in a velvety cream sauce with vibrant, fresh greens (we went with kale and spinach, but feel free to use up whatever you’ve got in the fridge). With this one-pot wonder and just a handful of ingredients, you can have it all—in just 20 minutes.
One-Pot Pepperoncini Chicken & Rice
Love our chicken & rice casserole, but craving a little more flavor? In this rendition, deglazing your pan with the pickling liquid from pepperoncini gives creamy rice a zappy hit that leans more sweet than spicy.
Get the One-Pot Pepperoncini Chicken & Rice recipe.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
When it comes to chicken breast recipes, it's hard to beat this one. The sauce is simple but so flavorful thanks to garlic, tomatoes, and most importantly, cream. It's bright and easy and just as good in the summer as it is in the winter, whether you're craving comfort food or a dinner fancy enough for guests.
Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.
Mexican Beef 'N' Rice Skillet
Is there anything better than a one-skillet meal? We don’t think so, particularly if it’s as family-friendly and quick as this one, featuring spiced ground beef, flavorful rice, hearty beans, and lots of cheese. It all comes together in just 40 minutes with minimal prep too!
Get the Mexican Beef 'N' Rice Skillet recipe.
Perfect Pot Roast
This slow-cooking dish is the meal to make when you want to impress and satisfy without a crazy amount of effort. The shredded beef meal comes complete with tender potatoes and carrots and a sauce you’ll want to spoon over everything. You’ll need some time and patience, but trust us—the result is more than worth it.
Get the Perfect Pot Roast recipe.
Pad See Ew
Pad see ew is on everyone’s top 10 Thai dishes list, and after you give it a try, you’ll understand why. It comes together just like any other stir-fry, starting with marinated protein, stir-frying the noodles and sauce, and ending with tossing it all together.
Get the Pad See Ew recipe.
One-Pan Crispy Chicken Primavera
Just when you thought pasta primavera was the king of spring comfort food, we’re dropping this one-pan chicken primavera. In it, crispy-skinned chicken thighs are roasted alongside spring veggies and topped with a confetti of goat cheese and herbs for a dinner that captures the promise of warmer days.
One-Pot Creamy Kimchi Shells
This tangy, rich pasta kind of feels like mac & cheese’s cool older cousin. Maybe that’s because it comes complete with 3 layers of umami flavor: kimchi, Parmesan, and gochujang, a Korean fermented red chili paste.
Get the One-Pot Creamy Kimchi Shells recipe.
Classic Coq Au Vin
Coq Au Vin or rooster with wine is a classic French dish that isn't as complicated as it sounds. Chicken is braised in a silky wine sauce and finished off with butter for the most perfect sauce. Use a nice red wine here and even better if it's from Burgundy!
Get the Classic Coq Au Vin recipe.
One-Pan Greek Chicken Drumsticks
Drumsticks are the unsung hero of dinner in this easy-to-execute, one-pan, Greek-inspired chicken meal. To lend the dish Greek vibes, you'll prepare a creamy, lemon-y orzo that finishes off in the oven with the drumsticks. Then a tasty sprinkle of tomatoes, olives, and dill give the whole dish a fresh finish.
One-Pot Shrimp Primavera
We use some of our favorite classic veggies for this pasta primavera, but use what you have! Throw in some broccoli or squash or some greens like kale and spinach—nothing is a bad idea here.
Get the One-Pot Shrimp Primavera recipe.
One-Pot Creamy Spinach Artichoke & Chicken Pasta
If spinach-artichoke is one of your favorite dips, then this easy one-pot pasta is for you. The pasta cooks right in the pot with everything else, making dinner hassle-free (and still plenty cheesy!).
Get the One-Pot Creamy Spinach Artichoke & Chicken Pasta recipe.
One-Skillet Creamy Thai Basil Chicken
This totally delicious mashup of coconut rice and Thai basil chicken gets dinner done in one skillet. It brings all the flavors of Thai cuisine you crave into your home with ingredients you can find in most grocery stores. Weeknight dinner win!
Shrimp & Rice
This particular easy recipe is packed with smart cooking know-how. Rather than just topping plain rice with sautéed shrimp, you'll instead build flavor in the pan before steaming the rice. 😍
Get the Shrimp & Rice recipe.
Vegetable Curry
When you want something comforting, savory, and just a little spicy, you can’t go wrong with some form of curry. In this recipe, a variety of vegetables takes center stage alongside a creamy Thai-style curry. We promise you won’t even miss the meat.
Get the Vegetable Curry recipe.
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