53 One-Pot Meals for Breezy Dinners
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When it comes to weeknight dinners that won’t keep us elbow-deep in suds, we’re all about one-pot meals: simple and hearty main dishes pulled together with a single skillet, sheet pan, Dutch oven, or even your slow cooker. This means there’s a single piece of equipment to wash before you turn in for the night. (Speaking of sleep, certain foods will help you there.) We’re so into one-pot recipes, in fact, that we just launched One and Done, a recipe series from senior test kitchen editor Jesse Szewczyk featuring weeknight meals that can be made entirely in one pan. Just because they’re streamlined doesn’t mean they can’t be brag-worthy. Jesse’s impressive but easy one-pot meals include risotto made in a rice cooker, salmon perfectly baked on a sheet pan, and more.
Now, let’s get cooking. Here are our best one-pot meals that do the heavy lifting for you.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams1/53Chicken Thighs With Spiced Couscous and Carrots
We begin our list of one-pot meals with a chicken recipe the whole family will like: tender thighs, warm spices, dried apricots, pearl couscous. Winner winner chicken dinner, indeed.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams2/53Ruffled Mushroom Pot Pie
Instead of a classic pastry crust, this savory pie—packed with veggies such as mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, and celery—swaps in crinkled phyllo pastry, which browns and crisps in the oven atop the filling.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Leslie Garetto, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon3/53Texas Chili
A few hours transform hunks of brisket into this stunning bowl of red. If you’re not in Texas, though, don’t call it chili: Only a Texan, says the state, can prepare an authentic batch. (Maybe we should have titled the recipe Texas-Style Chili…)
Photo by Alex Lau4/53Curried Lentil, Tomato, and Coconut Soup
This gluten-free lentil soup has no business being as delicious as it is. Creamy, nourishing, and hearty, it’s become part of our regular soup-season rotation. Speaking of which, also make this Instant Pot Tomato Soup.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams5/53Shortcut Baked Rigatoni With Spicy Italian Sausage
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens6/53Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
God bless the Instant Pot’s sauté setting. Use it to brown bacon and soften onions and carrots before adding the main ingredients. Then just walk away for about 20 minutes.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams7/53Rice Cooker Risotto
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou8/53Picadillo
Picadillo is a classic ground beef recipe that you’ll find in many Latin American countries. This Mexican version, studded with diced potatoes and poblanos, is based on one from San Luis Potosí.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams9/53Sheet-Pan Salmon With Rice Cakes and Kimchi
If salmon isn’t your thing, feel free to swap in any large piece of flaky fish of your choice. Cod or halibut would both work great in this easy recipe.
10/53One-Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Rotisserie chicken, store-bought puff pastry, and just one trusty cast-iron skillet keep this hearty dinner recipe from feeling too fussy—or taking all day to make.
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen11/53Basil Fried Rice
“This is great and is really adaptable to your taste preferences,” writes Carly in the comments. “I couldn’t get my hands on store-bought fried onions, so I fried my own. I also added a ton of chili crisp at the end for some crunch and heat.” Nice!
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen12/53Weeknight Harissa Eggplant Parm
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Christina Allen13/53Pork Chops With Green Chiles and Apples
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen14/53Garlic-Coconut Shrimp and Green Beans
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Leslie Garetto, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon15/53Black Vinegar Chicken With Radishes
If you, like editorial operations manager Kate Kassin, have a sensitive stomach, then this gingery chicken stir-fry is for you. And did we mention it comes together in 30 minutes?
Photograph by Aaron Barton, food styling by Michelle Gatton, prop styling by Alexandra Massillon16/53Pasta With Beets, Sausage, and Fried Sage
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Nicole Louie17/53Cajun Shrimp Fried Rice
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht18/53Cheesy Buldak With Rice Cakes
Look up “comfort food” in the dictionary and you’ll likely see a picture of cheesy buldak (fire chicken), the spicy saucy Korean dish seen here. Also comforting: The knowledge that it takes 30 minutes to make.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Anyka Brown19/53Lemony Tortellini Soup With Spinach and Dill
While homemade vegetable broth is ideal—because so much of the flavor of this soup comes from the broth—when that’s not possible, we go for Better Than Bouillon paste. (It’s good for more than soup too.)
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley20/53Dark-and-Stormy-Braised Pot Roast
Comforting, slow-braised pot roast makes a flavor 180 by enlisting all the bright, spiced flavors of the classic ginger-rum cocktail, the Dark and Stormy.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser22/53Sheet-Pan Chicken and Potatoes With Lots of Lemon
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne23/53One-Pan Salmon With Burst Tomatoes
Throw everything in the skillet, bring it to a simmer, and dinner is done. If you want a no-cook side dish to round things out, this Shaved Zucchini Salad With Parmesan and Pine Nuts would work well.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams25/53Beef and Barley Stew
This quick, truly weeknight-friendly version of the winter staple goes from pot to bowl in a little more than an hour thanks to a couple clever shortcuts. (If you’re feeling a little extra, serve this with crusty bread and some sun-dried tomato and walnut pesto.)
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams26/53Spanakopita Baked Eggs
We’ve taken that glorious Greek combination of spinach and feta out of spanakopita pie territory and into breakfast territory. These baked eggs will even fuel your morning workouts.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca27/53Sheet-Pan Gnocchi With Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
What is it about the combination of pasta or potatoes with spicy Italian sausage and bitter broccoli rabe? It’s perfection is what it is. Come winter, this has become a go-to one-dish meal for us. (Come summer, try this sheet-pan gnocchi with tomatoes.)
Photograph by Matthew Keough, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Emma Ringness28/53Yuzu Chicken Piccata
Photograph by Matthew Keough, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Emma Ringness29/53Mushroom and Shallot Salisbury Steak
Our best Salisbury steak recipe takes the nostalgic dish up a notch thanks to caramelized shallots, mushroom gravy, zippy mustard powder, and lots of parsley. Also to file under Excellent Saucy Steak Recipes: a classic Beef Stroganoff.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne30/53One-Pot French Onion Pasta
This pasta recipe, a mashup of French onion soup and mac and cheese (caramelized onions, white wine, fresh thyme, loads of Gruyère, pasta), is just one of three favorite one-pot pastas. Try our One-Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta and Brothy Pasta With Chickpeas too.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG, FOOD STYLING BY ANNA BILLINGSKOG31/53Sheet Pan Chicken Meatballs With Tomatoes and Chickpeas
Photo by David Malosh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Cindy Diprima32/53One-Pot Gingery Chicken and Rice With Peanut Sauce
Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie33/53Shrimp and Cabbage Curry
Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie34/53Braised Beans and Sardines With Fennel
Tinned sardines add briny flavor and more protein to this brothy beans recipe. Here are our favorite canned sardines for cooking—or snacking.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'Mytrek Brown35/53Green Seasoning Baked Cod
Herbaceous, aromatic, fresh, and—maybe most importantly—simple, this Trini-inspired one-pan dinner is just the cure for those winter blues. All you need is a baking dish.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones36/53Tomato and Egg Drop Noodle Soup
Instant ramen is positively begging to get dressed up and go somewhere fancy after being relegated to the college dorm room microwave for so long. Yes, it’s a new era—and you can make this beloved Hong Kong dish with any instant noodles packet you love.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell37/53Mapo Chili Mac
This one-pot dinner calls for Sichuan peppercorns, which really are are worth seeking out. Nothing comes close to approximating their floral spice and tingly heat.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Chris Morocco, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen39/53Sheet-Pan Salmon and Squash With Miso Mojo
It’s probably safe to say that we’re all familiar with the beauty of the sheet-pan dinner at this point, but while this is a simple, everyday piece of equipment, not all sheet pans are created equal.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'Myrtrek Brown40/53Pasta With Lentils and Mushrooms
Orecchiette (or conchiglie, if that’s what you can find) cooks directly in its sauce in this genius vegetarian dish that stars brown lentils and deeply seared crimini mushrooms. Hello, umami.
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio41/53Broccoli Soup With Turmeric, Peanuts, and Crispy Shallots
You’ll need a blender in addition to your one pot for this recipe—or, if you’re strict about following the one-dish rule, use an immersion blender to purée the soup.
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou43/53Chickpea Pancakes With Greens and Cheese
This recipe covers pretty much all of our working-from-home lunch criteria: It’s cheesy, packed with greens and protein, and topped with hot sauce. If you don't have time to pancake around, flour tortillas would work, too. Just fold the cooked greens and cheese inside the tortillas like a taco.
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou45/53Soy and Scallion Tofu Bowl
Grate your tofu on a box grater—seriously. Stir fry the shreds into crispy bits, and the rest of this satisfying lunch bowl is only minutes away.
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou47/53Green Curry Lentil Soup
Green curry paste (we tested this one-dish meal recipe with Maesri) adds heat and lots of complex flavor to this 30-minute spinach, lentil, and sweet potato soup.
Eva Kolenko49/53Skillet Roast Chicken With Fennel, Parsnips, and Scallions
A beautifully browned bird and seasonal vegetables cook in a single skillet for an effortless dinner. Swap in carrots, quartered onions, or tiny potatoes—anything goes.
Nicole Franzen50/53Spicy Lamb and Lentils With Herbs
There’s a little bit of meal prep involved in this one (you’ll want to be working with already-cooked lentils—good thing they cook so fast).
Photograph by Yudi Ela, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio51/53Udon in Buttery Tomato and Soy Broth
You may be surprised at how quickly this broth builds flavor, with massive depth from golden onions, tomatoes, soy sauce, and just a tiny bit of butter for a silky finish.
53/53One-Skillet Steak and Spring Veg With Spicy Mustard
This one-pot meal makes for the ultimate fancy-but-not-too-fancy date-night dinner—and it comes with an easy method for making a mustard sauce you’re going to want to use with other dishes (and maybe on other dates!).
