Here are some super-easy one pot recipes to make on those nights when you just don't feel like cooking, and especially when you don’t feel like cleaning. You can feed a crowd with just one dish, and even have enough for leftovers.
You know those nights when you just don't feel like cooking, and would rather do anything other than dishes? But alas, your family needs to eat, so it’s either whipping up something quick or ordering takeout.
Keep it simple with a one-pot recipe! Many of the recipes below are make-ahead friendly and great for weeknight dinners.
Pick a side dish, serve up some cornbread and you've got yourself a meal. See below for a list of one-pot recipes your family will love!
Slow Cooker Recipes
The slow cooker can truly simplify the cooking process! All you have to do is throw your ingredients in together with a liquid, set it to low or high, and your meal will cook itself! The slow cooker has tons of uses, too: it’s perfect for making sauces, soups, and even desserts.
Pressure Cooker Recipes
Not only can it cook tough cuts of meat in record time, but it's also great for making stocks, soups, sauces, and other homemade staples that require long cooking times. This handy piece of kitchen equipment can be intimidating if you’ve never used one before, so here are our favorite recipes to get you started.
Dutch Oven Recipes
One pot chicken recipes
Chicken is a staple for dinner because it is affordable, nourishing, and delicious! Boneless chicken thighs or breasts are great options because they are low-mess both to prepare and eat.
Our one-skillet balsamic chicken breast recipe is flavorful and juicy and is made with chicken, potatoes, and veggies all in a single dish for a balanced meal with easy cleanup.
Roasting a whole chicken is another great option to feed a large family — stuff it with dressing and add potatoes, carrots, and onions to your roasting pan! Your family will enjoy a filling and nutrient-packed dinner, and you will love how effortless it is to prepare and clean up.
Slow cooker recipes
The slow cooker is the ultimate tool for easy-cleanup dinners.
If you have a multi-cooker, you can cook our entire Irish beef stew in a single dish. This recipe requires you to sear the beef to lock in the juices, so if you want to minimize your dishes you can first use the sauté function of your multi-cooker before sautéing your vegetables and preparing the stew to slowly cook.
You can also make classic Southern red beans and rice in a slow cooker to simplify the cooking and cleaning process. Set this to cook in the morning, and you will have a hot and nutritious meal ready by the afternoon.
One pot casserole recipes
Casseroles are another great option if you want a hearty family meal with minimal dishes. Our cheesy hashbrown casserole is a popular potluck item, and you can prepare it ahead of time and freeze it before or after baking.
Casseroles aren’t just for dinners and potlucks — whipping up a breakfast casserole on Sunday night is the perfect way to feed your family a hearty breakfast for the whole week!
Vegetarian one pot meals
Vegetarian one-pot meals are even more numerous than meat-based ones!
Our red beans and rice recipe can easily be adapted to be vegetarian and vegan-friendly by simply swapping the beef broth for your favorite veggie stock, leaving out the sausage (or swapping for your favorite plant-based replacement), and amping up the spices a little bit. The rice and beans create a hearty, complete protein that will keep you full for hours.
One-pot pasta is also popular among vegetarians. Sautee your favorite veggies in a large pot, add tons of your favorite seasoning, add canned tomatoes and/or vegetable broth and your pasta, and simmer for 10-12 minus with the lid on until your pasta is tender.
Soups and stews are other great options, from bean-based chilis to minestrone.