40 Best One-Pot Meals You Can Make for Any Weeknight Dinner
They make clean-up so much easier.
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Finding a go-to rotation of weeknight recipes that everyone in the family will love can be quite a challenge. While everyone enjoys a delicious meal, nobody wants to deal with a mountain of dirty dishes, and some can be way more work than others. That's one reason why Ree Drummond adores her casserole recipes—they're not just incredibly tasty and comforting but also remarkably simple.
So, if you're looking for a wealth of easy options at your fingertips, check out this list of the best one-pot meals and single-dish recipes. Here, you'll find one-pot pastas, soup recipes, and stews, along with family-friendly casseroles, slow cooker recipes, and skillet dinners. Many of these can be made in under an hour or even 30-minute meals. And best of all, there are way less dishes at the end. There’s nothing better than a recipe that’s easy to make and even easier to clean up!
Need to keep warm on a chilly evening? Cook up a large pot of chicken gnocchi soup or chili mac and cheese. Make pizza night easy with cast-iron baked pizza. Cut down on all the dishes with a beef taco skillet. Or go big with Ree's braised short ribs, which leave her "dying of bliss" days later. These easy dinner recipes are so good, your family will be happy to wash that one dish when the meal is done.
Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken
This creamy, herby chicken dish is not only economical and exceedingly delicious, it's quick, too! Have it on the table in under a half hour.
Get Ree's Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken recipe.
Cabbage and Sausage
When cabbage is cooked down, it becomes exceedingly tender. And when mixed with well-seasoned sausage, it's an easy meal that needs nothing more than some crusty bread.
Get the Cabbage and Sausage recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
What could be better than a mash-up of pure comfort food? A mix of hearty beef chili and gooey mac and cheese will make the whole family happy.
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi
Easy, cheesy gnocchi loaded with sausage and garlic butter breadcrumbs is the answer to all your carb cravings! This easy meal is made in less than 35 minutes as everything, including the gnocchi, breadcrumbs, and sauce, is made right in the skillet.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Yes, you can make pasta right in your slow cooker without having to boil the noodles separately! Just set it and forget it and come back to a pot of cheesy carbs.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Smothered Chicken
Chicken smothered in what, exactly? A pan gravy made of mushrooms, onion, and red bell pepper in bacon drippings, that's what! Serve over rice, potatoes, or whatever you like.
Get the Smothered Chicken recipe.
Lemon Pasta
It's amazing how such simple ingredients like garlic, lemon, and parmesan can turn into a luxurious meal in just minutes. Best of all, you only need one pot to do it.
Get the Lemon Pasta recipe.
Mediterranean Chicken
Briny olives really bring an otherwise simple dish of chicken and veggies to the next level. Any kind of pitted green olives will do! A squeeze of lemon and some fresh parsley help finish the dish.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Chicken recipe.
Pierogi and Meatball Skillet
For a simple dinner that has a perfect balance of carbs and protein, look no further than this one-skillet meal! It features Swedish-inspired meatballs made from ground pork and beef, as well as cheese and potato-stuffed pierogis in a rich pan gravy.
Get the Pierogi and Meatball Skillet recipe.
Irish Stew
You don't have to wait for St. Paddy's Day (or be Irish at all) to enjoy this comforting stew. You can make it with lamb or beef to mingle with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, leeks, and onions.
Get Ree's Irish Stew recipe.
One-Pot French Onion Pasta
You can thank TikTok for this genius, one-pot recipe that turns hearty French onion soup into a cheesy, baked pasta dish! The recipe starts and ends in one Dutch oven, where onions and mushrooms are caramelized and cooked before being combined with pasta and cheesy bread.
Get the One-Pot French Onion Pasta recipe.
White Chicken Chili
If you want to step up your chili game, try this! It tastes like a combination of classic chili and chicken tortilla soup, but with a creamy, dreamy broth. Pass the tortilla chips, please!
Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.
Chicken Florentine
If you've never had chicken Florentine style, you're in for an experience! Picture crispy golden chicken, a cream and white wine sauce, and a final flourish of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and parmesan.
Get the Chicken Florentine recipe.
Ham and Bean Soup
For a heartwarming dinner that comes together in just 35 minutes, look no further than this one-pot ham and bean soup! It's so easy to make with store-bought diced ham and canned beans which are added straight to the Dutch oven along with carrots, celery, and onion.
Get the Ham and Bean Soup recipe.
Instant Pot Corned Beef
Thanks to this foolproof recipe, you're just an "instant" away from perfectly tender corned beef! Cooked with aromatic vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and cabbage, it’s chock full of spices and savory flavors that enhance its rich taste.
Get the Instant Pot Corned Beef recipe.
Arroz con Pollo
This Latin American comfort food may be made in one pot, but it's anything but one-dimensional! Along with rice and braised chicken, this one-pot meal is rich in flavor thanks to a vegetable puree called sofrito and Sazón seasonings.
Get the Arroz con Pollo recipe.
Marry Me Chicken
This creamy chicken dinner is sure to win anyone's heart! The tender chicken breasts simmered in a mouthwatering sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and parmesan are made in just 30 minutes.
Get Ree's Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Coconut Chicken Curry
Easy to prepare and wonderfully satisfying, this curry brings a taste of exotic comfort to your table in one simple pot. In this recipe, tender chicken and veggies are simmered in a creamy coconut milk base infused with aromatic spices like curry powder, turmeric, and ginger.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
This crowd-pleasing, one-pot meal delivers tender, juicy chicken bathed in a rich, tangy barbecue sauce that was practically made for tacos and sandwiches. Ideal for a hands-off dinner, this dish requires minimal prep and lets the slow cooker do all the work, making it a convenient choice for busy days!
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Chicken Tortellini Soup
This comforting one-pot soup combines tender chicken with flavorful cheese tortellini in a savory broth. It’s enriched with fresh vegetables, like carrots and spinach, that are cooked right in the pot and seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices to create a rich, satisfying meal.
Get the Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe.
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