40 Quick and Easy One-Pot Meals

I’m not lazy—I just love simple, delicious meals that don’t leave me with a sink full of dirty dishes.

Cooking should be enjoyable, not a chore, which is why I’m a huge fan of one-pot meals that come together in a single pot, pan, or skillet. As Leonardo da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” and that applies to food too!

With these easy one-pot recipes, you can create hearty, flavorful meals with minimal effort and cleanup. Whether you’re in the mood for pasta, soup, stir-fry, or a comforting stew, these dishes will make dinnertime easier and quicker.

1. One-Pot Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:
Sauté onions in a large pot, add chicken, carrot and brown. Stir in rice and broth, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender.

2. One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 8 oz egg noodles
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 onion, chopped

Instructions:
Brown ground beef with onions, add broth and noodles, and cook until tender. Stir in sour cream before serving.

Make sure to check our other recipes with ground beef.

3. One-Pot Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 packet chili seasoning

Instructions:
Brown beef, add beans, tomatoes, and seasoning, then simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with cornbread or over rice.

4. One-Pot Pasta Primavera

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups mixed vegetables (zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli or whatever you have)
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Combine pasta, broth, and vegetables in a pot, cook until pasta is tender, then stir in Parmesan cheese.

5. One-Pot Jambalaya

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 1/2 lb sausage, sliced
  • 1/2 lb shrimp
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • Cajun seasoning

Instructions:
Brown sausage, add rice, tomatoes, and seasoning. Simmer until rice is cooked, then add shrimp and cook for 5 more minutes.

6. One-Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup spinach

Instructions:
Brown chicken, add broth and cream, and simmer until cooked. Stir in spinach before serving.

7. One-Pot Lasagna Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes
  • 4 cups broth
  • 8 oz broken lasagna noodles
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese

Instructions:
Brown beef, add tomatoes, broth, and noodles. Simmer until pasta is tender, then serve with a scoop of ricotta.

8. One-Pot Spanish Rice and Beans

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon cumin

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a pot, add 2 cups water, and simmer until rice is tender.

9. One-Pot Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 cup cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a pot, cook until pasta is done, then stir in Parmesan.

10. One-Pot Cabbage and Sausage

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
  • 1/2 lb smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 potato
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:
Sauté sausage and onion, add cabbage, potato and a little water, then cover and steam until tender.

Of course, you can replace cabbage with sauerkruat if you have one. Actually, I prefer this recipe with sauerkraut.

11. One-Pot Hamburger Helper

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 cup elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions:
Brown beef, add broth and pasta, cook until tender, then stir in cheese.

12. One-Pot Beef and Potato Hash

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 potatoes, diced
  • 1 onion, chopped

Instructions:
Brown beef and onions, add potatoes, cover, and cook until potatoes are soft.

13. One-Pot Chicken Taco Rice

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 1/2 lb shredded chicken
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 teaspoon taco seasoning

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients with 2 cups broth, simmer until rice is cooked.

14. One-Pot Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb shrimp
  • 1 cup grits
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions:
Simmer grits in broth, then stir in shrimp and cheese until creamy.

15. One-Pot Shepherd’s Pie Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup mixed vegetables
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes

Instructions:
Brown beef, stir in vegetables, top with mashed potatoes, and cook until heated through.

16. One-Pot Ratatouille

Ingredients:

  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • 1 eggplant, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 can diced tomatoes

Instructions:
Sauté vegetables, add tomatoes, and simmer until soft.

17. One-Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • 4 cups broth
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup milk

Instructions:
Simmer chicken in broth, mix flour and milk into a dough, drop into the pot, and cook until dumplings are fluffy.

18. One-Pot Turkey and Quinoa Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 can diced tomatoes

Instructions:
Brown turkey, add quinoa, broth, and tomatoes, and cook until quinoa is soft.

19. One-Pot Garlic Butter Salmon and Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 salmon fillets
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic butter

Instructions:
Simmer rice in broth, add salmon on top, cover, and steam until salmon is cooked.

20. One-Pot Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup lentils
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon cumin

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, simmer for 30 minutes until lentils are tender.

21. One-Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

Instructions:
Sauté chicken and bell pepper, add rice, broth, and seasoning. Cover and simmer until rice is tender.

22. One-Pot Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 lemon (juice and zest)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano

Instructions:
Brown chicken, add orzo, broth, and lemon juice. Simmer until orzo is soft and chicken is cooked through.

23. One-Pot Beef and Cabbage Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups beef broth

Instructions:
Brown beef, add cabbage, tomatoes, and broth. Simmer until cabbage is tender.

24. One-Pot Garlic Butter Pasta with Shrimp

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 1/2 lb shrimp
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic butter

Instructions:
Cook pasta in broth, then add shrimp and garlic butter. Simmer until shrimp is pink and pasta is coated.

25. One-Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup shredded pulled pork
  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar

Instructions:
Cook pasta in milk, stir in cheese and pulled pork, and heat until creamy.

26. One-Pot Butter Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder

Instructions:
Sauté chicken, add rice, tomato sauce, and curry powder. Simmer until rice is cooked, then stir in cream.

27. One-Pot Sausage and Peppers Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb sausage, sliced
  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped

Instructions:
Brown sausage, add pasta, broth, and peppers. Simmer until pasta is cooked.

28. One-Pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 8 oz egg noodles
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions:
Brown beef and mushrooms, add noodles and broth, and simmer. Stir in sour cream before serving.

29. One-Pot Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup lentils
  • 1 sweet potato, diced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon cumin

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and simmer until lentils and sweet potatoes are soft.

30. One-Pot Mexican Rice and Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon taco seasoning

Instructions:
Sauté chicken, add rice, beans, tomatoes, and seasoning. Simmer until rice is tender.

31. One-Pot Ramen with Vegetables

Ingredients:

  • 1 pack ramen noodles
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1/2 cup mixed vegetables
  • 1 egg (optional)

Instructions:
Boil broth and veggies, add ramen noodles, and crack in an egg while cooking.

32. One-Pot Italian Sausage and Gnocchi

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 pack gnocchi
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:
Brown sausage, add gnocchi, tomatoes, and cream. Simmer until gnocchi is soft.

33. One-Pot Korean Beef and Rice

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions:
Brown beef, add rice, broth, soy sauce, and sugar. Simmer until rice is tender.

34. One-Pot Pork and Apple Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 2 pork chops
  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 1/2 cup broth
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:
Sear pork chops, add apples, broth, and cinnamon. Simmer until pork is cooked through.

35. One-Pot Spinach and Cheese Tortellini

Ingredients:

  • 1 pack tortellini
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan

Instructions:
Cook tortellini in broth, stir in spinach and Parmesan, and serve.

36. One-Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions:
Cook pasta in milk, add chicken, buffalo sauce, and cheese. Simmer until creamy.

37. One-Pot Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups broth
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon garlic

Instructions:
Brown chicken, add rice, broth, honey, and garlic. Simmer until rice is cooked.

38. One-Pot Meatball and Orzo Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb meatballs
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 4 cups broth
  • 1 can diced tomatoes

Instructions:
Simmer meatballs, orzo, and tomatoes in broth until pasta is tender.

39. One-Pot BBQ Chicken and Beans

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 can baked beans
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions:
Sauté chicken, add beans and BBQ sauce, and simmer until heated.

40. One-Pot Moroccan Chickpea Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup broth
  • 1 teaspoon cumin

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and simmer until flavors blend.