Our Easiest One Pot Recipes of All Time

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Nothing can get rid of the midweek blues better than a warm, comforting dinner. Well, what if that dinner happens to be incredibly easy to make and only uses one pot for the most minimal cleanup ever? Even better. We can’t fight the alluring pull of a one-pot meal—much like its convenient cousin, the sheet-pan supper—and we gathered up our favorite one-pot recipes that are quick and easy to prepare to help kickstart your best dinner menu yet. From no-brainer slow cooker recipes to hearty casserole bakes, these one-dish dinners help you get supper on the table without hassle and stress. These recipes are our favorite one-pot meals ever that can make any night deliciously easy.

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Shrimp-and-New Potato Chowder

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Shrimp-and-New Potato Chowder

This soup is filling and warm without being super heavy, making it a great option for a one-pot weeknight meal. Dry white wine adds a cut of freshness, while a splash of heavy cream gives the smooth texture we love.

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Chicken Bog

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken Bog

This old-fashioned recipe has been filling up Southerners as long as time. Chicken and rice are equal power players in the dish, while vegetables and garlic add even more flavor.

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Andouille Sausage Jambalaya with Shrimp

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Andouille Sausage Jambalaya with Shrimp

You can make this Cajun staple in your slow cooker for ultimate ease. Creole seasoning soaks into all of the ingredients, while shrimp and Andouille sausage ensure a hearty meal. Don’t forget a few dashes of hot sauce!

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Soulful Chicken Soup

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup

The only thing that could make this ultimate comfort dish even better is being able to throw everything in a slow cooker and walk away, only to return to this soothing, delicious soup!

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Spinach Ravioli Lasagna

Photo: Van Chaplin

Recipe: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna

This top-rated lasagna uses convenient ingredients for your quickest, easiest one-pot dinner yet. Pesto, Alfredo sauce, Italian cheeses, and spinach join cheese-filled ravioli for a creamy, melty bake.

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One-Pot Beef Stew

Greg DuPree

Recipe: One-Pot Beef Stew

Red wine, whole-grain mustard, and garlic add richness to this stew, and the tender cubed beef chuck roast makes it satisfying enough for a great weeknight dinner.

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Spaghetti Casserole

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole

This slow-cooker version of our classic spaghetti casserole makes this dinner more satisfying and easier than ever before.

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King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

Our favorite King Ranch casserole gets redone into this crowd-pleasing macaroni and cheese recipe that’s even more indulgent. It’s a quick family favorite and ready in less than an hour.

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White Bean-and-Pork Chili

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: White Bean-and-Pork Chili

This white chili will warm you up any night. Green chiles, lime juice, and cumin add bursts of flavor to the white beans and ground pork, while a finishing touch of Monterey cheese gives the perfect melty texture.

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Shrimp Boil Pasta

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Pasta

This flavorful dish could be described as a Low Country Boil with pasta, and it’s ready in less than 40 minutes. Complete with smoked sausage, fresh corn kernels, and Old Bay Seasoning, this hearty one-pot meal is far from boring.

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Pork Chops with Balsamic Roasted Vegetables and Gorgonzola

Cooking Light

Recipe: Pork Chops with Balsamic Roasted Vegetables and Gorgonzola

A tangy balsamic marinade infuses the roasted veggies and serves as the perfect finishing sauce for the pork chops. You’ll use a roasting pan from start to finish in this recipe.

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

You don’t even need a rolling pin for this skillet pot pie since we fully support refrigerated pie crusts for this recipe. Slap the crust in a cast iron skillet and fill it up with the creamy, warm filling!

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Loaded Potato Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Recipe: Loaded Potato Soup

This delicious soup is so simple to make that we recommend going all in with the toppings. Kids will love tossing bacon and cheese on top, but you can also opt for roasted broccoli florets, sour cream, or diced fresh tomatoes.

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Quick Beef Chili

Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Quick Beef Chili

Tender steak makes the base for this quick recipe that’s packed with flavorful seasonings and chopped green chiles. A couple spoonfuls of cornmeal will help thicken it up perfectly!

 

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One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce

This one-pot recipe is a wonder, but we aren’t going to question it! You only need to throw it all together in a pot, then find a perfectly cooked pasta dish coated in a creamy tomato-basil sauce just 20 minutes later.

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One-Pot Shrimp and Grits

Greg Dupree

Recipe: One-Pot Shrimp and Grits

We love any recipe that takes a classic dish and gives it a user-friendly twist. This shrimp and grits recipe does just that with its one-pot mindset. Spicy andouille, sautéed shrimp, and old-fashioned grits pack this dish with plenty of flavor.

 

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Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

You can substitute storebought pesto if you’re in a crunch, but we can’t get enough of this homemade Arugula Pesto. This chicken gets perfectly crisp, dark-golden skin and juicy, tender meat (which paired with the one-pot ease, is too good to pass up).

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Chicken-and-Collards Pilau

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Chicken-and-Collards Pilau

This one-pot Lowcountry favorite is full of quick-cooking basmati rice, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, collard greens, and Cajun smoked sausage.

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Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas

Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas

These enchiladas are so versatile, making them a go-to recipe year-round. You can substitute leftover roast beef or your favorite shredded barbecued pork as a tasty alternative to chicken.

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Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice

Get your Southern touch with cubed ham and baby lima beans, while the Asian ingredients give a great tanginess to this one-pot rice dinner.

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Shepherd’s Pie

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie

This recipe takes your classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe and makes it a little easier. You get to take a shortcut with the crust because the recipe calls for frozen mashed potatoes.

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Turkey Meatball Stroganoff

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Turkey Meatball Stroganoff

These slow-cooked turkey meatballs and sauce make for a creamy touch over our favorite classic egg noodles, making it a guaranteed family favorite you’ll use over and over again.

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Garlicky Beef-and-Bean Stir-Fry

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Garlicky Beef-and-Bean Stir-Fry

We let the bold ingredients do the talking in this beefy stir fry. Soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, crushed red pepper, and garlic make a amazing marinade for the steak, while fresh green beans add a great crunch.

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Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Most people simply boil gnocchi and call it a day, but gnocchi is so great when the pillowy bites are toasted in a skillet for a little outer crisp.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole

We always love an old-school classic with a twist, and this casserole has all of the sweet-savory blend and hearty ground beef of your childhood Sloppy Joe, but in a slightly more refined presentation.

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Chicken-and-Black Bean Chimichangas

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken-and-Black Bean Chimichangas

The only pot you need for this recipe is a piping hot skillet to crisp up your hand-rolled tortillas filled with a rich mixture of black beans, deli-roasted chicken, green chiles, and salsa verde.

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Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Recipe: Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Cheese-filled tortellini, crunchy pecan topping, and fresh broccoli make this one-dish pasta dinner anything but ordinary. It covers all of your bases, and the kids love it just as much as the adults!

 

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