If there were a popularity contest for one-pot meals, the 20 recipes we've gathered here would all be strong contenders for the crown. You'd probably be hard-pressed to settle on just one winner, though, and that's because they're so varied. Simply put, in the world of one-pot cooking, there really is something for every palate and every mood.
For more traditional offerings, hearty soups and stews won't disappoint. There are also a trio of pasta dinners that require boiling the noodles with the vegetables—a fairly non-traditional method, but one that works surprisingly well and leaves you with only one pot to clean (cheers to that). Continuing on the pasta theme, we're especially fond of our Lemony Pasta with Goat Cheese and Spinach, where creamy goat cheese turns into a sauce of its own, and lemon's fresh brightness makes the dish pop.
There are also a slew of roasted or skillet meals that combine meats—from a whole chicken to bite-size pieces of chicken and sausage—with vegetables and rice, too. There are spins on paella and jambalaya, as well as a seafood boil that not only tastes delicious, but is fun to make. To round out this stellar collection, there are also some very clever takes on one-pot meals, including fried rice, an eggs-on-toast masterpiece, and a savory porridge.
Here are the most popular one-pan recipes to try. Some are ready in 30 minutes or less, while others take more time to simmer and let the flavor develop. All are filling, delicious, and true to their one-pan or one-pot descriptions. Between the flavorful outcome and uncomplicated cookware involved, you may just start adding them to your weeknight rotation today.
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Roast Chicken With Vegetables and Potatoes
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Here's a classic roast chicken with vegetables that's truly one and done. The bird is nestled on a bed of fingerling potatoes, carrots, shallots, and fragrant lemons, meaning your entrée and its accompaniments roast completely in one pan.
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Japanese Fried Rice
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Got leftover rice? You're halfway to a delicious and complete meal that includes strips of chicken breast, scrambled eggs, and the savory combination of soy sauce, sake, butter, and garlic.
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Classic Beef Stew
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Aromatic and satisfying, a comforting bowl of beef stew always hits the mark on chilly nights. Here, seared pieces of marbled beef simmer away until they become fall-apart-tender in the broth. Punchy aromatics, such as tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, and fire-roasted tomatoes provide a subtle smokiness and further enhance the flavor.
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Chicken and Dumplings
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Chicken thighs, plump dumplings, and plenty of vegetables come together to form a meal that's warm and filling. The dumplings are flavored with dill, which adds a fresh, citrus-like note to the finished dish.
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Jambalaya
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Chicken, sausage, and rice form the base of this hearty one-pot meal, which is bolstered with plenty of thyme, paprika, and oregano.
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One-Pot Pasta With Broccoli and Lemon
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Less is more in this quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying weeknight dinner. It calls for just five main ingredients (penne, broccoli, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan) and requires minimal cleanup.
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Classic Minestrone
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This beloved Italian soup isn't just hearty and healthy; it's also flexible. You can use whatever you have on hand, so aside from the vegetables listed in this recipe, feel free to swap in yellow squash, zucchini, butternut squash, or peas.
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Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup
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Healthful and fresh, this chicken soup includes turmeric, ginger, lemon, and microgreens. Plus, using store-bought chicken stock and rotisserie chicken means it's ready in minutes.
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Saffron Risotto With Shrimp and Peas
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Plump shrimp and fresh spring peas make a delicious duo in this lemony risotto, while a pinch of saffron gives it a striking golden hue.
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Chicken and Brown Rice
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Here's a hearty one-pot meal that's perfect for weekend dinners when you have more time to let the dish cook. The addition of roasted red peppers and peas makes it reminiscent of paella.
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Kitchari
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The main ingredient in this good-for-you savory porridge—which is traditional in Ayurvedic cooking—is yellow mung dal, which are split mung beans that break down and thicken as they cook.
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Cabbage Vegetable Soup
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Winter vegetables—including cabbage, leeks, and potatoes—come together in a delicious soup that gets a boost of flavor from a dash of vinegar and chopped fresh thyme leaves.
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Chicken Scarpariello
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To make this one-pan chicken dinner, you dust chicken thighs with flour, which helps them brown and forms a nice crust. It also thickens the sauce at the end. The meat gets super tender as it braises in a broth infused with rosemary, shallots, and pickled peppers (plus a splash of brine for zip).
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One-Pot Shrimp Boil With Corn and Potatoes
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In addition to being easy to prepare, this shrimp boil is fun to eat, too. You cook the shrimp, corn, and potatoes in a spicy, flavorful broth, which is then used for dipping.
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Lemony Pasta With Goat Cheese and Spinach
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For a quick and efficient meal, try this light and easy dish. Goat cheese is melted with leftover pasta water to form its own sauce, and combined with lemon zest and juice for added citrus flavor.
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Pork Fried Rice
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Fried rice strikes again! This time it's paired with ground pork. The recipe also includes shredded carrots and frozen peas, so you get a serving of vegetables, too.
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Beef Barley Soup
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This soup is comfort in a bowl, bringing together rich beef stock, hearty cubes of beef chuck or round, and deliciously toothsome barley.
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Cioppino (Seafood Stew)
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You can prepare this impressive and rich-tasting seafood stew ahead of time and finish it just 15 minutes before you're ready to enjoy. All you need to accompany it is a crusty loaf of bread.
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Charred Tomatoes With Fried Eggs on Garlic Toast
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This anytime meal is great on its own or paired with a simple salad. Use a large, heavy skillet to fry eggs and sear tomato halves, then serve them atop crisp slices of rustic toast.
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