Last Updated on February 26, 2024
There are some nights when the idea of cooking dinner and then slaving over a pile of post-meal dishes just seems impossible. This mostly happens on Mondays for us, but no day is truly safe.
But there is a solution: One-pan recipes. It doesn’t matter what kind of pan; baking sheet, skillet, Dutch oven, or even a crockpot — as long as there’s only one, it makes cooking and cleaning up seem so much more palatable.
Limiting your meals to one pan doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, either. These easy, one-pan meals deliver big, bold flavors.
One Pan Smoky Ribeye with Sweet Potato Hash
Sometimes, you need a meal you can whip up in 20 minutes flat with barely any dishes. Instead of firing up a grilled cheese again, try this one pan smoky ribeye with sweet potato hash.
Ribeye cooks up quick with a 5-minute sear, then another 5 to 10 minutes in the oven. Alongside the ribeye is a sweet potato hash complete with shaved Brussels sprouts, cashews, dried cranberries, garlic, and feta cheese.
The seasoning blend on the ribeye really makes the dish, so don’t skimp on the smoked salt — find it at a specialty grocer, online, or, if you’re lucky, in the spice aisle of your favorite grocery store.
One Pot Chicken and Spanish Rice
While one pot chicken and Spanish rice sounds like a lot of work, this recipe actually comes together in 40 minutes total.
Simmer saffron-infused chicken and rice in a fragrant tomato broth, then top it with tangy green olives and fresh cilantro. Minimal work, and a restaurant-worthy dish, all in 40 minutes.
The best part: This meal is highly customizable. Opt for long-grain brown rice over white (just up your cooking time a bit). You can use any variety of boneless, skinless chicken, so toss in breasts, thighs, or a mix — whatever you have on hand. You can even cook this up in the Instant Pot if you like.
Chicken and Black Bean Soup
Soups are the ultimate one-pot meal, and this chicken and black bean soup really delivers. Simply sauté your seasoned veggies and chicken, then add black beans, diced tomatoes, honey, and stock. Simmer for an hour and you have a nourishing, southwestern meal.
The spice blend of garlic, thyme, bay leaf, paprika, cumin, and chipotle powder really impart flavors of the southwest, while honey adds a touch of sweetness.
Top the whole thing off with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and avocado slices for a dose of fiber, creamy protein and healthy fat.
Braised Chuck Roast with Red Wine and Mushrooms
Braises are excellent one-pot dishes, so give this braised chuck roast with red wine and mushrooms a try. Cook it low and slow for four hours in a red wine-based sauce, which imparts intense flavor and makes your kitchen smell amazing.
The roast is accompanied by baby potatoes and baby Bella mushrooms, making for a hearty, umami-laden meal. Thyme, garlic, tomato paste, and onion all do their part to deliver even more flavor to the braise.
Beefy Blonde Stew
This hearty beefy blonde stew upends the traditional beef stew paradigm by subbing in white wine for the usual red. The result is a more delicate flavor, though the stew is still quite hearty and rich.
Along with the beef, you’ll find root veggies like parsnips, turnips, celery root, and carrots. There’s tons of flavor from leeks, fennel, garlic, celery, and, of course, white wine.
Hearty Beef and Wild Rice Soup
To make this one-pot hearty beef and wild rice soup, combine steak tips, wild rice, diced tomatoes, green beans, carrots, celery, and onion with some beef broth. Before you know it, you have a delicious, satisfying meal. Plus, the seasonings are simple, with fresh thyme and bay leaf doing the heavy lifting.
