When life gets hectic, cooking a delicious dinner can feel like an impossible task. Between prepping ingredients, cooking the meal, and washing all the pots and pans, it can be tempting to go the easy route and order pizza instead. But when you still want a delicious home-cooked meal, these simple (yet flavorful!) one-pot recipes require minimal prep and cleanup—making them perfect for those busy weeknights. Let’s take a look at six quick and easy one-pot recipes that will help you get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
One-Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
If “creamy pasta” are two of your favorite words, you’ll love this One-Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta from Budget Bytes. It’s quick, comforting, satisfying, and packed with delicious flavor—and takes less than 30 minutes to make!
Ingredients at a glance:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Butter
- Garlic
- Penne pasta
- Chicken broth
- Milk
- Cream cheese
- Basil pesto
- Grated Parmesan
- Freshly cracked pepper
- Crushed red pepper
Lemon Garlic Salmon Tray Bake
This Lemon Garlic Salmon Tray Bake from RecipeTin Eats is a healthy, fuss-free meal that’s a great option for busy weeknights. The combination of lemon, garlic, and Dijon mustard brings out the best in the salmon, while the asparagus and tomatoes add a fresh, vibrant touch. Did we mention it bakes all in one tray?
Ingredients at a glance:
- Salmon fillets
- Dijon mustard
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Asparagus
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
- Parmesan
One-Pot Pasta Primavera (Vegetarian)
Pasta Primavera is colorful, refreshing, and nutritious—and this one-pot version from The Recipe Rebel is perfect for those nights when you have a lot of veggies to use up in the fridge. You can keep it meatless as shown, or add some chicken for extra protein.
Ingredients at a glance:
- Olive oil
- Red bell pepper
- Zucchini
- Carrot
- Salt
- Garlic
- Italian seasoning
- Black pepper
- Low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth, though this will make it non-vegetarian)
- Heavy cream
- Penne pasta, uncooked
- Broccoli florets
- Frozen peas
- Fresh spinach
- Grated Parmesan cheese
One-Pot Cajun Beef Pasta
This One-Pot Cajun Beef Pasta from RecipeTin Eats is a hearty, flavorful dish that brings a little spice to your weeknight dinner rotation. This filling pasta dish is simple to make, easy to clean up, and great for leftovers.
Ingredients at a glance:
- Beef
- Vegetables (your choice)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Kidney beans
- Crushed canned tomatoes
- Chicken stock/broth and water
- Tomato paste
- Cheese
Cajun Spice Blend:
- Dried thyme
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper
Weeknight Black Bean Chili
This Weeknight Black Bean Chili from Budget Bytes is a hearty, budget-friendly meal that can be a new staple for busy evenings. If you’re looking for a comfort meal that’s packed with protein, veggies, and rich flavors, this one-pot chili is the way to go.
Ingredients at a glance:
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Ground beef
- Canned black beans
- Canned diced tomatoes with green chiles
- Canned tomato paste
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Dried oregano
- Salt
Tofu Coconut Curry
For a plant-based, flavorful dish, this Tofu Coconut Curry from Yay! for Food is a fantastic option. This recipe has got it all: creamy coconut milk, aromatic spices, and fresh vegetables. Eat it by itself for a true one-pan experience, or pair it with your favorite rice to complete your meal. (Does it still count as one-pot if you use a rice cooker and not the stovetop? Our vote is yes.)
Ingredients at a glance:
- Vegetable oil
- Yellow (or white) onion
- Bell pepper
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Curry powder
- Turmeric powder
- Cumin powder
- Canned coconut milk
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Extra firm plain tofu (chopped into 1-inch cubes)
- Baby spinach
- Lime
- Fresh cilantro
- Salt and pepper
With these tasty and simple one-pot recipes, you don’t have to worry about spending hours in the kitchen or washing a massive pile of dishes afterward. Make your weeknights a little easier and spend more time doing what you love!
