When you’re staring at your kitchen after a long day, unsure of what to make, one-pot recipes can be a lifesaver. These 23 recipes simplify the cooking process, allowing you to create a flavorful and filling meal without the hassle of using multiple pots and pans. More than just convenience, these dishes are perfect solutions for those moments when you’re completely out of dinner ideas.
The beauty of these recipes lies in their simplicity. Not only do they save time, but they also reduce the usual kitchen chaos. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting out in the kitchen, these one-pot meals are delicious, easy to make, and will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
This is a surprisingly easy-to-make one-pan dish featuring shrimp, spinach, and small tomatoes. It’s ready in just 30 minutes. The garlic sauce gives the shrimp a delicious flavor that goes well with the other ingredients. Cooking everything in one pan means you spend less time cleaning up. It’s a handy dish for those nights when you’re out of dinner ideas.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Here’s a quick chicken dish cooked in a pan with a garlic butter sauce. It takes only 20 minutes to make, resulting in perfectly juicy chicken. Because you only use one pan, there’s less to clean up afterward. It’s a good pick when you need a simple and quick dinner.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
This soup is made of sweet potato and red pepper and is cooked all in one pot. It’s creamy and warm, and you can have it ready in about an hour. It’s easy to make, and the steps are pretty straightforward. This soup is perfect for those evenings when you want a cozy meal without too much fuss.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Cabbage and Sausage
This dish mixes cabbage with sausage and is ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s all cooked in one pan, so you don’t have many dishes to clean up afterward. It fills you up without needing lots of prep work. For those nights when you’re scratching your head for dinner ideas, this one-pan meal makes things easier and still offers a hearty dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Creamy Dijon Chicken
Here’s a chicken dish that you can cook up in about 30 minutes. The Dijon mustard sauce gives the chicken a special touch. Best part? You only use one pan, so cleanup is a snap. If you’re stuck on what to make for dinner, this one-pan dish is both quick and flavorful, saving you time.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
In just half an hour, you can have a warm bowl of this soup that mixes Italian sausage with cream cheese and tomatoes. It’s all made in one pot, which means fewer dishes to wash. It’s a full meal by itself, so you don’t need to cook anything else on the side. For a simple and hearty dinner idea when you’re drawing a blank, this one-pot soup is a great choice.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Chicken Corn Soup
This soup combines chicken with vegetables and is ready in under an hour. It’s a good pick when you want something quick but filling. Plus, everything’s made in one pot, so there’s less cleaning up to do. Perfect for those days when you’re out of dinner ideas but want something that feels homemade.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
This is a chicken dish where the meat gets paired with a mushroom sauce, and it’s all cooked in one pan. You’ll spend about 30 minutes making it, and the mushroom sauce adds a nice touch. The single pan means less cleaning up after dinner. It’s a go-to when you’re short on dinner ideas and want something tasty without much fuss.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
This soup is warming and ready in 45 minutes. It’s all made in one pot, so you don’t have a pile of dishes waiting for you afterward. It’s easy enough for anyone to make and can be a full meal on its own. When you’re not sure what to cook and want something comforting, this one-pot soup hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Sausage Curry
This one-pan dish is a mix of sausage, veggies, and a curry sauce. It’s ready in less than an hour, and the single pan approach means an easy cleanup. The curry sauce adds a twist to the usual sausage dish. When you’re scratching your head for what to cook, this one-pan dish is a quick solution that packs flavor.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry
Fried Cabbage With Bacon
You can make this dish in just 30 minutes. It’s cabbage and bacon cooked together in one skillet, so there’s minimal mess. The bacon adds a nice touch to the cabbage. It’s straightforward, making it perfect for nights when you’re out of dinner ideas but still want something filling and easy to clean up after.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
This chicken dish uses thighs and a Tuscan-style sauce, all done in one pan. It’ll be on the table in 40 minutes. The sauce goes really well with the chicken. It’s a good mix of fast and flavorful, making it a practical choice for those evenings when you’re not sure what to whip up for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Ready in 30 minutes, this chicken dish uses a sun-dried tomato sauce to keep the meat moist and tasty. Everything’s done in one pan, so you have less to wash up. When dinner ideas are running low, this one-pan dish is both efficient and full of flavor, making your evening a bit simpler.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy
This is a 30-minute dish where salmon and bok choy get a nice touch from coconut milk. The one-pan method makes cooking and cleaning straightforward. If you’re stuck on what to make for dinner, this flavorful one-pan meal is a quick and easy option.
Get the Recipe: Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Here’s a chicken dish you can have ready in about 30 minutes. The artichoke hearts add a unique taste, and everything is done in one pan. Perfect for those times when you’re out of dinner ideas and want something that’s both simple to make and clean up.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
This combines sausage and veggies on a single sheet pan. It cooks in 30 minutes and offers both a hearty and nutritious meal. The one-pan design means you spend less time cleaning up. When you need a dinner idea that’s both tasty and fuss-free, this is a solid choice.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
In this dish, cauliflower replaces traditional rice, offering a lighter yet flavorful twist to the classic risotto. Paired with earthy mushrooms and cooked until creamy, the entire meal comes together in about 30 minutes using just one pan. It’s a refreshing change from the norm, making it a top choice when you’re out of dinner ideas but still want something unique and easy.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Zuppa Toscana
This one-pot soup is inspired by Olive Garden’s popular dish and is ready in an hour. It’s hearty enough to be a whole meal by itself. Using just one pot, it’s easy to make and even easier to clean up. It’s a comforting choice when you’re not sure what to prepare for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Zuppa Toscana
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Combine ground beef with cauliflower rice, cheese, and mushrooms, and you have this dish ready in 30 minutes. This recipe is always a good pick when you want something easy and different for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Creamy Garlic Chicken
This dish features chicken cooked in a garlic and Parmesan sauce. It takes about 30 minutes to prepare and is a solid choice for a quick and flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs
Have leftover chicken thighs on hand? This dish spices them up with green chile, and it’s done in 20 minutes. It’s a spicy way to make your chicken leftovers interesting again. No leftovers? Use rotisserie chicken instead.
Get the Recipe: Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs
Lemon Garlic Scallops
In this dish, scallops are cooked with some lemon and garlic all in one pan. You can have it ready in about 30 minutes. It’s a nice pick when you want a simple dinner that feels a little special.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops
Sticky Sauce Chicken
This chicken recipe showcases a sweet and sticky sauce. You cook everything in one pan, and it takes around 30 minutes. It’s perfect for nights when you want something different but still easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Sauce Chicken