10 Easy One-Pot Recipes for Busy Weeknights

One-pot recipes are a lifesaver for busy weeknights when you want a delicious and satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen. With just one pot, you can create flavorful dishes that the whole family will love. Here are 10 easy one-pot recipes that are perfect for those hectic evenings:

1. One-Pot Chicken and Rice
Ingredients:
– 1 lb chicken breasts, diced
– 1 cup rice
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 cups chicken broth
– 1 tsp paprika
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, sauté the diced chicken until browned.
2. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until softened.
3. Stir in the rice, chicken broth, paprika, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through.

Cooking tip: To add extra flavor, you can also stir in some diced vegetables like bell peppers or peas.

2. One-Pot Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients:
– 1 lb ground beef
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 can crushed tomatoes
– 1 cup beef broth
– 8 oz spaghetti
– Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic.
2. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, spaghetti, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the spaghetti is cooked al dente.

Cooking tip: If you prefer a thicker sauce, let the spaghetti cook uncovered for the last few minutes.

3. One-Pot Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
– 1 lb beef sirloin, thinly sliced
– 1 bell pepper, sliced
– 1 cup broccoli florets
– 1 carrot, sliced
– 1 onion, sliced
– 3 tbsp soy sauce
– 1 tbsp honey
– 1 tsp ginger, minced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, stir-fry the beef until browned.
2. Add the bell pepper, broccoli, carrot, and onion.
3. Stir in the soy sauce, honey, ginger, and garlic.
4. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Cooking tip: For a vegetarian option, you can substitute tofu for the beef.

4. One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
Ingredients:
– 1 lb chicken thighs, diced
– 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 cup chicken broth
– 1 cup heavy cream
– 8 oz fettuccine
– Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, cook the chicken until browned.
2. Add the mushrooms, onion, and garlic, and sauté until softened.
3. Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, fettuccine, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and the sauce is creamy.

Cooking tip: To save time, you can use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.

5. One-Pot Chili
Ingredients:
– 1 lb ground turkey
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 can black beans
– 1 can kidney beans
– 1 can diced tomatoes
– 1 cup beef broth
– 2 tbsp chili powder
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, brown the ground turkey with the onion and garlic.
2. Stir in the black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, beef broth, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cooking tip: For a spicier chili, add diced jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes.

6. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Orzo
Ingredients:
– 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
– 1 cup orzo
– 1 lemon, juiced and zested
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 cups chicken broth
– 1 tbsp butter
– Fresh parsley, salt, and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, sauté the shrimp with the garlic until pink.
2. Stir in the orzo, lemon juice, lemon zest, chicken broth, butter, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked.
4. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Cooking tip: For a creamier dish, stir in some heavy cream at the end.

7. One-Pot Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients:
– 1 lb flank steak, sliced
– 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
– 1 onion, sliced
– 1 bell pepper, sliced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1/2 cup soy sauce
– 1 tbsp brown sugar
– 1 tsp sesame oil
– 2 cups beef broth
– 2 tbsp cornstarch
– Rice, for serving

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, stir-fry the flank steak until browned.
2. Add the broccoli, onion, bell pepper, and garlic.
3. Stir in the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, beef broth, and cornstarch.
4. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened.
5. Serve over rice.

Cooking tip: For added heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes on top before serving.

8. One-Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta
Ingredients:
– 1 lb Italian sausage
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 can diced tomatoes
– 1 can tomato sauce
– 1 cup heavy cream
– 8 oz penne pasta
– Fresh basil, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, brown the Italian sausage with the onion and garlic.
2. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, heavy cream, penne pasta, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente.
4. Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Cooking tip: For a vegetarian option, use plant-based sausage or omit the meat altogether.

9. One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
– 1 lb chicken breasts, diced
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 carrots, sliced
– 2 celery stalks, sliced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 4 cups chicken broth
– 1 cup heavy cream
– 1/2 cup wild rice
– Fresh thyme, salt, and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, sauté the chicken with the onion and garlic until browned.
2. Add the carrots, celery, chicken broth, heavy cream, wild rice, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through.
4. Garnish with fresh thyme before serving.

Cooking tip: Customize the soup by adding in your favorite vegetables like peas or spinach.

10. One-Pot Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients:
– 1 lb beef stew meat
– 1 onion, diced
– 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 cup beef broth
– 1 cup sour cream
– 8 oz egg noodles
– Fresh parsley, salt, and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, brown the beef stew meat with the onion and garlic.
2. Add the mushrooms and sauté until softened.
3. Stir in the beef broth, sour cream, egg noodles, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the noodles are cooked and the sauce is thickened.
5. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Cooking tip: To make this dish even more indulgent, top with a dollop of truffle oil.

With these 10 easy one-pot recipes, you can create delicious and satisfying meals that are perfect for busy weeknights. These recipes are quick, simple, and require minimal cleanup, making them ideal for those nights when you need a convenient meal without sacrificing flavor. So, the next time you’re short on time but craving a homemade dinner, give one of these one-pot recipes a try!
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