One-Pot Wonders: 24 Easy Dinners for When Life Gets Busy

Some nights, even the thought of doing dishes feels like too much. Been there. That’s why I live for one-pot dinners—meals that are big on flavor, low on cleanup, and perfect for those “I cannot even” kind of evenings.

This roundup of 24 easy one-pot wonders is here to save your weeknight sanity. We’re talking hearty pastas, cozy soups, skillet meals, and slow cooker magic. Nothing fussy. Just real food, real fast, all in one pan, pot, or bowl.

So whether you’ve got a hungry family to feed or just need to survive dinner without wrecking your kitchen, there’s something in here that’ll do the trick. Let’s keep it simple, tasty, and stress-free.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

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This Chicken Tortellini Soup is extra easy to make and comes together in only one pot in 40 minutes. It’s nutrient-dense, filling, and a great choice for weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup

Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup in a white bowl topped with basil. — Instant Pot Minestrone Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This easy Instant Pot Minestrone soup is a quick, easy and nutritious one pot meal. Full of flavor and packed with veggies it is a healthy 30 minute meal.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

Mexican Skillet Quinoa

This naturally gluten-free recipe is filled with protein between the quinoa and beans plus has tons of flavor with the salsa, corn, and more. This one pot meal has it all, and it’s super easy to make, too.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa

Cowboy Stew

A pot of mixed vegetable and sausage stew with corn, beans, potatoes, and herbs, accompanied by sliced cornbread on the side. — Cowboy Stew. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This robust cowboy stew is full of incredible flavors. It’s a wonderful dish that you can make in one pot, and it’s great with cornbread.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Stew

Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables

Get juicy chicken breasts seared to golden perfection, then slow-cooked with carrots, celery, and fresh herbs in one pot that does all the work for you. The secret to this dish is the rich sauce made by scraping up those flavorful browned bits, turning simple ingredients like garlic, onions, and chicken broth into something seriously tasty. If you want a dinner that’s easy on cleanup but big on flavor and texture, this recipe has your name on it.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables

Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot

A close-up of creamy macaroni and cheese garnished with parsley. — Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

One pot is all you need for this weeknight-friendly dinner. Tender pasta, caramelized peppers, and sausage cook together seamlessly for a flavorful meal.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot

One Pot Chicken and Rice with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon

You will love this quick and simple one pot meal with Brussels sprouts and bacon. This baked chicken rice casserole is a hearty and delicious
Get the Recipe: One Pot Chicken and Rice with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon

Leek and Mushroom Pasta

An overhead image of cooked leek mushroom pasta in a pan. — Leek and Mushroom Pasta. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

One pot, light and creamy, leek and mushroom pasta with fresh herbs, ricotta, and parmesan that’s ready in just 40 minutes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!
Get the Recipe: Leek and Mushroom Pasta

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Chicken, sausage, and rice in instant pot with wooden spoon. — Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice is a delicious one pot Cajun meal that’s ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Chili Mac and Cheese – Two Comfort Foods, One Pot!

Chili Mac and Cheese – Two Comfort Foods, One Pot! is a great addition to your recipe collection. Whether you’re hosting or just looking for something tasty to make, this one fits the bill perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Chili Mac and Cheese – Two Comfort Foods, One Pot!

Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet

This ground turkey sweet potato kale skillet is a quick and easy one pot meal. It’s a 30 minute recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet

Chicken Corn Soup

This Chicken Corn Soup is a go-to option for a quick and flavorful meal that can be prepared in one pot. Ready in less than an hour, this soup combines tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a flavorful broth.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup

Low-Carb Beer Cheese Soup

Beer cheese soup with wooden spoon in a bowl. — Low-Carb Beer Cheese Soup. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Make beer cheese soup next time you’re craving a creamy, cheesy comfort food dish. This version will remind you of the classic dish but only has 4g net carb per serving. It’s an easy one pot recipe you can make in 30 minutes for lunch or serve as a side with dinner. If you need a holiday dish – look no further. Everyone will love this!
Get the Recipe: Low-Carb Beer Cheese Soup

One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This classic, easy, one pot lemon ricotta pasta is ready in 15 minutes and is perfect for any occasion – whether a quick weeknight dinner or a dinner party!
Get the Recipe: One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Easy Cabbage Curry

An overhead image of cooked cabbage curry in a round plate. — Easy Cabbage Curry. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This easy vegan and gluten-free cabbage curry is ready in just 25 minutes. Packed with nutrients, it’s a perfect one pot weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cabbage Curry

One Pot Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole

A close-up of a plate of cheesy sausage jambalaya, featuring sliced sausage, melted cheese, and rice, garnished with herbs. — One Pot Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This one pot Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole recipe is a quick, delicious dinner you can whip up in one pan. Plus, it is guaranteed to please even the pickiest of eaters. It’s amazing how a cheesy dish can do that.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole

Chicken Katsu Ramen

A red bowl filled with ramen noodles, topped with crispy breaded chicken slices, two halves of a soft-boiled egg, chopped green onions, and sesame seeds. Chopsticks and a small dish of green onions are beside the bowl. — Chicken Katsu Ramen. Photo credit: All The Noodles.

This one’s for when you want something warm, crunchy, and deeply slurpable without overcomplicating dinner. Chicken Katsu Ramen starts with a bowl of miso-rich broth and chewy noodles, but it’s that golden, crispy panko-fried chicken on top that really seals the deal. You get all the comfort of ramen with the added crunch of a perfectly fried cutlet—and it’s faster to make than you think. The broth comes together in one pot, the chicken fries up in minutes, and the whole thing is ready in under 30. Toss on a soft-boiled egg if you’re feeling extra, and just like that, your weeknight dinner feels like something you actually looked forward to.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Katsu Ramen

Chorizo Chili Mussels

These spicy chorizo mussels are an easy, one pot meal made in 20 minutes with spicy dried chilis, fennel and chorizo in a chunky tomato broth. Serve with some warm crusty bread for a seafood feast!
Get the Recipe: Chorizo Chili Mussels

Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

Cilantro lime chicken on a plate next to avocado and cilantro garnish. — Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cilantro lime chicken and rice. Juicy chicken, tender rice, and a spicy cream sauce. A quick, one pot meal, perfect for any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

Chana Masala

This easy chana masala is an authentic vegan, Indian chickpea curry – one pot, gluten-free, ready in just 30 minutes! It is also super forgiving, so it’s the perfect meal to kick start your Indian cooking!
Get the Recipe: Chana Masala

Easy Beef and Potato Bake – One Pot Meal

This is an easy beef and potato bake which uses simple ingredients. It’s a one pot beef recipe with a layered potato topping that’s so tasty.
Get the Recipe: Easy Beef and Potato Bake – One Pot Meal

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

An overhead image of sun dried tomato pasta in a rectangular dish. — Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This creamy sun dried tomato pasta is a delicious, one pot dish ready in just 30 minutes, loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, ricotta cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

Italian Sausage Pasta

This Italian Sausage Pasta comes together in under 30 minutes with just one pot, making dinner easy and cleanup quick. It features spicy Italian sausage, roasted red peppers blended into a creamy sauce, and fresh spinach stirred in for a hearty meal the whole family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage Pasta

One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn

One pot gouda and cream cheese corn is an extra-special and very delicious side dish. It’s an amazing Thanksgiving or Christmas corn recipe.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn