13 One-Pot Recipes That Feel Like the Kitchen Version of Taking the Easy Way Out
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Some nights, the goal is just to get food on the table without wrecking the kitchen in the process. That’s where these one-pot recipes come in, they’re easy, filling, and only leave you with one pan to clean. If you’re low on time, energy, or patience, these are the kind of dishes that save meal time and your mood.
Honey Garlic Pork Chops
You only need one pan and about 20 minutes to turn plain pork chops into something seriously craveable. The honey garlic glaze thickens right in the pan, coating each juicy bite in sticky, sweet goodness. Cleanup is almost nothing, and the flavor payoff is huge, this is a one-pot dinner that works hard so you don’t have to.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Sheet Pan Chicken
This all-in-one meal is loaded with juicy chicken and colorful roasted veggies, and it all cooks on a single sheet pan. No juggling side dishes or scrubbing pots, just pop it in the oven and let it go. You still get that “I cooked a real meal” feeling without actually working that hard, the definition of easy way out, but make it dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken
Cheeseburger Skillet
All the flavor of a cheeseburger, none of the mess. This cheeseburger skillet throws everything into one pan, ground beef, melty cheese, and a simple sauce, and turns into a comfort food favorite in just 20 minutes. It’s the kind of one-pot meal that hits the spot when you’re starving and tired but still want something good.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Skillet
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
With just one pan and a few pantry staples, you can have crispy, cheesy chicken that tastes way more complicated than it is. This is one of those meals that looks impressive on the plate but takes almost no effort. The parmesan crust seals in flavor while your stove does the rest, fewer dishes, less hassle, and all the comfort of a full dinner.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Ground Beef and Broccoli Casserole
This hearty casserole is the easy button for hectic nights. You get seasoned beef, creamy cheese, and tender broccoli baked together in a single dish, no side dishes needed. It’s a full meal in one pan, which means less cleanup and more time to relax, feels like comfort food, cooks like a shortcut.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli Casserole
Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo
Dinner in one pan doesn’t get much more comforting than this cabbage and sausage Alfredo. You’ll love the creamy sauce, smoky sausage, and soft cabbage noodles that somehow feel fancy even though they come together in 30 minutes. There’s no separate pasta pot or sauce pan needed, just one skillet to handle it all.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo
Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles
Zoodles and shrimp cook up fast in this simple scampi, making it perfect for those nights you just want to eat and sit down already. Bright lemon, garlicky butter, and tender shrimp come together in one pan for a no-fuss, restaurant-worthy meal. It’s light, fresh, and saves you from washing three extra dishes.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles
Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
When you need to get dinner on the table fast, this stir-fry has your back. Just one skillet, some ground beef, and chopped cabbage, and you’ve got a filling meal with flavor that punches above its prep time. It’s super flexible too, add whatever seasoning or sauce you like, total lifesaver on hectic weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Korean Ground Beef
Sweet, salty, and totally delicious, this Korean ground beef comes together in 20 minutes using just one pan. Serve it over rice or tucked into lettuce wraps, it’s good no matter what. Minimal chopping, barely any cleanup, and flavor that feels like takeout; one-pot cooking doesn’t get much better.
Get the Recipe: Korean Ground Beef
Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet
All the best parts of taco night, melted cheese, seasoned beef, and bold spices, are rolled into one skillet dinner. No separate toppings bar or stack of bowls to clean. It’s simple, it’s cheesy, and it feeds the whole crew with minimal effort, basically, it’s taco night without the work.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Let your slow cooker handle dinner with this easy beef and broccoli recipe. The meat turns out super tender, the sauce is rich and savory, and everything cooks in one pot while you go about your day. It’s better than takeout, with way less effort, just toss it in and walk away.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip
This creamy, cheesy dip is the kind of low-effort recipe that feels like cheating in the best way, with only one pot, five minutes of prep, and done. Toss everything in the slow cooker, walk away, and come back to a warm, crowd-pleasing appetizer that tastes way fancier than the effort it takes. It’s the go-to dish for nights when you want to impress without breaking a sweat.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Chipotle Rice
Making this Chipotle-style rice at home is so easy, you’ll wonder why you ever paid extra for it. Fluffy, flavorful, and bright with lime and herbs, it’s a one-pot wonder that pulls double duty as a side or base for whatever protein you’ve got. It’s one of those “set it and forget it” recipes that still makes dinner feel put together.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Rice
