27 One-Pot Meals You Ate Right Out of the Pan

When a recipe’s so good it never leaves the pan, you know it’s earned its spot. These 27 one-pot meals are built for nights when you want dinner without the mess. Each dish keeps the cooking and cleanup in one place, so the focus stays on the food. Expect comfort, ease, and a few surprises that might have you skipping the plates altogether.

Cabbage beef casserole inside cast iron. — Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

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 & Rice combines chicken and rice in a single pot, making it perfect for nights when extra dishes just won’t happen. Everything cooks together, so the flavors blend while the mess stays contained. This one-pot meal is a clear fit for anyone who wants dinner without juggling multiple pans. It’s the kind of dish that disappears straight from the pan to the plate.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables puts both protein and veggies on one pan, so you don’t need a stovetop full of pots. The chicken drips flavor onto the vegetables as it cooks, cutting down on steps and cleanup. As a one-pot meal, it delivers a full dinner without making a mess of your kitchen. It’s the kind of sheet pan magic that makes weeknights easier.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

One-Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner

One-Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner cooks everything in one skillet, which means no extra pans and no time lost juggling sides. The pork and peppers caramelize together, giving you a meal that’s all ready at once. It’s a practical one-pot meal that hits the table with less stress. You’ll be scraping the pan clean before it even cools.
Get the Recipe: One-Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner

Shrimp Asparagus Risotto

Shrimp Asparagus Risotto gets cooked in one pot, letting you build flavor without having to switch between pans. The risotto, shrimp, and asparagus all finish together, cutting down your dinner prep and cleanup. It works as a one-pot meal that feels special without being a hassle. It’s the kind of thing that’s too easy not to eat right out of the pot.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Asparagus Risotto

Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet

Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet cooks chicken and sauce together in one pan, eliminating the need for extra side dishes. The flavor develops as it simmers, making it a complete one-pot meal with minimal effort. It’s the type of recipe that makes cleanup feel like an afterthought. You might just serve it straight from the skillet to the plate.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce cooks low and slow in one pot, which means no extra work while it simmers to tenderness. The meat pulls apart easily and pairs with sides without needing separate pans. This one-pot meal handles itself while you go about your day. When it’s this easy, it barely makes it off the counter before it’s devoured.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce

Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

Lamb Shepherd’s Pie brings meat, vegetables, and mashed potatoes together in a single baking dish. It layers everything into one cohesive one-pot meal that goes straight from oven to table. There’s no need to cook sides when it all happens in one place. It’s a dish built to be scooped straight out of the pan.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken keeps things minimal by using the grill as its one-pot stand-in. The marinade sticks to the chicken, so there’s no need for extra sauce or prep bowls. While not made in a pan, it still follows the one-pot spirit by keeping tools and cleanup to a minimum. You’ll want to eat it straight off the grill while it’s still sizzling.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Dutch Oven Beef Stroganoff

A bowl of beef stroganoff with sliced mushrooms and parsley on top of egg noodles, with a fork on the side. — Dutch Oven Beef Stroganoff. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Dutch Oven Beef Stroganoff mixes beef, noodles, and sauce in one pot, which makes both cooking and cleanup less work. The sauce thickens as the noodles cook, eliminating any need for boiling separately. It’s a hearty one-pot meal that handles itself once everything’s in. You won’t need a serving bowl when the pot does the job.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Beef Stroganoff

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes sears and roasts in the same skillet, making it a solid one-pot choice for a no-mess dinner. The pork browns while the potatoes soften right beside it. With just one pan to watch, this meal keeps dinner prep simple and cleanup minimal. It’s the kind of recipe where the pan doesn’t even get a chance to cool.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo brings bold flavor and tender meat together in one pressure cooker. The sauce reduces and thickens as the chicken cooks, all inside the same pot. It’s a one-pot meal that cuts cooking time and avoids a sink full of dishes. This is the kind of dinner you serve straight from the Instant Pot without thinking twice.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

White Bean Soup

White Bean Soup simmers in a single pot, freeing you from hovering over the stove or washing a pile of dishes later. The beans, broth, and seasonings come together easily as they cook in one vessel. This one-pot recipe makes a complete, hearty dinner with very little effort. It’s the type of soup that skips the bowl and heads straight to the mouth.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Soup

Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes

A white plate containing a stew made of tender shredded meat and chunks of potatoes, garnished with sprigs of fresh thyme. A spoon rests on the side of the dish, placed on a marble surface. — Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Maple-Dijon Pot Roast cooks in an Instant Pot where the meat and vegetables finish together in one sealed pot. The flavors concentrate while the sauce thickens naturally, so no other cookware is needed. This one-pot meal is perfect for when you want something comforting with little cleanup. The whole thing practically plates itself.
Get the Recipe: Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes

Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole bakes rice, meat, and vegetables all in one dish, avoiding the need to prep individual peppers. It captures the same flavors in a simpler, one-pot version that saves time and effort. Everything goes in together and cooks evenly, so there’s no juggling components. You can scoop straight from the pan until there’s nothing left to scrape.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

Easy Beef Stew

Beef stew in yellow bowls. — Easy Beef Stew. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Easy Beef Stew simmers meat, potatoes, and carrots in one pot until everything is fork-tender and full of flavor. It uses just one burner and requires only occasional stirring to keep things moving. As a one-pot dinner, it cuts down on prep and cleanup in a big way. This stew goes from stove to spoon before the lid’s even off.
Get the Recipe: Easy Beef Stew

Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup

Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup cooks quickly in one pot, mixing everything from the broth to the veggies in one go. It’s a streamlined option that removes the hassle of making multiple dishes. This one-pot recipe gives you a full, balanced dinner without the mess. You’ll be ladling it straight into your bowl before the spoon touches the counter.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup

Cauliflower Cheese and Bacon Soup

Cauliflower cheddar cheese bacon soup in a pot with a spoon. — Cauliflower Cheese and Bacon Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Cauliflower Cheese and Bacon Soup comes together in one pot where everything cooks, crisps, and melts without needing more tools. The flavors combine as the soup thickens, cutting out extra prep. This one-pot meal is perfect when you want a comforting dish and minimal cleanup. It practically begs to be eaten straight out of the pot.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Cheese and Bacon Soup

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

A plate of shredded chicken is garnished with herbs, black olives, and sliced cherry tomatoes. Two lemon wedges and pieces of flatbread accompany the dish. A fork is resting on the edge of the plate. — Slow Cooker Greek Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken requires just one pot and lets time do the work while you focus on anything else. The meat cooks in its own juices and flavors without extra steps or mess. It’s a true one-pot meal that simplifies dinner without losing impact. You’ll be lifting the lid just to grab a fork and dig in.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

Quinoa Chicken Casserole with Broccoli and Pumpkin

A baked casserole dish containing a cheesy broccoli and chicken mixture, topped with pieces of pineapple and sprinkled with chopped parsley. — Quinoa Chicken Casserole with Broccoli and Pumpkin. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Quinoa Chicken Casserole with Broccoli and Pumpkin puts everything in one baking dish, combining protein, grains, and vegetables. This one-pot recipe bakes into a complete dinner without needing anything on the side. It’s a practical solution for nights when time and cleanup are limited. This dish does its job straight from the oven to the plate.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Chicken Casserole with Broccoli and Pumpkin

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Instant Pot Butter Chicken keeps everything—from browning to simmering—in one pressure cooker. The sauce thickens as it cooks, locking flavor into the chicken without extra steps. It’s a one-pot meal that keeps your kitchen clean while bringing rich flavor to the table. It’s hard not to spoon it right from the pot while it’s still steaming.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

A bowl of homemade chicken soup with dumplings. — Homemade Chicken and Dumplings. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings gets everything into one pot—from broth to dumplings—with no extra work required. The chicken simmers down while the dumplings puff up in the same pot, so cleanup is minimal. As a one-pot meal, it checks every box for comfort without complication. You’ll be spooning it straight out of the pot like it’s second nature.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Caprese Chicken Recipe

Caprese Chicken cooks quickly in a single pan, keeping cleanup low and flavor high. Tomatoes, mozzarella, and chicken all finish together with no extra mess or prep. This one-pot meal gives you something satisfying without any unnecessary steps. It’s the kind of dinner you eat before the stove has even cooled.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Chicken Recipe

Meatball Pasta Bake

A casserole dish with meatballs and pasta. — Meatball Pasta Bake. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Meatball Pasta Bake gets everything in the same pan—pasta, sauce, and meatballs—making prep and cleanup almost nonexistent. The ingredients cook together in the oven, softening the pasta and browning the meatballs at once. It’s a one-pot recipe that turns a classic into a weeknight-friendly dish. You might not even bother with plates.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Pasta Bake

Ajiaco Colombiano

Bowl of chicken Ajiaco soup. — Ajiaco Colombiano. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Ajiaco is a one-pot Colombian chicken soup that mixes potatoes, corn, and herbs into a rich, hearty broth. Everything simmers together, so you don’t need to cook anything separately. This one-pot meal gives you layers of flavor without layers of dishes. It’s the kind of soup that gets dipped into straight from the pot.
Get the Recipe: Ajiaco Colombiano

Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables

Four seasoned chicken breasts simmer in a pot with chopped carrots, celery, onions, and herbs in a savory broth. — Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables makes the most of one pot, searing, simmering, and softening everything together. Chicken, carrots, and herbs cook down in their own juices, eliminating extra steps. It’s a one-pot dinner that balances ease with solid flavor. This is one of those meals you lift the lid on and dive into immediately.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables

Chicken Fricassee

A skillet with browned chicken thighs in a creamy sauce with mushrooms and herbs. — Chicken Fricassee. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Chicken Fricassee cooks chicken in a creamy sauce with vegetables all in one pan, simplifying the whole process. The sauce thickens as the chicken finishes, cutting down on separate prep. This one-pot meal keeps the kitchen cleaner and dinner quicker. It’s the kind of meal that brings the spoon straight to the skillet.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fricassee

Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole

Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole layers ground beef and cabbage under a melted cheese top, all baked in one pan. It’s a hearty one-pot dinner that skips the need for sides or sauces. Everything comes together in the oven, then heads straight to the plate. It’s the kind of dish that skips serving bowls and goes straight to the fork.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole