30 Easy One Pot Meals For Quick And Nutritious Dinners

Finding time to prepare healthy, home–cooked meals can be a challenge, and so enters the hero of busy kitchens everywhere: one-pot meals. These wholesome and easy meals combine convenience with flavor, allowing you to create satisfying dishes with minimal fuss and cleanup. As the ingredients simmer in a single pot, the chili develops rich flavors while minimizing cleanup, making it ideal for busy weeknights or meal prep sessions.

2. Lentil Bolognese

This one–pot lentil bolognese is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time, as its flavor improves as the sauce sits in the fridge. The lentils add plant–based protein and fiber to your meal, which is delicious when served with pasta, focaccia, and gnocchi.

3. Chickpea curry

Curries are fantastic for meal planning, and this one–pot chickpea curry is a 30–minute meal with an Indian-inspired spice mix. TIP: For the creamiest curry, blend chickpeas with an immersion blender. That quick trick makes all the difference.

4. Butternut squash soup

Make this one–pot butternut squash soup for a cozy family dinner, or make it ahead and serve it for a quick lunch in the upcoming week. It’s a healthy, creamy, comforting dish that freezes and stores in the fridge for 4-5 days. TIP: pair it with crostini, croutons, or roasted chickpeas for a light dinner or appetizer. This easy, balanced meal with essential vitamins and fiber is ready in 30 minutes and is convenient and satisfying.

6. Minestrone

Minestrone is a hearty Italian vegetable soup that epitomizes the convenience of one-pot cooking. Packed with various vegetables, borlotti beans, and pasta, it offers a complete and satisfying meal in a single fuss–free dinner.

7. Pasta e Ceci

You’ll love this pasta e ceci (pasta with chickpeas) because it’s easy to make in one pot, takes 30 minutes, and uses affordable pantry staples. Chickpeas are ideal for one–pot meals due to their hearty texture and ability to absorb flavors. They also add fiber and magnesium and can potentially help control blood sugar.

8. Tuscan soup

You can make this hearty and wholesome bean soup from scratch in less than 45 minutes and store it in the refrigerator for several days. White beans are excellent for one-pot soups due to their creamy texture, which naturally thickens the broth and makes the soup extra satisfying.

9. Vegetable curry

Here is a vegan and gluten–free curry with chickpeas, peas, vegetables, and a rich Indian-inspired spice mix. Chickpeas are an excellent addition to one-pot curries because of their mild flavor, absorbs rich and aromatic spices, and add plant–based protein to your meal. The sweet potatoes cooked with ginger, garlic, apple, and vinegar make the soup creamy, sweet, tangy, and aromatic.

11. Red lentil soup

Split red lentils are an excellent choice for one-pot meals as they offer a creamy texture and a quick cooking time. This soup is excellent as an easy weeknight dinner. It is meal-prep-friendly and delicious with a slice of toasted bread.

12. Chana masala

This one’s an easy one-pot recipe with chickpeas and spices you can make in 30 minutes. Chana Masala is excellent for a quick and healthy dinner or meal-prepping as it gets better as it sits in the fridge.

13. Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta e fagioli makes the coziest family meal and an easy one-pot dinner idea. You can make it with simple and affordable ingredients, yet it tastes fantastic and is incredibly warming and nourishing. TIP: For a quick version, use canned beans, and you can make this recipe in about 30 minutes. It’s a flavorful, creamy, nourishing home-cooked meal you can serve with store-bought or homemade pita or Naan bread.

15. Sweet potato chili

This one–pot sweet potato chili offers Mexican-inspired flavors and a creamy texture. It’s a wholesome make-ahead dinner that keeps in the fridge for days. Serve the chili with sliced avocado, sour cream, lime, and hot sauce.

16. Lentil curry

Lentil curry is an easy, tasty, and healthy meal that can be made in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients in one pot. Our recipe is with split red lentils and makes a simple yet satisfying and flavorful dinner for the whole family.

17. Mushroom risotto

Mushroom risotto is a creamy and tasty one-pot dish that qualifies as Italian comfort food. TIP: Use a mix of white button mushrooms and portobello mushrooms. You can use most mushroom varieties based on what you can find where you live.

18. Bean stew

Here’s an excellent recipe for a quick and fulfilling weeknight dinner, ready in just over 30 minutes. This Tuscan bean stew is excellent as a meal prep recipe. It keeps well for days and freezes for up to three months. TIP: Serve it with rice, couscous, polenta, or a slice of toasted bread. Simple ingredients and spices yield a tasty and creamy dish that simmers together in one pot.

20. Split pea soup

The next item on our list is an easy one-pot dinner made with protein-rich dried split peas and a few other simple ingredients. Dried split peas are packed with protein and fiber, perfect for adding hearty thickness and earthy flavor to your one–pot meal.

21. Potato leek soup

You will love this potato leek soup because it is easy to make in one pot, with simple ingredients, and in about 30 minutes. It’s light, healthy, and delicious. The creamy texture comes from leek, potatoes, and Greek-style yogurt.

22. Lentil soup

This hearty, protein-packed soup is easy to make in a single pot. Italian lentil soup is brimming with vegetables and aromatic herbs, and it’s a complete meal when served with bread or rice. It’s excellent for busy weeknights; it can be made in large batches for easy meal prep. Chickpea salad is a protein-rich, vegetarian option that requires minimal prep and no cooking. It’s excellent for make–ahead lunches and light dinners.

24. Spinach stew

This one-pot spinach stew is excellent with rice or warm pita bread for lunch or dinner, and it’s also a great recipe for meal prep. It’s an easy, healthy, and satisfying dish with spinach, chickpeas, and cumin. It makes an excellent weeknight dinner or hearty lunch.

25. Vegetable soup

We end this list with a white bean vegetable soup that is easy to make, infinitely tasty, comforting, and perfect for meal prep. It’s excellent to make ahead, perfect for cold winter days, and one of the best meals to feed your family.

26. Tofu soup

This nourishing Asian–inspired soup is a one–pot wonder that combines protein-rich tofu with a flavorful broth. It’s a quick meal that can be customized with various vegetables and is perfect for chilly evenings with just one pot to clean.

27. Zucchini pasta

Next on our list is a clever one–pot pasta dish incorporating vegetables into a comforting meal. Grated zucchini cooks alongside the pasta, creating a creamy sauce without butter. It’s an excellent way to use surplus zucchini while preparing a nutritious and light dinner.

28. Black bean soup

This filling soup is a one–pot solution for a comforting, protein–rich meal. It’s an excellent way to turn pantry staples like black beans and canned tomatoes into a wholesome dinner.

29. Fregola pasta

This one-pot Mediterranean–inspired dish combines tiny pasta with colorful vegetables. Fregola pasta with vegetables is a versatile recipe that can accommodate whatever veggies you have. It’s an all–in–one meal that eliminates the need for separate side dishes.

30. Refried beans

This classic Mexican staple transforms simple ingredients into a creamy, flavorful dish. Refried beans is a budget–friendly, one–pot meal that satisfies and can be a main dish, side dish, or base for other meals, such as burritos and tostadas.

Asian-inspired one-pots: Thai red curry or sweet potato curry Lentil one-pot recipes: Lentil stew or lentil pasta Mediterranean one-pot cooking: Turkish lentil soup or harira

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Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients. Easy right? Comment * Name Email Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me when Louise or Nico reply to my comment.

Δ Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.