Working in construction, you know the value of efficient tools, streamlined processes, and solid planning—so why should dinner be any different? After a hard day’s work and cooking a delicious dinner, the last thing you want is a mountain of dishes to clean. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite one-pot meals that combine big flavors with minimal cleanup. From a tasty taco gnocchi bake to skillet lasagna, these recipes are perfect for fueling up after long shifts. Whether cooking for yourself, your crew, or your family, these one-pot wonders make life a little easier (and tastier).
Under the Hard Hat’s favorite one-pot dinner recipes
1. One-pot creamy chicken and mushroom pasta
This creamy chicken and mushroom pasta dish is tasty and simple to prepare. It involves searing chicken, whisking together a creamy sauce, and cooking pasta all in the same pot.
Why we love it: If you’re looking for hearty comfort food that won’t leave your kitchen looking like a bomb went off, this recipe is the one. This dish is nuanced enough for adults and mild enough for kids, making it that ever-elusive holy grail: a quick, easy, healthy dinner the whole family will enjoy.
2. Sweet potato shepherds pie
This sweet potato shepherd’s pie is a nourishing vegan recipe that combines celery, carrots, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, mushrooms, peas, corn, and lentils—everything except the kitchen sink! The nutrient-dense ingredients are simmered with fragrant herbs and spices before being baked for 25 minutes for a one-pot meal you’ll love.
Why we love it: With loads of micronutrients, fiber, and plant-based protein, this shepherd’s pie will hit the spot after even the most demanding workday—with the bonus of providing plenty of plant-based goodness to help you fuel up for tomorrow.
3. Taco gnocchi bake
This taco gnocchi bake is a tasty dish, requiring very little prep and even less cleanup. Start by browning ground beef in a cast iron skillet, then add black beans, enchilada sauce, spices, and sharp cheddar before topping with creamy avocado, spicy jalapeno, and fresh cilantro. This is a great way to get the flavors of Taco Tuesday without the same old.
Why we love it: We love a good fusion dish, and blending traditional Italian gnocchi with Mexican cuisine’s bright, spicy flavors creates an unexpectedly easy meal that will quickly become a favorite on your list. You could make this a vegan or vegetarian dish by omitting the cheese and ground beef or replacing them with plant-based alternatives.
4. One-pot lentil dal
Approximately 40% of India’s population is vegetarian, so Indian cuisine is filled with unbelievably delicious, perfectly spiced meals. This one-pot lentil dal starts with fiber and protein-rich lentils before adding a handful of spices and creamy coconut milk for a simple, satisfying one-pot meal. Serve with warm naan to make a complete meal.
Why we love it: Indian meals are warming, nutritious, and a welcome break from the same old, everyday Western cuisine. Many common spices used in Indian cooking are anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants. Combined with the protein and fiber of lentils, this makes an incredibly healthy meal.
5. Lemon garlic salmon tray bake
Technically, this is a one-pan dinner instead of a one-pot dinner, but it was too good not to include. This lemon garlic salmon tray bake starts by covering salmon fillets in a zesty lemon marinade before baking them in the oven alongside fresh asparagus and cherry tomatoes. After just 11 minutes, you’ll have a dinner of juicy salmon, roasted asparagus, and blistered tomatoes.
Why we love it: Cooking everything on one baking sheet allows you to make a high-impact, gourmet-style dinner without worrying about creating different dishes, timing everything perfectly, or washing multiple pots and pans. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, while asparagus and tomatoes are high in antioxidants, making this meal an excellent choice for healthy eating.
6. One-pot vegetable jambalaya
This one-pot vegetable jambalaya offers a taste of classic Southern cuisine. Peppers, celery, tomatoes, and green chiles blend with spices and long-grain rice to create a flavorful meal that is also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
Why we love it: This recipe is delicious as-is and also offers endless opportunities for variations. Add tofu or black beans to boost the protein content, switch the veggies out to feature fresh finds from your garden, or adjust the spice level to suit your preferences. However you make it, this dish is a winner!
7. Skillet lasagna
If you love lasagna but don’t always have the time to make it, this 30-minute skillet lasagna is the perfect one-pot alternative. Combining Italian sausages, ricotta, tomato sauce, and lasagna noodles, this dish has all the flavors of old-school lasagna made quick and easy in a single skillet.
Why we love it: Lasagna is a classic dish with everything you want in comfort food: juicy meat, gooey cheese, and tangy tomato sauce. This dish gives you all that yummy lasagna flavor without the labor-intensive process, which is a massive plus in our books! Swapping ground beef for Italian sausage also gives this dish a different flair.
8. Easy 1-pot black bean soup
This easy 1-pot black bean soup blends black beans, onions, veggie broth, chipotle peppers, spices, and even a bit of vegan dark chocolate to add depth to the flavor of this dish. Everything simmers in the same pot for 15-20 minutes and keeps in the fridge for up to a week. What could be easier?
Why we love it: We don’t know about you, but crisp fall days and chilly winter nights mean we shift into soup mode. And while soup can often be too light to be considered a meal, this protein-packed black bean soup is low-calorie, high-fiber, and filled with protein to keep you full for hours.
9. Baked feta with veggies
This baked feta with veggies recipe is vegetarian, cheesy, salty, and comforting while being (relatively) healthy. Low-fat feta cheese is sprinkled with herbs and baked with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, jalapenos, and olives. After 30 minutes, this meal bubbles with roasted vegetables and deliciously melty feta cheese.
Why we love it: Feta cheese is salty, firm, and has just the perfect amount of melty goodness without getting greasy—why not plan a meal around it? Feta is often eaten in combination with peppers, tomatoes, and olives in a Greek salad, and this dish is kind of a play on a traditional Greek salad, just baked!
Why we love one-pot meals
Besides the obvious fact that one-pot meals mean less mess and cleanup, we love handy recipes like these because they make cooking and eating at home much more manageable. When homecooked meals take a long time to prepare and involve a post-cooking cleanup sesh that takes longer than the dish itself, it is much easier to convince yourself to order takeout instead.
These one-pot meals are homecooked, healthy, and require minimal cleanup, so you’re more likely to make them. Eating meals at home also means less fat and salt, fewer calories than most restaurant meals, plus a big break for your bank account—and who doesn’t love that?
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