22 Fast and Easy One Pot Meals

It’s a pretty busy week around the Budget Bytes household, so I’m just going to take a quick minute today to round up some really fast and easy ONE POT or ONE SKILLET meals for when your life is as busy as mine! :D All of these recipes feature your protein, vegetables, and grains cooked together in one skillet or pot, making dinner ridiculously easy to prepare and serve. I promise to create a “one pot” category to make these recipes easy to access (I actually thought I already had), but until then here are 22 super easy dinner ideas that require little effort and even less clean up. XOXO

I find that the success of “one pot” recipes rests on two things: quality cookware and a good flavored broth (most of these recipes use broth as a cooking liquid). One pot recipes need very even heating, so good cookware is crucial. Poorly constructed cookware or vessels that are too thin tend to have hot spots that cause rice and pasta to scorch or stick to the bottom of the pot. I use Better Than Bouillon to make my broth for cooking, which not only offers a lot of flavor, but usually provides enough salt to season the entire dish. If your recipe turns out bland, your broth may be less flavorful or less salted than mine. Sometimes adding a pinch of salt to your final recipe can really help the flavors pop!

One Pot Pastas

One Pot Cheesy Vegetarian Chili Mac This rich and comforting One Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac and Cheese is the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal. Works great for meal prep! Go to the recipe >>>

Pastalaya Celebrate like you're in Louisiana with this easy, filling, and inexpensive one pot favorite, Pastalaya. It's the shortcut pasta version of Jambalaya! Go to the recipe >>>

One Pot Roasted Red Pepper Pasta This smoky, sweet, and creamy One Pot Roasted Red Pepper Pasta cooks in one single pot and can be on the table in about 30 minutes. Go to the recipe >>>

One Pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff This super easy one pot Beef & Mushroom Stroganoff is a delicious and comforting weeknight dinner that requires just a few ingredients. Go to the recipe >>>

Italian Wonderpot All the ingredients for this Italian Wonderpot cook together in one pot to make an incredibly fast, flavorful, and easy weeknight meal. Go to the recipe >>>

Chili Cheese Beef n Mac A super easy, filling, and flavorful American Classic. This Chili Cheese Beef n' Mac is 100% homemade with real ingredients. Go to the recipe >>>

One Pot Sausage & Mushroom Pasta This One Pot Sausage & Mushroom Pasta can be on the dinner table in no time and only makes one dirty dish! Go to the recipe >>>

Spinach and Artichoke Wonderpot (One Pot Pasta) This delicious and simple Spinach and Artichoke Wonderpot is a One Pot Pasta that takes less than 30 minutes to make and is packed with vegetables. Go to the recipe >>>

Beef Taco Pasta This beef taco pasta is my answer to boxed hamburger helper meals. Real ingredients, real flavor, and really filling. Go to the recipe >>>

One Pot Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta This incredibly fast and easy Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta cooks in 30 minutes and uses just one pot. The perfect quick and satisfying weeknight dinner! Go to the recipe >>>

Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta is a fast and easy "from scratch" version of the classic hamburger helper boxed dinner, and everything cooks in one pot! Go to the recipe >>>

Creamy Spinach & Sausage Pasta Creamy Spinach and Sausage Pasta is an easy one pot meal for quick weeknight dinners. The pasta cooks right in the broth for more flavor! Go to the recipe >>>

20 Minute Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pasta Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pasta is an easy one-pot weeknight dinner made with pantry staples, perfect for Meatless Monday! Go to the recipe >>>

Skillet Meals

Southwest Chicken Skillet If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner, this Southwest Chicken Skillet is it! Precooked chicken makes this dinner possible in about 30 minutes. Go to the recipe >>>

Spanish Chickpeas and Rice This one pot Spanish Chickpeas and rice has big flavor thanks to liberal dose of spices, artichoke hearts, and fresh lemon. Go to the recipe >>>

One Pot Lemon Pepper Chicken with Orzo Lemon Pepper Chicken with Orzo is a zesty one pot meal featuring browned lemon pepper chicken thighs, orzo, feta, and parsley for tons of flavor and color! Go to the recipe >>>

Smoky White Bean Shakshuka Eggs poached in a rich and smoky tomato sauce speckled with white beans, this Smoky White Bean Shakshuka is a filling and inexpensive breakfast or dinner! BudgetBytes.com Go to the recipe >>>

Skillet Chicken with Orzo and Olives This Chicken with Orzo and Olives simmers together in one skillet for maximum flavor and minimum cleanup. A one-pot easy weeknight dinner! Go to the recipe >>>

Monterey Chicken Skillet Smoky BBQ sauce, salty bacon, and creamy Monterey Jack cheese come together in this quick, one-dish Monterey Chicken Skillet. Go to the recipe >>>

Yellow Rice Chicken Skillet Jasmine rice, garlic, and fragrant spices are all cooked together in this Yellow Rice Chicken Skillet. It's a complete meal in one pan! Go to the recipe >>>

Bacon and Spinach Pasta with Parmesan Bacon and Spinach Pasta with Parmesan is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner that only requires a few ingredients.

Go to the recipe >>>