7 One-Pot Meals to Simplify Your Life

Some of you are frantically mapping out your holiday schedule, and some of you are just trying not to make eye contact with Chick-fil-A on your drive home. Either way, chances are you don’t have a ton of gusto left when you get to the kitchen each night. One too many steps, one too many dishes to clean and you’ll wind up in the drive-thru line once again.

Ditch the kitchen drama and instead try one of these easy one-pot meals to help you get in, get out, get fed and get on your way. 

 

Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata

via The Recipe Critic

Ingredients:

  • 4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 whole lemons
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup capers
  • 1 pound angel hair pasta
  • chopped parsley for garnish

Total time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Click here for the full recipe.

 

Pizza Pasta Bake

via Damn Delicious

Ingredients: 

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 8 oz. spicy Italian sausage, casing removed
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni, divided
  • 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 8 oz. rotini pasta
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley leaves

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Click here for the full recipe.

 

Potato, Kale and White Bean Hash (vegan and gluten-free)

via This Mess is Ours

Ingredients:

  • 1 large russet potato, scrubbed and cut into a very small dice
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil, ghee or Earth Balance spread
  • 1/4 cup white onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 can white beans, drained and rinsed 
  • 2 1/2 – 3 cups of lacinato kale (aka dinosaur kale) sliced into thin ribbons
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded (omit if vegan)
  • kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • crushed red pepper flakes to taste

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Click here for the full recipe.

 

Cabbage and Sausage Skillet 

via Well Plated

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 14-oz. smoked, fully-cooked turkey sausage (or chicken sausage), sliced into rounds
  • 1/2 head of cabbage, cut into thin slices
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1 (15-oz.) can fire-roasted tomatoes in their juices
  • 1 cup instant brown rice

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 4-6

Click here for the full recipe.

 

Spinach and Feta Macaroni and Cheese

via Diethood

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 fresh tomatoes, diced
  • 1 bag (8-10 oz.) fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/2 cup white cheddar cheese, cubed
  • 1/4 cup part skim shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni 
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • parsley for garnish

Total time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Click here for the full recipe.

 

Creamy Salmon, Broccoli and Potato Bake

via Bev Cooks

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound small fingerling potatoes, cut into a small dice
  • 1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 head broccoli, rinsed and broken into small florets
  • 3 tbsp. butter, cut into quarters
  • 2 salmon fillets
  • 4 tbsp. creme fraiche
  • 1 cup loose parsley leaves
  • juice from half a lime
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmesan cheese for garnish

Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Servings: 2-3

Click here for the full recipe.

 

Turkey and Vegetable Skillet

via Recipe Runner

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced or grated
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cup zucchini or summer squash, diced
  • 1 cup fresh green beans, ends trimmed
  • 1 (14.5-oz.) can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup smoked mozzarella cheese, shredded (or regular mozzarella)

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Click here for the full recipe.

 

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