17 Easy One Pot Meals for Unfussy Family Dinners

Kelly R said:  This beans and rice skillet has quickly become one of my favorite easy one pot meals for fall and winter, and it turned my kids into kielbasa lovers! The rice tastes magical after simmering with the smoked sausage, and it's great as leftovers for lunch the next day.

Kelly R said:  This is one of the easy one pot meals that shows up on our family dinner rotation frequently! It's so delicious, and much easier than most other homemade mac and cheese recipes because everything cooks together in one pan - including the pasta! I like to add chopped broccoli during the last couple minutes of simmering for a truly one-pot dinner. You can also let each person customize their bowl with toppings of their choice...green onions, bacon, etc!

You only have to dirty one skillet to make this all-in-one chicken and veggie meal, with a delicious pan sauce that tastes decadent but is light and fresh. It's a great option if you want easy one pot meals that don't use pasta or rice as a base. The ingredients include a bit of white wine, but you can easily substitute chicken broth if you prefer - or if you want to make it a Whole 30 friendly recipe.

Quick and easy weeknight meal that combines chicken, vegetables and noodles all cooked together in one pot with a savory sauce.

Sarah C. said:  My whole family loves this dish! We serve with wontons on the side.

Shila said:  Some of the best easy one pot meals are recipes that include simple pantry ingredients. In just one pot, combine dry fettuccine with milk, butter, and chicken stock, along with Parmesan cheese to make an easy and creamy pasta Alfredo.

Alexandra F. said:  I'd never heard of goulash before my dad requested it for a birthday dinner, and now this tasty and ridiculously easy one pot meal is in our regular rotation. Ground beef, tomato sauce, macaroni noodles and just a few more ingredients combine in a single pot on the stove to make a yummy, comforting meal our whole family loves. It's super easy to customize, too, if you have allergies to account for or want to sneak in some extra veggies.

Fast and flavorful one-pan family meal featuring ground beef stir-fried with broccoli and noodles in a savory sauce.

This quick and easy one-pot beef stroganoff includes tender ground beef, creamy sauce, and egg noodles all cooked in a single pot for a hassle-free meal.

Kelly R said:  This delicious and comforting chicken and dumplings is a well-rounded one pot dinner for families. I love making it in the fall and winter! Because it calls for cooked chicken, it's a great way to use up rotisserie chicken.

This tasty chicken and rice dish hits all of the major food groups for a one pot family meal.

A flavorful one-pot pasta gets a nice texture from a trip under the broiler and a toasty breadcrumb topping.

Sarah C. said:  My kids love any pasta dishes! This is healthy, easy to make and delish. We serve with garlic bread and caesar salad.

Rice-shaped orzo pasta cooks up tender in a bath of chicken broth, buttery Portobello mushrooms and fresh garlic. Top it off with grated Parmesan cheese for a delicious, one pot vegetarian meal for the family.

Shila said:  Italian Bolognese traditionally uses a combination of pork, veal, and/or beef, but you are free to use whatever protein you desire while making meat sauce. Saute your choice of meat in one pot, along with an aromatic mix of fresh vegetables, spices, and tomato paste. After these flavors marry, dry pasta is added to cook "al dente" within the sauce itself.

Shila said:  Kids love Swedish meatballs with egg noodles; it's buttery yet light, creamy, and has an all-around familiar taste for them. Learn to make this easy one pot meal, fresh from scratch, with no seasoning packets required! These delicious meatballs start with a little counter prep by hand-rolling beef with spices and breadcrumbs. After browning the meat, egg noodles cook quickly in a simmer of broth and heavy cream.

Shila said:  Combine the bold flavors of red tomato sauce with velvety cream cheese to create kid-pleasing "creamy tomato" or "pink pasta" that cooks up all in one pot!