Skip to content

Top Navigation

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Food
  • Home
  • Life
  • Health
  • Money
  • Style and Beauty
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Real Simple

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 12 Good Books to Read in Winter

      As the days get chillier and snow starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter. Read More Next
    • 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together

      Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. Read More Next
    • A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      There are three common ways you can measure your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See all Food

    13 Air Fryer Recipes That Are *Almost* Too Good to Be True

    • Recipes
    • Real Simple Cooking School
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping and Storing
    • Kitchen Tools and Products
  • Home

    Home

    See all Home

    Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain

    Made with products you probably have on hand
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Gardening
    • Home Improvement
    • Quick Fix
    • Real Simple Home
  • Life

    Life

    See all Life

    10 Creative Ways to Have Fun in the Snow

    Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas.
    • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Wedding Planning
    • Travel Ideas
    • Adulting
    • Get It Done
    • Waste Less, Live Better
  • Health

    Health

    See all Health

    30 Healthiest Foods to Eat Every Day

    • Preventive Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health Coach
    • Crisis Coping
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Healthy Eating
  • Money

    Money

    See all Money

    The Ultimate Guide to Tipping Etiquette in Every Situation, From Restaurants to Hair Salons

    How much should you tip your hairdresser? What about your food-delivery person? Here's when to tip, when to skip, and how much to tip in any situation (even the confusing ones).
    • Saving Money
    • Money Made Simple
    • Spending
    • Money Etiquette
  • Style and Beauty

    Style and Beauty

    See all Style and Beauty

    9 Hair Color Trends Experts Predict for 2021

    • Clothing
    • Skincare
    • Shoes
    • Hair
    • Clothing Care
    • Makeup
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See all Holidays & Entertaining

    PowerPoint Parties Are the Socially Distant Party Trend You Have to Try: Here’s How to Host One

    Presenting a new way to party together—virtually.
    • All Holidays
    • Entertaining
    • Christmas
    • Home for the Holidays
    • Gifts
    • Hanukkah
    • Come Together
    • Thanksgiving
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Halloween
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Real Simple
  2. Food
  3. Recipe Collections & Favorites
  4. Quick & Easy Meals
  5. 21 Delicious One-Pot Dinners for Easy Entertaining

21 Delicious One-Pot Dinners for Easy Entertaining

By Betty Gold
Updated October 07, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: William Meppem
A sensational dinner doesn't require a sinkful of dirty dishes. Each of these 21 comforting recipes can be made in a single dish, which means they're low on maintenance and big on flavor. Many of the meals here are also freezer-friendly, so we recommend doubling up on ingredients and freezing half for (even busier) weeknights: all you'll have to do is defrost. 

We've included the classics like chicken soup, beef stew, and mashed potatoes, plus plenty of fresh takes on one-pot meals like chicken taco soup you'll make in a slow cooker, curried chicken with ginger and yogurt, and pork chops with chard and white beans. As delicious as each of these easy dinners are, the true gift comes at the end of the meal when you only have one pot to clean. Suddenly, playing hostess for the whole family during the holidays doesn't seem so bad. 

RELATED: 12 Crowd-Pleasing Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Start Slideshow

1 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Spiced Lamb Meatball and Swiss Chard Stew

Credit: Roland Bello

These easy-to-make meatballs are spiced with paprika and cumin, which will add depth and richness to a simple store-bought stock. Serve with a handful of fresh greens and orzo for a no-fuss one-pot meal.

Get the recipe: Spiced Lamb Meatball and Swiss Chard Stew

1 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Chicken Taco Soup

Credit: Jennifer Causey

This slow-cooker chicken taco soup tastes delicious with toppings like fresh-cut herbs, grilled corn, shredded cheese, and tomatoes.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

2 of 20

3 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lentil and Kielbasa Stew

Credit: Roland Bello

Here, spicy kielbasa and protein-packed lentils go from bag to bowl in under an hour—no soaking required. If you have leftovers (which is unlikely), this stew will freeze very well.

Get the recipe: Lentil and Kielbasa Stew

3 of 20

Advertisement

4 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Tatiana Volgutova/Getty Images

The benefit of cooking mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot? It frees up stove space for other parts of your meal, and there's no issue of water boiling over the edges of a pot and making a complete mess. They taste rich and delicious, too.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

4 of 20

5 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Classic Chicken Soup

Credit: Anna Williams

It wouldn't be a proper one-pot recipe roundup without instructions for how to make classic chicken soup. This simple yet satisfying dish takes only 15 minutes of prep time and is the ultimate cold weather cure-all.

Get the recipe: Classic Chicken Soup.

5 of 20

6 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Mustard-Roasted Chicken With Vegetables

Credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Roast chicken is the ultimate comfort food. This aromatic rendition gets a delicious upgrade from coarse-ground mustard, fennel, carrots, onions, and fresh thyme leaves.

Get the recipe: Mustard-Roasted Chicken With Vegetables

6 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pork Chops With Chard and White Beans

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Stir a little red wine vinegar into the cooked chard before serving to add a bright tang.

Get the recipe.

7 of 20

8 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Beef and Shallot Stew

Credit: William Meppem

This hearty one-pot stew might be short on ingredients, but it’s long on deep, satisfying flavor.

Get the recipe.

8 of 20

9 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slow-Cooker Curried Chicken With Ginger and Yogurt

Credit: José Picayo

If you like your curry extra spicy, you can turn up the heat in this delicious dish by adding an extra pinch of cayenne pepper. The rice cooks in a separate pot, but everything else comes together in a single pot.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Curried Chicken With Ginger and Yogurt

9 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Credit: David Prince

Thanks to a rich sauce and plenty of spice, this classic Indian dish is perfect as a winter weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

10 of 20

11 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Baked Cod and Chorizo

Credit: William Meppem

Start the meal in an ovenproof skillet on the stovetop, then add the fish and bake in the oven until the cod is cooked through.

Get the recipe.

11 of 20

12 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Chicken Riesling

Credit: William Meppem

This take on classic coq au vin gets its flavor from aromatic, fruity Riesling wine.

Get the recipe.

12 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lamb Tagine With Couscous

Credit: William Meppem

Season the lamb with paprika, turmeric, cumin, cayenne, and cinnamon to add authentic Moroccan accents.

Get the recipe.

13 of 20

14 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Mexican Chicken Soup

Credit: William Meppem

Serve the soup with fresh avocados, cilantro, and lime juice to give it a Mexican flair.

Get the recipe.

14 of 20

15 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Halibut With Tomato, Orange, and Dill

Credit: John Kernick

Olives, oranges, and tomatoes lend a bright, sunny bite to the mild halibut.

Get the recipe.

15 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slow-Cooker Lamb, Apricot, and Olive Tagine

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

This delicious dish gets its Moroccan kick from paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and ginger.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Lamb, Apricot, and Olive Tagine

16 of 20

17 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Feta Chicken With Zucchini

Credit: John Kernick

Salty, crumbly Feta and sliced lemon wake up roasted chicken.

Get the recipe.

17 of 20

18 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Credit: Christopher Baker

Dried apricots play up the roasted fennel’s sweetness, providing a delicious contrast to the bacon-wrapped pork.

Get the recipe.

18 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Linguine With Spicy Shrimp

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Crushed red pepper, garlic, and lemon zest give this dish plenty of zing.

Get the recipe.

19 of 20

20 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Spinach and Goat Cheese Frittata

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Round out this meal—great for a light dinner, lunch, or brunch—with a simple green salad and country bread.

Get the recipe.

20 of 20

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Betty Gold

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 20 Spiced Lamb Meatball and Swiss Chard Stew
2 of 20 Chicken Taco Soup
3 of 20 Lentil and Kielbasa Stew
4 of 20 Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
5 of 20 Classic Chicken Soup
6 of 20 Mustard-Roasted Chicken With Vegetables
7 of 20 Pork Chops With Chard and White Beans
8 of 20 Beef and Shallot Stew
9 of 20 Slow-Cooker Curried Chicken With Ginger and Yogurt
10 of 20 Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
11 of 20 Baked Cod and Chorizo
12 of 20 Chicken Riesling
13 of 20 Lamb Tagine With Couscous
14 of 20 Mexican Chicken Soup
15 of 20 Halibut With Tomato, Orange, and Dill
16 of 20 Slow-Cooker Lamb, Apricot, and Olive Tagine
17 of 20 Feta Chicken With Zucchini
18 of 20 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
19 of 20 Linguine With Spicy Shrimp
20 of 20 Spinach and Goat Cheese Frittata

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Shop | Real Simple Logo

  • Toaster Ovens
  • Pressure Cookers
  • Microwaves
  • Cookbooks
  • Chef Pans
  • Toasters
  • Saute Pans
  • Food Choppers
  • Can Openers
  • Juicers
  • Shop More Next

Real Simple may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.

Real Simple Logo

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.realsimple.com

View image

21 Delicious One-Pot Dinners for Easy Entertaining
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.