21 Delicious One-Pot Dinners for Easy Entertaining

By Betty Gold
Updated October 07, 2019
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
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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Chicken Riesling

Credit: William Meppem

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

Get the recipe.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Feta Chicken With Zucchini

Credit: John Kernick

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

Get the recipe.

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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.

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Linguine With Spicy Shrimp

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

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

Get the recipe.

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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.

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By Betty Gold