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Some people (like my roommate) wake up as the day goes on. By the time they get home from work, they\u2019re ready to tackle a workout, dinner, and<\/em> a couple of episodes on Netflix.<\/p>\n I am not one of those people. By the end of the day, my energy is spent and I\u2019m easily overwhelmed. Juggling multiple steps and a mess of pots and pans can send me into a spiral. I need a no-fuss, streamlined strategy. I need a one-pot wonder.<\/p>\n My favorite one-pot (or one-pan) meals, like soups, stews, pastas, and curries, don\u2019t demand spinning plates. They usually entail a simple, soothing formula, building layers of flavor in one heavy-bottomed vessel. They leave me full and my kitchen (relatively) clean. Below, I\u2019ve gathered 21 of our best no-mess masterpieces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Bonus: Many of these are make-ahead<\/a>! So maybe I can<\/em> squeeze in after-work exercise, too\u2014or better yet, some Netflix time.<\/p>\n This comforting one-pot dish calls for cooking the pasta<\/a> directly in a mixture of milk and broth, resulting in a creamy, alfredo-esque sauce. It\u2019s one of those meals that\u2019s perfect when you need low-maintenance and quick (but cozy and satisfying, too).<\/p>\n Filled with squash, barley, and leafy greens, you\u2019d never guess this soup<\/a> comes together in just 45 minutes. The secret? Miso and tamari\u2014fermented, savory ingredients that make it taste like it\u2019s been simmering for hours.<\/p>\n Inspired by the classic combo of sausage, peppers, and onions, this skillet<\/a> meal calls for just Made with tomatoes, fish stock, and white wine, this seafood stew has a light and mild flavor. It\u2019s also wildly popular\u2014we\u2019re talking 4.7 stars and a whopping 215 reviews\u2014and is ready in minutes.<\/p>\n As former Food52 Food Editor Emma Lapperuque points out, this pasta dish captures the essence of summer cooking, but because it relies on sun-dried rather than fresh tomatoes, it\u2019s just as delicious year-round.<\/p>\n The filling for this vegetable-focused pot pie from Sohla El-Waylly comes together entirely in a cast-iron<\/a> skillet. All that\u2019s left to do is add a puff pastry lid and pop the whole thing in the oven.<\/p>\n Technically you\u2019ll need a second pot to boil the pasta, but this Bolognese is so good, we\u2019ll let it slide. (Or, if you\u2019re super committed to the one-pot thing, you could just eat the sauce on its own, we won\u2019t tell.)<\/p>\n \u201cIf you’re sick, sad, or have a case of the Mondays, this is possibly the world’s most perfect comfort food,\u201d writes recipe developer Niknud of this easy and adaptable biscuit-topped chicken<\/a> dish. \u201cIt’s warm, soothing, and carb-y and made all in one pot so there’s no trashing your kitchen. ‘Cause if you are sad or sick or grumpy, lots of dirty dishes can make you sadder or sicker or grumpier (that’s a well-known scientific fact).\u201d<\/p>\n Deeply flavorful and aromatic thanks to mustard seeds, cumin, coriander, and garam masala, this is one of those dishes that no one\u2014not even you\u2014will believe only took 30 minutes to make.<\/p>\n Mac and cheese is one of the most comforting dishes on the planet. The one thing to make it even cozier? Adding fall-friendly butternut squash, which gives the pasta a vibrant orange hue and extra-creamy texture.<\/p>\n Pasta con ceci, or pasta with chickpeas, is one of those dishes that\u2019s always reliable, affordable, and satisfying. This version only calls for five ingredients, meaning it\u2019s also a breeze to make.<\/p>\n Here, eggs are cooked directly in the four-ingredient hash for a streamlined cooking process. Just serve it with toast to complete the breakfast-for-dinner theme.<\/p>\n This dish was actually a finalist in our recipe contest \u201cYour Best One-Pot Meal,\u201d so it\u2019s guaranteed to deliver. It\u2019s not the fastest recipe on this list\u2014you do have to start marinating the meat a day in advance, and it takes a while to braise\u2014but all of the cooking is hands-off and super low-maintenance.<\/p>\n Filled with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a whole head of garlic, this chicken dish is one to make before summer\u2019s end.<\/p>\n With its protein-rich quinoa base and additions like goat cheese and pine nuts, this pilaf is substantial enough to serve as a main.<\/p>\n Cooking the pasta directly in a combination of chicken stock and reduced white wine ensures that it\u2019s flavorful from the inside out. Pumpkin pur\u00e9e, meanwhile, acts as a clever shortcut to a rich texture and cozy fall flavor.<\/p>\n Martha Stewart\u2019s one-pan pasta is a longtime community favorite. With its short, unfussy ingredient list and quick cooking time, we understand why.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, in order for a dish to act as a weeknight dinner<\/a> it must meet a few requirements: ingredients that are easily acquired or already exist in the pantry<\/a>, minimal clean-up involved, and it must come together quickly,\u201d says recipe developer Alexis deBoschnek. \u201cChorizo does a lot of the leg work here in terms of flavor, so much so that you only need to add salt, pepper, and a pinch of oregano.\u201d<\/p>\n The secret to juicy, never-overcooked chicken breast? Wrapping it in bacon, naturally. To complete this devils on horseback-inspired dinner, pair the chicken with a simple-as-can-be date and blue cheese salad.<\/p>\n \u201cThis pilaf often becomes a one-pot meal in my house,\u201d says Amy Chaplin of this simple, adaptable pilaf. \u201cYou can also use what you have on hand: Add curry powder, chopped fresh ginger or garlic, or both. Use cabbage, turnips, sweet potato, or cauliflower in place of the carrots and squash and celery\u2014basically any vegetable that can withstand 30 minutes of simmering can be used here.\u201d<\/p>\n This is one of those recipes where the title says it all. It\u2019s spicy, intensely tomato-flavored, and relies on pantry staples, like shallots and tomato paste, that we always<\/em> keep on hand.<\/p>\n
\n1. One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta (a.k.a. the Lazy Cook’s Fettuccine Alfredo)<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n2. One-Pot Squash & Barley Bowl With Miso<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n3. One-Skillet Sausage, Peppers, Potatoes, and Onions<\/a>
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\nfour ingredients (plus salt and olive oil), one pan, and under an hour of your time. It\u2019s the very definition of weeknight cooking.<\/p>\n4. Dad\u2019s Favorite Seafood Stew<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n5. Cavatappi with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Brie & Arugula<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n6. One-Skillet Succotash Pot Pie<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n7. Nigel Slater’s Really Good Spaghetti Bolognese<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n8. Poor Me Chicken & Biscuits<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n9. Purnima Garg’s Eggplant & Tomato Curry<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n10. One-Pot Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n11. Victoria Granof\u2019s Pasta con Ceci<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n12. Brussels Sprouts Hash & Eggs<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n13. Jerk Pork Stew<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n14. Jamie Oliver\u2019s Crispy Chicken Legs With Sweet Tomatoes & Basil<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n15. One-Pot Kale & Quinoa Pilaf<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n16. One-Pot Penne With Sausage, Pumpkin & Fennel<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n17. Martha Stewart\u2019s One-Pan Pasta<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n18. One-Pan Gnocchi With Chorizo & Artichokes<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n19. One-Skillet Bacon-Wrapped Chicken With Dates, Arugula & Blue Cheese<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n20. One-Pot Millet Pilaf With Vegetables & Turmeric<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n21. One-Pot Tomatoey, Cheesy Pasta With Shallots<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nMore from Food52<\/h4>\n
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\nWhat’s your favorite one-pot (or pan!) dinner? Share in the comments below!<\/em>
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