10 Easy and Delicious One-Pot Meals for Busy Weeknights

Introduction

Weeknights can be hectic, with work, errands, and other responsibilities leaving little time or energy for elaborate meal preparation. That’s where one-pot meals come to the rescue! These convenient and flavourful dishes require minimal effort and cleanup, making them perfect for busy evenings when you need a satisfying meal without the hassle. In this blog post, we’ll share 10 mouthwatering one-pot meal recipes that are sure to become staples in your weeknight dinner rotation.

1. Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced
  • 2 cups mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Cooked rice, for serving

Ingredients:

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  2. Add chicken breast slices and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet and cook for another minute.
  4. Add mixed vegetables to the skillet and cook until tender-crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Pour soy sauce over the chicken and vegetables, stirring to combine.
  6. Serve the stir-fry over cooked rice and enjoy!

2. Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta(such as penne or fettuccine)
  • 1 can(14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Ingredients:

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, combine diced tomatoes (with their juices), heavy cream, minced garlic, and chopped basil.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  4. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
  5. Serve the creamy tomato basil pasta with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

3. Beef and Vegetable Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can(14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
  • Sour cream, for serving

Ingredients:

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the pot and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Stir in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, diced bell pepper, chili powder, and cumin.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and bring the chili to a simmer.
  5. Let the chili cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
  6. Serve the beef and vegetable chili hot, topped with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

4. Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Orzo

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 oz orzo pasta
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Ingredients:

  1. Cook orzo pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  3. Add shrimp to the pot and cook until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side.
  4. Stir in cooked orzo, lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped parsley.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.
  6. Serve the lemon garlic shrimp with orzo hot, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

5. Vegetarian Quinoa and Black Bean Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Ingredients:

  1. In a large skillet, sauté diced onion and bell pepper over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, and paprika to the skillet and cook for another minute.
  3. Stir in rinsed quinoa, black beans, and vegetable broth.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a simmer.
  5. Cover the skillet and let the quinoa mixture cook for 15-20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed.
  6. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Conclusion

These 10 easy and delicious one-pot meals are perfect for busy weeknights when you need a quick and satisfying dinner option. From comforting pasta dishes to flavourful skillet meals, these recipes are sure to please the whole family while minimizing cleanup time. Try them out and enjoy a stress-free weeknight dinner routine!