8 One-Pot Dinners for Fewer Dishes
Cheeseburger pasta, chicken and rice, chili, tortellini soup and more: everything cooks in one pot.
When the sink is already full, a one-pot dinner is a kindness to whoever does the dishes. The starch from pasta or rice cooking in the pot also thickens the sauce, so these dinners are often creamier than the two-pot versions.
Cooking pasta in the sauce
Use about 4 cups of liquid per pound of short pasta, keep it at a lively simmer and stir every couple of minutes so nothing sticks. Our one-pot pasta formula walks through it.
One-pot cheeseburger pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 ounces elbow pasta
- 3 1/2 cups broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
Brown the beef, add the pasta, broth and sauce, simmer until tender and stir in the cheese.
Chicken and rice
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, cubed
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 onion
- 1 cup frozen peas
Brown the chicken, add the onion and rice, pour in the broth, cover and simmer 18 minutes. Stir in the peas and rest 5 minutes.
Weeknight chili
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 2 (15-ounce) cans beans
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
Brown the meat with the onion, add the rest and simmer 25 minutes.
Creamy tortellini soup
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 4 cups broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 20 ounces cheese tortellini
- 1/2 cup cream
- 3 cups spinach
Brown the sausage, add broth and tomatoes, simmer, add the tortellini for the package time, then the cream and spinach.
Creamy broccoli cheddar pasta
- 12 ounces short pasta
- 3 cups broccoli
- 3 cups milk or broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
Simmer the pasta in the liquid, adding the broccoli for the last 4 minutes, then stir in the cheese.
Red lentil coconut curry
- 1 1/2 cups red lentils
- 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
- 3 cups broth
- 2 tablespoons curry powder
- 1 onion
Soften the onion with the curry powder, add the rest and simmer 20 minutes until the lentils break down.
Spanish-style chicken and chorizo rice
- 1 pound chicken thighs
- 4 ounces chorizo
- 1 1/2 cups rice
- 3 cups broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup frozen peas
Brown the chicken and chorizo, stir in the rice and paprika, add broth, cover and cook 18 to 20 minutes.
Minestrone
- 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks
- 1 (15-ounce) can beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 6 cups broth
- 1 cup small pasta
Soften the vegetables, add the broth and tomatoes, simmer 10 minutes, then add the pasta and beans until tender.
Questions, answered
Can you cook pasta directly in sauce?
Yes, as long as there is enough liquid: about 4 cups per pound of short pasta. Simmer and stir often so it does not stick.
What pot is best for one-pot dinners?
A heavy 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or deep sauté pan with a lid. It holds heat evenly and is big enough to stir.
