Too tired to whip up a meal after working and homeschooling all day? Make these delicious and easy one-pot recipes for the family instead!
Here at HoneyKids, it’s no secret that we love food. We’ve already perfected our bread recipe and have worked our way to sweet treats, but there’s one elusive category of recipes that we’ve yet to touch on: one-pot recipes. It’s especially handy when we’ve had a long day of juggling work at home and homeschooling the kids… The last thing we want to do is figure out what to eat and how long it’ll take to prep and make dinner – just give us a simple, delicious quick-fix instead. Well, try out one of these one-pot recipes to make dinner a breeze this week!
One-pot recipes for an easy family meal
1. Casseroles: an American staple
Casseroles are popular mainstays in American Thanksgivings and big family gatherings not only because it’s simple to make, but it can feed several people at once. One of our favourites? The cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole (above) has carbs, veggies, protein and most importantly, tons and tons of cheese. And, this recipe by Jo Cooks doesn’t even require you to pre-heat the oven, because you can cook it right on your stovetop with a skillet! Super easy to make, and incredibly delicious – you’ll definitely want a second helping.
2. Chilli: the most popular one-pot recipe
Google “one-pot recipes” and you’re most likely to find recipes for chilli. But instead of your go-to typical Tex-Mex chilli recipe, spruce up chilli nights with BBC Good Food‘s meatball black bean chilli that pairs perfectly with rice, tortillas or even tacos, if you fancy. We love this variation because you can easily pair it with spaghetti for the kids – it’s like a loaded version of your usual spaghetti and meatballs. Filling and scrumptious, and so easy to make.
3. Cacciatore: an Italian favourite
We’re a sucker for Chrissy Teigen recipes because she’s a legendary (pun intended) and totally relatable mum who loves food as much as we do… Which is why we’re definitely going to try her chicken thigh cacciatore one-pot recipe for dinner this week. The best part about this recipe is being able to choose of any kind of pasta you’d like to have with it – yum.
4. Claypot chicken rice: a twist on a local favourite
Though it may be tricky to master, claypot chicken rice is a popular one-pot meal packed with a ton of flavour. You’ve got your vegetables, mushrooms, chicken and rice mixed together with oyster sauce – add a dab of chilli and it hits the right spot. Well, try your hand at making your own claypot chicken rice with this recipe from Omnivores Cookbook. It’s simple to follow, and you can even watch a five-minute video to get a gist of the steps before proceeding.
5. Jambalaya: a Cajun/Creole classic
Besides the hit song by Hank Williams (and later, the Carpenters), jambalaya is quintessential of Cajun cuisine in Louisiana. But you don’t have to travel there just to get a plate of good jambalaya when you can just make your own at home! Try out Tastes Better From Scratch’s one-pot recipe of this classic dish that is bound to be your new favourite comfort food on weeknights.
6. Pad Thai: a Thai favourite
While we can certainly order our favourite Thai dishes from restaurants, sometimes it’s fun to experiment in the kitchen instead. Try this one-pot Pad Thai from RecipeTin this week! You can add as much or little spice as you can handle, and it tastes amazing. Plus, once you’ve got this recipe down, you can start making pad thai at home instead of ordering in – a win-win for you and your wallet.
7. Mac and Cheese: a wonderful variation of the classic
Mac and cheese is comfort food to many, and it’s incredibly easy to make. If you haven’t already added this one-pot recipe to your cookbook, check out the Food Network‘s mac and cheese with bacon for some variation! Bacon is a great addition to your usual dish as it adds a little more flavour and provides texture in an otherwise cheesy dish.
Psst, not one for carbs? Switch out the pasta for some cauliflower florets instead for a slightly healthier meal. The kids won’t even know the difference… until they get hungry, of course.
8. Curry: for when that Indian craving hits
Here’s a challenge: make your own curry instead of ordering it. Sure, it sounds challenging but you may be surprised to know that you can whip up a delicious lamb and chickpea curry with this one-pot recipe from Jamie Oliver. Plus, you can even bulk it out with pulses and beans and freeze it for dinner another day – a cost-saving measure and for nights when you really don’t feel like cooking.
9. Gumbo: another Louisiana classic, veggie style
Other than jambalaya, the gumbo is another Louisiana classic that you can easily make in one pot. Except, this flavourful dinner is a vegetarian version: there’s butternut squash, tomatoes, okra and spices. Also, this one-pot recipe can easily be done within 30 minutes. Quick and easy, just how we like. Not into this version? Swap or add in your favourite proteins to add some meat to it. Follow the instructions from Eating Well to make your own gumbo.
10. Baked eggs: one-pot breakfast, anyone?
Well technically it’s one pan, but we’re letting it slide since it looks too darn tasty to not be included! Start off your day with this hearty dish that’s loaded with sausages, eggs, baked beans and more. Making this, we can’t help but be reminded of shakshuka, that beloved Middle Eastern dish. This will definitely be the highlight of everyone’s day when you serve this out! Taste has the detailed steps if you’re interested in making this.
11. Stew: a comforting meal
This one-pot recipe from Women’s Weekly is sure to bring warmth and comfort to the fam during those cold, wet, rainy days. The savoury broth warms you up with flavour as you slurp on it, while the salmon and veggies provide great nutrients and yumminess. Stews are generally fuss-free and time savers, so we definitely approve of this recipe.
Top image: Jo Cooks
Ready, set, go and cook these easy one-pot recipes!
