This holiday season, we’re teaming up with our friends at Finish, the #1 recommended dishwashing brand in America*, to share some of our favorite one-pot dinners that make cooking—and cleaning up—easy as can be.
There’s a reason one-pot (and pan!) meals have skyrocketed in popularity in the last few years. The tenets of these dishes are simple. They must come together in one cooking vessel, whether it be a Dutch oven, cast-iron skillet, or baking sheet. They must not have long ingredient lists—that would defeat the point—and, of course, they must be delicious.
One-pot meals are the perfect solution for busy days when you can’t imagine spending too much time in the kitchen, but want a home cooked meal. Whether you’re cooking for your family, or hosting friends, we’ve rounded up our favorite one-pot options for all occasions. The best part? You’ll only have a few dishes to deal with—and for those, Finish Ultimate Dishwashing Detergent has you covered. Thanks to their new Ultimate detergent, you don’t have to worry about those burnt-on stains—you can skip the rinse and load right into the dishwasher after your meal. Now, that’s what I call working smarter, not harder.
1. One-Pot Roasted Chicken a la Julia Child
Roasted chicken is one of those dishes that does double duty by being comforting enough for a cozy night in, or festive enough for a dinner party. I love making this recipe when I’m hosting since it’s a true set-it-and-forget-it meal, allowing me to hang with my guests without stressing in the kitchen. A whole chicken gets browned on all sides in a Dutch oven before an assortment of mixed vegetables gets stirred in, rendering golden skin with perfectly cooked vegetables. It’s a crowd-pleaser that the whole family can get on board with.
2. One-Pot Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
The only thing better than mac and cheese is mac and cheese with added veg. This autumnal version starts off with sage-spiked butternut squash which offers a subtle sweetness and that classic orange color. Cheddar and Parmesan add the right amount of cheesiness, making it one of those dishes that both kids and adults can enjoy. Not only do I love this dish as a meal all on its own, it’s also the perfect side dish to holiday spreads.
3. Sheet-Pan Crispy Rice with Bacon & Broccoli
There’s nothing I love more than crispy rice, and the fact that this version is made on a sheet pan is a revelation, saving you time and dishes so you can focus on planning for the party. The rice crisps in the oven while vegetables cook alongside it, before getting topped with bacon and peas. If you’re looking to make it vegan, just leave out the bacon. Top it with fried eggs and you’ve got dinner for a crowd in no time, making hosting a breeze.
4. One-Pan Gnocchi with Chorizo & Artichokes
One of my favorite one-pan meals happens to be one of my own. Cooking pre-packaged gnocchi in oil until golden brown on all sides creates one of the most satisfying textures I can think of. In order to cut down on time, I used spicy, seasoned chorizo to do the heavy lifting in terms of flavor. But, if you’re not a chorizo fan, other types of sausage—hot Italian, bratwurst, or even kielbasa—will work in its place. While I love the crispy sausage bits left in the pan, sometimes cleaning up that cooking residue can be a struggle. By using Finish Ultimate detergent, this dish becomes truly weeknight friendly in every sense of the word, making clean-up as easy as preparing the dish itself.
5. Sheet-Pan Chicken with Broccoli, Chickpeas & Parmesan
This recipe promises perfectly crispy chicken thighs thanks to a few simple tricks, and I’m here to tell you it delivers. While I love a sheet-pan meal, it can be hard to ensure everything is done cooking at the same time. Here, the chicken thighs get rubbed in baking powder to encourage better browning and baked in a high-heat oven. Once the chicken is well on its way to perfection, all the other ingredients get added, making this a well-rounded—and easy—recipe for weeknight dinners and meal prepping alike.
6. Sheet-Pan American Breakfast with Bacon & Eggs
Breakfast for dinner lovers, this one’s for you. Ali Slagle’s genius hack for making a full American breakfast on a sheet pan is the perfect solution for those nights when you just can’t get eggs off the mind. While you’ll still need to be in the kitchen, this recipe is a much lower lift than balancing multiple hot pans at once. Better yet, this recipe can be easily doubled, or even tripled, depending on how many mouths you need to feed.
7. One-Pot Millet Pilaf with Vegetables and Turmeric
If you’re unfamiliar with millet, it’s time to change that. Millet is an ancient grain with a sweet, slightly nutty flavor that can act as a blank slate to absorb all sorts of aromatics and spices. This vegan-friendly dish combines millet with hardy vegetables and gets topped with scallions and seeds for some texture, resulting in a meal that’s simple and satisfying all in one. Pro tip: Cut down on cook time by soaking the millet in water overnight.
More of our Favorite Weeknight Meals
- 5 Weeknight Dinners I’m Making Instead of Ordering Takeout (Again)
- 5 Weeknight Dinners to Make This Week, Family Edition
- 5 Weeknight Dinners for When You Want Leftovers
- How Private Chefs Meal Prep
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