No one wants to spend hours in the kitchen, especially after a long hectic day at uni. But let’s be honest, getting yourself a delicious meal can make your day a little better. Though the option for takeaways is always there, it’s expensive, and one can occasionally crave some decent home-cooked meals. So what’s the optimal solution to all your cravings? It’s simply a one-pot meal! One-pot meals are quick, don’t take much time or energy, and the best part is that you don’t have to do the dishes since it’s a single pot. But what should one cook for one-pot meals?
You will find hundreds of dishes on the internet, but why would you waste your time going through every one of them when we did the tedious work for you? In this article, we will discuss five easy one-pot meals ideal for busy weeknights. So without further ado, let’s get started!
Ground Beef Chilli
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cooking Time: 1hr 30 mins
- Ingredients To Use: Ground beef, beans, garlic, harina masa, onion & poblano pepper, beef bouillon, tomato and seasoning
If you are looking for a one-pot meal which is filling, hearty and perfect for the cold weather, then ground beef chilli is the king of all dishes. The dish is seasoned with some of the best spices like chipotle chilli powder, cumin, ancho chilli powder, oregano, coriander, garlic and a touch of cinnamon.
These spices can be changed. It all comes down to one’s preferences and liking. Ground beef chilli is a thick, rich and flavourful chilli. You can even add kidney beans if you want, but it all comes to your liking. The dish is slightly spicy, and if you can’t handle spice, feel free to leave out the chilli pepper to have a lower level of spiciness.
How To Serve Ground Beef Chilli?
One of the best ways to enjoy ground beef chilli is with cornbread. Cornbread is perfect as it doesn’t soak up all the sauce but gives you a slight taste of sweetness along with spiciness. If you are not a fan of cornbread, you can always use tortilla chips as an alternative.
Skillet Lasagna
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cooking Time: 50 mins
- Ingredients To Use: Canned crushed tomatoes, onions, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes, red bell pepper, lasagna noodles, cheese, Italian sausage, fresh basil and red wine
If pasta is your comfort food, the skillet lasagna is your one-pot meal. The healthy dish is one of the easiest one-pot meals you can cook for yourself and your loved ones. The dish is perfect for those days of the week when you are craving something warm and filling but don’t want to spend too much of your time in the kitchen.
The dish itself is flavourful and rich in ingredients. You will have the exquisite flavours of Italian sausage, garlic and onions, along with various spices. And how can we forget the cheese? Without the cheese, the whole dish is incomplete.
How To Serve Skillet Lasagna?
The lasagna isn’t served with add-ons, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative. You can make your variations with the skillet lasagna. Try adding white sauce or seafood. You can also replace the Italian sausage with lamb and add feta cheese. It all comes down to your creativity and the ingredients available to you.
Southwestern Corn Chowder
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cooking Time: 30 mins
- Ingredients To Use: Corn, spices, milk and sour, potatoes, bacon, and chicken bouillon
Are you hunting for a tasty yet nutritious meal that requires minimal effort from your end? If so, Southwestern corn chowder is the perfect appetite for a busy weeknight. The dish bursts with flavours, all thanks to the classical Mexican ingredients such as poblano peppers, cilantro and corn.
The Southwestern corn chowder is super easy to cook as all you need to do is cook all the ingredients in a pot and enjoy! It’s that simple, and the best part about this dish is that it’s perfect for cold nights.
Ensure the corn you use is fresh and the soup you get as the final output is rich and velvety. You can try different variations with different types of vegetables and cheese.
How To Serve The Southwestern Corn Chowder?
The southwestern corn chowder is a rich soup filling on its own. However, if you still want to serve it with something, it’s best to do it with shredded chicken, crispy bacon, grilled shrimp or crab meat, whichever is readily available.
Chicken Noodle Soup
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cooking Time: 45 mins
- Ingredients To Use: Chicken broth, noodles, and chicken
If you want a one-pot meal and are running low on ingredients, then chicken noodle soup is one dish you can make on any day of the week. The best part about this dish is that it only requires the ingredients that you can easily find.
The chicken noodle soup is a classic dish perfect for the winter. However, you can also enjoy it in the summer. The soup is super easy to make, and if you want to save time while cooking, then it’s best to use the leftover roasted chicken or the rotisserie chicken.
How To Serve The Chicken Noodle Soup
Since it’s a noodle soup, it would go well with a loaf of crusty bread, biscuits, bolillos, coquito or your favourite crackers. You can even serve the soup along with some salad to make your meal even more wholesome.
Turkey Chilli
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cooking Time: 50 mins
- Ingredients To Use: Ground turkey, garlic, onion and poblano pepper, tomatoes, beans, chicken bouillon and seasoning
If you are not a fan of traditional chilli, then you would love this alternative version of the dish. Then turkey chilli is a healthy and delicious meal that can be easily prepared within an hour. The recipe includes ground turkey instead of beef, which lowers the dish’s fat and calories.
Add beans along with some of the essential vegetables, and you will have a dish full of fibre and nutrition. The spice level of this dish can be adjusted according to your liking, and the meal can be a finger-licking for you and your family if prepared correctly.
How To Serve Turkey Chilli?
One of the best ways to have turkey chilli is with shredded cheese, sliced green onions and sour cream. You can also have it with cornbread or tortilla chips if you like. Furthermore, you can also make chilli fries and baked potatoes with the leftover chilli to enjoy with the main course.
Conclusion
One-pot meals are one of the best ways to treat yourself. They are perfect for a tiring day and can be filling. However, it all comes down to the ingredients available for cooking and how you use them. So whatever you do, stay creative with your dish and avoid overflowing the meal with ingredients that won’t go well.
