You are currently viewing 5 Easy and Healthy One-Pot Meals Recipes
  • Post category:Recipes
  • Reading time:15 mins read

Cooking can be fun, but it can also be a lot of work. Washing dishes, chopping vegetables, and keeping track of multiple pots and pans can make cooking feel like a chore. But what if there was an easier way? One-pot meals are the answer! These meals are simple, healthy, and require minimal cleanup. In this article, we’ll explore some easy and healthy one-pot meal recipes that you can try at home. Each recipe includes a list of ingredients, step-by-step instructions, preparation and cooking time, number of servings, and serving size.

Vegetable Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup lentils (any type)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

How to Make It:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
  3. Add the minced garlic, cumin, and paprika. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and lentils. Stir well.
  5. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 25-30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Preparation and Cooking Time:

  • Preparation: 10 minutes
  • Cooking: 30 minutes
  • Total: 40 minutes

Number of Servings:

  • 4 servings

Serving Size:

  • 1 ½ cups per serving

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb chicken breast, cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup white rice
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

How to Make It:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften.
  4. Stir in the rice, garlic powder, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and stir everything together.
  6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes until the rice is cooked and the chicken is tender.
  7. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.

Preparation and Cooking Time:

  • Preparation: 10 minutes
  • Cooking: 30 minutes
  • Total: 40 minutes

Number of Servings:

  • 4 servings

Serving Size:

  • 1 ½ cups per serving

Vegetable Pasta Primavera

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta (any type)
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make It:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add the broccoli, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
  4. Pour in the vegetable broth and add the pasta and Italian seasoning. Stir well.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 10-12 minutes until the pasta is cooked and the vegetables are tender.
  6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Serve hot.

Preparation and Cooking Time:

  • Preparation: 10 minutes
  • Cooking: 15 minutes
  • Total: 25 minutes

Number of Servings:

  • 4 servings

Serving Size:

  • 1 ½ cups per serving

Beef and Vegetable Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb beef stew meat, cut into small pieces
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make It:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the beef pieces and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and potatoes. Cook for another 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
  5. Pour in the beef broth and stir everything together.
  6. Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
  7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve hot.

Preparation and Cooking Time:

  • Preparation: 15 minutes
  • Cooking: 45 minutes
  • Total: 1 hour

Number of Servings:

  • 4 servings

Serving Size:

  • 1 ½ cups per serving

Quinoa and Black Bean Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 can black beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

How to Make It:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
  3. Stir in the quinoa, black beans, corn, chili powder, and cumin.
  4. Pour in the vegetable broth and stir everything together.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes until the quinoa is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro if desired.

Preparation and Cooking Time:

  • Preparation: 10 minutes
  • Cooking: 20 minutes
  • Total: 30 minutes

Number of Servings:

  • 4 servings

Serving Size:

  • 1 ½ cups per serving

Why One-Pot Meals Are Great

One-pot meals are perfect for busy days when you don’t have a lot of time to cook or clean up. They are also a great way to pack in lots of nutrients from vegetables, proteins, and grains. Plus, they are easy to customize based on what you have in your fridge or pantry. You can swap out ingredients, add your favorite spices, or make them vegetarian or vegan.

So, the next time you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and delicious meal, try one of these one-pot recipes. They’re simple, satisfying, and sure to become a favorite in your home.