15 Hearty One Pot Recipes That Require Minimal Clean-Up

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If you’re after easy yet delicious dinners, this list of one pot recipes are perfect. From creamy One Pot Beef Stroganoff and hearty Dutch Oven Chili with Beef to cozy One Pot Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup, each recipe here simplifies cooking and cleanup. Whether you’re in the mood for comfort food like Sausage Casserole or Coq au Vin, these dishes bring big flavors without the hassle OR the cleanup!

Coq au Vin

Coq au Vin at its finest
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This Coq au Vin recipe is an easy one-pot meal. It’s a time-saving way to make a delicious dish that can be easily served on any occasion!
Get the Recipe: Coq au Vin

Dutch Oven Chili with Beef

A bowl of chili topped with sliced jalapeños, grated cheese, and fresh parsley. A spoon is inserted into the chili, with a wooden table in the background.
Image Credit: Simple & Fraiche

Dutch Oven Chili with Beef is packed with tender beef and beans simmered in a savory spice blend. This is a one-pot solution for hearty meals, especially when feeding a hungry group or prepping for easy weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Chili with Beef

One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

A bowl of beef stroganoff with noodles, topped with fresh parsley. The dish features a creamy sauce mixed with pieces of beef and wide, curly noodles, set on a red cloth background.
Image Credit: Jennifer Cooks

One-Pot Beef Stroganoff combines tender beef, mushrooms, and a rich creamy sauce in just one pan. Perfect for quick, fuss-free dinners, it’s a comforting meal with little mess left behind.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

Cast Iron Pork Chops with Apples and Squash

A skillet filled with pork chops cooked in a savory sauce, topped with diced apples and herbs. There's a wooden spoon resting in the skillet, and part of a white plate is visible on the side.
Image Credit: My Chef’s Apron

Cast Iron Pork Chops with Apples and Squash brings together juicy pork, sweet apples, and savory squash in a single skillet. This easy one-dish dinner meal delivers flavor and warmth with very little prep or cleanup required.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Pork Chops with Apples and Squash

One Pot Lasagna Soup with Cottage Cheese

A bowl of lasagna soup garnished with a dollop of ricotta cheese and black pepper. The soup contains pasta, ground meat, and herbs, all in a rich tomato sauce. Fresh herbs are sprinkled on top and a plant is visible on the side.
Image Credit: Simple & Fraiche

Lasagna Soup with Cottage Cheese brings the beloved flavors of lasagna into one pot for a quick, no-fuss dinner. With its creamy, cheesy finish, this soup makes weeknight dinners easier and more enjoyable.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Lasagna Soup with Cottage Cheese

One Pot Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes

A red pot filled with cooked ground meat in tomato sauce, with visible chopped vegetables. A wooden spoon rests in the pot, and a small bowl of seasoning is nearby on a wooden surface.
Image Credit: Sugar & Snap Peas

Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes cook up in a single pan, combining tender chicken and rich sauce in no time. This one-dish wonder keeps things tasty and efficient for those busy dinner moments.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes

One Pan Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

A skillet filled with two grilled chicken breasts atop creamy gnocchi, garnished with fresh basil leaves and lemon slices.
Image Credit: Less with Laur

One Pan Lemon Chicken Gnocchi offers a fresh lemony sauce over tender chicken and soft gnocchi—all in a single pan. This simple, all-in-one dish makes any dinner meal feel special with no extra dishes.
Get the Recipe: One Pan Lemon Chicken Gnocchi

Chicken Manchow Soup

A bowl of vegetable soup topped with crispy noodles sits on a table surrounded by small bowls of sliced green onions and red pepper flakes. A wooden spoon and fork are placed nearby on a white surface.
Image Credit: Heavenly Spiced

Chicken Manchow Soup blends fresh vegetables, chicken, and flavorful broth, topped with crispy noodles. It’s a delicious one-pot dinner solution for busy nights when you want something both satisfying and easy to clean up.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Manchow Soup

Swiss Chicken Bake (5 Ingredients!)

Swiss Chicken Bake (5 Ingredients!) in all its glory
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This Creamy Swiss Chicken Bake only has 5 Ingredients and virtually zero cleanup! Such an easy dinner recipe for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Swiss Chicken Bake (5 Ingredients!)

Creamy Garlic Chicken with Bacon

Tasty Creamy Garlic Chicken with Bacon on display
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Creamy Garlic Chicken with Bacon is the perfect one pan recipe. Chicken breast is cooked in a skillet with a garlic sauce and crispy bacon!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken with Bacon

One Pot Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup

A bowl of creamy pumpkin soup with a swirl of cream on top, garnished with herbs. A spoon rests in the bowl. Two slices of toasted bread are on the side on a white plate.
Image Credit: Graciously Nourished

Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup blends creamy pumpkin and sweet potato into a warm, cozy soup. Ideal for a one-pot meal on chilly days, it’s a simple dish that pairs perfectly with a sandwich or fresh bread.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup

Dutch Oven Whole Chicken with Potatoes

A roasted chicken seasoned with herbs is in a blue pot surrounded by lemon slices and potato wedges. The chicken is golden brown and garnished with parsley, creating a savory and inviting dish.
Image Credit: Living Lou

Dutch Oven Whole Chicken with Potatoes roasts juicy chicken with golden potatoes in one dish. It’s an easy, all-in-one meal infused with herbs for a satisfying dinner with no extra pans to wash.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Whole Chicken with Potatoes

Sausage Casserole

A white pot filled with cooked sausages in a rich tomato stew with carrots and beans, garnished with chopped parsley. Fresh green beans and bread are seen on the side.
Image Credit: Tessie’s Table

Sausage Casserole simmers sausage, beans, and veggies in a rich tomato base, making for a cozy meal that’s all done in one pan. Great for busy nights, this recipe is filling and simple with only one pot to clean up.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Casserole

One-Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta

A close-up of a plate of penne pasta topped with a creamy tomato sauce, grated cheese, and fresh basil leaves. The dish has a rich, appetizing appearance.
Image Credit: Vegan Huggs

One-Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta cooks up quickly with a luscious, creamy tomato sauce. It’s a smooth, satisfying dinner that’s perfect when you need an easy one-pan meal for busy evenings.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta

One Pot Spaghetti

A pan filled with spaghetti bolognese topped with grated cheese and a basil leaf. Surrounding the pan are ingredients like tomatoes, spaghetti, herbs, and a block of cheese on a wooden table. Breadsticks are placed nearby.
Image Credit: Tessie’s Table

One Pot Spaghetti combines pasta, beef, and marinara in a single pot for a flavor-packed dinner. Quick to make and mess-free, it’s perfect for those who love pasta without a pile of dishes.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Spaghetti

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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