Skip to content

Top Navigation

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Special Diets
  • Diabetes
  • Healthy Meal Plans
  • Healthy Eating
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Healthy Cooking
  • Shop
  • News
  • Videos
Log In Account Details

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore EatingWell

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Explore

    Explore

    • What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Avocado Every Day

      What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Avocado Every Day

      Can an avocado a day keep your health at bay? What does the research have to say? Read More
    • 7-Day No-Sugar High-Protein Meal Plan

      7-Day No-Sugar High-Protein Meal Plan

      Skip the added sugar and bump up the protein to keep yourself full on this 7-day meal plan. Read More
    • 20 Low-Carb, High-Protein Dinners Ready in 3 Steps or Less

      Ā If you're looking for low-carb, high-protein dinners that don't require cooking for hours, these recipes got you covered. These dinner options are ready to serve in 3 steps or less so you can meet your nutrition goals easily. Each recipe l meets our nutrition parameters, with less than 14 grams of carbs and more than 15 grams of protein, without wasting on flavor. Recipes like 20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Cheesy Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole are delicious options for you to get a healthy meal on your table in no time.Ā  Read More
  • Healthy Recipes

    Healthy Recipes

    See All Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Healthy Lunch Recipes
    • Healthy Dinner Recipes
    • Healthy Snack Recipes
    • Healthy Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Salad Recipes
    • Healthy Smoothie Recipes
    • Healthy Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Healthy Slow-Cooker & Crockpot Recipes
    • Healthy Kids Recipes
    • Healthy Holiday Recipes
    • Healthy Vegan Recipes
    • Healthy Vegetarian Recipes
    • Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes
    • Healthy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Healthy Low-Calorie Recipes
    • Healthy Weight Loss & Diet Recipes
    • More Lifestyle Diet Recipes
    • More Health Condition Recipes
    • More Dietary Restriction Recipes
    • More Nutrient Focused Recipes
  • Special Diets

    Special Diets

    See All Special Diets
    • Clean Eating Diet Center
    • Mediterranean Diet Center
    • Low-Carb Diet Center
    • Weight Loss Center
    • Dairy-Free Diet Center
    • Gluten-Free Diet Center
    • High-Fiber Diet Center
    • Vegan Diet Center
    • Vegetarian Diet Center
    • Heart-Healthy Diet Center
    • Cholesterol Diet Center
    • Diabetes Diet Center
    • High Blood Pressure Diet Center
    • Low Sodium Diet Center
    • Healthy Aging Diet Center
    • Pregnancy Diet Center
  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    See All Diabetes
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Diabetes Diet Center
  • Healthy Meal Plans

    Healthy Meal Plans

    See All Healthy Meal Plans
    • Meal Planning 101
    • Dinner Plans
    • Clean Eating Meal Plans
    • Mediterranean Diet Meal Plans
    • Low-Carb Meal Plans
    • Weight-Loss Meal Plans
    • Dairy-Free Meal Plans
    • Gluten-Free Meal Plans
    • High-Fiber Meal Plans
    • Vegan Meal Plans
    • Vegetarian Meal Plans
    • Heart-Healthy Meal Plans
    • Low Cholesterol Meal Plans
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Blood Pressure Meal Plans
    • Low Sodium Meal Plans
    • Anti-Aging Meal Plans
    • Pregnancy Meal Plans
    • Healthy Kids Meal Plans
    • ThePrep
  • Healthy Eating

    Healthy Eating

    See All Healthy Eating
    • Healthy Eating 101
    • Eat More Vegetables
    • 30-Day Challenges
    • Good Food Fast
    • Healthy Eating for Kids
    • Best Healthy Foods
    • Green and Sustainable Eating
    • The Beet
    • Transformed
  • Healthy Lifestyle

    Healthy Lifestyle

    See All Healthy Lifestyle
    • Wine, Beer & Spirits Guide
    • Entertaining
    • EatingWell in Real Life
    • Plant Your Plate
    • Healthy Pets
    • American Food Heroes
    • Future of Food
    • Food with Purpose
    • Obsessed
  • Healthy Cooking

    Healthy Cooking

    See All Healthy Cooking
    • Healthy Cooking How-To's
    • Ask the Test Kitchen
    • Budget Cooking Guide
    • Thrifty
    • Heritage Cooking
  • Shop

    Shop

    See All Shop
    • EatingWell Cookbooks & More
    • EatingWell Frozen Meals
  • News
  • Videos

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Healthy Eating 101
  3. Budget Cooking Guide
  4. Thrifty
  5. I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite One-Pot Dinners
Thrifty logo

I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite One-Pot Dinners

Jessica Ball
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD August 21, 2022
Skip gallery slides
Pin
One-Skillet Salmon with Fennel & Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous

For several years after graduate school, I did not have a dishwasher. As a person who loves to cook, this posed some obvious problems. Some nights, it felt like I spent as much time cleaning up from dinner as I did making it (over time, I learned the benefits of doing dishes in the downtime of a recipe). While I do not wish a dishwasher-less kitchen on anyone, that period of my life helped me become hyper-aware of the number of dishes required in a recipe. And it grew my appreciation for any recipe that cut out unnecessary dishes and appliances. Even now, I lean on these delicious and irresistibly simple one-pot recipes when I just can't be bothered with a long cleanup. Dinners like Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale and Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry make me wonder, why don't I make this every night (or every week, at the very least?). To me, they are living proof that you don't have to dirty your entire kitchen to have a nutritious meal packed with produce, lean proteins, whole grains, legumes and fragrant aromatics. Plus, they taste incredible, too. For more budget- and beginner-friendly cooking tips, accessible nutrition info and recipes, check out Thrifty.

Start Slideshow

1 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

6487867.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup.

Ā 

1 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

78214.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

Ā 

2 of 16

3 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Skillet Salmon with Fennel & Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous

4784296.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sun-dried tomato pesto and lemon do double duty to season both the salmon and the couscous in this healthy one-pan dinner recipe. Serve the salmon with extra lemon wedges and a dollop of plain yogurt, if desired.

Ā 

3 of 16

Advertisement

4 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach

Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Simmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes.

Ā 

4 of 16

5 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms

Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms Recipe
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Whether you scored wild mushrooms at the farmers' market, found cultivated maitake or shiitake at the supermarket or just have some baby bellas on hand, this healthy creamy chicken recipe is delicious with any of them. Serve over whole-wheat egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Ā 

5 of 16

6 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan

One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This lentil-vegetable soup is packed with kale and tomatoes for a filling, flavorful main dish. If you have it, the Parmesan cheese rind adds nuttiness and gives the broth some body.

Ā 

6 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Adobo Chicken & Kale Enchiladas

4572833.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Put out your favorite toppings for these quick and healthy layered enchiladas. We like cilantro, sour cream, guacamole and jalapeƱos.

Ā 

7 of 16

8 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Pasta with Tuna

78303.jpg
Credit: Joy Howard
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Use the one-pot pasta cooking method to make this tuna pasta recipe that calls for just 5 ingredients and is ready in just over half an hour. For extra crunch and a tuna noodle casserole feel, sprinkle this speedy pasta dish with toasted whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs.

Ā 

8 of 16

9 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble

6599213.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Don't toss out those almost-past-their-prime vegetables and fresh herbs. Toss them into this skillet egg scramble for a quick vegetarian meal. Nearly any vegetable will work in this easy skillet recipe, so choose your favorites or use what you have on hand.

Ā 

9 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

5694953.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end.

Ā 

10 of 16

11 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hearty Minestrone

Hearty Minestrone soup
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This version of the Italian classic soup Minestrone is packed with leeks, potatoes, beans, zucchini, spinach and orzo, making it perfect for a hearty lunch or supper on a cold winter's night. To make a vegetarian version use vegetable rather than chicken broth. Top each bowl with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for a zesty burst of flavor.

Ā 

11 of 16

12 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Black Bean Fajita Skillet

Black Bean Fajita Skillet
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You can often find presliced and ready-to-cook fresh vegetables in your grocer's produce section. Use these to your advantage to cut down on dinnertime prep. Here, presliced fajita vegetables are sautƩed with canned black beans and Southwest seasoning for a quick and easy Tex Mex-inspired meal. Plus, this recipe requires just three ingredients, not including basics like salt, pepper and oil. You can easily take your bowl up a notch by adding some cheese, sour cream or another tasty topping.

Ā 

12 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

6351608.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without piling on the sodium. To simplify the prep, look for chopped fresh onion and shredded carrot or a soup starter mix in the produce section.

Ā 

13 of 16

14 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Spinach

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Spinach
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shrimp, spinach and garlic brown and cook quickly for a simple one-pot weeknight dinner. A fast pan sauce gets life from zesty lemon juice, warm crushed red pepper and herby parsley. Serve with a slice of whole-wheat baguette to swipe up every last drop of sauce.

Ā 

14 of 16

15 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Vegetarian Chili

4293499.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit--sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeƱos are all tasty choices.

Ā 

15 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Zucchini Frittata

Zucchini Frittata
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A frittata, as a flat omelet is known in Italy, can be filled with a variety of vegetables and cheeses and makes a great impromptu brunch dish or supper. In this version, fresh mint and basil brighten the mild taste of zucchini. If you prefer, use feta or ricotta salata in place of the goat cheese.

Ā 

16 of 16

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Thrifty logo
    View Series
    • I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite New Soup Recipes
    • The 6 Best Budget-Friendly Anti-Inflammatory Foods, According to a Dietitian
    • I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite Super Bowl Recipes
    • I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite High-Protein Salad Recipes to Feel Full & Refreshed
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 16 Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale
    2 of 16 One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta
    3 of 16 One-Skillet Salmon with Fennel & Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous
    4 of 16 Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
    5 of 16 Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms
    6 of 16 One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan
    7 of 16 Adobo Chicken & Kale Enchiladas
    8 of 16 One-Pot Pasta with Tuna
    9 of 16 Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble
    10 of 16 Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
    11 of 16 Hearty Minestrone
    12 of 16 Black Bean Fajita Skillet
    13 of 16 Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew
    14 of 16 One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Spinach
    15 of 16 Easy Vegetarian Chili
    16 of 16 Zucchini Frittata

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    EatingWell

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Recipe Index
    • Jobs
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    Sign Up
    Meredith© 2023 EatingWell.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. EatingWell may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. All Right Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EatingWell. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com

    Sign in

    View image

    I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite One-Pot Dinners
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.