A one-pot meal is the quintessential comfort food. Flavor-infused broths, rich sauces, tender meats and vegetables—they warm and nourish us body and soul. And, they’re perfect for casual family dinners as well as entertaining. Plus, they’re simple to make, whether that one pot is an Instant Pot, rice cooker, slow cooker, or just a basic Dutch oven.
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RecipeBeef, Barley & Butternut Squash Stew
You’ll mix a nutty blue-cheese spread for the croutons you’ll serve with the stew in a small bowl, but everything else—from the beef chuck to winter’s tastiest vegetables—braise in your Dutch oven until very tender. -
RecipeSalmon and Sushi Rice
Salmon and rice have a real affinity for one another, and this simple dish brings the two together seamlessly. Orange-ginger-marinated salmon is steamed on top of sushi rice right in a rice cooker, infusing it with flavor. An incredibly adaptable dish, salmon can be seasoned to taste, and any white rice can be substituted. Rest assured, you’ll wind up with perfectly steamed rice, salmon, and greens that are extra special when sprinkled with a bit of rice seasoning. -
RecipeCurried Chicken Stew with Squash and Cashews
Just grab chicken thighs and fresh green beans, and you can pull this simple supper together with what you probably already have in your pantry. -
RecipeCajun-Style Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
This traditional Cajun-style (brown) jambalaya is chock full of smoked meats with nary a tomato in sight. It’s the real deal. -
RecipeBraised Italian Chicken with Green Beans, Tomatoes & Olives
Just grab chicken thighs and fresh green beans, and you can pull this simple supper together with what you probably already have in your pantry. -
RecipeThai Red Curry with Pork
Thai curries may just be the simplest dinners around. You’ll spend more time chopping than anything else and the flavors in this one-saucepan supper are amazing. -
RecipeBraised Beef Short Ribs with Salsa Verde & Feta
The beef is braised in red wine and port until its fall-off-the-bone tender. Then, in a surprisingly delicious twist, the ribs are topped with a fresh, feta-spiked salsa verde, taking the dish to a whole new level. -
RecipeMulticooker Chicken Scarpariello with Rigatoni
A classic of both Italian-American restaurants and home cooking, this sweet-and-sour dish cooks up quickly in an Instant Pot or other multicooker. The dried pasta cooks in the sauce, adding a bit of starch to thicken it nicely. -
RecipeEggplant Ragoût with Tomatoes, Peppers & Chickpeas
No one said you had to stick with just one pot—rice, noodles or polenta can make a one-pot meal glorious. This hearty meatless stew is wonderful served over polenta or rice with some crusty bread. -
RecipeChicken Braised with Red Wine Vinegar & Tomatoes
Deliciously piquant and complex, this one-skillet dish depends on good-quality red wine vinegar, so use the best you have. Recipe-raters swear by it. -
RecipeSlow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Molasses Baked Beans
To complement the naturally sweet flavors in a pork tenderloin, these baked beans are loaded with plenty of aromatics, as well as the woodsy, earthy tones of bourbon. Just remember: the better the bourbon, the more sophisticated its flavor in the beans. Don’t use the $75 bottle, but skip the cheap hooch with its metallic tang. -
RecipeArroz con Pollo
Incredibly adaptable and satisfying, arroz con pollo, or rice with chicken, is ubiquitous throughout Latin America and beyond. This Puerto Rican version, completely cooked in a rice cooker, is seasoned with sofrito, sazón, and adobo. Typically prepared with short-grain white rice, this recipe uses jasmine rice instead, playing up the more delicate flavors of lemon and oregano. Pimiento-stuffed olives and capers are optional but strongly recommended, as their brininess adds something special to the dish—while peas add a sweet vegetable pop. This dish also pairs well with saucy beans or stewed greens. -
RecipeBeef Rendang
This special-occasion Malaysian dish is made intensely aromatic by coconut milk, chiles, and both fresh and dried spices. -
RecipeRoast Chicken with Fingerling Potatoes, Leeks & Bacon
The cast-iron skillet’s versatility is unmatched here. Bacon is rendered, vegetables are made soft and translucent, and a whole chicken roasts in one workhorse skillet. -
RecipeBeef Stroganoff
OK, let’s call this classic comfort dish almost-one-pot since you’ll need to cook the buttery egg noodles separately. It’s homey, saucy, and oh-so-satisfying, as any good one-pot meal should be. -
RecipeBraised Duck Legs with Figs, Star Anise & Winter Squash
The duck legs in this hearty one-pot are inspired—they make the dish special without being difficult to prepare. Plus, the duck becomes meltingly tender as it braises, soaking up all of the rich flavors of the sauce. -
RecipeBeef Braciola Stuffed with Basil & Mozzarella
This tender braise is a home-style version of the Italian-American classic.
