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Photo: Marty Baldwin
Some nights, I can take my time and cook leisurely without rushing. Yet, other nights, I only have 30 minutes to get something on the table. When I’m short on time to cook (and clean up after dinner), I lean on one-pot meals. With one-pot meals, you can build and layer lots of flavors to get something that’s quick and still deeply delicious. To me, nourishing and comforting bowls like our White Bean Soup with Pasta and Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew really hit the spot on cold nights (which we’ve been having lots of lately). And I make our Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas and Spinach at least once every few weeks because I almost always have everything I need on hand, like canned beans, canned tomatoes, frozen greens and eggs. Even on the busiest days, it is possible to prepare a healthy and tasty dish—and these recipes can help make that a reality. Not to mention, these recipes make great leftovers for lunch the next day (speaking from experience). For more beginner- and budget-friendly cooking tips and recipes, check outThrifty.
01of 13Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet DinnerJustin WalkerThis one-pan chicken dinner doesn’t get much easier, or more satisfying. In just half an hour, you can have a complete meal on the table that doesn’t require loads of dishes afterward. We call for tender haricots verts because they’re quick cooking; traditional green beans likely won’t be tender enough after the brief cooking time at the end. If that’s all you have on hand, steam them first, and then add them to the pan for the final step. Serve this hearty chicken-and-potatoes dinner with a simple side salad to sneak in another serving of veggies.View Recipe
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Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner
Justin Walker
This one-pan chicken dinner doesn’t get much easier, or more satisfying. In just half an hour, you can have a complete meal on the table that doesn’t require loads of dishes afterward. We call for tender haricots verts because they’re quick cooking; traditional green beans likely won’t be tender enough after the brief cooking time at the end. If that’s all you have on hand, steam them first, and then add them to the pan for the final step. Serve this hearty chicken-and-potatoes dinner with a simple side salad to sneak in another serving of veggies.
View Recipe
02of 13White Bean Soup with PastaJacob FoxWe use mirepoix—a combination of onion, celery and carrots—to flavor this white bean soup. Keep a store-bought bag of the mixture in your freezer to ensure you always have some on hand without worrying about it going bad.View Recipe
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White Bean Soup with Pasta
Jacob Fox
We use mirepoix—a combination of onion, celery and carrots—to flavor this white bean soup. Keep a store-bought bag of the mixture in your freezer to ensure you always have some on hand without worrying about it going bad.
03of 13Creamy Garlic Skillet Chicken with SpinachMarty BaldwinQuick-cooking chicken cutlets are coated in a garlic cream sauce, while spinach adds a boost of color and nutrition in this easy, one-skillet recipe.View Recipe
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Creamy Garlic Skillet Chicken with Spinach
Marty Baldwin
Quick-cooking chicken cutlets are coated in a garlic cream sauce, while spinach adds a boost of color and nutrition in this easy, one-skillet recipe.
04of 13Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & SpinachSimmer 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.View Recipe
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Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
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.
05of 13Adobo Chicken & Kale EnchiladasPut out your favorite toppings for these quick and healthy layered enchiladas. We like cilantro, sour cream, guacamole and jalapeños.View Recipe
05of 13
Adobo Chicken & Kale Enchiladas
Put out your favorite toppings for these quick and healthy layered enchiladas. We like cilantro, sour cream, guacamole and jalapeños.
06of 13Vegan Coconut Chickpea CurryTo 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 milligrams 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.View Recipe
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Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
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 milligrams 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.
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Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms
08of 13Skillet Steak with Mushroom SauceThis steak, broccolini and pea dinner is a one-skillet meal that will be on your table in just 25 minutes! The pan drippings combine with mushrooms, broth and grainy mustard to make a thick and delicious sauce.View Recipe
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Skillet Steak with Mushroom Sauce
This steak, broccolini and pea dinner is a one-skillet meal that will be on your table in just 25 minutes! The pan drippings combine with mushrooms, broth and grainy mustard to make a thick and delicious sauce.
09of 13Creamy Lemon Orzo with Spinach & Snap PeasPhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth BlackburnThink of this one-pot creamy lemon orzo with spinach and snap peas like a quick risotto that swaps orzo for rice. The orzo is cooked until just al dente, giving some texture to the dish. Snap peas are a great addition, but asparagus or another green veggie would work well too.View Recipe
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Creamy Lemon Orzo with Spinach & Snap Peas
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Think of this one-pot creamy lemon orzo with spinach and snap peas like a quick risotto that swaps orzo for rice. The orzo is cooked until just al dente, giving some texture to the dish. Snap peas are a great addition, but asparagus or another green veggie would work well too.
10of 13Hearty Chickpea & Spinach StewThis satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without adding too much sodium in this healthy recipe for weight loss.View Recipe
10of 13
Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew
This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without adding too much sodium in this healthy recipe for weight loss.
11of 13One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta with AsparagusThis healthy chicken pesto pasta recipe is easy to make thanks to convenience ingredients like rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto. The addition of fresh asparagus brightens up the look and flavors of this easy one-pot dinner. Fresh basil, if you have it on hand, is a nice finishing touch.View Recipe
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One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta with Asparagus
This healthy chicken pesto pasta recipe is easy to make thanks to convenience ingredients like rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto. The addition of fresh asparagus brightens up the look and flavors of this easy one-pot dinner. Fresh basil, if you have it on hand, is a nice finishing touch.
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Black Bean Fajita Skillet
13of 13Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg ScrambleDon’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.View Recipe
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Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble
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.
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