20 One-Pot Dinners That Are Perfect for Back-to-School Season (2024)

  • Recipes
  • Main Dishes

Meghan Splawn

Meghan Splawn

Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.

Follow

updated Aug 29, 2022

facebook

pinterest

email

comments

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

20 One-Pot Dinners That Are Perfect for Back-to-School Season (1)

The first weeks back to school can be rough. So, dinner should be an easy, comforting respite that gives you time to linger at the dinner table and listen to everyone’s days (even if you all were in the same house together). Making that dinner should not take up too much time or dirty too many dishes — remember you have lunches to pack still (try one of our go-to easy school lunch ideas)!

One-pot dinners are here to help make back-to-school time easier, tastier, and more comforting. Here are 20 of my favorites.

1

/

20

One-Pot Cheesy Chicken and Tomato RiceGo to Recipe

2

/

20

One-Pot Creamy Zucchini Pasta

Whole-milk ricotta cheese is the secret to this extra-luxe and lemony zucchini pasta.

Go to Recipe

One-Pot Orzo with Peas and Parmesan

This one-pot dish cooks orzo pasta in flavorful stock and is finished with lemon, peas, and Parmesan for a lighter take on risotto.

Go to Recipe

4

/

20

Chicken? Check. Vegetables? Check. All in one pot? Check check. This teriyaki one-pan meal is kid-friendly and easy — what more do you want?

Go to Recipe

5

/

20

One-Pot Weeknight Beef Stroganoff

Tender noodles, ground beef, and mushrooms all cooked together in a creamy, comforting sauce.

Go to Recipe

6

/

20

One-Pot Pesto Tortellini with Broccoli

Here, a few smart cooking tricks elevate just three ingredients into a spectacular one-pot meal that really, truly wows.

Go to Recipe

7

/

20

One-Pot Tomato Chickpeas and Orzo

A recipe for quick and easy tomato orzo studded with chickpeas, which is made in just one pot.

Go to Recipe

8

/

20

A stovetop chicken and rice casserole with a creamy Cajun sauce.

Go to Recipe

9

/

20

Make everyone around the table excited about dinner with this recipe for pasta and meatballs inspired by SpaghettiOs.

Go to Recipe

10

/

20

One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

With smoky seasoned ground beef, spicy salsa, and gooey cheese, this one-pot pasta dinner is everything you love about the classic ground beef taco — without the tortilla.

Go to Recipe

11

/

20

One-Pot Creamy Cacio e Pepe Orzo

This creamy, comforting orzo, inspired by the classic Roman pasta dish, is loaded with salty Pecorino cheese and plenty of black pepper. Enjoy it as a side or dollop it with ricotta and call it the main affair.

Go to Recipe

12

/

20

Easy One-Pot Beef Goulash

From the sauce-slicked macaroni to the crumbles of ground beef and generous pockets of melted cheddar, one-pot beef goulash is as comforting as it is easy to get on the table.

Go to Recipe

13

/

20

One-Pot Creamy Chicken Orzo

This easy orzo dish is pure veggie-packed comfort. Made all in one pot, it tastes like grown-up mac and cheese —creamy, cheesy, and packed with good-for-you greens and chicken.

Go to Recipe

14

/

20

One-Pot Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

This vegetarian one-pot pasta, which is made with mostly pantry staples, is ready in 15 minutes flat.

Go to Recipe

15

/

20

Cheesy Broccoli Pasta

Creamy, comforting mac and cheese gets a bright boost, thanks to sweet and tender broccoli florets.

Go to Recipe

16

/

20

One-Pot BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls

These burrito bowls are filled with tender spiced rice, beans, corn, and tangy barbecue chicken.

Go to Recipe

17

/

20

One-Pot Chili Mac

Never cook your chili and macaroni cheese separately again. Learn how to make one-pot chili mac in your Dutch oven.

Go to Recipe

18

/

20

Shortcut Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie

This weeknight-friendly chicken pot pie recipe comes together in just one pot and is topped with flaky cheddar and thyme biscuits.

Go to Recipe

19

/

20

One-Pot Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Orzo

Here, orzo is cooked risotto-style with a salty Parmesan rind and leafy Brussels sprouts, then finished with a squeeze of lemon juice and topped with crispy, browned panko breadcrumbs.

Go to Recipe

20

/

20

One-Pot Penne All'arrabbiata with Greens

This twist on the classic Italian pasta comes together easily in one pot and features wilted spinach for a feel-good hit of green.

Go to Recipe

Filed in:

children

dinner

Main Dish

One-Dish Meal

Recipe Roundup

video

20 One-Pot Dinners That Are Perfect for Back-to-School Season (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 6414

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.