One Pot Meals – Easy Winter Comfort
It seems winter has finally decided to show up. I have been shoveling snow for four days in a row. For those are in the Midwest or east, this may not sound like much. But here in Northern Nevada, it is not normal. We usually get snow one day and it is mostly melted the next day. This week we have received 4 to 12 inches each day. Thus, the need to shovel.
Being not as young as I once was, shoveling is tiring activity (I would rather burn me calories at the gym) with a result that I am also not very interested in preparing complex meals. So the idea of easy one pot meals sound inviting.
Here are four option for you to consider. Targeted for two but easy to double for four. And with only pot, there are a lot fewer things to clean up as well.
Try then and let me know what you think.
🍗 Creamy Chicken & Rice
Serves 2 (double everything for 4)
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs
- ¾ cup long grain rice
- 1 ¾ cups chicken broth
- ½ small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ cup mushrooms (optional)
- 2–3 tbsp cream (or splash of half & half)
- Salt, pepper
- Small knob butter
Method
- Brown chicken in a pot (5–6 minutes per side). Remove.
- Sauté onion, garlic, mushrooms.
- Add rice. Stir 1 minute.
- Add broth. Nestle chicken back in.
- Cover, simmer 18–20 minutes.
- Stir in cream and butter. Rest 5 minutes.
Comfort factor: high.
Effort level: low.
Leftovers: excellent.
🥣 Beef & Barley Soup
Serves 2 large bowls
Ingredients
- ¾ lb stew beef
- ¼ cup barley
- 1 carrot
- 1 celery stalk
- 2 cups beef broth
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Salt, pepper, thyme
Method
- Brown beef well. Don’t rush this.
- Add chopped carrot, celery. Cook 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste.
- Add barley, broth, water.
- Simmer 35–40 minutes.
Double easily. Freezes well.
Tastes like it cooked all day. Didn’t.
🌭 Sausage, White Beans & Greens
Serves 2
Ingredients
- 2 Italian sausage links (mild or hot)
- 1 can cannellini beans, drained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Handful spinach or kale
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Parmesan (optional)
Method
- Brown sausage (slice first if you like).
- Add garlic.
- Add beans + broth.
- Simmer 10 minutes.
- Stir in greens until wilted.
- Finish with parmesan.
Serve with crusty bread.
Fastest of the group.
Feels rustic, not lazy.
🍝 One-Pot Baked Ziti (Stovetop Cheat)
Serves 2 generously
Ingredients
- 6 oz ziti or penne
- 1 ½ cups marinara
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup ricotta
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- Italian seasoning
Method
- Combine pasta, sauce, water in pot.
- Simmer covered 12–15 minutes (stir once or twice).
- Stir in ricotta.
- Top with mozzarella. Cover 5 minutes.
Done.
No oven. No baking dish.
Feels like Sunday dinner.
Took 20 minutes.
