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5 Make-Ahead One-Pot Meals

Published August 11, 2016
3 minute read
A collage of three different one-pot meals: A baked dish topped with cheese and garnished with herbs, a pot of shrimp and vegetable stew, and a plate of pasta with tomatoes, greens, and shredded cheese. The text reads "5 Easy Make-Ahead One-Pot Meals. MyFitnessPal Blog
Published August 11, 2016
3 minute read
In This Article

Cooking is fun, but cleaning up? Not so much. If you want to make dinner without the mess, try making one of these one-pot meals. It’s simple: Load fresh ingredients into a cooking vessel. Allow your items to reach edible perfection (warning: some stirring might be involved!). Ring the dinner bell!

1. One-Pot Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes | Cooking Light
Pasta is an easy and flexible way to make a main meal in one pot. We love this pasta recipe because it uses budget-friendly diced tomatoes and spinach. If you don’t love this combination, make your own riff on this recipe using different veggies. Recipe makes 4 servings at 2 cups pasta mixture plus 1 tablespoon cheese.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 334; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 3g; Cholesterol: 6mg; Sodium: 540mg; Carbohydrate: 56g; Dietary Fiber: 10g; Sugar: 7g; Protein: 14g

2. Easy One-Pot Jambalaya | The Roasted Root
If you’re itching for some cuisine with a dash of Southern charm, check out this recipe for an easy jambalaya made in one pot. It’s guaranteed to conjure up sultry nights on the bayou and is made with chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp simmered to spicy perfection! Recipe makes 8 servings at 11/2 cups each.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 331; Total Fat: 13g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 3g; Cholesterol: 104mg; Sodium: 952mg; Carbohydrate: 23g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 3g; Protein 28g

3. One-Pot Taco Casserole | Fit Foodie Finds
The best dinners come with the least clean up. With this taco recipe, you only need one pot. Yup, you heard that right! Load all the trimmings for terrific tacos into a dish—ground meat, corn, black beans, cheese—and into the oven it goes. This high-protein quick meal is sure to be a kid favorite. Now you can save the mess for when you actually eat the tacos. You’re welcome! Recipe makes 8 servings at 1 cup each.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 316; Total Fat: 12g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 94mg; Sodium: 734mg; Carbohydrate: 25g; Dietary Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 5g; Protein: 28g

4. One-Pot Pea & Bacon Pasta | Savory Nothings
It doesn’t get simpler than this one-pot recipe where pasta shells and peas are simmered in the drippings of freshly rendered bacon. If you want to bump up fiber intake, we suggest replacing traditional pasta with 100% whole-grain pasta. The recipe makes 4 servings to serve some very hungry people, but we suggest sharing as 6 servings if you and your guests have smaller calorie goals. Nutrition information is for 6 servings.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 363; Total Fat: 10g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 32mg; Sodium: 624mg; Carbohydrate: 51g; Dietary Fiber: 9g; Sugar: 5g; Protein: 17g

5. Spicy One-Pot Chicken & Chickpeas | Foodie Crush
Chicken thighs are braised along with a colorful mix of kale, tomatoes and garbanzo beans. Adding hot sauce will provide a spicy kick, so adjust the recipe to suit your own spice threshold (do a taste test before serving!). Recipe makes 6 servings.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 488; Total Fat: 18g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 4g; Cholesterol: 95mg; Sodium: 225mg; Carbohydrate: 50g; Dietary Fiber: 14g; Sugar: 12g; Protein: 40g

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