Movement

10 Tempting One-Pot Meals For Busy Work Days

Discover easy and delicious one-pot meals to make your busy work days easier. From quick lunch ideas to comforting dinners, these tempting recipes are perfect for any day of the week.

By URLife Team

02 Jan 2023

After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is spend hours cooking dinner. But with the right recipes, you can create delicious and satisfying one-pot meals in no time at all. Whether you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner or a hearty Sunday brunch, these tempting one-pot meals are perfect for busy workdays. From creamy portions of pasta to flavourful curries, each dish promises bold flavours with minimal effort.

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Tasty One-Pot Dishes You Should Try Now

1. Vegan Tofu Curry

This winter, why not spice up your dinner routine with some vegan one-pot dishes that are quick, delicious, and full of flavour? If you’re looking for something hearty to warm you up from the inside out, look no further than vegan tofu curry.

This vegan dish features nutritious ingredients like tofu, carrots, bell peppers, and mushrooms cooked in a richly spiced coconut milk-based sauce. The resulting dish is both vibrant in flavour and colour, plus it's also dairy-free and gluten-free.

To create this delicious vegan curry, start off by sautéing the vegetables until they are lightly browned before adding the tofu cubes to the pan. Once everything is coated in curry paste, pour in the coconut milk—this will add creaminess to the sauce along with other aromatic spices. Let cook for about fifteen minutes or until all of the vegetables have softened before serving over jasmine rice for a complete meal.

2. One Pot Pasta

One-pot pasta is the perfect recipe for those nights when you want something delicious but don’t have much time or energy. Tender pasta, fresh vegetables, flavorful seasonings, and a savoury sauce come together in one pot to create a satisfying meal that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters!

Whether you use store-bought marinara sauce or make your own from scratch, one-pot pasta dishes are incredibly easy to prepare. All you need is some basic pantry staples like olive oil, garlic, onions, canned tomatoes or tomato paste and some type of dried pasta. Throw in any combination of your favourite veggies—mushrooms, peppers, squash—along with herbs and spices to add flavour. Combine everything nicely together in the pot until everything is al dente. The result? A delicious, hearty meal that's ready in minutes!

3. Broccoli Cheese Soup

If you're a fan of cosy, comforting one-pot meals that are easy to whip up and bursting with flavour, then you should definitely give broccoli cheese soup a try. This classic dish is an ideal meal for busy weeknights, as it only requires one pot and some simple ingredients. Plus, who doesn't love the combination of creamy cheese and fresh vegetables?

Start by sautéing the onion in butter until softened, then add your garlic and freshly cut broccoli florets. Then mix in some vegetable broth and bring it to a boil before reducing the heat to let it simmer until everything is cooked through. Finally, stir in heavy cream and shredded cheese—watch as the soup transforms from its ordinary state into a creamy dream!

Top your bowlful of cheesy goodness off with some fresh parsley for a pop of colour or extra grated cheese for added indulgence. The best part about making Broccoli Cheese Soup is that it’s so versatile—you can add different toppings or extra veggies to customise it however you like. For added protein, this soup pairs perfectly with chicken or bacon.

4. Spinach Dal

This one-pot dish is sure to become your comfort food! Not only is it flavorful and filling, but also requires minimal cleaning up. Spinach Dal begins with onions and garlic sautéed in oil. Then you add lentils, spinach, cumin, coriander powder and chilli powder to develop the flavours. After simmering for about 30 to 45 minutes, your dal will be ready for serving. You can also garnish it with fresh cilantro for extra zest.

Spinach Dal is not only healthy but is also great on its own as a main course or served as a side dish with rice or naan bread. You can also pair it up with your favourite salad for an added kick.

5. Chicken Biryani

If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious one-pot dish to try out, look no further than Chicken Biryani. This popular Indian dish is made with a medley of spices, fragrant basmati rice, chicken and vegetables. Not only is it full of flavour, but it’s also surprisingly easy to make at home!

All you need is some simple ingredients, and you can have a tasty dinner on the table in under an hour. Start by marinating boneless chicken with garlic, ginger paste, chilli powder, cumin powder, garam masala and salt in yoghurt overnight or at least 2 hours before cooking.

Next, sauté onions in oil until golden brown before adding your spices and cooking them until fragrant. Then add the rice and all other ingredients, including the marinated chicken. Stir everything together, then let it cook over low heat until everything is cooked through. Your delicious biryani will be ready in minutes.

6. Pot Pie

One-pot meals are not only a great way to save time and energy in the kitchen, but they can also be incredibly delicious. Pot pies are an excellent example of this. This classic dish will surely bring everyone at your dinner table together for a tasty treat.

This comforting dish is warm and hearty with all the flavours of home-cooked comfort food. Pot pie comprises two components: a crust and a filling. You can either buy premade crusts at the store or make your own from scratch. The filling usually consists of vegetables (such as potatoes, carrots and onions), some sort of protein (like chicken or beef) and a creamy sauce that ties it all together.

The ingredients will then be cooked slowly together until everything is tender and flavours have melded into each other, resulting in an irresistible meal that's sure to become a new family favourite.

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7. French Toast Casserole

French toast casserole is a go-to breakfast option that's sure to satisfy your taste buds. It's easy to prepare, and it has all the flavours of traditional French toast. This dish combines cubed bread with eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar and butter, so it's like having dessert for breakfast. If you're feeling extra decadent, you can top your casserole off with almonds or walnuts. The result is an irresistible combination of sweet and savoury flavours that will have everyone in the family coming back for seconds. Plus, this dish can be prepared ahead of time and popped in the oven when you're ready to enjoy it.

8. Chicken And Okra Curry

Chicken and okra curry is the way to go when it comes to easy one-pot dishes. This delicious, savoury dish is packed with flavour and bursting with spices. Aromatic ginger and garlic form a base for this dish that’s paired perfectly with tender pieces of chicken and crunchy okra. The coconut milk adds a creamy texture that ties all of the flavours together.

If you want to whip up an impressive yet simple dinner, this recipe should be your go-to. It doesn’t take too long—only 45 minutes—so you can enjoy a home-cooked meal even on busy weeknights. For added convenience, you can use store-bought pre-made curry paste or make your own from scratch using Indian spices like cumin powder, coriander powder and garam masala.

9. Masala Oats

Masala oats is a one-pot dish that you should try now if you haven't already. It's healthy, flavorful and super simple to make. Masala oats are basically oats cooked with a spicy Indian gravy made from onions, tomatoes, ginger garlic paste and, of course, various spices like cumin powder and garam masala. The amazing flavour will tantalise your taste buds with its warmth and spiciness. And the best part is it's incredibly healthy. Oats are known to be high in fibre which helps lower cholesterol levels, while the vegetables added to the dish give you an extra dose of vitamins and minerals.

10. Spicy Eggs And Potatoes

This dish requires only a few ingredients that you likely already have on hand. Begin with some diced potatoes (you can use sweet or regular). Fry them in olive oil until golden brown and set aside. In the same pan, scramble eggs with onion, garlic, chilli powder, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt for added flavour. When eggs are almost cooked through, add back in the potatoes and top off with chopped fresh herbs for colour. Serve this flavorful dish hot alongside crusty bread or steamed rice for a complete meal.

One-pot meals are a great way to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals during busy workdays. Not only do they offer convenience and ease of preparation, but they also make cooking enjoyable with the variety of flavours and ingredients you can use. Experimenting with different recipes is a fun way to stay motivated in the kitchen. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make something that suits your taste buds.

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