When you need to get dinner ready in a hurry some quick one pot dinner recipes can save the day. Here are some that you can try. I hope that you enjoy these recipes.
Sausage and Rice Casserole
Even with just simple ingredients you can have a good meal.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of olive oil
12 ounces of cooked sausage ( beef or chicken ) cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices
1 red bell pepper cored and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 yellow bell pepper cored and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 small yellow onion diced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup of instant brown rice
2 cloves of garlic diced
1 cup of low sodium chicken broth
1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes in the juices (15 ounces)
Instructions
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil at medium high in a large deep skillet. When hot add the sausage slices and cook on both sides until browned about 7 to 8 minutes. Place the sausage on a plate and put a paper towel over it to remove any excess grease.
Use another paper towel to wipe the pan being careful not to burn yourself. Now add 1 tablespoon of olive oil at medium high. When oil is hot add the bell peppers, onion, basil, salt and pepper and cook until the onions start to soften and brown about 3 to 4 minutes.
Now add the rice and garlic and stir to coat the rice. Cook until fragrant about 30 seconds.
Add the chicken broth and canned tomatoes in their juices and bring to a boil. Stir well and lower the heat to a simmer. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the sausage from earlier then cover and remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes until most of the fluid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
It is ready to eat.
Mexican Quinoa Pot
Like a fairy tale. Once upon a time, I would have ignored a dish with no meat. Today I still like the meat but a dish with no meat can be really good. Try this and see what you think.
Ingredients
1 sweet potato cut into 1/2 inch pieces (about a cup)
1/2 cup of water
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
3 garlic cloves chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
1 can of fire roasted tomatoes undrained (15 ounce)
1.25 cups of vegetable broth
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup of uncooked quinoa
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/2 cup of sour cream
Instructions
Put the sweet potato and water in a large deep skillet on high heat. Bring to a boil and cook stirring occasionally until the sweet potato is tender and the water is evaporated about 3 to5 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium high and add the oil and onion. Cook while stirring until onion is softened about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, coriander, cumin, chili powder and oregano. Stir until fragrant about 1 minute.
Now add the beans, tomatoes, broth, corn, quinoa and salt. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and cook until quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed about 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat. Top with sour cream and any additional toppings you like.
Chili Mac and Cheese
All the kids in your house, of whatever age will appreciate this little recipe.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 small yellow onion diced
1 pound ground turkey
1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed and diced
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of chili powder
2 teaspoons of ground cumin
2 teaspoons of ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
2 cups of low sodium chicken stock
1 can of black beans rinsed and drained
1 can of red kidney beans rinsed and drained
1 can of tomato sauce (15 ounces)
1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies undrained (10 ounces)
2 cups of uncooked whole wheat elbow macaroni
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet at medium high. When hot add the onion and saute until it softens a little about 4 minutes. Now add the turkey, jalapeno pepper, chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cook while stirring and breaking apart the turkey until the meat is crumbled and cooked through about 4 minutes.
Stir in the chicken stock, black beans, kidney beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, and the pasta. Bring to a boil while stirring. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and let cook until the noodles are tinder about 10 minutes. Stir in the cheese until it is melted and creamy.
Remove from the heat and let set for 3 minutes. Serve warm with extra cheese sprinkled on top.
Chicken and Vegetables Sheet Pan
You can use any and all the vegetables you have and more or less clean out everything that you were wondering how to use. Just put them in this recipe.
Ingredients
1 medium sweet potato diced into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1.25 teaspoons of kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1.25 pounds of skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into 3/4 to 1 inch pieces
1 small head of broccoli cut length ways
1 red bell pepper cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 yellow bell pepper cut into 1/2 inch wide pieces
1 medium onion cut into rings and separated
2 cups of carrots cut into 1/2 inch wide pieces
2.5 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1/4 cup of grated cheese
Instructions
Make sure you have a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 400 degrees F. Take a large rimmed baking sheet and lightly spray with a non-stick spray.
Put the sweet potato pieces in a large bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Toss to coat then spread out on the pan. When the oven is ready place the pan on the middle rack and bake for 10 minutes.
In the same bowl put the chicken, broccoli, bell pepper, onion, and carrots. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the mix and add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Toss to coat.
Take the sweet potatoes out of the oven and spread the mixture onto the pan with them. Try to keep a fairly even layer going to allow every thing to cook evenly.
Place the pan back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Stir a little and turn the chicken at the 10-minute mark. At 20 minutes check that the chicken is cooked through and is not still pink in the middle, if it is still pink return to the oven until done about 3 to 4 more minutes depending on your oven.
When done remove from the oven and sprinkle with cheese. Serve hot with any toppings you like.
Chicken Enchilada Pot
This good little chicken enchilada recipe will help satisfy any Mexican food cravings you may have.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
1 yellow onion diced
1 red bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
20 ounces of red enchilada sauce
1 can of low sodium pinto or black beans drained and rinsed
1/2 cup of whole plain Greek yogurt
6 corn tortillas torn into quarters
1 cup of shredded cheese
Instructions
Place a rack in the upper half of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a large deep cast iron skillet at medium high. When the oil is hot add the chicken cooking 10 minutes while stirring and turning every once in a while, until the chicken is lightly browned.
Now add the onion, bell peppers, garlic powder, cumin, salt and black pepper. Cook until the vegetables are getting tender and lightly brown.
Remove from the heat and add the enchilada sauce, beans, Greek yogurt, tortilla quarters, and 1/4 cup of cheese. Stir to completely mix. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and put in the oven and bake until the cheese is hot and bubbling. If you want you can then turn the oven to broil and brown the cheese on top, usually 2 minutes at the most.
Remove from the oven and let set for a few minutes. Serve hot with any chips, dips or toppings that you like.
When Everything is Said and Done
I hope some of these quick one pot dinner recipes have gotten you to decide to try a one pot meal when you need something quick. These recipes can also be used any time to make your cooking easier.
Jacky