20 Easy One-Pot Winter Dinners Perfect for Busy Weeknights
With these simple recipes, fixing up seasonal meals for your family will be a breeze!
With winter in full swing, weeknights typically turn darker, colder, and a lot more hectic. After a long, tiring day, making a deluxe dinner for the family is probably the last thing you want to do after walking through the door. Luckily, though, with our trusty compilation of easy one-pot winter dinners, this doesn’t have to be the case! By whipping up one of the below recipes, instead of running around the kitchen for hours on end, you’ll have more time in the evening for kicking back and relaxing.
From winter soups and stews to seasonal chilis and pasta bakes, every dish on this list is warm, hearty, and cozy—perfect for icy-cold nights. Whether it uses a slow cooker, dutch oven, or cast-iron skillet, these recipes need just a single pot to prepare, which means minimal cooking and cleaning on your end. Most of them are also ready to eat in less than an hour, too!
Ahead, you’ll find thick stews that spotlight sausage or beef, creamy soups like chicken tortilla or a cheeseburger-inspired medley, cheesy pasta dishes, and so much more. While many of these meals feature innovative twists, there are plenty of classics like Southern gumbo and Ree’s famous chicken and noodles. If you don’t eat meat, you’ll notice a few vegetarian dishes in the mix, such as sweet potato chili and lentil soup.
Whatever you’re craving, these one-pot winter dinner recipes will give you a cozy, comforting meal that’ll come together without the energy or effort!
Cowboy Stew
With this hearty one-pot winter dinner, you'll get the best of both beef stew and chili—cooked in a single Dutch oven! The bacon, beef, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, and corn in this cozy dish make it a well-balanced meal that's also super satisfying.
Get Ree's Cowboy Stew recipe.
Marry Me Chicken
Juicy chicken smothered in a creamy, cheesy sauce might just be your new go-to winter dinner. Plus, you'll have it on the table in 30 minutes, tops! Although a skillet is the only piece of cookware you'll need, to make it a complete meal, serve it with mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus, too.
Get Ree's Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup
Keep warm this winter season with a big bowl of Ree's sausage, white bean, and kale soup. Not only is this comforting dish prepared in one pan, but it also comes together in just 45 minutes!
Get Ree's Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese meets chili in this tasty one-pot winter dinner that's reminiscent of nostalgic Hamburger Helper. Cooked in a skillet, the medley of beef, macaroni, beans, tomato sauce, and cheese will keep you satiated for hours, despite just 30 minutes of work!
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Gumbo
Thick, rich, and warming, Ree’s version of the classic Cajun stew will make cold weeknights bearable—dare we say, enjoyable? After simmering the ingredients in a Dutch oven, you’ll let the dish continue to cook on medium-low for at least another hour, meaning it’s perfect for multitasking!
Get Ree's Gumbo recipe.
Sweet Potato Chili
For a one-pot winter meal that’s vegetarian-friendly (yet that even the staunchest meat eaters will enjoy), whip up this sweet potato chili for dinner. The combination of beans, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and peppers make it a flavor-packed dish that'll definitely demand seconds.
Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
This easy slow-cooker meal is always a hit. It also happens to be a lifesaver for anyone with limited time in the kitchen: Just throw all the ingredients in your Crockpot, and let it sit for five hours. This recipe yields 12 servings, so it’s perfect for meal prep!
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi
Tossed in a thick sauce and topped with buttery breadcrumbs, this piping-hot, one-pot winter dinner will warm everyone’s hearts and stomachs. In addition to golden sausage and pillowy-soft gnocchi, it includes tender spinach for a burst of freshness.
Pierogi and Meatball Skillet
Keep the crew nice and snug this winter with a one-pot meal that spotlights beef-and-pork meatballs and cheese- and potato-stuffed pierogi, coated in a dense, meaty sauce. The best part? You can serve it straight out of the skillet!
Get the Pierogi and Meatball Skillet recipe.
Slow-Cooker Beef Stew
Make your winter weeknights even cozier by putting this one-pot beef stew on the menu. After a mere 10 minutes of prepping, your slow cooker will do the rest of the work to churn out the most mouthwatering meal that’s pure comfort food.
Get the Slow-Cooker Beef Stew recipe.
Chicken Tortellini Soup
For a delicious winter dinner that tastes like you spent all day over the stove, give this chicken tortellini soup a try. Thanks to shredded rotisserie chicken, it takes 30 minutes to make. Since it’s basically a richer, cheesier version of classic chicken noodle soup, it’s soul food at its finest.
Get the Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Give egg rolls a unique spin with Ree’s 15-minute deconstructed version brimming with pork, cabbage, ginger, and garlic. This one-pot winter dinner is just as tasty as its fried counterpart, yet it’s much lighter. Eat it as is or spoon it over rice.
Get Ree's Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Chicken Alfredo is a creamy classic, but Ree’s iteration is arguably easier to make! Since everything cooks in one pot, this recipe is essentially hands-off—even the pasta boils right in the slow cooker!
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Cheeseburger Soup
When you think of cheeseburgers, you might envision summer cookouts. But a slurp-able version (especially made in one pot) is the ultimate winter meal! This satisfying soup has beef, bacon, potatoes, cheese, and lots of cream, so it’s guaranteed to taste heavenly.
Get the Cheeseburger Soup recipe.
Slow-Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings is a Southern staple that’s particularly comforting in the winter. Thanks to canned biscuits and a slow cooker, this recipe is even easier—yet just as creamy, dreamy, and divine—as the real deal.
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe.
One-Pot French Onion Pasta
Half pasta bake, half French onion soup, this one-pot meal makes the best winter dinner for busy weeknights. Each bite contains caramelized onions, umami mushrooms, and melted cream cheese, covered in a layer of gratinéed cheesy bread.
Get the One-Pot French Onion Pasta recipe.
Homemade Chicken and Noodles
Ree’s homemade chicken and noodles is a hearty one-pot winter meal no one at the dinner table will complain about. Not to mention, slurping down the thick broth will help everyone better tolerate the cold temperatures.
Get Ree's Homemade Chicken and Noodles recipe.
Lentil Soup
Another meatless one-pot winter dinner that’s nourishing and crowd-pleasing is Ree's lentil soup, which is packed with fibrous legumes, tender vegetables, and scrumptious spices. To keep your cooking tools to a minimum, use an immersion blender to thicken the mixture.
Get Ree's Lentil Soup recipe.
Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili
This winter, give traditional chili a creamier, slightly spicier kick. Thanks to cream cheese, this chicken chili recipe has a decadent, filling sauce that you won’t be able to get enough of. With rotisserie chicken, canned beans, and a single pot, this recipe couldn't be simpler!
Get Ree's Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili recipe.
Beef and Noodles
If you’re looking for a similar rendition of Ree’s chicken and noodles, this one-pot winter recipe is your answer. With beef as the star of the dish, it's more savory and substantial than the classic. Plus, it's even easier to prepare!
Get the Beef and Noodles recipe.
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