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23 Brilliant Winter One-Pot Meals for Lazy Nights

January 4, 2026 by Tessa Wynn Leave a Comment

Cold nights call for meals that don’t make you wash a mountain of dishes. These one-pot wonders bring comfort, simplicity, and big flavor with minimal cleanup. Whether you want something creamy, brothy, cheesy, or hearty, each recipe cooks in a single pot—perfect for true lazy-night cooking.


The Recipes (23 Total)


1) One-Pot Creamy Chicken & Rice

Thick, cozy, and super simple.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups chicken
  • 3 cups broth
  • ½ cup cream

Process:

  1. Simmer rice in broth.
  2. Add chicken.
  3. Stir in cream.

Make it Unique:

  • Add peas.
  • Add garlic.

2) One-Pot Beefy Mac

Cheesy, saucy pasta comfort.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 cups macaroni
  • 2 cups marinara
  • 2 cups broth

Process:

  1. Brown beef.
  2. Add noodles and liquids.
  3. Simmer until thick.

Make it Unique:

  • Add mozzarella.
  • Add chili flakes.

3) One-Pot Tuscan Sausage Soup

Rich and cozy for cold nights.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb sausage
  • 2 potatoes
  • 3 cups broth
  • 1 cup cream
  • Kale

Process:

  1. Brown sausage.
  2. Add potatoes and broth.
  3. Stir in cream and kale.

Make it Unique:

  • Add tomatoes.
  • Add parmesan.

4) One-Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta

All the fajita flavor—pasta-style.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chicken
  • 8 oz pasta
  • Peppers + onions
  • 2 cups broth
  • ½ cup cream

Process:

  1. Cook chicken and vegetables.
  2. Add pasta and broth.
  3. Stir in cream.

Make it Unique:

  • Add cheddar.
  • Add jalapeños.

5) One-Pot Hearty Lentil Stew

A filling plant-based winter option.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup lentils
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 potatoes
  • 4 cups broth

Process:

  1. Add all ingredients to pot.
  2. Simmer until thick.
  3. Season to taste.

Make it Unique:

  • Add spinach.
  • Add paprika.

6) One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini

Perfect for fast comfort.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups tortellini
  • 1 can tomatoes
  • 1 cup broth
  • ½ cup cream

Process:

  1. Simmer tortellini with tomatoes and broth.
  2. Add cream.
  3. Cook until sauce thickens.

Make it Unique:

  • Add spinach.
  • Add mushrooms.

7) One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Classic comfort with easy cleanup.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chicken
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 4 cups broth
  • Noodles

Process:

  1. Cook vegetables.
  2. Add chicken and broth.
  3. Add noodles and simmer.

Make it Unique:

  • Add lemon.
  • Add dill.

8) One-Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet

Bold flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 can beans
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 2 cups broth

Process:

  1. Brown beef.
  2. Add rice, beans, broth, salsa.
  3. Simmer and melt cheese on top.

Make it Unique:

  • Add corn.
  • Add jalapeños.

9) One-Pot Potato Chowder

Thick and cozy for freezing weather.

Ingredients:

  • 4 potatoes
  • 1 onion
  • 1 cup corn
  • 3 cups broth
  • ½ cup cream

Process:

  1. Cook potatoes and onion.
  2. Add broth and corn.
  3. Stir in cream.

Make it Unique:

  • Add bacon.
  • Add cheddar.

10) One-Pot Beef & Barley

Deep flavor in one simple pot.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb beef
  • 1 cup barley
  • 3 carrots
  • 4 cups broth

Process:

  1. Brown beef.
  2. Add barley, vegetables, broth.
  3. Simmer until barley softens.

Make it Unique:

  • Add mushrooms.
  • Add thyme.

11) One-Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken

Spicy warmth for winter nights.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chicken
  • Cajun seasoning
  • 1 cup rice or pasta
  • 3 cups broth
  • ½ cup cream

Process:

  1. Cook chicken with seasoning.
  2. Add rice/pasta and broth.
  3. Stir in cream.

Make it Unique:

  • Add tomatoes.
  • Add peppers.

12) One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

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Like a cheeseburger—but pasta.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb beef
  • 2 cups pasta
  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 cup cheddar

Process:

  1. Brown beef.
  2. Add pasta and broth.
  3. Stir in cheddar.

Make it Unique:

  • Add pickles.
  • Add mustard.

13) One-Pot Veggie Curry

Warm spices and bright flavor.

Ingredients:

  • Mixed vegetables
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 cup broth
  • Curry powder

Process:

  1. Add vegetables to pot.
  2. Add coconut milk and broth.
  3. Simmer until tender.

Make it Unique:

  • Add chickpeas.
  • Add spinach.

14) One-Pot Mushroom Stroganoff

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Earthy, creamy comfort.

Ingredients:

  • Mushrooms
  • 1 cup broth
  • ½ cup cream
  • Egg noodles

Process:

  1. Cook mushrooms.
  2. Add noodles and broth.
  3. Stir in cream.

Make it Unique:

  • Add spinach.
  • Add garlic.

15) One-Pot BBQ Chicken & Rice

Sweet, smoky, satisfying.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chicken
  • 1 cup rice
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • 3 cups broth

Process:

  1. Add everything to pot.
  2. Simmer until rice softens.
  3. Stir and serve.

Make it Unique:

  • Add corn.
  • Add cheddar.

16) One-Pot Chili Mac

[

Two comfort foods in one.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb beef
  • 1 can beans
  • 2 cups macaroni
  • 2 cups broth
  • Chili seasoning

Process:

  1. Brown beef.
  2. Add beans, pasta, broth.
  3. Simmer until pasta cooks.

Make it Unique:

  • Add corn.
  • Add jalapeños.

17) One-Pot Garlic Butter Chicken

[

Simple and soothing with big flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • 1 cup broth

Process:

  1. Brown chicken in butter.
  2. Add garlic and broth.
  3. Simmer until tender.

Make it Unique:

  • Add potatoes.
  • Add lemon.

18) One-Pot Shrimp & Orzo

Light but still comforting.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup orzo
  • 1 cup shrimp
  • 1 can tomatoes
  • 2 cups broth

Process:

  1. Cook orzo and tomatoes.
  2. Add shrimp.
  3. Simmer until shrimp cooks.

Make it Unique:

  • Add spinach.
  • Add feta.

19) One-Pot Creamy Gnocchi

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Soft, pillowy comfort.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb gnocchi
  • 1 cup cream
  • 1 cup broth
  • Spinach

Process:

  1. Add gnocchi to pot with broth.
  2. Stir in cream.
  3. Add spinach.

Make it Unique:

  • Add mushrooms.
  • Add parmesan.

20) One-Pot Sausage & Beans

Rustic and deeply warming.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb sausage
  • 1 can beans
  • 1 can tomatoes
  • 2 cups broth

Process:

  1. Brown sausage.
  2. Add beans, tomatoes, broth.
  3. Simmer 20 minutes.

Make it Unique:

  • Add kale.
  • Add paprika.

21) One-Pot Chicken Pot Pie Stew

Pot pie comfort without the fuss.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chicken
  • Mixed veggies
  • 3 cups broth
  • Biscuits

Process:

  1. Simmer chicken and veggies.
  2. Add biscuits on top.
  3. Cook until biscuits set.

Make it Unique:

  • Add herbs.
  • Add corn.

22) One-Pot Winter Veggie Stew

A filling plant-based winter bowl.

Ingredients:

  • Mixed winter vegetables
  • 1 can beans
  • 4 cups broth

Process:

  1. Add everything to pot.
  2. Simmer until tender.
  3. Adjust seasoning.

Make it Unique:

  • Add tomatoes.
  • Add spinach.

23) One-Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Rich flavor with almost no effort.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups chicken
  • ½ cup pesto
  • 1 cup cream

Process:

  1. Boil pasta with broth.
  2. Add chicken.
  3. Stir in pesto and cream.

Make it Unique:

  • Add cherry tomatoes.
  • Add spinach.

Wrap-Up

Winter nights don’t always inspire big cooking—but one pot is all you need for real comfort. These easy meals bring warmth, flavor, and simplicity to evenings when you just want to relax. Try one tonight and enjoy the cozy ease of one-pot cooking all season long.

Tessa Wynn

Filed Under: Blog, Winter

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