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Our Favorite Cozy One-Dish Dinners

Each of these carefully Sunset-tested, one-pot or one-pan meals delivers big, comforting flavors for not a lot of effort

Margo True
1 /11 Iain Bagwell

Black Bean Soup with Avocado, Orange, and Cucumber

One of our favorite one-pot meals, this Southwestern-inspired soup hits all the right notes: solid protein from the beans, crunchiness from the cucumber, creaminess from the avocado, a sweet hit of acidity from the citrus, and a hint of spice. Recipe: Black Bean Soup with Avocado, Orange, and Cucumber
2 /11 Iain Bagwell

Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears

Yes, this one-pot dish may seem a little old-fashioned, but it sure doesn’t come across that way when your house fills with incredible aromas of melted cheese and browning pork. This whole dish comes together in a mere 20 minutes, and is special enough to serve to guests.

Recipe: Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears
3 /11 Aubrie Pick

Yucatan-Style Chicken and Lime Soup

Tangy, meaty, and full of fresh vegetables, here’s a soup that banishes the winter blues. You won’t find zucchini flowers at colder times of the year, but that’s okay--they are optional. Serve with a stack of thick, soft corn tortillas. Recipe: Yucatan-Style Chicken and Lime Soup
4 /11 Colin Price

One-Pan Portabella Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie

Sizzle vegetables in a cast-iron skillet with lots of rosemary and garlic and a bit of wine, then cover them with creamy leftover mashed potatoes and broil the whole thing until crisply browned. Recipe: One-Pan Portabella Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie
5 /11 Annabelle Breakey

Butternut Squash Pozole

Few foods are as comforting as pozole, the hearty Mexican soup-stew filled with giant, chewy-soft kernels of hominy. Instead of the traditional pork, we’ve used butternut squash, and it’s a new favorite. Recipe: Butternut Squash Pozole
6 /11 Greg Dupree

Scallops with Baby Bok Choy and Prosciutto

You’ll use a single frying pan for this surprisingly easy dish—first to sear the scallops, then to crisp up the prosciutto, and finally to simmer the bok choy. They all come together in a tasty tumble on the plate.

Recipe: Scallops with Baby Bok Choy and Prosciutto

7 /11 Victor Protasio

Braised Short Ribs with Pear, Ginger, and Star Anise

Who knew that pears with short ribs would be so delicious? With assertive Chinese seasonings like soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil to bring them together in this one-pot meal, they are indeed. Recipe: Braised Short Ribs with Pear, Ginger, and Star Anise
8 /11 Victor Protasio

Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup with Smoked Turkey

Just like ham hocks, smoked turkey legs infuse soups and stews with tons of flavor. If you don’t have a slow-cooker, just simmer everything in one pot on low heat until the peas are tender, which will take 2 to 3 hours on most stovetops. Recipe: Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup with Smoked Turkey
9 /11 Jennifer Causey

Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry

A weeknight go-to that doesn’t require a wok—you can make it in a large frying pan. Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry
10 /11 Jeffery Cross

Speedy Pork Sinigang

Our version of the tangy Filipino classic uses pork tenderloin, a quick-cooking cut. It’s a hearty, uplifting one-pot weeknight dinner. Recipe: Speedy Pork Sinigang
11 /11 Annabelle Breakey

Lamb Shoulder Chops with Green Olives and Lemon

A large frying pan is all you need for this hearty, exciting dinner, on the table from start to finish in 45 minutes.

Recipe: Lamb Shoulder Chops with Green Olives and Lemon