55 One-Dish Meals That Won’t Leave You With an Overflowing Sink
After a long year of cooking, eating, and doing everything at home, discovering the benefits of one-dish meals turned out to be a godsend. Just as we’ve finally plowed through a sink (and desk and living room and…) full of dishes, another round of cake-crusted baking pans and greasy skillets seems to magically appear. (Oh about that, here’s a helpful technique to save you water, soap, and time, and some tools to make hand-washing your dishes easier.) So when it comes to weeknight dinners that won’t keep us elbow-deep in suds all night, we’re all about the one-pot meals; simple and hearty, with just a single skillet, sheet pan, or Dutch oven to wash at the end of the meal. From smoky Hungarian mushroom soup to herbaceous baked cod to cheesy chickpea pancakes, let these 55 one-dish meals do the heavy lifting.
Photo by David Malosh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Cindy Diprima1/55One-Pot Gingery Chicken and Rice With Peanut Sauce
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro2/55Slow-Roasted Salmon with Fennel, Citrus, and Chiles
Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie3/55Shrimp and Cabbage Curry
Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie4/55Braised Beans and Sardines With Fennel
Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie6/55Crispy Rice With Ginger-Citrus Celery Salad
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG, FOOD STYLING BY ANNA BILLINGSKOG15/55Sheet Pan Chicken Meatballs With Tomatoes and Chickpeas
Harissa, a spicy North African paste of chiles, garlic, and spices, is available in many large grocery stores and Middle Eastern markets—some brands come in tubes, others are sold in jars. If you can’t find it, though, substitute by mixing together your favorite hot sauce, tomato paste, a pinch or two of ground cumin, and a drizzle of olive oil. Keep playing with the ratios until you have a medium-spicy paste.
Photo by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Haubert, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky21/55Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Chris Morocco, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen23/55Sheet-Pan Salmon and Squash With Miso Mojo
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio25/55Broccoli Soup With Turmeric, Peanuts, and Crispy Shallots
Photo by Alex Lau35/55One-Skillet Roasted Sesame Chicken Thighs
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the dinner gods’ gift to home cooks everywhere. Each one is its own perfect portion of crispy skin and juicy meat that’s pretty impossible to overcook. Just make sure you cook them thoroughly on the skin side first to render out as much of the fat as possible and ensure maximum crispiness.
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Mariana Velasquez39/55Warm Winter Vegetable Salad With Halloumi
Jonathan Lovekin45/55Skillet-Baked Eggs With Spinach, Yogurt, and Chili Oil
"American and British cooks don't know how far you can take an egg dish," chef Yotam Ottolenghi says. Here, he deftly elevates it to a different realm by flavoring spinach with melted leeks and scallions, baking eggs on top, and finishing with a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of butter spiced with a smoky Turkish chili powder known as kirmizi biber (though crushed red pepper flakes will also work).
Photograph by Yudi Ela, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio51/55Udon in Buttery Tomato and Soy Broth
