Struggle with getting dinner on the table? Grab our 5 easy family meal recipes!

As a busy mom and entrepreneur, there are just some days (and seasons) that we thrive on one pot meals for family meals. I’ve pulled 30 of our favorites together to help make meals come together easier in your house!

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I love to cook, but when kids have after-school activities, homework and sports to keep up with, it’s the first thing that goes to the way side if I don’t meal plan.

But, lucky for me (and you), I have a repertoire of family one pot meals I can fall back on if I didn’t plan correctly, or the week just got ahead of me!

We rely on meal prep snacks and even meal prep breakfasts for busy weeks, and these one pot meals can complement them nicely, providing you with ease and convenience.

So, save this post or keep these one pot dinners for families on hand when you need them! I even love them for one pan meals for fall because most of them are cozy, and pasta comes up alot.

Dinner Shortcuts for Families

• Keep staples on hand, like canned beans, quick-cooking rice, canned and frozen veggies, rotisserie chicken, etc. Many of my favorite pantry staples are key for these quick meals or shortcuts.
• Even if you don’t physically prep all of your meals ahead of time, mentally planning which meals to make on what night is a huge help. Look ahead to what nights you need easy meals the most – nights with school/sports activities, solo parenting, etc.
• Cook a batch of grains (rice, quinoa, pasta) on Sunday to repurpose all week.
• Don’t forget about slow cooker or instant pot dump-and-go recipes. Instant pot recipes can be so easy to make while you do other things!
• Jarred sauces (pasta sauce, curry simmer sauce, pesto) can add flavor fast. This tofu pesto adds a burst of protein!
• Double a recipe and freeze half for a future busy night.
• Cook once, eat twice: Re-utilize meat for other meals. For instance, meat for tacos or burrito bowls, roasted chicken for quesadillas, or chili.
• Utilize a breakfast-for-dinner night with any of these easy breakfast recipes! It’s a mental break for you and kids always seem to love these kinds of nights – make Kodiak Cake Sheetpan Pancakes (one pot and hands off) or Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Pancakes (ready in 10 minutes) for a fun twist.
  

One Pot Meals for Families

Why are one-pot meals so great? Well, there are fewer vehicles for preparation (usually) and less things for cleanup!

This saves time, and any time saved counts on those busy nights. You know what I’m talking about, that’s why you’re here.

1

One Pot Taco Tortellini

If you like tacos and pasta, this one pot taco tortellini is a brilliant blend of the two! It's ready in under 20 minutes and is a great, family-friendly meal!

Check out this recipe

2

One Pot Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta

Need dinner on the table quickly? This cheesy beef taco pasta is a family-favorite, combining the wonderful flavors of cheesy pasta with tacos. Best of all, it's ready in under 30 minutes and in one pot!

Check out this recipe

3

One Pan Baked Cheesy Chicken

Baked Cheesy chicken uses only one pan and a handful of ingredients for a juicy, flavorful chicken recipe. It's a great weeknight meal, or fancy up this cheesy baked chicken for a dinner party.

Check out this recipe

4

Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo

This One Pan Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo Meal is ready quickly, has minimal prep and clean up, and tastes like a 5-star restaurant meal! Made with flavorful chicken, orzo, coconut milk, lemon and veggies, this lemon orzo with chicken will quickly become a new family favorite!

Check out this recipe

5

No Cook Corn and Cucumber Salad

This corn and cucumber salad is a favorite for busy weeknights. With a delicious blend of corn, cucumber, tomatoes, edamame and red onion, this corn and edamame salad is brought together with a delicious honey lemon dressing.

Check out this recipe

6

Coconut Milk Chicken Pasta

Chicken pasta with coconut milk is a veggie-rich, creamy, one-pot pasta that's great for the whole family.

Check out this recipe

7

Turkey Burger Bowls

Greek Turkey Burger Bowls are a quick and easy, healthy weeknight meal. Ready in 20 minutes or less, these ground turkey bowls will become a weekly staple!

Check out this recipe

8

Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet

This turkey taco quinoa skillet is an easy, delicious weeknight meal that comes together quickly. Made with cheese, quinoa, ground turkey, black beans, veggies, this cheesy taco skillet will be a new favorite!

Check out this recipe

9

Kale Meatball Soup

This Kale Meatball Soup is an easy family meal that's nutritious and delicious and ready in 30 minutes. Made with tender turkey meatballs and paired with hearty sweetpotatoes, butternut squash and warm spices, every bite is packed with comforting, delicious flavor.

Check out this recipe

10

Chicken Sweet Potato Chili

Make this Chicken Sweetpotato Chili for an easy one-pot meal for families. Whether you need an easy weeknight meal, a meal to freeze, or want to surprise a neighbor with a nourishing meal, this chicken chili with sweetpotatoes is a sure win!

Check out this recipe

11

One Pan Ground Turkey Sweetpotato Skillet

Make this ground turkey sweetpotato skillet for an easy weeknight dinner, or a Thanksgiving leftover dinner idea. Made in one pot, it’s ready in under 30 minutes, easy and full of flavor.

Check out this recipe

12

The Best Vegan Cannellini Beans

This white bean skillet recipe boasts a combination of white beans, tomatoes, veggies and pizza spices giving it a true flavor like its name, Pizza Beans! It's a delicious vegan cannellini bean recipe.

Check out this recipe

13

Brown Rice Quinoa Salad

This tasty brown rice quinoa salad is ready in minutes, yet is full of flavor and nutrition. Paired with a tasty lemon vinaigrette dressing, you'll want to enjoy this quinoa and rice salad over and over again!

Check out this recipe

14

Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies

This easy-to-prep Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies is an easy one-pan dinner, with colorful veggies like corn, sweetpotatoes, peppers and onions, paired with your choice of savory sausage. A dinner the whole family will enjoy!

Check out this recipe

15

30 Minute Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies

One Pan Sheet pan Salmon and Veggies is an easy way to get those necessary omega-3 fatty acids in, with minimal prep and easy clean up. This salmon and veggies sheet pan dinner is perfect for a hands off, busy weeknight.

Check out this recipe

16

20 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp and Veggies

This 20 minute honey garlic shrimp and broccoli sheet pan meal is the perfect quick and easy meal for those busy nights. With minimal prep and clean up, it's ready quickly and served with a delicious honey ginger shrimp sauce. 

Check out this recipe

17

Sheet Pan Sweet Potato Nachos with Black Beans

These crispy and cheesy sweet potato nachos are loaded up with black beans, peppers, tomatoes, and shredded cheese. These easy vegetarian nachos are totally customizable with your favorite toppings, and great for a quick weeknight dinner, or even a pantry meal!

Check out this recipe

18

Chicken Apple Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner with Frozen Veggies

This Easy Chicken Apple Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner is ready in 20 minutes and family-friendly! Sheet pan chicken sausage and potatoes is healthy, quick, and requires minimal prep and clean up.

Check out this recipe

19

Easy Orzo Broccoli Salad

This easy and delicious orzo broccoli salad could be made in one bowl, but uses two to speed things up. While the orzo cooks, boil your broccoli for 3 minutes before combining in one bowl.

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20

Instant Pot Tortellini Soup

Instant Pot Tortellini Soup is a weeknight staple, full of healthy and nourishing ingredients to fill you up and keep you warm. A great family-friendly winter meal!

Check out this recipe

21

Gluten Free Hummus Pasta Salad

This gluten free pasta salad made with creamy hummus is a colorful vegan cold pasta salad recipe. Swap out your boring pasta salad for this upgraded pasta salad gluten-free recipe with a unique hummus pasta sauce.  

Check out this recipe

22

Beef Enchilada Skillet

This Enchilada Skillet is a cheesy, one-pan recipe that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner – throw everything in one pan for a 30 minute meal.

Check out this recipe

23

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Make this Chicken Broccoli Casserole as a quick and easy comfort food meal that you can have on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Check out this recipe

24

Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes

Saucy, tangy Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes are a one-pan meal that don't need many ingredients or much time – make them in 30 minutes!

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25

Tuna and Rice Casserole

Tuna and rice casserole is a delicious, hearty meal that's cooked on the stove top and uses only one pot.

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26

One Pan Sausage and Veggie Gnocci

Busy weeknights? No problem. This easy and fast Gnocchi with Sausage and Spinach is wonderfully tasty! All you need is 20 minutes and one pan. Deliciously simple!

Check out this recipe