Maybe you’ve decided to trim down your takeout budget, or your favorite restaurants are at full capacity, or you’ve just developed a taste for home cooking over the past few months. There are plenty of reasons to make meals in your own kitchen, but it’s not always easy for chefs who are cooking on a schedule or just starting out. That’s why we’ve prepared a few quick ideas for dinner—with these tips to spruce up your basics and recipes for easy one pot meals, you’ll have your kitchen sizzling with delicious dishes in no time at all.
Whether you’re new to cooking or already have a few recipes in your back pocket, there are a few essential ingredients you’ll want to keep stocked up in your house. Pasta, rice, and potatoes are some pantry staples you’ll find yourself using again and again—they’re simple, they store well, and they can make a wide variety of dishes.
Speaking of complete meals, it can be difficult for many new chefs to time out multiple dishes so they’re finished cooking at the same time. These easy one pot meals have everything you need in one recipe, making it much simpler to plan and prep. With less pans to wash, they also cut down on cleanup, so you can turn to a single skillet or one pot meal when you’re looking for an easy idea for dinner. Since you’ve already stocked up, let’s start with a few featuring each of our pantry staples:
And when you’re ready to branch out, there are plenty of other fun, unique, and delicious one pot meals you can try! Delish’s roasted shrimp, peppers, and feta takes five minutes of prep and is finished in less than half an hour. If you want to impress while entertaining, creamy spinach and artichoke salmon from Half Baked Harvest has a fancy flair and can be prepped ahead of time. Make a big batch of Budget Bytes’ filling vegetable barley soup, and freeze the leftovers for easy reheating. Kids love the sloppy joe recipe from the Zak Designs blog, and if you’re craving some heat, our chipotle chocolate chili recipe puts a memorable twist on a classic dish.
Whether you’re looking to step up your game or just now stepping into the kitchen, these tips, tricks, and recipes will make sure you’re never at a loss for what to cook for dinner. And don’t forget to serve up your creations on beautiful and stylish dinnerware to give your homecooked meals the presentation they deserve.