I love to cook, but by the time January rolls around, my inner gourmet is ready for a vacation. This is the month when I just want to take it easy, especially Monday through Friday. Fortunately, my kitchen is equipped with those two modern marvels – the slow-cooker and an electric pressure cooker – to make weeknight meal prep hassle-free. Here are a week’s worth of one-pot recipes that deliver lots of flavor without a lot of work. At most you’ll have to add a salad or vegetable. If you have any favorite easy weeknight meal recipes or quick tips, please post them pronto!
Classic Pot Roast
Juicy pot roast with potatoes, root veggies and gravy in under an hour? Totally doable with a pressure cooker that can turn the toughest (aka cheapest) cut into a tender bite of beef. Save an extra step and some nutrients – don’t bother peeling the spuds. Get the recipe. Want to learn more about pressure cookers? Check out Cooking Light’s Pressure Cookers Guide.
Tuscan One-Pot
Canned beans are the time- and budget-conscious cook’s best friend. This rib-sticking recipe from Mr. Food uses canned white beans combined with low-fat turkey sausage and fresh spinach (or speed up the prep with bagged, pre-washed spinach). Ready in 30 minutes. Get the recipe.
One-Pot Pork Chops with Apples
Apples and pork chops are a flavor marriage made in heaven. This one-pot meal spices up the union with cinnamon and tosses in potatoes for good measure. Add a green salad or green veg and you’ve got a tasty meal in about 30 minutes. Get the recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
The slow cooker and chicken were made for each other. I like this simple, heart-warming soup that combines chicken breasts (you could easily substitute thighs) and pantry items. It cooks itself while you’re at work and welcomes you home with a mouth-watering aroma. Get the Baked by Rachel recipe here.
Crock Pot Seafood Chowder
A versatile recipe from the Mom Trends Friday Food blog that makes use of whatever seafood is on hand or on sale. Get the recipe.