We all know that feeling: you just cooked and ate a delicious meal and now all you want to do is sit back and relax, but the kitchen looks like a disaster zone. There’s no doubt that cleaning is the worst part of cooking. But it doesn’t have to be this way, at least not all the time. When you’ve had a busy day and can’t cope with a big cleaning job, opting for an all-in-one meal makes things a lot easier. And you don’t have to sacrifice flavor or nutrition either, so it’s a big win all round.
What are the benefits of one pot cooking?
Cooking in one pot makes the whole process of preparing dinner much easier. This way of cooking is also good for the planet. First, it only requires energy for one heat source, but it also means you use less water when it comes time to do the dishes. And, as a bonus, if you cook this way regularly, it can even save you money on energy bills.
Plus, because one-pot meals lend themselves well to batch cooking (think pilafs, pastas, and stews), they also help to prevent food waste. You can cook everything at the start of the week, then freeze portions in advance to reheat later.
Are you feeling inspired? We’ve rounded up some of our favorite vegan recipes below, all perfectly suited for one-pot cooking.
10 easy-to-prepare vegan recipes
A broken vegan pot
1 Vegan Zucchini and Lemon Orzo
This easy and nutritious orzo dish makes a great weeknight meal. It’s the perfect combination of tangy and tangy flavors, plus it’s ultra comforting without being too heavy on the stomach.
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Katy Beskow
2 Pilaf with spinach, chickpeas and lemon
Pilaf is full of flavor, it’s easy to cook in batches (yes, you can make lunch and dinner in one go, using only A stove), and it’s full of goodness. You can choose your favorite vegetables and spices, but this flavorful recipe calls for a blend of spinach, chickpeas, and lemon juice.
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Leslie Durso
3 Creamy Vegan Vodka and Tomato Pasta
Pasta is already one of the easiest midweek dishes, but this recipe takes things to the next level by reducing it all to just one pan. If you’re thinking, “Vodka?!” » …be patient: this is actually one of the best ways to improve the texture and flavor of tomato pasta.
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Sam Dixon
4 Plantains with spicy red peppers and tomato rice
If you haven’t tried plantain, this is the perfect dish to give this tasty banana-like ingredient a whirl. It’s simple to make and has a deliciously sweet and spicy flavor thanks to the addition of Scotch Bonnet peppers, plum tomatoes and red peppers too.
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Rachel Ama
5 Brazilian Moqueca
Moqueca, eaten in Angola and Brazil, is traditionally prepared with seafood, including shrimp and fish. But animal products are not necessary to make this dish delicious. Instead, you can use hearts of palm which, when cooked, have a texture very similar to shellfish.
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6 Moroccan tagine
Moroccan tagine is one of the original one-pot dishes. In fact, the clue is in the name, as a tagine is the name of the fondue dish in which the stew is traditionally cooked. Again, this dish is usually made with chicken, but instead you can simply compile all your favorite vegetables into a dish with spices and dried fruits (traditional tagine pot optional).
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Rachel Ama
7 Cajun Beer Breaded Oyster Mushroom Sandwich
Get a taste of New Orleans street food without having to leave the house or make a big mess in the kitchen by making this delicious Cajun beer-battered oyster mushroom sandwich. To serve, tartar sauce is a must.
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A broken vegan pot
8 Crispy Garlic and Shiitake Congee
Congee is also known as Chinese rice porridge, and this is all because of the similar texture between the two dishes. But unlike porridge, this dish is usually accompanied by savory ingredients and eaten at dinner time rather than breakfast. You can choose any ingredients you like, but this shiitake and garlic combination is hard to beat.
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Hannah Kaminsky
9 Moroccan-Inspired Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
Stew is a hearty, flavorful, filling dish best served when it’s raining outside and you just need something comforting and delicious to warm your insides. And as a bonus, it’s also super nutritious.
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Desiree Nielsen
ten Cauliflower Peperonata Skillet
Most people associate Italy with dishes like pasta, pizza, and risotto, but peperonata is another traditional Italian meal worth your time. It’s usually made with sweet peppers and served with chicken or pork, but this ultra-flavorful recipe substitutes cauliflower.
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To learn more about vegan cooking, read:
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on the south coast of England.
