17 Easy One Pot and One Pan Chicken Recipe Ideas
Delicious Budget-Friendly and Time-Saving Weeknight Dinners
These easy one pot chicken recipes can save you on a busy weeknight when. You’re hungry but don’t have much time. You’re bound to find several here that your family will love!
As someone who has cooked budget-friendly family meals for more than 50 years, I’ve developed quite a few recipes with chicken as the main ingredient. I started out cooking weeknight meals for my parents since they both worked. After moving out, I prepared meals for myself, and then for my own family.
Some of my favorite dishes included either chicken dishes or hamburger casseroles. They both provided lots of flavor while keeping a lid on the budget.
The one pot chicken recipe is a staple in many kitchens. All of the ones listed below are quick and easy to make, and to top it off, they’re delicious! Check out these ultimate one pot recipes for some inspiration on how to spice up your next dinner night at home.
So get out your large skillet, large Dutch oven, pressure cooker, or even slow cooker and let’s get cooking one of these amazing one pot chicken dinners that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Add a side salad and your favorite bread for a complete, filling meal. For anyone who needs to be gluten-free, I highly recommend either this cloud bread or a slice of southern-style cornbread. If you like a little extra kick in your bread, make these jalapeño corn muffins.
Most of the recipes are flexible enough so you can use whatever kind of chicken you have on hand. Whether it’s chicken thighs, drumsticks, or juicy chicken breasts, you can whip up some easy dinners the family will love.
Delicious One Pot Chicken Dinners
Save time by making any of these delicious one pot chicken dinners. Every single one of them is yummy!
Slow Cooker Chicken Pepper Pot
One of the most delicious recipes around is slow cooker chicken pepper pot. It’s super easy, and tastes absolutely amazing!Â
Slow Cooker Chicken and Spanish Rice
I’ve also heard this recipe called Spanish chicken and rice. This is a great but easy recipe for your slow cooker. The chicken will be so tender and juicy, and the Spanish rice will soak up all of that delicious flavor.
Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken
Most busy people love easy crock pot recipes that they can throw together easily and taste great ... like this one. They also don't want to have a ton of dishes because, let's face it - who likes doing the dishes after dinner? This recipe is delicious served with rice or noodles to sop up all that yummy sauce
Mandarin Orange Ginger Chicken Recipe
Packed with lots of delicious flavors, this colorful and nutritious dish is the perfect family dinner!
Chicken Pot Pie
This easy chicken pot pie recipe is the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day. The best part is that it only takes one pot to make, so cleanup is a breeze.
Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole
This One Pot Chicken Noodle Casserole is such a comforting dish! It's easy to make, and it's loaded with chicken and noodles. You'll love this delicious casserole!
Italian Chicken Zucchini Casserole
Loaded with bold flavors and lots of nutrition, this easy meal is sure to become a family favorite.Â
Chicken and Rice Casserole
The following chicken rice casserole is simple enough that even beginning cooks can master this delicious one pot meal. It’s easy, satisfying, and filling. And most importantly, it’s absolutely delicious!
Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
This creamy chicken stroganoff is the perfect one pot meal for a cozy night in. It’s similar to beef stroganoff, but sometimes you just want to have chicken. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious and hearty dinner on the table in no time!
Chicken Bog
You might know this delicious dish by another name. But whether you call it chicken bog or rice pilaf with chicken, it’s absolutely delicious!
Chicken Creole with Rice
Chicken creole with rice is a one pot dish that is easy to make and delicious. A delicious combination of chicken, spices and rice all cooked in one pot. This dish is totally perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Spicy Ranch Packet Chicken Recipe
One of the easiest dinners you can make, all you need is chicken breasts and a few spices mixed in with some ranch dressing mix. Toss in some sliced potatoes and veggies to make it a complete meal. You’ll want to make this one often.
Homemade Chicken Rice Soup
Homemade chicken soup is one of the most comforting foods you can make. It's easy, fast, and so delicious ... especially when you need a little extra warmth.
Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
One pot chicken recipes are the ultimate in easy weeknight cooking. This teriyaki chicken and broccoli is a perfect example. The chicken is tender and juicy, while the broccoli is perfectly cooked. The teriyaki sauce is flavorful and slightly sweet, making this a dish the whole family will love.
Instant Pot Taco Soup
This one pot chicken taco soup is the perfect quick and easy meal. It's hearty, flavorful, and takes just minutes to prepare in your Instant Pot.
Crock Pot General Tso Chicken
When you're looking for something a little different with lots of delicious flavors, you'll want to try this yummy General Tao chicken in your slow cooker. Start it in the morning, and you'll come home to a delightful aroma and a wonderful meal.
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken And Pasta
This simple meal is so easy to make that you'll want to put it on your regular dinner rotation. It's perfect year-round, either with or without a side dish.
Easy But Delicious
One-dish chicken recipes make life easy with their quick cooking times and minimum dishes – perfect if you’re short on time or trying to get more greens in your diet. Even if you’re using a slow cooker, your time in the kitchen is minimal.
The ingredients of the one pot chicken recipes will vary but they typically have some sort of pasta or rice in with the sauce, veggies and protein which makes them quick meals that everyone loves. Try making these recipes this week and see how much easier dinner can be!
The goal here is to make life easy … or at least as easy as possible. Dinnertime shouldn’t be stressful. In fact, it should be a fun event that you look forward to.
So why not get started and make one of these delicious meals for dinner tonight?
For more information about chicken, check out these Chicken FAQs.
Tips for One Pot Chicken Success
Many of these recipes include rice, pasta, or potatoes. And then you’ll need to determine which type of each. For example, do you want angel hair pasta, rotini, or elbow pasta? Or which do you choose between russet potatoes or sweet potatoes?
And with any rice recipe, you have to make a decision between brown or long grain white rice. Remember that brown rice takes longer to cook. If you choose to use instant rice, the cooking time is even shorter.Â
You can always add some of your own favorite ingredients to your dishes. Here are some I don’t hesitate to toss into any one pot meal:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Parmesan cheese
- Cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite)
- Bell peppers (strips or chopped)
- Onions
- Lemon juice
- Rich chicken stock
- Black pepper
- Sour cream
Garnish to Your Heart’s Content
After you cook the one-pot or one-pan chicken dinner, it’s easy to doctor it up to make it beautiful! In fact, you can make any basic recipe look like a gourmet meal.
Here are some things I like to use for garnish:
- Parsley—either fresh or dried
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Lemon slices
- Tomato wedges or slices
- Radishes
- Sliced red onion
- Lettuce or spinach leaves
When a recipe calls for cooked chicken, you can cook it from scratch, use a rotisserie chicken, or even open a can of chicken. The results will be delicious, regardless of which you choose.
Save Time and Money with a Delicious One-Pot Chicken Dinner
When dinner needs to be simple but still satisfying, one-pot chicken recipes are a lifesaver. With everything cooking together in a single pot, you get plenty of flavor without a sink full of dishes waiting afterward. Whether you’re feeding a busy family or just want an easy weeknight meal, these one-pot chicken dinners make it easy to put something delicious on the table without spending all evening in the kitchen.
