35 One-Pot Meals Just Right for Dinner Tonight

The traditional Spanish chicken and rice casserole gets its distinctive flavor from white wine, saffron, and pimiento-stuffed green olives. Nestle seared chicken thighs into the seasoned rice and cook everything together on the stovetop.

Cubes of beef chuck become melt-in-your-mouth tender when braised with Irish stout beer and tomato paste. This dish freezes well: Simply pack the cooled stew into plastic containers and store for up to three months.

Smoky chipotle chiles in adobo sauce heat up this stove-top chicken casserole, which also serves as a delicious quesadilla filling: simply cut the chicken thighs into bite-size pieces before cooking, and eliminate the rice if you wish.

Canned plum tomatoes and fresh garlic make an easy, flavorful marinara sauce. Baking the lasagna in the same skillet used to simmer the tomato sauce makes this pasta dish extra quick to whip up.

Canned black beans and kielbasa (or any other smoked sausage you choose) make a hearty meal. Top each portion of stew with chopped parsley and a dollop of plain yogurt. This quick weeknight meal is ready in 40 minutes.

Better known as coq au vin, this rustic French chicken stew gets its richness from bacon and red wine. Serve with crusty bread or buttered noodles.

Butternut squash and kale cook along with short-grain Arborio rice, making this risotto extra hearty and sweet. After sauteing for a few minutes on the stove, this dish goes into the oven -- unlike most risottos, there's no need to stand and stir!

Roasted red peppers and frozen peas add color and sweetness to this chicken and rice casserole. You can speed up the cooking time by first soaking the brown rice in water all day.

Pale ale makes a flavorful braising liquid for sweet Italian sausages and red potatoes. Make a quick sauce of olive oil, red-wine vinegar, and parsley to drizzle over the potatoes.

Steam dill-flecked dumplings over a stew of chicken thighs, carrots, and peas. No need to spend all day in the kitchen -- this down-home favorite is ready in an hour.

Rotisserie chicken, precooked andouille sausage, and frozen okra are the secret shortcuts that get this stew on the table in 30 minutes. Bake a batch of cornbread while the gumbo simmers.

Try this spicy shrimp and rice dish -- a New Orleans favorite -- for a simple dinner for family or friends. If you prefer a milder smoked sausage, use chorizo or kielbasa in place of the traditional Cajun andouille.

Cumin and cinnamon evoke the flavors of North Africa in this chicken, rice, and vegetable casserole. Sear the chicken pieces for golden brown skin make the skin golden brown and irresistible, then arrange on top of the rice to steam.

Coleslaw mix -- a combination of shredded cabbage and carrots, available in the produce section of most supermarkets -- is a great time-saver in this hearty pork chop recipe. Caraway seeds and cider vinegar give it a nice punch.

Thai red curry paste and light coconut milk lend an exotic twist to chicken casserole. In addition to red bell peppers and green beans, you could also add eggplant, zucchini, or carrots.

Make your own spice packet for this New Orleans-style shrimp boil by tying up allspice berries, bay leaves, and coriander, mustard, and dill seeds in a square of cheesecloth. Serve this dinner-party dish with lots of melted butter spiked with hot sauce.

Also known as chicken cacciatore, this rustic stew cooks in a rich tomato-mushroom sauce. Serve over rice or with a thick slice of crusty bread.

Use a slow cooker or Dutch oven to simmer sliced beef chuck with onion and mushrooms. Just before you're ready to serve the stroganoff, thicken the sauce with cornstarch and stir in sour cream and Dijon mustard.

Sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and canned diced tomatoes make this vegetarian stew hearty and colorful. Saute the curry powder to release its fragrance before adding the other ingredients.