Hearty One-Pot Vegetarian Meals

There’s no better way to eat your greens than in this vibrant, family-friendly pasta. As the seasons change, switch up this recipe’s selection of green vegetables with what’s local in your area.

Red lentils are protein-, fibre- and iron-packed, as well as economical and quick-cooking. With fennel, carrots, onion and tomatoes, this stew is rich in plant-based nutrition and can be on the table in about 30 minutes. Make a big pot for the week to enjoy with whole grain pita or brown rice.

Trendy cauliflower, peas and chickpeas come together for an easy one-pot dinner that you can make on Meatless Monday, or any day you’re looking for a flavourful veggie dish.

You don’t need to dirty two pans with this veggie-packed, eggs-for-dinner meal. While the ratatouille is simmering, crack your eggs directly into the sauce — they’ll cook right in there. Along with infusing your eggs with more flavour, you’ll have one less dish to clean up.

The pressure cooker trend is here to stay! This one-pot device is especially helpful for cooking dried beans, cutting a two-hour task in half with virtually no mess. This black bean soup is sure to be a new favourite for vegetarians, meat eaters and everyone in between. Have diners load up on toppings at the table for a hands-off dinner that garners a round of applause.

Tomato based chilis can all taste the same. Next time a chili craving strikes, employ the sweet, earthy and creamy butternut squash instead of reaching for that can of tomatoes. Along with the squash, beans, corn, poblanos, spices and vibrant toppings add zest to the dish, taking it from flat to fabulous, all in one pot.

Forget the boiling water and make spaghetti and tomato sauce all in one pot. This seemingly magic technique makes pasta night a breeze, creating a meal right before your eyes. Bump up the protein by tumbling in some chickpeas or chopped walnuts while everything is burbling away.

Shakshouka, a one-pot dish popular in the Middle East and North Africa, proves that you don’t need multiple steps, ingredients and pans to achieve big flavour.

A simple and easy pasta dish is just what you need for busy weeknights. Plus, this flavourful recipe is chock-full of tasty greens like broccoli and peas. We love bow ties but feel free to substitute your favourite pasta.

Served as a vegetarian main or alongside a roast turkey feast, this dish delivers hearty mushrooms in fluffy and filling barley to complement whatever is on the table –– with only 10 minutes of prep.

Tofu replaces meat in this freshened up take on chili. The one-pot wonder is a meal in itself, though an optional avocado salad, whether served on the side or as a “salsa” topper, is worth the extra bowl.

It’s often the simplest recipes, like this Italian classic, Cacio e Peppe (cheese and pepper pasta), that can seem the most daunting. This recipe takes the fear out of nailing the traditional dish by making it all in one pot. Maximum return for minimum investment.

Don’t be turned off by the ingredient list, this curry really is easy, made completely in one pot. Without meat, the spices build rich, round flavour, so all diners are happy at the table. This meal can be served with your favourite curry toppings, like cucumber raita, mango chutney, and minced cilantro, along with a side of warmed, store-bought naan.

Mexican meets Italian in this lasagna-esque creation, made all in one pan. With instructions for both the microwave and oven, any age can get to work in the kitchen on this crafty, vegetarian meal.

A weekend breakfast skillet or weeknight breakfast for dinner delight, this protein and veggie-rich entrée comes together quickly. It’s a one-pot recipe with multifaceted flavour.

Red lentils turn into a creamy, balanced one-pot stew for a filling dinner option that can be packed up to-go for tomorrow’s lunch. Budget-friendly and wholesome, it’s healthy comfort food at its simplest.

Store-bought helpers, pesto, baby mozzarella and soppressata add big flavour without the need for multiple steps and pots. The pasta is cooked start to finish in the same pot as your sauce for a little dinnertime magic.

Build, bake, build again and bake again, this one-pan, layered affair using your bounty of produce puts vegetables centre stage.

Fill the Italian one-pot masterpiece with fresh spring vegetables for a virtuous meal that tastes nothing short of decadent. As the seasons change, switch up the produce, using your summer garden’s abundance or late-fall harvest pickings in place of the more delicate springtime morsels shown here.

Get the recipe for Spring Garden Risotto

Allison Day is a cookbook author, nutritionist (RHN) and the creator of the award-winning food blog Yummy Beet.