8 One-Pot Dinner Ideas For Busy, Mid-Week Evenings

By Aishwarya Sahasrabudhe

July 26, 2023

Walking into the kitchen to plan and prep an elaborate meal in the middle of a busy work week can get exhausting. Here are some one-pot meal ideas for mid-week dinners that will reduce your kitchen time but keep you healthy and well-fed.

Bisibele Bhaat

Made with rice, lentils and vegetables, this popular dish from Karnataka is prepared by putting all the ingredients together in a pressure cooker and steaming them until perfectly cooked.

Ghee Rice

Instant pot ghee rice is an aromatic one-pot dish seasoned with flavours of black pepper, cardamom and cinnamon. The rice can be had plain or paired with dal or vegetable stew.

Aloo Matar Subzi

Make this warm and comforting subzi flavoured with ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander and red chilli powder for a spicy, curry-like vegetable paired with brown rice.

Panchmel Khichdi

This rice dish brings together four varieties of dal and rice for a nourishing meal cooked in the pressure cooker. Add vegetables to the khichdi for a healthier version.

Mix Vegetable Curry

Make this simple dish using seasonal vegetables, paneer and coconut milk. Mix the veggies in a tempering of turmeric, garam masala and other spices and serve hot with rotis.

Butter Chicken Khichdi

Add chicken marinated in yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, spices and tandoori masala to a pressure cooker along with rice to make a simple, one-pot butter chicken and rice plate.

Tahari

This easy-to-make aromatic, yellow-coloured Hyderabadi delicacy is a quick dish made by adding whole spices to plain rice. Soya chunks and veggies can also be added to rice for a slight variation.

One-Pot Pasta

Put all your favourite pasta ingredients including the dry pasta, sauce and choice of meat or veggies in a pan, add water and seasoning and keep on the flame until perfectly cooked!