Cheap and Easy One Pot Meals Ideas for When You're Eating on a Budget

Shepherd’s Pie

Instant mashed potatoes on the bottom. Frozen or canned vegetables in the middle. Ground meat (mixed with egg and breadcrumbs) on top. Stick it in the oven and you’ve got a hearty meal that will please the pickiest eater – shepherd’s pie! If you’d like, you can buy or make a sweet sauce to pour over the pie, such as a mixture of ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and onion soup mix.

Chow Mein

Trying to get rid of some leftover chicken or meat? Just shred it and toss it into a pan, add some vegetables and soy sauce, stir fry it all for several minutes, and enjoy! If you’d like, you can top the stir fry with Chinese noodles. Of course, you could also add rice underneath it, but then it wouldn’t be a one-pot meal!

Huevos Rancheros

This great Mexican one pot meal is original and delicious. Sautee onions and any other vegetables you’d like (e.g., peppers, zucchini). Add a can of drained black beans and mix. Then add some salsa and bring the mixture to a boil. Slowly crack several eggs and slide them gently onto the top of the mixture. (At first, the eggs will appear clear.) Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pot until the eggs set completely. To serve, lay out a soft tortilla on each plate, add a small amount of grated cheese, and spoon some of the mixture into the middle. Roll like a burrito and enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie isn’t just a delicious one pot meal; it’s also one of the easiest comfort foods to make. Just mix together cooked chicken (either from a can, or leftover from making chicken soup), frozen or canned mixed vegetables, and a creamy canned soup. Add your favorite spices and pour into a premade pie shell. If you’d like, you can top the pie with a second premade pie shell. Bake in the oven and enjoy!