Winter One-Pan Winners The Trend of 2023
Simple crockpot and one-pan recipes keep you fed and warm during the colder months
Preparing a full meal after work or school can seem time-consuming during the energy-zapping winter months. It doesn’t have to be! In 2023, ease is the answer, according to predictions from foodies. Tasting Table, for example, writes that easy one-pot meals with simple ingredients are comforting and “in” food fashion – we love it!
Below are three no-fail recipes that we love, and they don’t require complicated ingredients. They are traditional enough to suit even the pickiest eaters. One-pan dinners and crockpot recipes grow in popularity during the winter, and we can see why – you can eat them for a few days!
Sheet Pan Chicken and Green Beans
Less than 45 minutes from start to finish, this is an easy after-work meal that won’t exhaust you from preparing.
Using one pan or baking sheet in the oven allows for less cleanup and encourages the mingling of flavors while baking. Also, having the range on during the winter provides a little more warmth to your home, plus the bonus of the wonderful scent of baking chicken and veggies throughout the house.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 1 lb green beans (ends trimmed)
- 2.5 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of Everything seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place trimmed green beans on a large baking sheet. Nestle halved chicken breasts between the beans.
- Drizzle 2.5 tablespoons of olive oil over the beans and chicken. Make sure that everything is coated.
- Sprinkle Everything seasoning liberally on the chicken (both sides) and beans
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
Crockpot Impossible™ Meatballs & Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti
Making traditional Italian meatballs, sauce, and spaghetti using Impossible™ meat is not only possible—it’s delicious! And using the crockpot makes it even easier. Just load up the ingredients, check on it every couple of hours, and in 6 hours, you have a hearty and home-cooked meal. Also, feel free to substitute traditional ground beef for Impossible™ meat if preferred.
Ingredients:
- 1 package Impossible™ meat (12 oz)
- 1 egg (or egg substitute like “Just Egg”)
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon parsley, fresh or dry
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 5.5 oz can tomato paste
- ½ yellow onion, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 package of cooked spaghetti
Directions:
- In the crockpot, combine crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, garlic, basil, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper, and hot pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly.
- In a large bowl, combine Impossible™ meat with egg (or egg substitute) and breadcrumbs. Mix thoroughly by hand and make into 2” meatballs. Gently submerge the meatballs into the tomato sauce in the crockpot.
- Cook for 6 hours on low heat, stirring gently once an hour. Further season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare spaghetti noodles to your preference. Combine and serve.
Crockpot Traditional Pot Roast
Making a slow cooker pot roast for yourself or your family is a rite of passage. It’s simple, delicious, and tremendously impressive if you don’t know how easy it is to make.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 lbs chuck roast
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped roughly
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ¼ cups cup beef broth
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 2 ½ lbs Yukon gold potatoes, left whole
- 5 medium carrots, coined
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Directions:
- Add olive oil, garlic, and chuck roast to a crockpot set to high. Leave for 5 minutes.
- Add onion, Worcestershire, thyme, and rosemary. Layer potatoes and carrots on top of the roast. Pour broth evenly over everything—season with plenty of salt and pepper.
- Leave crockpot on high temperature for one hour, then turn temperature to low and cook for 6 hours, stirring and seasoning occasionally.
- To thicken, add cornstarch to ⅓ cup cold water and stir. Add to crockpot 30 minutes before serving and mix thoroughly. Top with minced parsley and serve.
TIP: Do yourself a favor and purchase a quality crockpot. Oval ones are easiest to fit potatoes, meats, and bulky ingredients. They cook faster than round ones, too. You’ll use it year-round as turning on the oven in summer is just too hot.
Easy prep, easy to cook with, and nearly every recipe turns out great—it’s a no-brainer!