Want to prep meals for new parents – or are you a new parent yourself? Here are a ton of ideas for one-pot meals for new moms and parents!
When you are a new parent, your life can feel like a fog.
When I had my first child, luckily I was able to adapt and just eat whatever whenever and bend to his schedule.
But, with baby #2 I had a one year old at home and he had to eat when he was used to eating, which added an extra pressure onto everything.
New parents usually don’t have much energy for cooking. Thats why I love one pot meals – they are easy, convenient, quick, and have a lot less clean up than traditional many-pot meals.
Meal ideas for new parents
- The best Costco meals for new parents
- Freezer meals for new moms
- Vegetarian freezer meals for new parents
- Paleo freezer meals for new parents
- Dairy-free freezer meals for new parents
- Gluten-free freezer meals for new parents
- Crock pot freezer meals for new parents
- One handed meals for new moms
- Breakfast freezer meals for new moms
- One pot meals for new moms
Benefits of One-Pot Meals
There are a bunch of reasons why one pot meals are awesome – especially when you are tired or busy!
- Save time and effort with simple meals
- Less clean-up with less pots and pans
- Fewer dishes to wash compared to dirtying up tons of pans
- More time to spend with baby since you’re doing less cooking
- Versatile and can be adjusted to different dietary needs
- Great for meal planning and can easily be prepped in advance and even frozen!
Tips for Making One-Pot Meals
Here are some tips for making one-pot meals easier and more enjoyable:
Choose the right pot
Choose a pot that is large enough to accommodate all the ingredients for your one-pot meal. A pot that is too small can cause overcrowding and uneven cooking.
Prep ingredients in advance
Prep all your ingredients before starting to cook can help you to save time and ensure everything is ready to go.
This includes washing and chopping vegetables, measuring out spices and seasonings, and having any proteins ready to add to the pot.
These are things that you could do earlier in the day when baby is sleeping (I know, I know, but it can work) or even earlier in the week and store in the fridge.
Brown meats first
If using meat in your one-pot meal, brown it first in the pot before adding any other ingredients. This will add flavor and depth to the dish.
Of course, follow your recipe, but this is a general rule of thumb.
Layer ingredients wisely
Layer your ingredients carefully in the pot to ensure even cooking.
Start with the ingredients that will take the longest to cook, such as root vegetables or tougher cuts of meat, and add more delicate ingredients later or on top.
Add liquids in stages
Add liquids, such as broth or water, in stages to ensure the right consistency and prevent the dish from becoming too watery or dry.
Add just enough liquid to cover the ingredients and adjust as needed. You can always add more, but it can be hard to drain excess liquid off.
Keep the lid on
Keep the lid on the pot as much as possible to trap in heat and moisture, which will help the ingredients cook evenly and prevent the dish from drying out.
Don’t over-stir
Resist the urge to stir your one-pot meal too frequently, as this can cause the ingredients to break down and become mushy.
Instead, gently shake the pot to distribute the ingredients.
Adjust seasoning at the end
Taste your one-pot meal and adjust seasoning as needed at the end of cooking, once all the ingredients have had a chance to meld together. This will ensure the dish is flavorful and well-balanced.
One-Pot Meal Ideas
Here are a ton of my favorite easy and delicious one-pot meal ideas for new moms!
easy and delicious one-pot meals for new moms
Having a new baby at home is rough! Here are some one pot meals to make for new parents or for new parents to make for themselves!
Salmon stir fry is a healthy, delicious meal that takes just 30 minutes and one pan. It's loaded with fresh vegetables, high in protein and heart healthy fatty acids.
This Chicken Sausage and Vegetable Skillet is ready in under 30 minutes! The perfect quick and healthy recipe! It’s loaded with chicken sausage, vibrant bell peppers, zucchini, onions, and crispy red potatoes.
Make this easy Italian one pot pasta within just 20 minutes for a healthy, family-friendly dinner! It’s a great way to eat more veggies, tastes really flavorful and is loved by kids and adults alike.
You'll love this easy recipe that creates crispy pork carnitas in your dutch oven at home. Moist and juicy pork roast is slow-cooked and seasoned with spices until it's fall-apart tender!
An easy, one-pan gluten-free chicken recipe that is perfect for any night of the week. My family loves this chicken broccoli rice and I love how easy it is to prepare!
Easy one-pan baked tortellini recipe is a quick dinner recipe that’s made in one skillet in less than 30 minutes. This recipe takes just 5 minutes of prep and 6 ingredients to make.
This is absolutely the best hamburger tater tot casserole recipe! It’s full of rich, cheesy flavor and hearty goodness that the whole family will love.
One Pot Supreme Pizza Pasta Skillet is the perfect mix of loaded pizza and the flavors of a delicious hearty pasta dinner.
Enjoy a flavorful One Pot Kielbasa and Broccoli pasta dinner in less than 30 minutes with simple ingredients that can be found in your pantry and refrigerator!
Baby back ribs will melt in your mouth when baked in a cast iron dutch oven! They're juicy, fork-tender and delicious!
4 Ingredients and one pan is all it takes for this complete Roast Chicken meal to come together.
This One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is a family-friendly, dairy-free meal that's easy to make and so delicious. It's the ultimate comfort food!
Easy One-Pot Jambalaya with chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, and rice stewed in a tomato based sauce and spiced to perfection with Cajun seasoning. This easy take on classic Creole Jambalaya feeds a crowd!
Get ready for a comfort food feast with this delicious Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe! Perfectly cheesy and crispy, it's the ultimate indulgence for any mac and cheese lover.
Only one pot needed for this creamy boursin chicken! The whole family will love this 20 minute meal made with simple seared chicken in a creamy cheese sauce.
A creamy tomato based sausage tortellini soup made with spinach, Italian sausage, cheese tortellini. A hearty filling soup that is perfect for cold weather.
Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies are an easy one-pan meal, perfect for weeknights. It's a full balanced meal, with delicious salmon and roasted vegetables.
This one-pan Chicken Pomodoro comes together in just 30 minutes, and it's packed with fresh tomato and basil flavors.
These ground chicken sloppy joes are a healthy take on traditional sloppies, and filled with delicious Asian flavors. Best of all, they come together in 20 minutes!
This ultra easy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe features tender, succulent shrimp in a flavorful cream sauce. But unlike many other recipes, this version leverages the one-pot method and some clever ingredients to create all those popular, restaurant-quality Cajun flavors quickly … easily … and MUCH more nutritiously, too! Bonus: It rewarms nicely, for those days when you need to prep dinner ahead of time (or wanna have leftovers for lunch)!
This simple garam masala chicken curry recipe is packed with flavor and easy to make. It comes together in a single pot, and the leftovers are easy to store.
Easy Taco Pasta is the best one pan dinner! Healthy, cheesy, and delicious, this recipe for taco pasta is great for a quick 30 minute dinner.
If you’re on the lookout for a healthy dinner that is the textbook definition of comfort food, look no further than my Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie.
One Pot French Onion Gnocchi is a quick and easy cool weather dinner idea mixing caramelized onions, white wine, gnocchi and cheese. This meal is the ultimate, unique comfort meal. Pair it with crusty bread and a green salad!
Creamy Marry Me Chicken is a crowd-pleasing quick and easy recipe – chicken thighs in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and bacon! Even better is cooks up in one pot for easy cleanup and for busy weeknights.
When it’s dreary and cold outside, it’s time to cook a comforting dinner for two! Learn how to make Stovetop Beef Stew For Two with potatoes, carrots, and peas plus learn which cut of beef is best for stews.
In the mood for lasagna but don’t have time to make one? Luckily this One Pot Lasagna Soup is ready in under an hour by cooking the noodles directly in the broth! Made with canned tomatoes so you can make it all year round.
Mexican Chicken Taco Skillet is made with extra lean ground chicken, salsa, black beans and Orecchiette pasta in one pan for a quick, delicious weeknight meal.
Dutch Oven Pulled Pork is an easy way to make fork-tender BBQ in half the time of a smoker. This simple recipe turns a boneless pork shoulder into juicy and tender meat for a southern one pot meal!
Couscous paella with shrimp is an easy one pot meal that's fancy enough for a special occasion and easy enough for a weeknight meal.
Za'atar Chicken is a super easy one-pot meal. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can have a flavorful and healthy dinner on the table in no time. The chicken is seasoned with za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend, which adds a deliciously unique flavor to the dish. Plus, everything is cooked together on one sheet pan, making cleanup a breeze.
This easy one-pot zucchini mushroom pasta has a creamy, herby lemon basil sauce.
Marinara, pepperoni and cheese are added to chicken and cooked in one pot. This Pepperoni Pizza Chicken is a delicious one pot meal.
One pan dinner that is so quick and easy yet flavourful - enter Hoisin Mushroom and Cabbage Wrap.
Ground beef burrito skillet has all of the flavors of a ground beef burrito in an easy, one-skillet dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Corned beef and cabbage is a comforting meal any day of the year. It's perfect to make for corned beef hash or reubens as well!
This easy kielbasa and sauerkraut is the perfect one pot meal the entire family will love!
What are you cooking up lately?
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, I’m Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, I’ve made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. 🎉👨👩👧👦🎈