Now that summer has practically ended, there is a chill in the air and the nights are drawing in, a hearty warm casserole is the ideal meal for dinner. Lots of people love one-pot cooking, purely for its convenience, throwing everything into a casserole dish or slow cooker and letting it slowly cook with little monitoring needed.
One of my favourite things about slow cooking is how after a couple of hours the flavours in the food really develop. Also, I think that it’s nice to know that with very little effort you are in for a treat come dinner time, one pot cooking is perfect for all cookery skill levels.
Other reasons why I love one-pot meals:
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Quick and easy to prepare
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You can leave them unattended for ages to cook
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The comfort and warmth they bring to the home
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There are no rules – you can throw anything in and they still taste great
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They versatility of one-pot meals means that can be experimental
- They work great with meat, fish and vegetables
For slow cooking I love to use my slow cooker because I can set it to cook in the morning, leave it unattended and get on with my day. I do like to use casserole dishes for my one-pot meals too, but I’m always far too paranoid to leave them on the hob or in the oven without checking on them for too long. Here are some one-pot cooking tips that may help you create the perfect hearty dinner for autumn:
- If using meat, try to cut them into similar sizes so that they cook at the same time.
- To get more flavour into the meat you can brown the meat first to seal in the juices.
- As an alternative to using the slow cooker, cast iron casserole dishes conduct the best heat and can be used on the hob and in the oven.
- Lots of beans, pulses and vegetables are great vegetarian alternatives to meat and a fantastic way to pack out a casserole and make it go further.
- The longer that you can cook the stew or casserole for the better as the flavours will intensify through the cooking process.
- Some cuts of meat benefit more from slow cooking on a low heat so that they tenderise.
- If possible use meat or vegetable stock to help to create a sauce packed full of flavour.
Squash, Bean and Tomato Stew
Chocolate and Jalapeno Turkey Chilli
Last week with the weather turning very autumnal, I made a lovely Le Creuset Classic Chicken Casserole from a recipe that features in this months Cook Edition free magazine by John Lewis. It tasted so good that I thought that I would share the recipe:
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 8 portions of chicken
- 250 g bacon , cubed
- 12 small shallots
- 2 small leeks
- 200 g baby button mushrooms
- 1 litre hot chicken stock
- 400 g small new potatoes
- 2 tbsp cornflour and 3-4 tbsp cold water combined
- Chopped fresh parsley
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Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a casserole dish on a medium heat.
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Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and sear in the casserole dish until brown, remove and set aside. Add the bacon to the dish and fry until browned and set aside.
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Use the remaining oil to cook the shallots, mushrooms and leeks until tender and set aside.
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Deglaze the casserole dish using all of the chicken stock and bring it to the boil and add the potatoes and chicken. With the lid on simmer for 30 minutes until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through.
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Return the bacon and vegetables back to the casserole dish and stir in the cornflour paste, stirring until the gravy has thickened. Sprinkle in the chopped parsley and serve piping hot.
I’ve got a funny feeling that my slow cooker and one-pot meals are going to be a life saver with a little one for healthy and nourishing recipes to keep us going.
Are you a fan of one-pot meals? Do you have any favourite recipes?
*Sponosred post
I am so happy that today is the first day of Autumn. That means lots of yummy comforting dishes like these.
I love autumn too and cannot wait to use my slow cooker more. 🙂
I love my slow cooker for one pot meals. Perfect – less washing up, so easy to cook and prepare and always so tasty. Good list of recipes there 🙂
The less washing up part is one of my favourite things about them too. 😉
I can’t wait to try this chicken recipe. It looks really good and ideal for the colder months.
I hope you like it Elisa. 🙂
I’m drooling over here! Your chicken casserole looks SOOO good and perfect for Fall.
Thanks Betsy! It really is that good. 🙂
Before I die, I WILL own a set of Le Crueset!!
You so have to, they’re fab!
I am a huge pan of one pot meals 🙂 It is so much fun to just toss everything into the same pot 🙂 Chili has got to be my favorite!
Chilli is one of my favourites too, so yummy!
That chicken casserole looks SO yummy! I don’t use my crockpot nearly as much as I should but I love crockpot recipes. Definitely saving these for later!
Thanks Brita, it sure was tasty. 🙂
One pot wonders are the BEST!!!! I LOVE when meat MELTS in your mouth! 😀
That’s the best part!!! 🙂
The slow cooker is literally my best friend in the fall / winter. Some of those recipes look so delicious, thanks for sharing! 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
You had me at one pot! I love easy recipes like this. Even though I work from home, I love making dinner in a slow cooker because it smells amazing all day!
They do smell amazing and make dinner times so easy. 🙂
I am always looking for easy one pot meals! I’m going to pin this and share 🙂
Thanks for the share JoAnn. 😀
Your ptitle had me, but then I saw a photo of the mushrooms and I had to close it. I loath mushrooms but I bet this would taste great without them!
Haha! You could easily add beans or something instead.
I love crockpot and slow cooking meals especially in the Fall. The whole house smells amazing, Great recipes.
So true, the kitchen smelled so good when this was cooking,
So much yumminess in one post! That Chinese Char Sui Pulled Pork looks AMAZING <3
Thanks Angelic. 🙂
i love one pot wonder meals myself & anytime i get to use my dutch oven i get excited. definitely adding another one to my christmas list this year
They’re great aren’t they. I can’t wait to use mine more.
I love one pot meals and pkan to make lots this autumn/winter I barely used my slow cooker last year which is a damn shame!
They are perfect for autumn. Hope you have fun experimenting. 🙂
My hubby is French (and the chef in our house) so of course we have a ton of Creuset! I love the addition in mushrooms in this recipe and I think I am going to try to make this for him since he always cooks for me!
Oh, I bet the food in your house is always amazing. 🙂
looks amazing sweetie!! I really need to start making more one pot meals!
Thanks hun! It’s so easy to make too. 🙂
I’m so “scared” of 1 pot meals. Have no idea how long to cook them for, or scared they’d come out all mushy. I need to say shag it and attempt it this winter, I think.
That chicken casserole looks SO delicious! I’m glad you shared the recipe.
Thanks Jessica 🙂
Some great recipes! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Brenda!
You better believe I just bookmarked this!
So mouth-watering looking. I love these kinds of comfort food for the colder months, so delicious and nourishing too.
Butter chicken is one of my favorite meals. My husband likes chicken tikki malsala better, but for me it’s butter chicken.
Thank you so much for the recipe! I’ve been looking for more weekly dinners to make and this would be great!
Oh, I’m saving this! I need as many one pot, crock pot, on pan meals as I can get my hands on!
This looks delicious Jemma! I wish, wish we had a crockpot. Or a microwave. Or a food blender. Or a steamer but our kitchen is too tiny ;(
One pot meals are pretty much my favourite way to cook, this looks great 🙂