After a long day, the last thing you want is a sink full of dishes. One-pot meals solve that while still delivering real flavor — here are the easiest winners.

• One-pot pasta: Cook pasta directly in the sauce with a little extra water; the starch thickens everything and you skip the colander entirely.
• Sheet-pan chicken and vegetables: Toss protein and veggies with oil and seasoning, roast at 425°F for 25 minutes, and dinner is done.
• Rice cooker meals: Layer rice, protein, and vegetables with broth and soy sauce — press start and walk away.
• 20-minute skillet chili: Ground meat, canned beans, tomatoes, and chili powder simmered in one pan feeds a crowd cheaply.

Verdict: master two or three one-pot recipes and you will eat well on busy nights without the cleanup fatigue.