Single-dish meals are a lifesaver for busy days when you want a delicious, hassle-free dinner. These meals combine all the ingredients you need into one satisfying dish, making cooking and cleanup a breeze. Here are some of the best single-dish meals you can enjoy any night of the week.
AUTHOR: Veronica Booth
Table of Contents
- 1. Mashed Potatoes
- 2. Soup
- 3. Mac and Cheese
- 4. Chili
- 5. Rice
- 6. French Fries
- 7. Creamed Corn
- 8. Steak
- 9. Chicken Wings
- 10. Sandwiches
- 11. Baked Beans
- 12. Nachos
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1. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are usually served as an irresistible side, but this creamy dish can easily stand on its own. Sure, a scoop beside your Thanksgiving turkey is great, but sometimes, you just want a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes. Many people will enjoy this filling, tasty, and easy-to-make dish as the main event at dinner.
2. Soup
Some people treat soup like an appetizer, just a precursor on the way to the good stuff. But many soup lovers think you don’t need anything else after a hearty bowl of tomato bisque, clam chowder, or chicken noodle broth. A hearty bowl of soup is a cozy and delicious meal on a cold winter night, and if you need a little more, a side of bread always hits the spot.
3. Mac and Cheese
For many, mac and cheese can stand all by itself at the dinner table. Eating mac and cheese alone is one of the more common single-dish dinners, but some still think mac and cheese is nothing more than a side. Whether it’s a gooey bowl of stovetop mac or a crispy slice of baked mac and cheese, this can definitely be a meal on its own. Get the recipe
4. Chili
Most people view chili as a meal in itself, making it one of the most popular single-dish dinners you can make. While some like to serve it with a side, like cornbread, potato skins, baked potatoes, chips, or bread, lots of people think chili doesn’t need a sidekick because it can be a superhero without any help.
5. Rice
Rice is often relegated as a side or a base for other, heartier foods. However, rice lovers will indulge in a big bowl of rice with only a sauce and some seasoning. Similarly, people report having a large helping of grits for dinner, topped with nothing but a generous pad of butter. It all sounds cozy and simple, so why can’t these be full meals? Get the recipe
6. French Fries
French fries are almost universally considered a side or maybe an appetizer. However, fry addicts admit to eating nothing but these crispy potato sticks for dinner. It’s similar to having only mashed potatoes for dinner, so clearly, solo potatoes are a popular choice. With fries, you can select a variety of sauces to add more flavor variety to the meal.
7. Creamed Corn
This one is a little more unorthodox, but if you love cream corn, it makes perfect sense. Corn has a unique sweetness while still savory, and cream corn takes the flavor profile to the next level. Some people find nothing more comforting than a bowl filled to the brim with cream corn. Others just like plain corn with some melted butter for dinner. Get the recipe
8. Steak
Steak is usually the star of a meal. People even use the phrase “steak dinner” to mean a full dinner featuring steak. But some take this phrase literally, searing a juicy steak and enjoying it all by its lonesome. In this case, it’s the side dishes that are ditched, allowing the protein to shine by itself.
9. Chicken Wings
Chicken wings may show up in the appetizer section of restaurant menus, but lots of people enjoy them as the main course. Whether you like Buffalo, barbecue, or something more exotic, a plate of chicken wings can be an immensely satisfying dinner and doesn’t need anything else. Get the recipe
10. Sandwiches
It seems like sandwiches always come with fries, chips, or another kind of side, but they don’t need a side to be filling. Plenty of sandwiches, from a Philly cheesesteak to grilled cheese to BLT, can be robust enough to stand as a meal on their own, and it’s a common single-dish dinner choice.
11. Baked Beans
Like cream corn and mashed potatoes, baked beans are a popular and mouth-watering side that usually comes with a hefty protein. However, a well-seasoned and robust bowl of baked beans can be a meal in itself, especially on chilly nights. Get the recipe
12. Nachos
Nachos are another food typically labeled as an appetizer, but why can’t they be a meal? Loaded nachos are super filling and flavorful, so you don’t need a main course to go with them. Some people even simplify this, having just chips, salsa, and sour cream for dinner.
Source: Reddit.
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