Maybe I'm a lazy cook, but I love one-pot meals.  Here are three recipes for one-pot Dutch oven meals.  They include a steak dinner, chicken bake, and bean and sausage bake.

All in One Steak Dinner

What You Need:

1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen hash browns
1/2 t of salt
3 C of frozen pearl onions
1 1/2 lbs. boneless steak
4 T of steak sauce
2 C of mushrooms, sliced
2 C whole baby carrots
3 C of frozen cut green beans
2 fresh rosemary sprigs

How to Make It:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray Dutch oven well with cooking spray.

Distribute the hash browns evenly into the pan and sprinkle them with the salt.
Spread the onions over the top of the potatoes.  Lay the piece of steak over the onions.
Smooth the steak sauce over the top of the piece of steak.  Scatter the mushrooms over the top of the prepared steak.  Place the carrots over the top of the mushrooms and cover the carrots with the beans.  Place the rosemary sprigs into the pan.

Cover and bake 30 minutes or until the steak is cooked the way you like.

Makes 4 servings

Everyone likes there steak cooked differently. This recipe will have your steak well done around the edges and medium rare in the middle.  If you wish your steak to be cooked a little more in the middle bake it for 35 minutes for medium and 40 minutes for well done.

Preparation Time:  approximately 5 minutes
Baking Time:   approximately 30 minutes
Total Time:  approximately 35 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 500; Fat 19g; Carbohydrates 42g; Cholesterol 102 mg; Sodium 365 mg; Protein 37g;
Fiber 11g


Just Throw it in Chicken

What You Need:

1 small onion, sliced thin
1 (28 oz.) can tomatoes
1 t dried basil
1 t dried oregano
1 t dried marjoram
2 C of bow tie pasta
1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs
1/2 t salt
1/4 t of pepper
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 C of carrots, sliced
1 C of cauliflower florets
1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into thin strips

How to Make It:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Use a non stick cooking spray and coat the bottom and sides of a cast iron Dutch oven.

Spread the onions evenly over the bottom of the pan.  Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice and setting the tomatoes aside.  Add enough water to the tomato juice to equal 1 C.  Add in the basil, oregano and marjoram and stir until blended in well.

Place the pasta into the pan and pour 3/4 C the tomato juice mixture over the pasta.
Put the chicken over the pasta and sprinkle with the salt and pepper.  Scatter the garlic over the top of the chicken.  Spread the tomatoes over the chicken.  Layer in the carrots, cauliflower and bell pepper.  Pour the remaining tomato juice mixture over the top of the vegetables.

Cover and bake 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Makes 4 servings

This dish can be made using just about any type of vegetable.  Mix and match corn, green beans, broccoli, zucchini, squash or even eggplant to a just throw it in there easy dinner meal.

Preparation Time:  approximately 15 minutes
Baking Time:  approximately 45 minutes
Total Time:  approximately 1 hour

Nutritional Information:  (approximate values per serving)
Calories 304; Fat 4g; Carbohydrates 34g; Cholesterol 75 mg; Sodium 660 mg; Protein 32g;
Fiber 4g



One Pot Bean and Sausage Bake

What You Need:

1 onion, halved and sliced thin
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 (14 oz.) cans of Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 t dried thyme
1 t celery seeds
1/2 t of salt
1/4 t of pepper
6 (1 ½ lbs.) sausage links
1 zucchini, sliced thin
2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, drained

How to Make It:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray the lid, sides and bottom of a cast iron Dutch oven with a non stick cooking spray.

Scatter the onions over the bottom of the pan.  Scatter the garlic over the onions.
Place the beans into the pan and spread them out into a smooth layer.  Sprinkle the beans with the thyme, celery seeds, salt and pepper.  Lay the sausage links in a single layer over the beans.  Add the zucchini and tomatoes.

Cover the pan and bake 35 minutes or until the beans are tender the sausage is cooked through.

Makes 4 servings

Any type of pork sausage links works well in this dish but if you want to make it a low fat dish use turkey sausage instead.  5 or 6 fresh tomatoes, chopped may be used in place of the canned tomatoes if you prefer. 

Preparation Time:  approximately 10 minutes
Baking Time:  approximately 35 minutes
Total Time: approximately 45 minutes

Nutritional Information:  (approximate values per serving)
Calories 373; Fat 19g; Carbohydrates 29g; Cholesterol 40g; Sodium 875 mg; Protein 24g;
Fiber 9g


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