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I'm a professional meal planner. These simple one-pot meals cost less than $25 and feed my entire family.


As a professional meal planner and busy mom, I rely on simple one-pot dinners to get flavorful, satisfying meals on the table quickly.

I especially love these recipes because they’re easy to customize. For example, I’m vegan but my family isn’t, and these dishes can easily be adapted to suit different dietary preferences.

These four quick and easy dinners take less than 30 minutes to make and are perfect for busy weeknights when I want something homemade, nutritious, and stress-free.

At under $25 per meal, they’re also budget-friendly and require only a handful of ingredients.

My family can’t get enough of this taco soup


A pot of taco soup with a ladle inside, next to a bowl filled with the soup and sides of shredded cheese and sour cream.

Bowls of taco soup are easy to personalize with toppings.

Stephanie Dreyer



Ingredients: one onion, 12 ounces of vegan (or regular) ground beef, 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, 3 cups of vegan broth, a 28-ounce jar of salsa, a 4-ounce can of diced green chiles, a can of black beans, a can of pinto beans, 1 tablespoon of olive oil

This one-pot soup delivers all the flavor of taco night with none of the fuss.


A can of pinto beans, a package of ground beef, a box of broth, a yellow onion, a jar of taco seasoning, a container of salsa, a can of green chiles, and a can of black beans in a pot on a countertop.

The soup requires just a few ingredients.

Stephanie Dreyer



I start by sautéing the chopped onion in olive oil. Then, I add the vegan beef and taco seasoning and cook until browned.

Next, I stir in the broth, salsa, and green chiles. I drain and rinse the cans of beans and add them to the pot. Once the mixture comes to a boil, I reduce the heat and let it simmer until slightly thickened.

I like to serve it with a DIY topping bar so everyone can customize their bowl. At my house, dairy-free sour cream, lime wedges, avocado, taco sauce, and chopped cilantro are always in the mix.

I’m always amazed by how easy this creamy pesto pasta is


A bowl of creamy pesto pasta garnished with basil, with a loaf of bread and a salad served behind it.

This pesto pasta never disappoints.

Stephanie Dreyer



Ingredients: 1 pound of penne pasta, a 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce, 1 cup of pesto, ½ cup of drained sun-dried tomatoes, 8 ounces of vegan cream cheese, ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of basil leaves, kosher salt, black pepper

I’ve made this creamy, dairy-free Pasta Pasta dozens of times, and it still surprises me how flavorful and effortless it is.


A jar of sun-dried tomatoes, a bag of penne pasta, a container of cream cheese, a jar of marinara sauce, a pouch of pesto, and a container of grated Parmigiano Reggiano in a pot on a countertop.

It only takes a few ingredients to make this one-pot pasta.

Stephanie Dreyer



I start by boiling the pasta according to the directions on the bag. While that’s on the stove, I chop the sun-dried tomatoes.

Once the pasta is cooked and drained, I return it to the pot and stir in the marinara sauce, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and vegan cream cheese until everything is smooth and creamy.

To finish, I season to taste with salt and pepper, then top with vegan Parmesan and torn basil.

My family can’t get enough of this comforting, colorful dish.

This stir-fry is flavorful and packed with protein


A pot of stir-fry made with cauliflower rice, garnished with sliced green onions, and fresh lettuce leaves arranged in the background.

It’s easy to customize a stir-fry.

Stephanie Dreyer



Ingredients: one carrot, two cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 14 ounces of firm tofu, a bag of cauliflower rice, 1 cup of mushrooms, 1 cup of cooked edamame, six green onions, ½ cup chopped peanuts, a head of butter lettuce, stir-fry sauce

Stir-fry is one of my go-to meals because it’s easy to customize, and this one delivers big flavor with minimal effort.


A bag of garlic, a bag of cauliflower rice, a package of mushrooms, green onions, a carrot, a bottle of stir-fry sauce, and a package of tofu in a pot on a countertop.

Any teriyaki-style sauce works well in this dish.

Stephanie Dreyer



I start by sautéing the diced carrots and minced garlic in sesame oil. Then, I crumble in the tofu and cook it until it’s golden and crispy.

Next, I stir in the cauliflower rice, sliced mushrooms, and cooked, shelled edamame. I finish with a generous drizzle of my favorite store-bought stir-fry sauce (any teriyaki-style blend works great).

To serve, I top it with sliced green onions and chopped nuts. We love eating it straight from the bowl — or spooning it into lettuce leaves for a nutritious, protein-packed wrap.

This Italian-style Orzo tastes like it came from a restaurant


Cooked orzo in a pan garnished with basil leaves on a kitchen table.

This orzo dish tastes like something I would order at a restaurant.

Stephanie Dreyer



Ingredients: half of an onion, two cloves of garlic, a jar of marinated bell peppers, a can of artichoke hearts, 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of capers, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 cup of orzo, 14 ounces of bruschetta, a can of cannellini beans, 2 cups of vegetable broth, 3 cups of baby spinach leaves, ½ cup of vegan ricotta, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 ½ tablespoons of Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, fresh basil leaves

This is my favorite way to elevate a simple orzo dish. Everything comes together in one skillet before finishing in the oven — and the result is impressive.


A tube of tomato pasta, a jar of artichoke hearts, a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, a bag of baby spinach, a jar of roasted red peppers, a yellow onion, a jar of capers, a container of bruschetta, a bag of orzo, a box of broth, and a can of canellini beans in a pot on a countertop.

The ingredients make this dish super colorful.

Stephanie Dreyer



While the oven preheats to 400°F, I chop the onions, bell peppers, and artichoke hearts. I mince the garlic and cut the sun-dried tomatoes into thin slices.

Then, I add all the veggies to a pan with capers and Italian seasoning, and sauté the mixture in olive oil for about 5 minutes.

Next, I stir in the uncooked orzo, tomato paste, bruschetta, drained beans, and broth. Once it comes to a simmer, I transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the dish for 10 to 15 minutes.

To finish, I stir in the spinach and vegan ricotta, and top it off with fresh basil.

The final result is a hearty comfort meal that’s totally restaurant-worthy.



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