5 One-Pot Southern Wonders for Easy Weeknight Dinners

By Tommy Werner, Epicurious

From creoles to jambalayas, read on for the greatest hits of one-pot Southern cooking.

Photo Credit: Photo by Lara Ferroni

1. Turkey Gumbo

Save time and skip the rice. This classic Cajun and Creole turkey gumbo doesn’t need the filler (and you don’t need the extra dishes). Without the tricky rice, you can focus on stirring the roux, which can make or break a gumbo.

Related: 12 Stunning Southern Appetizers For Your Next Outdoor Gathering

Photo Credit: Photo by Peden + Munk

2. Dirty Fried Rice

The South’s dirty rice meets Asian fried rice in this fatty fusion dish. What makes it better than both of the individual dishes? Stirring in a deeply flavored chicken liver base packs some savory punch and unifies the whole.

Photo Credit: Photo by Charles Masters, Food styling by Sue Li

3. Our Favorite Texas Beef Chili 

What defines a classic Texan bowl of chili? No beans, no tomatoes, and lots of patience. You’ll want to wait a day before dolloping on the sour cream: this chili is best a day after cooking.

Photo Credit: Photo by Jason Lowe

4. Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is your oven-busting best friend. What makes this one so special? A filling of pearl onions, fingerling potatoes, and chanterelle mushrooms make this a contender with grandma’s pie.

Photo Credit: Photo by Marcus Nilsson

5. Shrimp Boil

Summer in the South wouldn’t be the same without a shrimp boil, a one-pot wonder that’s easy to recreate at home. Ice is the secret ingredient to make a great boil; add 4 cups shortly after the shrimp finish to steep flavors without toughening the shrimp.

See even more One-Pot Southern Wonders at Epicurious.com

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