Like many cooks, I consider a batch of rich soup or hearty stew to be magic in a pot, particularly on chilly days when a seemingly simple bowlful is as comforting as it is filling. A good recipe comes together using a basic set of ingredients, sometimes layered — a slow-simmered masterpiece that gets even better reheated later on as leftovers. But — perhaps what we cooks are most grateful for — these dishes generally use only one pot, requiring very little in the way of clean-up. Therein lies the magic.

The following five ideas — from rich gumbo to leek and potato, vegan mushrooms and more — pack all the rich flavor of a soup that’s been simmering on the stove all day, but these come together in a fraction of the time. And they use only a fraction of the ingredients you might find in one of those “weekend projects.” No recipe takes longer than an hour or so, and none requires more than 10 or so ingredients, along with seasonings and whatever garnishes you might like to add at the end. Continue reading for the recipes.