You don’t need a full kitchen to eat well. With one pan and a few smart habits, you can cook every meal off-grid or on a budget—here’s how I do it, every day.
Why One Pot?
When space is tight, water is limited, and time is precious, there’s nothing more valuable than a one-pot habit.
Whether you live in a cabin, van, or small apartment, this method:
- Minimizes cleanup
- Saves fuel
- Forces you to cook smarter and simpler
In this post, I’ll walk you through the tools, techniques, and real recipes that make one-pot cooking a daily ritual at Basis Land.
🛠️ The Pan I Use (and Recommend)
🥇 Lodge 10.25” Cast Iron Skillet
- Cooks evenly over gas, fire, or coals
- Can fry, sauté, bake, boil, and simmer
- Durable enough to last a lifetime
Bonus: I use the lid as a plate or backup frying surface.
🍽️ One-Pot Meal Blueprint
A simple formula I follow daily:
Base (carbs) + Protein + Vegetables + Fat/Flavor = ✅ Meal
| Base | Protein | Vegetables | Flavor Additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | Beans, Eggs | Carrot, Cabbage | Garlic, Salt, Vinegar |
| Pasta | Lentils, Sardines | Onion, Kale | Olive oil, Chili, Lemon |
| Potatoes | Chickpeas, Tuna | Zucchini, Spinach | Paprika, Ghee, Mustard |
🔥 My Top 5 One-Pot Meals
1. Campfire Lentil Stew
- Red lentils + carrots + onion + garlic + olive oil
- Simmer for 15 mins
- Optional: splash of vinegar or squeeze of lemon
2. Breakfast Hash
- Potato cubes + garlic + greens + eggs (last 2 mins)
- Crispy bottom = flavor bomb
3. One-Skillet Pasta
- Add pasta + water + toppings all at once
- Simmer until absorbed, stir often
- Add sardines and herbs last
4. No-Fridge Stir-Fry
- Cabbage + onion + garlic + soy sauce
- Add pre-cooked rice and heat through
5. Savory Oatmeal (Yes, Oatmeal!)
- Oats + water + miso or bouillon
- Add sautéed veggies or leftover beans
- Top with ghee or egg
🧼 The Cleanup Routine
- Scrape pan with wooden spatula while still hot
- Use a paper wipe or cloth to clean
- Add water to loosen stuck bits, reheat 1 min, pour out
- Rub with oil once cool to re-season
I haven’t “washed” my pan with soap in over 3 months. Still clean, still cooking perfectly.
🔁 One Pan, Multiple Meals
One trick I love: cook once, eat twice.
- Make extra rice or beans → cool → reuse in a different meal
- Turn leftovers into soup or hash the next day
- Fry yesterday’s pasta into crispy cakes (it’s better than it sounds)
Real Benefits I Noticed
- Less stress, more creativity
- Less trash, no disposable packaging
- Stronger connection to my ingredients
- Meals feel intentional, not rushed
Community Wisdom
What’s your favorite one-pot recipe or technique?
Post it in the comments — we’ll build a community recipe archive from your submissions!
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