There are one pot or instapot/crock pot/rice cooker recipes that can help, but a lot of those still require some prep work. I 100% agree here, though. The key,

There are one pot or instapot/crock pot/rice cooker recipes that can help, but a lot of those still require some prep work. I 100% agree here, though. The key, especially in a small space, is to keep things clean as you work. But, this also means managing sub-tasks through the day, like making sure clean items get pulled out of the dishwasher when it's done so that, to your point, things don't stack up in the sink through the day. There's nothing worse than trying to quickly throw a meal together and realizing the tool you need is at the bottom of the sink under a stack or pile. Things quickly turn to yak shaving. Cooking and cleaning go hand and hand in my mind. I don't always have everything clean when I'm done cooking, but I'm proud when I'm able leave things at a good stopping point. That said, go eat the food you just cooked while it's hot. I think it can be difficult for people new to cooking to balance all these things, it takes practice. As you get a better sense of timing when things will be ready, you find time to clean something. [The more clean and organized your workspace is, the easier meals come together.]