An efficient InCl3 catalysed one-pot strategy has been developed for the synthesis of tetra-substituted pyrroles and tri-substituted 2-pyrones in very good yields. Tetra-substituted pyrroles were prepared from 1,4-enediones and β-dicarbonyls employing NH4OAc as a nitrogen source, through a combination of Michael addition and Paal–Knorr methods. Tri-substituted 2-pyrones were synthesised from 1,4-ynediones and appropriate β-dicarbonyls using a sequential Michael addition and 6-exo-trig cyclisation.