One-pan dinners are a game-changer for those who need to get a good meal on the table without the hassle of extensive prep or cleanup. If you’ve been settling for takeout or microwave meals because you’re strapped for time or dread a sink full of dishes, you’ll wish you had tried these 19 one-pan dinners sooner. They’re designed to bring out the best in each ingredient, and with everything cooking together in one pan, the flavors meld together beautifully, enhancing the final dish.
The recipes offer a range of flavors and ingredients, but they all share the same core benefits: quick cooking times, straightforward prep, and minimal cleanup. After trying them, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t brought the simplicity and flavor of one-pan cooking into your kitchen sooner.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
This one-pan dish features shrimp cooked in a garlic sauce, accompanied by spinach and grape tomatoes. It’s an ideal option when you have only 30 minutes to prepare dinner. The garlic sauce enriches the shrimp, and the spinach adds a fresh contrast. Cleanup is streamlined, thanks to the one-pan approach. This meal is a go-to for those evenings when both time and energy are limited.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Italian sausage, cream cheese, and tomatoes come together seamlessly in a single pot. The dish is fully prepared in 30 minutes, offering a quick and comforting meal for busy nights. One pot is all you need, so both cooking and cleanup are notably simple. The soup itself is hearty, serving as a complete meal on its own. It’s an uncomplicated and speedy addition to your dinner rotation.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Boneless chicken thighs meld with a sun-dried tomato sauce in just one pan. With a cooking time of around 30 minutes, it’s a practical choice for a last-minute dinner. The sauce not only enhances the chicken but also helps keep it moist. The one-pan method is a real boon when it comes to cleaning up. Its simplicity in preparation and cleanup make this dish one you’ll often turn to.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Creamy Dijon Chicken
This meal comprises chicken and a distinctive Dijon mustard sauce, all prepared in a single pan. At just 30 minutes, it’s a quick solution for any dinner. The mustard sauce adds a unique touch to the chicken, giving it a unique flavor profile. Both cooking and cleaning are simplified due to the one-pan approach. The ease and quickness of the meal make it a recurring favorite.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken
Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Cauliflower and mushrooms blend effortlessly in this one-pan, risotto-inspired dish. In about 30 minutes, you have a complete meal that’s light yet fulfilling. Mushrooms offer an earthy counterpoint to the cauliflower, creating a harmonious flavor balance. Cleanup is minimal, thanks to the one-pan technique. Speed and ease make this dish a logical addition to your weekly meal plan.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Imagine coming home to a comforting chicken meal, complete with a Tuscan sauce, all done in a single pan. This dish doesn’t just offer great flavor; it’s ready in just 40 minutes, making it a solid pick for a weeknight feast. Plus, one pan means that you can practically breeze through the cleanup. It’s a meal that’s likely to become a staple simply because it balances taste and convenience so well.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Here’s another one-pan winner featuring chicken breasts in a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce. In about 30 minutes, you can go from prep to table, making it a stress-free choice for hectic weeknights. The creamy sauce keeps the chicken moist and flavorful, while the one-pan approach takes the fuss out of after-dinner chores. Expect to find yourself making this meal more than just once.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
This dish brings chicken breasts and a complementary mushroom sauce together, all in a single pan. It’s a real timesaver, as the meal is table-ready in just half an hour. The mushroom sauce doesn’t just add flavor; it pulls the whole meal together. Plus, a single pan means you can wind up the evening without a sink full of dishes. It’s a practical choice that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Sausage Curry
You can have this one-pan sausage curry in less than an hour, complete with veggies and a mouthwatering sauce. The curry sauce makes this dish shine, which packs a flavorful punch without complicating the cooking process. One pan ensures that cleaning won’t be an ordeal. It’s a flavorful, quick, clean-up-friendly dish that will find a regular spot in your dinner lineup.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry
Chicken Corn Soup
This one-pot Chicken Corn Soup is your answer when you need a quick, heartwarming meal. It’s ready in under an hour and combines tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a flavorful broth. And since everything cooks together in one pot, you can say goodbye to a night of scrubbing multiple dishes. With this soup, comfort food can be both easy to make and clean up.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup
Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy
This dish is a winning trifecta of salmon, coconut milk, and bok choy, all harmoniously cooked in a single pan. The homemade curry paste adds a layer of complexity that marries well with the tender salmon and crisp bok choy. What’s even better? It’s ready in just 30 minutes and cleanup is a breeze. It’s no wonder this dish is destined to become a frequent star on your dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
If you’re searching for a quick, balanced meal, look no further. This one-pan feast of sausage and veggies is your 30-minute ticket to a satisfying dinner. The simple prep and short cooking time are huge pluses, but what really sells it is the minimal cleanup afterward. All these conveniences make this dish a reliable go-to for any busy night.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Lemon Garlic Scallops
When time is limited, but you’re looking for something special, these Lemon Garlic Scallops cooked in one pan fit the bill. The lemon garlic sauce marries well with the scallops’ natural sweetness, and in under 30 minutes, you’ve got yourself a noteworthy meal. Plus, the one-pan method means you’ll spend less time on cleanup and more time enjoying your meal.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Here’s a dish that sounds as elegant as it tastes — chicken thighs and artichoke hearts cooked together in a creamy sauce. But don’t let the fancy elements fool you; this 30-minute, one-pan meal is as straightforward as it gets. The artichokes lend a unique flavor and texture, making the dish complete. Quick to cook and just as quick to clean up, it’s a meal you’re sure to revisit.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Zuppa Toscana
Inspired by Olive Garden’s popular soup, this one-pot Zuppa Toscana brings together rich flavors in just one hour. It’s hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own, and the one-pot design ensures an easier cleanup. The practicality of this dish, combined with its robust flavors, makes it a recipe you’ll turn to frequently.
Get the Recipe: Zuppa Toscana
Fried Cabbage With Bacon
When you’ve got 25 minutes and one pan, you can whip up this hearty meal of fried cabbage with bacon and onion. It’s filling, so you won’t be left wanting for more, and the single pan makes for an easy end-of-meal cleanup. Combine the speedy cooking time with the minimal washing up, and you’ve got yourself a practical choice for any busy day.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
If you’re juggling a busy schedule, this creamy ground beef and cauliflower rice skillet has got you covered. Within just 30 minutes, you’ll have a rich and fulfilling dish ready, and all you’ll need is one pan. The cauliflower rice offers a lighter yet satisfying alternative to traditional rice, and the cheese gives it that extra comfort-food appeal. Cleanup is just as breezy as cooking, making this recipe an efficient addition to your weekly meal rotation.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Cabbage and Sausage
If you’re in a hurry but still want a wholesome meal, this cabbage and sausage combo is a life-saver. It takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish, and everything happens in one pan. The dish is hearty and satisfying, so you’re not sacrificing quality for speed. Plus, the single-pan method makes cleanup almost effortless. It’s quick, delicious, and easy to clean — what’s not to love?
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Sticky Sauce Chicken
Searching for a quick weeknight dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor? This sticky sauce chicken is your answer. In under 30 minutes, you can serve a meal that’s both delicious and fulfilling, all thanks to a single pan and a mouthwatering sauce made of coconut aminos and fish sauce. Cleanup is also a snap, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your evening. It’s the kind of practical, minimal-fuss recipe you’ll find yourself coming back to.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Sauce Chicken