No one wants to spend their night scrubbing dishes. One-pan dinners make life easier by cutting out extra pots, pans, and unnecessary steps. These meals are quick to cook, packed with flavor, and don’t leave your kitchen looking like a disaster. Everything goes into one pan, cooks together, and comes out as a real meal instead of a last-minute scramble. From skillet pizzas to stir-fries to hearty meat-and-veggie combos, one skillet recipes are easy dinners that don’t have to be boring.
Baked Skillet Gnocchi
Gnocchi might not be pasta, but it’s just as comforting. This one-skillet meal packs in ground pork, crushed tomatoes, spinach, and plenty of melted mozzarella for an easy dinner with almost no cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Baked Skillet Gnocchi
Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese
A grown-up take on hamburger helper that actually tastes good. This one-pot mac and cheese uses turkey, spinach, peppers, and real cheddar for a fast, homemade meal in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese
Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet
Four ingredients, one pan, and dinner is done. Ground turkey, cauliflower, and buffalo sauce come together for a quick meal that’s easy to throw together and just as good the next day.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet
Chorizo Spinach Skillet Pizza
This skillet pizza lands somewhere between deep dish and regular pizza. A simple homemade tomato sauce, fresh cheese, spicy chorizo, and spinach make this a one-pan dinner worth making.
Get the Recipe: Chorizo Spinach Skillet Pizza
Skillet Lamb Chops with Cipollini Onions
These skillet-seared lamb chops cook up fast with browned cipollini onions and a tarragon honey mustard sauce. A restaurant-quality dinner without the pile of dishes.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Lamb Chops with Cipollini Onions
Skillet Zucchini Pesto Pizza
Crispy yet chewy, this skillet pizza layers basil pesto, mozzarella, zucchini, and ricotta for a rich, easy dinner that comes together in a single pan.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Zucchini Pesto Pizza
Steak, Potato & Pepper Skillet
Toss steak, potatoes, and peppers into a skillet, pop it in the oven, and walk away. A one-pan dinner that practically cooks itself in just 40 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Steak, Potato & Pepper Skillet
Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet
This cashew chicken skillet brings bold flavor with fresh basil, a savory-sweet sauce, and plenty of crunch. Serve it over rice for an easy dinner that’s better than takeout.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet
Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
Leftover turkey (or chicken) gets a new life in this easy skillet meal. Sweet potatoes, black beans, peppers, and greens make this a filling, 30-minute dinner without the mess.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
Vegetable Bean Skillet
A quick, hearty one-pan meal packed with fresh vegetables and two kinds of beans. Easy, filling, and perfect for a meatless dinner that won’t leave you hungry.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet
Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet
Garlic chicken bites, mushrooms, onions, and red peppers all come together in one pan. A simple 20-minute meal with fresh herbs and no extra dishes to deal with.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet
Greek Shrimp Skillet
This quick shrimp skillet brings together tomatoes, spinach, Kalamata olives, feta, and oregano for a fresh, Mediterranean-inspired meal in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Greek Shrimp Skillet
Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet
A one-pan dinner with ground beef, sweet potatoes, and southwestern spices. Great for meal prep, easy to throw together, and just as good the next day.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet
Mexican Ground Beef Skillet
Taco seasoning and ground beef make this an easy, flavorful one-pan meal. Throw it together in 30 minutes and serve it with rice, tortillas, or on its own.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Skillet
Spicy Mango Chicken Skillet
Sweet mango, spicy jalapeños, and juicy chicken come together in this quick skillet meal. Serve over rice for a simple dinner with just the right amount of heat.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Mango Chicken Skillet
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
This stir-fry-style dish mixes ground beef, cabbage, and a light, savory sauce with plenty of crunch and bold spices. A fast, one-pan meal that gets dinner on the table in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Thinly sliced shaved beef cooks up fast in this quick stir-fry. A savory sauce and plenty of crisp broccoli make this a takeout alternative that’s just as easy as ordering in.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Ground Beef Stir Fry
A one-pan stir fry packed with fresh vegetables, ground beef, and a garlic-ginger sauce. Faster, better, and cheaper than takeout—without the extra dishes.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry
Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry
Ground pork, cabbage, and mushrooms come together in a quick stir-fry with a bold, Asian-inspired sauce. A no-mess dinner that’s ready in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
