These 60 One-Pan Dinners Are Here To Save Your Weeknights
Cut your dishwasher (and yourself!) a break tonight.
The best way to do your future self the biggest favor? Save time and throw all your dinner ingredients in one pot! Yes, really. With just a bit of prep (and one pot, one skillet, or one Dutch oven), you'll be on your way to feasting on a dinner that'll keep future you from all that dishwashing. As it turns out, pretty much all the best dinners can be made in just one pot, including fancied-up special occasion meals. Go on and give your dishwasher the night off this week with these 50 easy one-pot recipes!
If you think that one-pot meals sound a bit boring, think again. When you layer all your ingredients in just the right way (like rice, aromatics, and spices), some real magic happens. Look no further than classic paella for proof. Between the crispy rice, tender shrimp, and spicy chorizo, the resulting dish is a true party on your plate. And the same is true for many classic dishes, like coq au vin, braised short ribs, and, of course, pot roast.
Only have a short amount of time, but still want to get something exciting on your weeknight dinner plate? We've got you too. Our one-pot Greek chicken drumsticks, our Mexican beef 'n' rice skillet, our one-pot creamy tortellini & greens, and our one-pan coconut-lime chicken are full of flavor (and color!), without taking too much time in the kitchen.
Best of all, we love that we don't need to dirty up more than one pot to make our favorite pasta dishes now either. No need to take our word for it, just try any of these recipes out and you'll soon see. We have a feeling you'll be stunned that our one-pot French onion pasta, our creamy chicken piccata with gnocchi, and our shrimp fettuccine Alfredo all came together in the same pot, but one bite will make you into a believer.
Sheet-Pan Miso Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Bone-in chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, and shallots get smothered with miso-chili sauce and baked until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized and the chicken is juicy and golden brown. The whole thing is topped with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, then served with a little extra chili crisp to make sure this really packs a punch.
Chickpea & Broccoli Alfredo Skillet
Butter-toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich Alfredo-style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and Parmesan to create this 35-minute skillet dinner. A pinch of lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes add much-needed brightness and heat to cut through the rich Alfredo sauce.
Taco Gnocchi Bake
In this recipe, gnocchi gets the taco treatment for a simple weeknight meal. Along with some ground beef, black beans, and plenty of cheddar cheese, it’s a fun twist on the potato-based pasta.
Get the Taco Gnocchi Bake recipe.
Cheesy Chicken & Pepper Bake
In a rut with your weeknight chicken dinners? Spice things up but keep prep easy with this chicken recipe. You get the convenience of cooking the chicken and peppers in one dish, with the added flavor and fancy-ish feel from a thyme-cream cheese stuffing and colorful sweet peppers beneath.
Get the Cheesy Chicken & Pepper Bake recipe.
Marry Me Chicken
Here, chicken breasts are seared until golden brown before being baked in a simple (but extremely satisfying) cream sauce that results in a dish that's packed with flavor. Be prepared—this chicken just might inspire a confession of love at first bite.
Get the Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Mexican Street Corn Skillet
Think elote, the ever delightful Mexican street corn, but include some chicken for a one-pan chicken dinner. Comforting yet bright with fresh lime and smoky spices, the dish lifts the mood and satisfies cravings for explosive Mexican flavors. Serve with queso fresco, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and chiles, either on its own or with warm tortillas.
Get the Mexican Street Corn Skillet recipe.
One-Pan Eggplant Parm Orzo
Eggplant Parm is very high on our comfort food dinners list, but we don’t always feel like breaking out the oil for frying. To get all of the textures and flavors of the OG without the cleanup job, we transformed classic eggplant Parmesan into a one-pan dinner that’s as delicious as it is filling.
Get the One-Pan Eggplant Parm Orzo recipe.
One-Pan Cheesy Broccoli-Cheddar Orzo
This quick and easy orzo recipe is a 30-minute dinner that’s low on dishes and full of gooey, melted cheese flavor. It’s like an adult twist on mac and cheese that the entire family will love.
Black Bean Sweet Potato Taco Skillet
Want taco night without the multiple pans and (semi-?) controlled chaos of a build-your-own dinner? Make this taco skillet. Saucy, spiced sweet potatoes and black beans are tossed with crushed tortilla chips and topped with melty cheese for a simple one-pan meal that will be your new weeknight go-to.
White Chicken Chili
The white beans make it heartier than your average chicken noodle soup, the green chiles and jalapeño add just the right amount of spice, and a dollop of sour cream adds a tangy creaminess that keeps you coming back for more. Considering the whole thing comes together in less than an hour, it's a total weeknight dinner winner.
Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.
Cacio E Pepe White Beans Skillet
Craving 5-star flavors at home on a weeknight? Make these cacio e pepe white beans. Using just six ingredients, this classy one-pan dinner promises the luscious richness and bold flavors of a fine dining restaurant in just 15 minutes.
Chicken & Broccoli
This fast and easy one-pot chicken and broccoli recipe is coated in a sweet and savory sauce with plenty of ginger and garlic for a weeknight dinner that beats take-out. This dish comes together in 20 minutes with minimal prep work too. Win win!
Get the Chicken & Broccoli recipe.
Chicken Alfredo
While it may seem fancy, this chicken Alfredo recipe is a beginner-friendly dish that truly anyone can master. This one-pot dinner comes together in 30 minutes, making it a perfect easy meal to whip up for any occasion, whether you're searching for a romantic meal for two or the most satisfying weeknight dinner.
Get the Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Classic Paella
This Spanish dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing centerpiece for special occasions and parties, but honestly, this dish is enough reason to celebrate all on its own. Listen to the crackling and peek through the rice in the middle to ensure that it’s browning properly and not burning (you can always hide the hole with a piece of shrimp 😉).
Get the Classic Paella recipe.
One-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken
If our creamy Tuscan chicken is a mainstay at your house, this recipe is going to be just the thing to shake up your weeknight dinner routine. We paired quick-cooking chicken cutlets with a spicy-sweet coconut milk sauce that’s out-of-this-world tasty.
Get the One-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken recipe.
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
This savory-sweet salmon is quick and easy enough for weeknights (ready in under 30 minutes), but is also fancy enough for special occasions. If you’re a seafood novice, don’t sweat it: Searing fish might seem intimidating, but with our top tips, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.
Skillet Eggplant Parm
This dish has all the eggplant Parm flavors you love—including sliced rounds of tender eggplant, tangy marinara sauce, and plenty of cheese. Instead of breading each slice of eggplant, though, you'll top the entire skillet with panko bread crumbs, making it easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Skillet Eggplant Parm recipe.
One-Pot Creamy Tortellini & Greens
Here, cheese-filled tortellini are delicately simmered in a velvety cream sauce with vibrant, fresh greens (we went with kale and spinach, but feel free to use up whatever you’ve got in the fridge). With this one-pot wonder and just a handful of ingredients, you can have it all—in just 20 minutes.
One-Pot Pepperoncini Chicken & Rice
Love our chicken & rice casserole, but craving a little more flavor? In this rendition, deglazing your pan with the pickling liquid from pepperoncini gives creamy rice a zappy hit that leans more sweet than spicy.
Get the One-Pot Pepperoncini Chicken & Rice recipe.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
When it comes to chicken breast recipes, it's hard to beat this one. The sauce is simple but so flavorful thanks to garlic, tomatoes, and most importantly, cream. It's bright and easy and just as good in the summer as it is in the winter, whether you're craving comfort food or a dinner fancy enough for guests.
Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.
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