Food & Drink

32 One-Pan Meals for Your Busiest Nights of the Week

written by JESSICA FRIEDHOFF
one pan meals for busy weeknights"
one pan meals for busy weeknights
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
Source: Ambitious Kitchen

I have a bad habit of choosing recipes that are way too elaborate to attempt on a weeknight. I often pick a recipe just because it sounds delicious, not realizing that it requires multiple different types of cookware to make. By the time I’ve finished cooking, it’s 8 p.m. and there’s a mountain of dishes piled up in the sink waiting to be cleaned. Although I do genuinely enjoy cooking, that’s not exactly how I prefer to spend my precious after-work hours. I’d much rather whip up a quick one-pan meal and spend the rest of my evening relaxing instead of doing dishes.

In my quest to make less of a mess in the kitchen, I pulled together a bunch of one-pan recipes I can’t wait to try. From simple sheet pan dinners to one-pot pasta dishes, there’s a lot you can do with just one piece of cookware. If you’re looking for more ways to streamline dinner (and lunch) and reduce the number of dishes in your sink, you’ll love these 32 one-pan meals that require minimal effort and cleanup.

1. One Pan Tortellini with Sausage

one pan sausage tortellini
Source: Salt & Lavender

2. One Pot Pad Thai Noodles

one pot pad thai noodles
Source: Rachel Mansfield

3. One-Pot Everyday Lentil Soup

one pot lentil soup recipe
Source: Minimalist Baker

4. One Pan Chipotle Honey Chicken and Rice

one pan chipotle honey chicken recipe
Source: Half Baked Harvest

5. Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas

sheet pan steak fajitas recipe
Source: Grandbaby Cakes

6. Chicken Chow Mein

one pan chow mein recipe
Source: Tastes Better from Scratch

7. One Pan Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage

one pan gnocchi recipe
Source: Ambitious Kitchen

8. Beef Stew

one pan beef stew recipe
Source: Downshiftology

9. One Pot Skillet Lasagna

one pan skillet lasagna recipe
Source: Cooking Classy

10. Sheet Pan Citrus Jerk Salmon

sheet pan salmon recipe
Source: Grandbaby Cakes

11. Easy Fried Rice

one pan fried rice recipe
Source: Downshiftology

12. Easy One Pot Beef Stroganoff

one pan beef stroganoff recipe
Source: Cooking Classy

13. Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies

sheet pan sausage and vegetables meal
Source: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

14. One Pot Cheesy Zucchini Chicken & Rice

one pan cheesy chicken and rice recipe
Source: A Saucy Kitchen

15. Vegetarian Taco Skillet

one pan vegetarian taco skillet recipe
Source: Two Peas and Their Pod

16. Sheet Pan Shrimp & Veggies

sheet pan shrimp recipe
Source: A Couple Cooks

17. One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale

one pan farro and tomatoes recipe
Source: Pinch of Yum

18. Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken and Potatoes

one pan honey mustard chicken recipe
Source: Chungah Rhee

19. Rigatoni Bolognese

Source: Savory Nothings

20. Creamy Orzo with Chicken, Mushroom, & Spinach

Source: Drizzle and Dip

21. Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken

one pan hawaiian chicken recipe
Source: Cooking Classy

22. Vegetarian Chili

Source: Downshiftology

23. Honey Balsamic Chicken

Source: The Movement Menu

24. Creamy Thai-Inspired Peanut Chicken Couscous

Source: Ambitious Kitchen

25. Teriyaki Ground Beef and Broccoli

Source: Recipe Runner

26. Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Source: Basil and Bubbly

27. Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice Tortilla Soup

Source: Half Baked Harvest

28. Green Shakshuka

Source: Downshiftology

29. Cajun Chicken and Rice

Source: Recipe Runner

30. Chicken Fajita Casserole

Source: Eat the Gains

31. Loaded Baked Potato Gnocchi

Source: With Salt & Wit

32. Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Basil Sauce with Burrata

Source: Ambitious Kitchen
Jessica friedhoff senior lifestyle editor
MEET THE AUTHOR

Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor

Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.