Save yourself time in the kitchen with these one-pan dinners that make cleanup a breeze. The simple meals pack in loads of flavor while keeping everything easy in the kitchen.
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Pin RecipeNothing beats an easy cleanup in the kitchen, especially after making a filling and tasty meal the whole family approves of. It’s a win on both sides when cleanup is just one pot or pan. Somehow, when cleanup is easy, it makes the food taste much better.
From simple sheet pan meals and Dutch oven dishes to soups and cast iron dishes, these recipes will help you save time in the kitchen. Everything is made in just one dish, allowing all the flavors to blend together to create a true party for your taste buds.
Easy One-Pan Dinners That Make Cleanup a Breeze
Checkout these quick and easy one-pan dinners that won’t have you spending hours in the kitchen!
1. One Skillet Pasta Primavera with Meatballs
I love it when a one-pan dinner squeezes in a ton of vegetables, and that is exactly what this one-skillet pasta primavera with meatballs does. The best part about this recipe is that you can switch up the vegetables to what is in season to keep the meal nice and fresh.
2. One-Pan Baked Salmon and Asparagus
Bookmark this one-pan baked salmon and asparagus recipe for when you need a simple dinner in under 30 minutes that everyone in your family will love. The simple flavor of the salmon pairs perfectly with the roasted asparagus to make a healthy and filling meal.
3. One-Pot Macaroni and Cheese
The only thing easier about making macaroni and cheese? Making it all in one dish. That is exactly what this recipe does, making cleanup a breeze.
4. One-Skillet Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage Pasta
This one-skillet creamy tomato Italian sausage pasta is loved by both kids and adults in my family. The pasta and the sausage combo is a classic for a reason. One bite of this dish, and you’ll see for yourself.
5. Smoked Sausage & Rice One Skillet Meal
This Smoked Sausage & Rice One Skillet Meal has everything you want in a hearty dinner. A meaty protein from the sausage, a filling grain with the rice, and a light vegetable with the broccoli. The best part about the dish is that it is ready in under 30 minutes.
6. Cowboy Soup
Soup might be cheating when it comes to a one-pan meal, but the concept is still the same — especially in this cowboy soup recipe. The recipe loads up a big stock pot with beef, veggies, and soothing broth ready in just 15 minutes.
7. Texas Chili
Texas chili is a staple in my household during the colder winter months. The dish is hearty and filling. But my favorite part is that everything is made in one giant pot, making it so simple to make and even better to enjoy knowing that cleanup is so quick.
8. Pesto Salmon
This pesto salmon recipe has a regular spot in my dinner rotation. Even my pickiest eater always perks up when they see it come across their plate. The herb-filled pesto is the perfect marinade for the flakey salmon, providing it with loads of flavor.
9. Broiled Chicken Recipe
This broiled chicken recipe is one that you’ll find yourself returning to time and time again. While it may be simple, it’s a staple ingredient that is super versatile. I like adding the chicken to a salad or pairing it with a rice bowl to complete a meal.
10. Chicken Piccata
Have a restaurant-quality meal right in your home with this chicken piccata recipe. The classic Italian dish stays true to tradition and cooks up all in one pan. The lemony and caper sauce is so good you’ll want to bottle it all up!
11. Roasted Pork Tenderloin
This roasted pork tenderloin is so simple and easy to make that you’ll find yourself making it on more than just special occasions. This simple rub of thyme, garlic, and butter creates an incredible flavor. The fact that it can all be made in one pan makes it taste that much better.
12. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
When I need a dinner idea that the whole family will enjoy, I always turn to these garlic butter steak bites. Not only are they super easy to make, but they are super versatile to eat. They are delicious on their own, tasty in rice bowls, and pair perfectly with veggies.
13. Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs & Potatoes
This baked lemon chicken thighs and potatoes dish knows how to pack a ton of flavor into one recipe. Everything cooks together in a cast iron skillet, allowing the flavors to meld in the best way possible. It’s a dish the whole family approves of!
Tasty One Pan Dinners For Simple Cleanup
14. Easy Baked Chicken Breasts
Sometimes, it is best to stick to something simple. Case in point: these easy-baked chicken breasts. Everything cooks on one baking dish in the oven, allowing the pieces of chicken to get tender and juicy.
15. Pan-Fried Salmon Bites
Forget about chicken nuggets! These pan-fried salmon bites are about to become your new favorite handheld dinner. The bite-sized pieces are packed with flavor. Everything is made in one pan, and the dish comes together in less than 15 minutes!
16. Creamy Tomato Pasta
Learn how to jazz up your plain pasta and red sauce recipe with this creamy tomato pasta. The quick weeknight meal is a family favorite — everyone asks for seconds and thirds of it! It proves that simple is sometimes the best way to go with one-pan meals.
17. Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Want to make the perfect weeknight meal that is healthy and loaded with protein? This spicy chicken chipotle pasta is just what you need. You might as well double the recipe, as you know everyone will want more.
18. Cast Iron Chicken Thighs
I love using my cast iron pan for one-pan meals, especially when cooking these cast iron chicken thighs. The cast iron gives the chicken a nice sear, sealing the flavor. They are crispy, tender, and juicy all at the same time.
19. Cast Iron Filet Mignon
Save this recipe for your next date night or when you feel like getting fancy in the kitchen. The one-pan cast iron filet mignon recipe will make your home-cooked meal feel like a restaurant-quality dish. The cast iron keeps everything simple and easy, all in one pan.
20. Dutch Oven Chicken Breast
Cooking in my Dutch oven lets me layer flavors on top of flavors all in one pan. That is why I love to use it to make this Dutch oven chicken breast. It’s a dish that has a permanent spot on my dinner menu.
21. Mexican Cauliflower Rice
When craving a light one-pan meal, I make this Mexican cauliflower rice. Don’t think the rice isn’t filling just because it is made of vegetables. The heaty rice is loaded with hearty ground beef, making it easy to make the rice a complete meal.
22. Homemade Chicken Alfredo
Making chicken alfredo at home has never been easier, thanks to this one pan meal. The creamy chicken pairs perfectly over a plate of tender fettuccine noodles. It’s a restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of your own home.
23. Best Pot Roast Recipe
Pot roast might just be the best one-pot meal. Because everything is made in one dish, the flavors build layers and layers of flavors that all meld into one tasty bite. I love saving this meal for a cozy winter day because it is comforting.
24. Swedish Meatballs
Swedish meatballs are more than just an appetizer. Make a full meal out of the tasty dish with this hearty recipe. The meatballs combine both ground beef and pork to make the most flavorful meal possible.
