Some days, it takes everything in you to get dinner on the table and resist just throwing in the towel and ordering takeout. And on days like that, I’m a big proponent of making things as easy on yourself as you can. That’s where these one-pan meals come into play. Easy one-pot recipes are a time-saving (and, let’s face it, effort-saving) secret weapon. No one wants to spend time cleaning up a pile of dishes after a long day, particularly on those nights when even making dinner feels like a major chore. 

There are so many different kinds of one-pan meals, ranging from soups and stews to skillet meals and sheet pan dinners. No matter the time of the year or your dietary preferences, there’s a solid collection of one-pan meals that the whole family can get behind.

Let’s get cooking!

One Pan Meals Everyone Will Love

One Pot Peach Basil Chicken from How Sweet Eats

So many one-pan meals feel a bit, well, wintry, but not this one. This weeknight winner combines savory chicken and sweet peaches, plus garlic, shallots, white wine, and plenty of fresh basil on top. It’s great on its own or served alongside a crisp green salad, roasted potatoes, noodles, or rice. It’s a delicious dinner you’ll make over and over again. Plus, it looks so impressive, you could totally serve it to guests.

Chicken Enchilada Skillet from Salt & Lavender

Enchiladas without filling and rolling a full pan of tortillas? Sign me up. This skillet version includes all of the classic flavors you know and love, but made with minimal effort, all in one pan. Top it all off with plenty of shredded cheese, bake until bubbly, and finish with your favorite enchilada toppings like sliced or diced avocado, a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, a sprinkle of green onions or cilantro, a squeeze of lime, thinly sliced radishes, or a few pickled jalapeños.

On its own, this skillet is fairly mild, but you can make it less spicy by omitting the green chiles or spicier by using a spicy enchilada sauce or spicier chiles.

One Pot Penne Pasta from Love & Lemons

This one-pot pasta wonder is a real winner. It’s packed with tons of summer veggies like zucchini, red bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and leeks and seasoned with garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and plenty of lemon juice and zest to brighten the whole dish up. It’s a healthy, feel-good meal that comes together in about 20 minutes. Delicious, nutritious, and easy to clean up? That’s what we like to hear.

Vegetarian Chili from Jazz Leaf

Perfect for chilly nights, this one-pot vegetarian chili is made with a bunch of pantry staples you likely already have on hand and is ready in about half an hour. It’s a great way to pack in a ton of nutrients without spending tons of time slicing and dicing. Plus, it’s easy to top with all kinds of different things (sometimes you have to convince your family members to give a dish a chance, you know?) and absolutely ideal for meal prepping. Make a big batch and pop some into airtight containers in the freezer to pull out whenever you need an incredibly easy, but still healthy meal in no time.

Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Chickpeas from Smitten Kitchen

Three cheers for a healthy and delicious dinner with plenty of protein and fiber, plus potatoes, lemon, and onion. What could be better? This meal comes together quickly, the chicken skin actually gets nice and crispy, and the potatoes get flavored with a rich lemony sauce that you didn’t even really have to make yourself. Magic.

One Pan Smoked Sausage and Rice from How Sweet Eats

A busy weeknight calls for a simple dinner that everyone will eat without too many complaints. This smoked sausage and rice situation totally fits the bill. It’s smoky, savory, a little sweet from the peppers, and incredibly easy to make. Plus, the rice cooks right in the same Dutch oven with the sausage, veggies, and aromatics, so clean-up’s a breeze. Finish the dish with green onions, fresh herbs, or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a crowd-pleasing dinner that takes almost no effort at all to make.

Orange-Glazed Pork Tenderloin from Cooking with Ereka

Pork tenderloin is a great choice for weeknight dinners because it’s a flavorful, lean meat that cooks quickly. For this version, you’ll sear the pork, remove it from the pan, add aromatics and green beans, then add the pork back into the skillet, and pop the whole thing in the oven. When the pork is cooked through, you’ll mix up your orange glaze, finish the dish, and serve it. It’s not your typical pork tenderloin and green beans, but it couldn’t be easier—or more delicious.

Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus from Salt & Lavender

Salmon and asparagus go so well together and this recipe combines them on one sheet pan. Mix up the sweet hoisin glaze for the salmon and add the fresh asparagus to the sheet pan. Then, roast until the asparagus is tender and the salmon is flaky and cooked through. Top it all off with sesame seeds, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lemon and you’ve got a flavor-packed meal you can be happy about.

Serve it with rice or cauliflower rice if you want to round things out a bit more.

Sheet Pan Jambalaya from Pinch of Yum

I know what you’re thinking: jambalaya on a sheet pan? But seriously, this is so smart. This version uses cauliflower rice in place of the traditional rice, then adds in veggies, sausage, shrimp, and seasonings for a vegetable-packed, super delicious dinner that you can make even on the busiest nights.

One Pot Mediterranean Chicken and Rice from The Savvy Spoon

This easy one-pot meal is full of so many tasty and good-for-you ingredients like chicken breasts, olives, veggies, and rice. You can also use a grain-free substitute like Right Rice, if you’d prefer. It tastes like you’ve been cooking all day, but will be on the table in about 30 minutes. Whether you’re cooking for date night, friends, or a family dinner after a long, busy day, this recipe absolutely delivers.