Weeknight dinners should not require a sink full of dishes!
This lineup of one pan recipes proves that a satisfying meal and an easy cleanup can absolutely coexist.
From creamy pastas to baked salmon and quick stir fry dinners, every recipe on this list comes together in a single pan. Less mess, same great flavor.
Scroll through the countdown below and find your next dinner idea for a busy weeknight!
14. Chicken Piccata
This one pan chicken piccata starts with golden brown chicken cutlets dredged in seasoned flour.
The sauce comes together in the same pan with shallots, white wine, lemon juice, chicken broth and capers, then gets finished with a swirl of butter for a smooth, tangy finish.
It pairs beautifully with pasta or a simple green salad.
Serve it warm with extra lemon and fresh parsley on top.
13. Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Cajun shrimp pasta brings bold, peppery flavor to a classic creamy pasta dinner.
First, we’re sauteing shrimp and bell peppers until they’re sizzling. Then, a rich sauce made with butter, garlic, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese and Cajun seasoning brings everything together.
Toss it all with spaghetti for a filling, flavorful meal. Top it with fresh parsley or chives for a pop of color.
12. Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
Chicken pesto pasta is comforting, herby and endlessly craveable.
Tender bites of chicken cook first, then a sauce of heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese and garlic thickens up right in the same pan before pesto gets swirled in at the end.
Short pasta shapes like farfalle or rotini hold onto that sauce perfectly.
Pair it with a simple side salad to round out the meal.
11. One Pan Lemon Caper Pasta
This lemon caper pasta is light, bright and full of flavor.
Garlic and capers get sauteed in butter and olive oil, then white wine, lemon juice, lemon zest and a splash of reserved pasta water build the sauce.
Toss the cooked pasta right back into that same pan to soak up all the flavor.
Top with freshly grated Parmesan and cracked black pepper before serving.
10. Baked Ravioli
Ravioli skips the boiling process entirely and goes straight from freezer to baking dish.
Sauteed onions and garlic get stirred into pasta sauce along with dried basil, oregano and parsley, then layered with frozen cheese ravioli, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake it covered first, then uncovered until bubbly and golden.
Let it rest a few minutes, then dig in!
9. BBQ Chicken Casserole
This BBQ chicken casserole is the answer to what to do with leftover barbecue chicken.
Cubed chicken, cooked rice, sharp cheddar cheese, corn, diced tomatoes, bacon, scallions and sour cream all get combined in one bowl and transferred to a baking dish.
A sprinkle of extra cheese on top finishes the job before it goes into the oven.
Serve it with coleslaw and cornbread for a full backyard-style spread.
8. Stovetop Chicken with Wild Rice & Mushrooms
This stovetop chicken dinner brings earthy, cozy flavor to the table using just one skillet.
Chicken gets browned first, followed by garlic, shallots and mushrooms cooked down until they release their liquid.
A splash of sherry, chicken stock, goat cheese and half-and-half creates the sauce, and cooked wild rice, fresh thyme and rosemary tie it all together before spinach wilts in at the end.
It is a comforting dinner that works especially well on cooler nights.
7. Chili Crisp Shrimp with Green Beans
Chili crisp shrimp is proof that a few pantry staples can build serious flavor fast.
Shrimp marinates in a mixture of chili crisp, soy sauce and honey while green beans, garlic and ginger cook down in sesame oil until tender-crisp.
The marinated shrimp goes into the same pan to finish cooking, then scallions get stirred in right before serving.
Serve it over rice or noodles, or skip the carbs and pile it into lettuce cups.
6. Honey Butter Old Bay Salmon
This honey butter Old Bay salmon comes together on a single sheet pan in well under 30 minutes.
A mixture of honey, Old Bay seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper gets brushed onto salmon fillets, then a pat of butter and a few lemon slices go on top before everything bakes.
The result is a sweet, garlicky salmon dinner with barely any prep.
Pair it with roasted vegetables or a simple bed of rice.
5. Baked Flounder with Lemon and Tomatoes
This baked flounder recipe is light, fresh and ready with barely any hands-on effort.
Flounder fillets go into a baking dish surrounded by cherry tomatoes, sliced onion, lemon, garlic and capers. Then everything gets a generous drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
As it roasts, the tomatoes burst and the lemon caramelizes right into the fish.
Serve it over rice, pasta or alongside a simple green salad.
4. Viral One Pan Dumpling Bake
This dumpling bake earned its viral status for a good reason: minimal effort, maximum flavor.
A sauce of coconut milk, red curry paste, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar and lime juice gets whisked together right in the baking dish.
Bok choy goes in first to create a bed of greens, then frozen dumplings get arranged on top and baked until tender.
Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds or chili crisp before serving.
3. Taco Bake
This taco bake is a walking taco in casserole form, and it is just as fun to eat.
A layer of refried beans and salsa goes on the bottom, followed by crushed Fritos, seasoned ground turkey and a generous layer of sharp cheddar cheese.
Once baked and bubbly, it gets topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, scallions and more Fritos for crunch.
Serve it warm with extra chips for scooping.
2. String Bean Chicken
This string bean chicken tastes just like the Panda Express favorite, made right at home.
Marinated chicken gets cooked until golden, then removed while onions, garlic and ginger soften in the same pan.
String beans go in next for a quick cook before the chicken returns along with a flavorful sauce of chicken stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and rice vinegar.
Serve it over steamed rice for a better-than-takeout dinner.
1. One Pan Asian Tilapia
Topping this list is a tilapia dinner that gets requested again and again.
Tilapia fillets get pan-seared until golden, then set aside while garlic, ginger, mirin, soy sauce and a touch of sesame oil build a fast, flavorful sauce in the same pan.
The fish goes back in to soak up the sauce, and fresh spinach wilts in right at the end.
Serve it over a bed of rice for a complete, healthy dinner that comes together fast.
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