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Dinner recipes made in one skillet provide a delightful blend of ease and taste, making them a popular choice for both hectic weeknights and laid-back weekend meals.
These recipes are created to maximize convenience, utilizing a solitary skillet not only cuts down the cleaning time but also intensifies the flavors through cooking all components together.


Skillet dinners offer unmatched flexibility as they can incorporate an extensive variety of ingredients—ranging from robust meats and seafood to crisp vegetables and diverse spices. This cooking technique not only preserves the nutrients and textures of the ingredients but also facilitates a fusion of tastes in a single, efficient cooking space.
If you want to prepare a fast meal after a tiring day, or wish to experiment with different ingredient combinations, you’re bound to be astonished by the simplicity and wonderful results of one skillet dinners.
One Skillet Dinners
21. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken & Green Beans Skillet
This Santa Fe Chicken Skillet combines tender chicken cutlets with black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes seasoned with southwest spices. The dish is topped with melted Mexican cheese and baked until bubbly, creating a hearty and flavorful meal in just 30 minutes.
The recipe uses simple pantry staples like canned beans and corn to keep preparation quick and easy. It can be served on its own or paired with rice or a fresh salad for a complete dinner experience.
20. Santa Fe Chicken Skillet
This Santa Fe Chicken Skillet combines tender chicken cutlets with black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes seasoned with southwest spices. The dish is topped with a melted Mexican cheese blend and baked until bubbly, creating a hearty and flavorful meal in just 30 minutes.
The recipe uses simple pantry staples like canned beans and corn to keep preparation quick and easy. It can be served on its own or paired with rice or a fresh salad for a complete Tex-Mex-inspired dinner.
19. Chicken & Vegetables Skillet
This chicken and vegetables skillet combines tender, seasoned chicken pieces with crisp-tender broccoli, zucchini, and bell peppers cooked in a single pan. The dish is flavored with a blend of garlic, paprika, thyme, rosemary, and chili powder, creating a savory and slightly spicy meal ready in about 30 minutes.
The recipe uses a simple sautéing method that keeps preparation and cleanup minimal while allowing for easy customization with different proteins or vegetables. It pairs well with various sides like rice, pasta, or crusty bread, making it a flexible option for quick weeknight dinners.
18. Pesto Gnocchi with Chicken
This dish combines light, pillowy gnocchi with tender chicken breasts, all coated in a creamy, fragrant basil pesto sauce. Cherry tomatoes add a burst of sweetness, while the sauce is enriched with heavy cream and chicken broth for a smooth finish.
The gnocchi cooks directly in the sauce, eliminating the need for pre-boiling and simplifying preparation. It offers a balanced, comforting meal that works well for both casual weeknights and more elegant dinners.
17. Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini Skillet
This creamy tomato basil tortellini is a one-pan pasta dish that cooks in under 30 minutes, combining fresh spinach, tomatoes, and cheese tortellini in a rich, homemade cream sauce.
The recipe uses simple ingredients like diced tomatoes, heavy cream, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese to create a flavorful, comforting meal with minimal cleanup.
The dish comes together by simmering pureed tomatoes and cream, then adding fresh greens, herbs, and tortellini directly to the skillet until everything is tender and well-coated.
It’s a versatile recipe that can be easily doubled for larger servings or customized with extra vegetables or protein for a heartier option.
16. Cajun Sausage & Rice SkilletÂ
This Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet combines smoky sausage, bell peppers, and a blend of spices with rice and tomatoes for a flavorful one-pan meal. It simmers all the ingredients together, allowing the rice to absorb the rich, spicy broth and develop a hearty texture.
The dish offers a balance of protein, vegetables, and carbs, making it a filling option for weeknight dinners or meal prep. Adjusting the spice level is easy by choosing different sausages or modifying the seasoning, so it can suit a variety of taste preferences.
15. Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
This recipe creates a hearty one-pan meal combining ground beef, rice, and bell peppers cooked together in a skillet. It offers a convenient way to enjoy the flavors of stuffed peppers without the extra step of hollowing out the vegetables.
The dish simmers with tomato sauce and broth, allowing the rice to absorb rich flavors while softening the peppers. A final addition of cheese melts into the mixture, adding a creamy, savory finish to the skillet dinner.
14. Big Mac Skillet
This Big Mac Skillet combines all the classic flavors of a cheeseburger into one easy, one-pan meal. Ground beef is cooked with onions and topped with a homemade Big Mac sauce, melted American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, and pickles for a hearty dinner option.
The dish can be served in a bowl for a gluten-free, low-carb meal or spooned over a bun for a traditional burger experience. It’s quick to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights, and allows for customizable toppings to suit different tastes.
13. Philly Cheesesteak Skillet
This Keto Philly Cheesesteak Skillet combines tender ribeye steak with sautéed onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms, all cooked in one pan for a quick and satisfying meal.
Melted American cheese on top adds a rich, creamy finish that complements the savory flavors perfectly.
The recipe is designed to be low in carbs while providing a good amount of protein and healthy fats, making it ideal for those following a ketogenic diet.
It offers flexibility with seasonings and protein choices, allowing you to customize the dish to your taste preferences.
12. Fiesta chicken
This one-skillet Fiesta Chicken recipe combines tender chicken, rice, beans, corn, and melty cheese into a flavorful Tex-Mex dish that comes together in under 30 minutes.
It uses simple pantry staples and requires only one pan, making it perfect for quick weeknight dinners with minimal cleanup.
The dish allows for easy customization with options like different types of chicken, added vegetables, or extra spice from jalapeños or hot sauce. Leftovers store well in the fridge or freezer, making it convenient for meal prepping and busy schedules.
11. Sausage & Potatoes Skillet Meal
This Sausage and Potatoes Skillet Meal offers a quick, flavorful dinner that can be ready in just 20 minutes using one pan. It features baby gold potatoes that are partially cooked in the microwave before being crisped up with smoked sausage, shallots, and red bell peppers in a skillet.
The dish is seasoned with simple spices and can be enhanced with an optional creamy Dijon sauce or Parmesan cheese topping. Variations include swapping sausage types, adding frozen corn, or using different peppers and onions to customize the meal to your taste.
10. Smoked Sausage & Cheesy Rice
A one-pan meal featuring smoked sausage, vegetables, and cheesy rice comes together quickly and easily in a single skillet. The dish combines sautéed sausage, onions, bell peppers, and broccoli with cooked rice, all melted together with sharp cheddar cheese for a rich, comforting flavor.
This recipe is versatile enough to use leftover rice and allows for ingredient swaps like kielbasa or different vegetables. It creates a hearty, satisfying dinner that reheats well, making it practical for busy weeknights or meal prep.
9. Garlic Butter Steak & Potatoes Skillet
This dish features tender, juicy flank steak cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce, paired with golden, crisp baby potatoes. The steak is marinated with soy sauce, olive oil, and hot sauce, then seared quickly in a skillet with fresh herbs and garlic for a flavorful finish.
The potatoes are pan-seared until fork-tender and perfectly browned, complementing the savory steak. Together, they create a satisfying one-pan meal that can be prepared in about 30 minutes, ideal for a quick and delicious dinner.
8. One-Skillet Beefy Enchilada Casserole
This one-skillet beefy enchilada pasta casserole combines ground beef, pasta, and a flavorful blend of chili powder, cumin, oregano, and enchilada sauce for a hearty, cheesy meal.
The dish cooks entirely in one pan, making it a convenient option for a satisfying weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
The recipe allows for customization with ingredients like bell peppers, jalapeños, and different pasta shapes to suit personal tastes. It delivers a warm, comforting dish that balances rich, melty cheese with bold Mexican-inspired spices, perfect for serving alongside simple salads or steamed vegetables.
7. Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice
This one-pot cheesy chicken broccoli rice combines tender chicken, fluffy rice, steamed broccoli, and melted cheddar cheese into a simple, comforting meal. It uses just six basic ingredients and cooks entirely on the stove in about 25 to 30 minutes, making it ideal for quick weeknight dinners.
The recipe involves cooking bite-sized chicken pieces before simmering them with rice and chicken broth until tender. Finally, steamed broccoli and shredded cheese are stirred in to create a creamy, cheesy finish that’s mild and kid-friendly.
6. Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet
This Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet combines tender chicken, creamy sauce, and bite-sized tortilla pieces in a single pan for a flavorful, easy meal. The sauce is made from a thickened chicken broth blended with sour cream, green chiles, and black olives, creating a mild yet zesty base that simmers with the chicken until cooked through.
After shredding the chicken, it’s stirred back into the sauce along with the tortillas, then topped with melted cheese for a rich finish. This dish offers all the taste of traditional enchiladas without the need for rolling, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights or family dinners.
5. Ground Turkey Enchilada Skillet Meal
This Ground Turkey Enchilada Skillet Meal combines sautéed ground turkey with enchilada sauce, salsa, black beans, corn, and diced green chiles for a flavorful one-pot dinner.
The mixture simmers until thickened and is topped with crispy tortilla strips, melted cheese, and fresh herbs for a satisfying, easy-to-make meal.
The recipe is versatile, allowing substitutions like shredded chicken or a vegetarian version by doubling the beans and corn. Leftovers store well in the fridge and can be reheated quickly, making it convenient for meal prep or busy weeknights.
4. Creamy Ranch Chicken
This dish features tender chicken breasts seared to a golden brown and simmered in a creamy sauce flavored with zesty Ranch seasoning. The sauce combines cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and milk, creating a rich and savory coating that complements the seasoned chicken perfectly.
It pairs wonderfully with warm baked potatoes and vegetables, allowing you to spoon the flavorful sauce over the sides for added taste. Adding crispy bacon on top offers an optional twist, enhancing the dish with extra texture and smoky flavor.
3. Garlic Butter Herb Steak Bites + Potatoes
This dish features tender, juicy steak bites cooked in a rich garlic butter herb sauce alongside perfectly golden, fork-tender potatoes. The steak is seared to lock in flavor and paired with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano for a savory, aromatic finish.
All components are prepared in one skillet, making it a convenient and flavorful meal option. The potatoes can be pre-cooked to save time, and leftovers reheat well, making this a versatile choice for both dinner and next-day meals.
2. Italian Sausage Tortellini
This one-skillet Italian sausage tortellini dinner combines tender cheese tortellini, savory Italian sausage, and a rich tomato sauce with a variety of fresh vegetables. The dish cooks entirely in one pan, making it a convenient and flavorful meal that requires minimal cleanup.
Frozen tortellini is added directly to the sauce without pre-cooking, allowing it to absorb the flavors as it simmers. Spinach is stirred in at the end to wilt gently, and the dish is finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for added richness.
1. Skillet Lasagna
This skillet lasagna offers a quick and simple way to enjoy a classic comfort food using just one pan. It combines layers of noodles, meat, and cheese into a hearty meal that cooks in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
The recipe is versatile, allowing substitutions like different pasta shapes or swapping ground beef for sausage to change the flavor. Leftovers store well in shallow containers to cool quickly and stay fresh, helping to reduce food waste while providing easy reheating options.