Bity
These one pan meals are what I cook when I want a proper dinner without a sink full of washing up. There are sheet pan suppers, cosy skillets and one pot curries, all 14 from my own kitchen, and each tells you exactly how long it takes and how many it feeds.
In short, these 14 one pan meals are three sheet pan dinners, six skillet dinners and five one pot dinners. Most take 35 to 45 minutes, the quickest is the Instant Pot spaghetti at 25 minutes, and they serve 4 to 6.
I have grouped them by the pan you will reach for: the baking tray, the skillet or the big pot. After the recipes you will find a quick pan guide, a week of dinners, the tips that stop soggy trays and the questions readers ask me most.
Quick Breakdown
Why One Pan Meals Work
Honestly, the cooking is rarely what puts me off dinner; it is the washing up afterwards. One pan meals solve that, and they also build more flavour, because everything cooks in the same browned bits and juices.
- Less washing up: one tray, skillet or pot, plus a board and a knife.
- Quick: most of these are on the table in 35 to 45 minutes.
- Better flavour: the fat from bacon or sausage seasons everything that follows.
- Family sized: nearly all of them feed four to six.
Sheet Pan Dinners
A rimmed tray and a hot oven do almost all the work here. You chop, toss and walk away, which makes these perfect for nights when you need your hands free.
1. Sheet Pan Salmon
Lemon butter salmon, asparagus and baby potatoes on one rimmed tray. The secret is timing: the potatoes go in alone for ten minutes, because a halved potato needs far longer than a salmon fillet. Then everything finishes together, and the fish still flakes beautifully at the very centre.
Get the Sheet Pan Salmon recipe →
2. Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables
Sheet pan sausage and vegetables is what I make when I run out of energy on a Tuesday. Smoked sausage, three colours of pepper, courgette and red onion get tossed with Italian seasoning right on the tray. The only real skill is spacing, so use your biggest tray or two; crowded vegetables steam instead of browning.
Get the Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables recipe →
3. Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs
Sticky barbecue chicken thighs roast right alongside baby potatoes, green beans and little cobs of corn, so the whole summer barbecue plate comes from one tray. I give the chicken a quick blast under the grill at the end for those caramelised, slightly charred edges everyone fights over.
Get the Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe →
Skillet Dinners
Next come the skillet suppers, which are probably the one pan meals I cook most often. A large, deep pan with a lid is all you need, and cast iron is lovely if you have one.
4. Skillet Lasagna
Skillet lasagna gives you proper lasagna flavour on a Tuesday in about 40 minutes, without layering, baking or resting. Broken sheets cook right in the beef ragu, then ricotta and mozzarella melt over the top under the lid. It is soft and saucy rather than neatly sliced, and nobody has ever complained.
Get the Skillet Lasagna recipe →
5. Cheeseburger Skillet
A cheeseburger skillet gives you everything I love about a cheeseburger, minus shaping patties and toasting buns. Beef, onion and little cubes of potato simmer in stock, then disappear under melted cheddar, a tangy burger sauce and pickles. Cut the potatoes small so they cook through in the same time as everything else.
Get the Cheeseburger Skillet recipe →
6. Chicken Bacon Ranch Skillet
Bacon, chicken and baby potatoes cook in the same pan with ranch seasoning, then disappear under melted cheddar and spring onions. I make it when the fridge looks bare, because those three ingredients are nearly always hanging about. Better yet, the bacon fat seasons everything that follows.
Get the Chicken Bacon Ranch Skillet recipe →
7. Marry Me Chicken
Golden seared chicken simmers in a creamy Parmesan, garlic and sun-dried tomato sauce, all in one skillet. I cut the chicken into bite size chunks first, which makes it faster and means every piece gets coated. Serve it over rice or with crusty bread for mopping up the sauce.
Get the Marry Me Chicken recipe →
8. Creamy Pasta Primavera
Penne, broccoli, peppers, courgette and peas in a light Parmesan cream sauce. To be honest about the washing up, the pasta boils in its own pot, but the vegetables and sauce all come together in one skillet in about twenty minutes. Fold the cherry tomatoes in off the heat so the cream stays smooth.
Get the Creamy Pasta Primavera recipe →
9. Cheesy Creamy Ravioli With Spinach
Shop bought cheese ravioli cooks with a splash of water in an ovenproof skillet, then gets wilted spinach, mascarpone and Parmesan and a quick trip to the oven until golden and bubbling. It feels like a dinner party dish, but it uses one pan from start to finish.
Get the Cheesy Creamy Ravioli With Spinach recipe →
One Pot Dinners
Finally, the pot dinners, proof that one pan meals do not always mean a tray: a risotto, two Instant Pot favourites and two coconut curries that taste even better the next day.
10. Chicken Risotto With Bacon and Peas
Smoked bacon, chicken thighs and sweet peas in a creamy risotto finished with mascarpone, Parmesan and lemon. Yes, it needs stirring, but it all happens in one sauté pan and the ladle by ladle rhythm is weirdly relaxing after a long day. Frozen peas are perfect here.
Get the Chicken Risotto With Bacon and Peas recipe →
11. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Browned chicken thighs sit on seasoned rice and frozen vegetables, and the whole lot pressure cooks together. The one rule is not to stir: layer the rice, liquid, vegetables and chicken, then leave them exactly where they are. You get fluffy grains and juicy chicken from a single pot.
Get the Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe →
12. Instant Pot Spaghetti
Dry spaghetti cooks right in the meat sauce, so there is no big pan of water to boil or drain. Lay the pasta criss-cross over the beef, pour the sauce and water over the top and do not stir. Eight minutes later, dinner is ready and the children think it is magic.
Get the Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe →
13. Coconut Chicken Curry
Bone-in drumsticks simmer gently in a thick sauce of creamed coconut, tomatoes and toasted curry spices. Everything happens in one large pot, from browning the chicken to the final taste and tweak. It tastes even better the next day, so I often cook it a day early.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe →
14. Coconut Chickpea Curry
Chickpeas and browned shiitake mushrooms simmer in a spiced coconut and tomato sauce, finished with lime and fresh coriander. It is naturally vegan, and the mushrooms give it a savoury depth that fools meat eaters. Brown them properly in a single layer first, because that is where the flavour comes from.
Get the Coconut Chickpea Curry recipe →
All 14 One Pan Meals at a Glance
Here is every recipe in one table, so you can choose by the pan you want to use, the time you have and how many you are feeding. Times and servings come from the recipe cards.
| Recipe | Pan | Total time | Serves or makes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet Pan Salmon | Sheet pan | 35 min | 4 |
| Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables | Sheet pan | 45 min | 4 |
| Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs | Sheet pan | 45 min | 4 |
| Skillet Lasagna | Skillet | 40 min | 6 |
| Cheeseburger Skillet | Skillet | 35 min | 6 |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch Skillet | Skillet | 40 min | 6 |
| Marry Me Chicken | Skillet | 35 min | 4 |
| Creamy Pasta Primavera | Skillet | 35 min | 6 |
| Cheesy Creamy Ravioli With Spinach | Skillet | About 1 hr | 4 |
| Chicken Risotto With Bacon and Peas | One pot | 50 min | 6 |
| Instant Pot Chicken and Rice | One pot | 35 min | 6 |
| Instant Pot Spaghetti | One pot | 25 min | 4 |
| Coconut Chicken Curry | One pot | 45 min | 5 |
| Coconut Chickpea Curry | One pot | 45 min | 6 |
Which Pan to Use for Each Dinner
You do not need fancy kit for any of these one pan meals: a large rimmed baking tray, a deep 12 inch skillet with a lid, an ovenproof skillet, a wide sauté pan or Dutch oven and an Instant Pot cover all 14. Here is what I actually use, and why it matters for each style of dinner.
| Pan | Best for | My tip |
|---|---|---|
| Large rimmed baking tray | Salmon, sausage and vegetables, BBQ chicken thighs | Line it with parchment and never crowd it |
| Deep 12 inch skillet with a lid | Skillet lasagna, cheeseburger skillet, chicken bacon ranch, marry me chicken | The lid traps steam to cook potatoes and pasta |
| Ovenproof skillet | Ravioli with spinach | Goes from hob to oven to table |
| Wide sauté pan or Dutch oven | Risotto, coconut curries | A heavy base stops sticking and scorching |
| Instant Pot | Chicken and rice, spaghetti | Layer and do not stir, or you get a burn notice |
A Week of One Pan Meals
Whenever I plan a busy week, I mix the styles so the oven and the hob take turns. Here is a week that keeps things varied without ever needing a second pan.
- Monday: Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables, because it uses up the odds and ends from the weekend.
- Tuesday: Skillet Lasagna for a cosy, saucy start to the week.
- Wednesday: Instant Pot Chicken and Rice, ready in 35 minutes.
- Thursday: Coconut Chickpea Curry, a meat free night with leftovers for lunch.
- Friday: Cheeseburger Skillet for a fakeaway feel.
- Saturday: Sheet Pan Salmon when there is a little more time.
- Sunday: Chicken Risotto With Bacon and Peas, stirred with a glass of something nice.
Tips for Better One Pan Meals
Almost every disappointing tray or skillet I have made came down to one of these habits, so they are worth a quick read before you start.
- Stagger by cooking time: potatoes and raw meat go in first, tender vegetables and fish later. The University of Illinois Extension guide to sheet pan suppers explains this layering nicely.
- Give food space: crowding makes vegetables steam rather than roast, so use two trays if you need to.
- Cut evenly: similar sized pieces finish at the same moment.
- Use the fond: those browned bits in the skillet are flavour, so scrape them up with stock or broth.
- Check the meat: chicken is safe at 165°F and minced beef at 160°F, so a probe thermometer beats guessing.
- Look after cast iron: rinse, dry it straight away and wipe on a thin layer of oil. The Mississippi State University Extension guide to caring for cast iron covers seasoning and rust too.
For the tray bakes, lining the pan with a half sheet silicone baking mat means sticky barbecue glaze and lemon butter wipe straight off instead of needing a soak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cooking One Pan Meals
What is the difference between one pan and one pot meals?
Mostly the vessel. One pan usually means a baking tray or skillet, while one pot means a deep pan, Dutch oven or pressure cooker. Either way, the point is fewer things to wash.
How do I stop sheet pan vegetables going soggy?
Spread them in a single layer with space between the pieces, use a hot oven of around 400°F and toss them with a little oil. Crowding is the number one cause of steamed, pale vegetables.
Can I swap the protein in these one pan meals?
Usually, yes. Chicken thighs can replace breast in most of the skillets, and chickpeas make a good swap in the curries. Just check the new protein is cooked to a safe temperature: 165°F (74°C) for chicken and 160°F (71°C) for minced beef.
Which one pan meal is the quickest?
Instant Pot spaghetti, at 25 minutes in all, with 8 minutes at high pressure and a quick release. Sheet pan salmon, the cheeseburger skillet, marry me chicken, creamy pasta primavera and Instant Pot chicken and rice each take 35 minutes.
Are any of these one pan meals vegetarian?
Yes. The coconut chickpea curry is naturally vegan, and the creamy pasta primavera and cheesy creamy ravioli with spinach are meat free. Parmesan is traditionally made with animal rennet, so use a vegetarian hard cheese and check the ravioli label.
Leftovers and Make Ahead
Can you prepare one pan meals ahead?
Yes. Chop the vegetables a day early and keep them covered in the fridge, which removes most of the work. The ravioli can be fully assembled ahead and baked just before serving.
Which one pan meals freeze well?
The cheeseburger skillet, chicken bacon ranch and marry me chicken all freeze for up to 2 months. Risotto does not, because the creamy texture turns grainy.
How long do leftover one pan meals keep in the fridge?
Most keep for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the fridge; the cheeseburger skillet and chicken bacon ranch keep 4 days and the risotto 3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat to 165°F (74°C). Add a splash of stock or water when you reheat rice and pasta, since they keep soaking up liquid.
