If you’re looking for easy one-pan dinner recipes, this list has you covered. One-pan meals are one of the simplest ways to make weeknight cooking easier while keeping cleanup to a minimum.
From high-protein sheet pan chicken fajitas to kid-friendly chili mac and creamy chicken and tortellini Alfredo, these recipes use simple ingredients to create big flavor. Scroll down to find your new favorite easy dinner for busy nights.
Why These One-Pan Dinners Work
- Made with simple, everyday ingredients
- No complicated steps, so dinner stays easy and stress-free
- Hearty, satisfying meals that actually fill everyone up
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What Counts as a One-Pan Dinner?
For this roundup, a one-pan dinner means everything cooks in one pan from start to finish—no extra pots for pasta and no browning meat separately. When you’re done eating, you’ll only have one pan to wash, which is exactly the kind of easy cleanup we all love.
15 Easy One-Pan Dinners for Families
- Easy Chicken Alfredo
- One Pot Rotini Pasta
- Cheeseburger Macaroni
- Chili Mac
- Chicken Rice Vegetable One Pan Dinner
- One Pan Chicken and Tortellini Alfredo
- Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
- Loaded Chicken and Potato Bake
- Ground Beef Sweet Potato Hash
- Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash
- One Pan Beef Stroganoff
- One Pot Beef Chili with Beans
- Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner
- One Pan Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Brussels Sprouts
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Easy One-Pan Pasta Dinners
Easy Chicken Alfredo
Creamy, comforting, and easy to make, this chicken Alfredo gets a fresh upgrade with broccoli for added flavor and nutrition. Using your favorite jarred sauce keeps it quick and perfect for busy weeknights.
One Pot Rotini Pasta
A hearty ground beef pasta dish with fresh spinach for added flavor and nutrition. Topped with additional Parmesan cheese to make it extra delicious.
Cheeseburger Macaroni
Our version of this dish is made with simple ingredients you can actually pronounce. Then plenty of cheddar cheese is added!
One-Pan Chicken Dinners
Chicken Rice Vegetable One Pan Dinner
All the elements of a delicious meal made in one pan with minimal prep and on the table in about half an hour.
One Pan Chicken and Tortellini Alfredo
Use your favorite jar sauce and tortellini for a dish that feels special, but is super quick and easy.
Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
A seven ingredient dish that has everything you’d want in a meal. It’s cheesy and flavorful!
Loaded Chicken and Potato Bake
Chicken and potatoes are tossed in olive oil and spices then baked until tender and juicy. Then it’s topped with bacon and plenty of melty cheese.
Easy One-Pan Beef Dinners
Ground Beef Sweet Potato Hash
Ground beef, green peppers, black beans and sweet potatoes create a tasty one pan dinner that’s hearty and healthy.
Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash
This stovetop beef tagine is made in one skillet with butternut squash for a flavorful dinner that feels different from the usual weeknight meal.
One Pot Beef Chili with Beans
This recipe makes a large pot of chili, perfect for feeding a crowd or freezing for later.
Sheet Pan Dinners
Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner
This recipe is great because everything goes on the sheet pan at once, pop it in the oven and it’s hands-off, then in about 30 minutes dinner is done!
Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Brussels Sprouts
An impressive dish that’s fancy enough for Sunday dinner but quick and easy for any night of the week.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
This is my go-to chicken fajita recipe because it cooks in 15 minutes! Serve it with your favorite toppings for a quick and easy dish loved by all.
Tips for Making One-Pan Dinners Easier
- Read through the entire recipe before starting to make sure you have all the ingredients and to do any prep ahead of time to make cooking easier.
- Prep ingredients ahead whenever possible.
- Use a large enough skillet, pot, or sheet pan so everything cooks evenly.
- Cut meat and vegetables into similar-sized pieces when possible so they finish cooking at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
One-pan dinners can be made in a skillet, sheet pan, baking dish, while one-pot dinners are usually cooked in a pot or Dutch oven. For this roundup, every recipe is made using one cooking vessel from start to finish.
Yes, sheet pan dinners count as one-pan meals because everything cooks together on one pan and cleanup is simple.
Many of these recipes can be doubled, but you may need to use a larger pan or two sheet pans so the food cooks evenly.
About Mindy
Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.