One-Skillet Dinners That Make Weeknights So Much Easier

If you love dinners that are simple, fast, and full of flavor, this roundup is packed with skillet recipes that check all the boxes. These easy one-pan meals come together quickly, keep cleanup minimal, and still taste like you spent way more time in the kitchen. From spicy pastas and hearty turkey dishes to veggie-packed meals and cozy comfort food favorites, you’ll find plenty of delicious ideas to add to your weekly rotation.

Spicy Skillet Lamb Ragu

A skillet filled with cooked pasta, ground meat, tomato sauce, greens, and grated cheese, placed on a white cloth with a spoon beside it. — Spicy Skillet Lamb Ragu. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

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This spicy lamb ragu is a bold and comforting one-skillet dinner made with cavatappi pasta, crushed tomatoes, and harissa. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for chilly evenings.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Skillet Lamb Ragu

Taco Rice Skillet

Closeup of a skillet with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes. — Taco Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This quick taco rice skillet uses just eight ingredients and comes together in around 20 minutes. It’s a fun, easy dinner the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Taco Rice Skillet

Taco Skillet For Breakfast

A slice of taco casserole topped with ground beef, tomatoes, olives, and green onions on a white plate, served with sliced avocado. — Taco Skillet For Breakfast. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

This hearty breakfast skillet features ground beef, eggs, cheese, and taco seasoning for a filling morning meal. It’s keto friendly, easy to make, and perfect for meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Taco Skillet For Breakfast

Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

A cast iron skillet filled with cooked diced chicken, cashew nuts, and fresh herbs, with a serving spoon resting inside. — Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This flavorful cashew chicken skillet is tossed in a sweet and savory sauce with plenty of fresh basil. Serve it over rice for a simple and delicious one-pan dinner.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

A pot of creamy macaroni pasta with ground meat, spinach, and cherry tomatoes, garnished with herbs and spices, sits on a dark cloth next to fresh basil leaves and a serving spoon. — Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This turkey mac and cheese is a grown up take on a classic comfort food. It’s loaded with veggies, real cheddar, and tender turkey for a healthier, one-pot pasta dinner.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet

A white skillet filled with shredded chicken, black beans, diced sweet potatoes, spinach, and lime wedges. — Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This simple skillet meal is a nutritious way to use leftover turkey or chicken. With sweet potatoes, beans, veggies, and greens, it’s a wholesome dinner ready in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet

Tuscan White Bean Skillet with Kale

A black plate with white beans, chopped tomatoes, and kale, served with a piece of bread. Additional bread is on a metal tray nearby. — xr:d:DAF6mFsObGs:114,j:8049474939106813295,t:24012415

This comforting white bean and kale skillet is packed with veggies and plant based protein. It’s a cozy, meatless meal that comes together easily.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Skillet with Kale

Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet

A skillet filled with cooked ground beef, sliced zucchini, and onions on a wooden surface. — Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This budget friendly beef and veggie skillet is made with fewer than ten ingredients. It’s quick, hearty, and great for lunch or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet

Vegetable Bean Skillet

A cast iron skillet filled with a cooked vegetable and bean medley, garnished with chopped parsley, sits on a wooden table beside a plate, fork, and fresh parsley. — Vegetable Bean Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This veggie packed skillet features two types of beans for a filling, protein rich meal. It’s flavorful, wholesome, and perfect for a satisfying meatless dinner.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet

Loaded Blackened Skillet Chicken

Cooked meat topped with melted cheese and sautéed onions in a skillet, garnished with chopped herbs. — Loaded Blackened Skillet Chicken. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

This blackened chicken skillet is full of bold flavor and topped with all your favorite fixings. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but tasty enough for guests.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Blackened Skillet Chicken

Mediterranean Chickpea Skillet

A skillet filled with a chunky tomato and vegetable stew, topped with a swirl of hummus and sprinkled with pine nuts. — Mediterranean Chickpea Skillet. Photo credit: xoxo Bella .

This Mediterranean inspired chickpea skillet brings together warm spices, juicy veggies, and hearty chickpeas for a quick and delicious dinner.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Skillet

Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

A skillet filled with cooked elbow macaroni, ground meat, tomato sauce, and garnished with chopped parsley, with a wooden spoon and striped towel nearby. — Ground Beef Pasta Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This ground beef pasta skillet tastes like it simmered all day, but it’s ready in under half an hour. Use any pasta you have on hand for an easy and satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet

A skillet filled with a baked dish containing chopped kale, diced sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, ground meat, and melted cheese on top. — Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella .

This 30 minute turkey, sweet potato, and kale skillet is a wholesome and easy one pot dinner. It’s perfect for busy nights when you want something healthy and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet