31 One-Pot and One-Pan Dinner Recipes For Busy Days

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Are you looking for an easy dinner idea that requires only one pan, one pot, or one sheet pan? I have the ultimate collection of 31 One Pot Recipes for those busy days. Wether it’s a dump & go slow cooker meal, to a one pot soup on the stove, a one skillet pan dinner, or maybe it’s inside the instant pot. I’ve got the best recipes to choose from that your family is sure to love.

A collage of several picture of hero shots of the recipes for the round up.

One-Pan Meals & One-Pot Recipes For An Easy Dinner

One pan meals and one pot meals are the perfect solution for busy weeknights because everything cooks in just one pot! Whether it’s a sheet pan, a crock pot, an instant pot, or cast iron skillet – one pot or one pan is all you need. No spending hours cutting, chopping, and mixing up several different things to get dinner on the table.

This is the ultimate collection of skillet meal recipes, sheet pan oven baked recipes, crock pot, and Instant Pot recipes; there is something for everyone here! I hope you find some new favorites to feed your family, loved ones, and friends. There is nothing better than a comforting dinner on the table that the whole family can enjoy together.

This list is constantly growing so there may be more than 31 recipes 😉

collage pictures of the recipes in the round up.

Easy One Pot Slow Cooker Recipes (Dump & Go Crockpot Dinner Recipes)

This is the first category because it’s the absolute best way to get an easy one pot recipe prepped and ready to eat when it’s dinnertime. One of our new family favorite dinners is this easy dump & go recipe for fiesta chicken tacos – you literally dump everything in like chicken breasts and black beans, let it cook, shred it up, and serve it with all your favorite taco toppings and tortillas. So incredibly easy.

Easy Swedish Meatballs

Easy Swedish Meatballs cook in the slow cooker and are simple to make with frozen meatballs, gravy packet, beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and evaporated milk which makes the creamy gravy sauce so smooth and creamy.

Taco Ranch Chicken Chili

Taco Ranch Chicken Chili cooks in the slow cooker and only needs a few pantry staple ingredients! It’s a dump & go chili with chicken, vegetables, beans, and lots of flavor. No chopping or prep work needed for this easy chili recipe.

Spiral ham with a brown sugar glaze inside a crock pot with the spirals showing.

Brown Sugar Ham (Made In The Crock Pot)

Brown Sugar Ham is simple to make thanks to a crock pot! Spiral ham with a pineapple, maple, and brown sugar glaze. This ham recipe is a perfect Holiday main dish and easy enough for a weeknight dinner with the family also.

A white bowl with chicken chili with a spoon inside of it taking a scoop.

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili is an easy, dump & go, chicken chili that’s made in the Crock Pot! Shredded Chicken, tomatoes, beans, and corn in a creamy chicken broth base with seasonings and cream cheese.

A speckled plate with a sandwich on hamburger bun filled with shredded bbq chicken inside.

Slow Cooker Zesty BBQ Chicken

Zesty BBQ Chicken is a dump & go slow cooker dinner! Chicken cooks in a simple 4 ingredient zesty bbq sauce until it’s fall apart tender. Serve inside hamburger buns for a bbq shredded chicken sandwich. Perfect family favorite dinner idea for a busy weeknight or when you don’t want to turn the oven on.

A crockpot with meatballs in a sauce inside and a wooden spoon.

Crockpot Jelly Meatballs

Crockpot Jelly Meatballs are the perfect party food or appetizer for any gathering! This easy jelly meatball recipe starts with frozen meatballs, jelly (any flavor!), brown sugar, and chili sauce. Simple to make and so delicious. Everyone loves these meatballs.

Close up shot of a piece of stake with garlic and parsley on it.

Crock Pot Steak Bites

Crock Pot Steak Bites are fall-apart, ultra tender sirloin steak with ranch seasoning, garlic, butter, and other dried seasonings. It’s an easy fix-it and forget-it dinner recipe! If you’ve never had steak made in the slow cooker then you’re missing out. Learn how to make these easy steak bites with lots of tips for success.

Close up picture of a bowl of potato soup topped with bacon and cheese.

Slow Cooker Creamy Potato Soup

Creamy Potato Soup cooks in the slow cooker all day and it’s so easy to prepare! You don’t need to peel and chop potatoes because this potato soup uses frozen hash brown potatoes. So creamy and delicious, and even better when it’s topped with shredded cheese and bacon.

A crockpot insert of steak pieces and baby potatoes for this recipe.

Crockpot Steak and Potatoes

Crockpot Steak and Potatoes is a complete meal that's perfect for the whole family on busy weeknights! Ultra tender stew meat cooks all day with baby potatoes in a perfectly seasoned beef broth base. It's the easiest way to get a hearty meat and potatoes dinner on the table.

A plate of mashed potatoes and meatballs with sauce and gravy.

Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs

If you love traditional crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast then these easy Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs are going to be your new fave dinnertime hit. Simple to make with only 5 ingredients and one of those is frozen meatballs. Dump everything into the slow cooker and that’s it.

Close up of the parmesan pasta with chicken.

Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Buffalo Wild Wings)

Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is an easy chicken pasta recipe that's perfect for those busy weeknights and something the whole family will love! This garlic chicken pasta recipe is a dump & go slow cooker dinner with easy ingredients like garlic parmesan sauce, parmesan cheese, cream cheese, chicken, and pasta.

Honey Lime Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos cook in the slow cooker with only 6 ingredients! Fresh lime, salsa verde, honey, sour cream, and ranch seasoning make the best chicken tacos ever.

Honey Lime Salsa Verde Ranch Chicken Tacos

If there is one meal that I can always count on for a quick dinner to put together in the morning, it’s these honey lime salsa verde ranch chicken tacos that are made in the slow cooker. It is a dump & go recipe that you literally dump into the crockpot.

A soft taco filled with this chicken taco meat and toppings.

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Tacos

Switch up Taco Tuesday and try these simple and super delicious Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Tacos for dinner. Perfectly shredded chicken, black beans, corn, salsa, and chicken taco seasoning is all it takes to get this family favorite dinner on the table.

Sheet Pan Dinners (One Pan Recipes)

Sheet pan dinners are an easy way to make comfort food on just one pan. These recipes require a mixing bowl + chopping, but besides that, everything gets put on one sheet pan and it cooks all together which is why I included them in this round-up. I love sheet pan meals because it usually includes everything you need for a complete dinner – protein, starch, and vegetable. Just throw in some freshly sliced fruit and you’re good to go.

Baking sheet with parmesan chicken and cheese.

Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan

Baked Chicken Parmesan is an easy family dinner recipe that everyone will love! This parmesan chicken has a crispy breadcrumb coating that does not get soggy, mozzarella cheese, and jarred marinara sauce. Tips and tricks to getting the crispiest parmesan chicken at home.

Tortillas on a sheet pan with bell peppers and chicken. Cooked in the oven.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Try these easy and delicious Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas for dinner tonight! You won’t believe how easy it is to make chicken fajitas at home on one sheet pan. Bell peppers add tons of color, lots of flavor made easy thanks to a chicken taco seasoning packet.

Overhead picture of a sheet pan with vegetables on it and mini meatloafs.

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf Recipe

Mini Meatloaf with ground beef, seasonings, and quick oats cooks on a sheet pan in the oven along with potatoes and carrots. This sheet pan dinner recipe makes four small mini meatloafs topped with a sweet & savory glaze, and crispy roasted baby potatoes and carrots.

One sheet pan and the oven is all you need for a delicious and hearty dinner. Moist, tender chicken glazed with a honey garlic sauce and chunked potatoes covered in a simple seasoning of olive oil, salt, and pepper. This is a must try for dinner!

Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken & Potatoes

OVEN ROASTED HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN & POTATOES Oven roasted honey garlic chicken & potatoes is a sheet pan dinner that cooks in one pan. Chicken breasts marinate in a sweet mixture of honey, garlic, and Dijon mustard. Then it gets baked on one sheet pan with seasoned and roasted diced potatoes.

Instant Pot One Pot Recipes

Making a delicious meal in one pot gets even easier when you use a pressure cooker! Just dump & go and let the instant pot do all the work. One single pot is all it takes. Try making short ribs in the instant pot or maybe you’re craving a one-pot pasta dinner recipe like this perfect “baked” ziti. With minimal prep time these are sure to be on the dinner table fast.

Chicken leaned against another one inside an air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Crispy Chicken Thighs Recipe)

Learn how to make these easy, crispy, and flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with just a couple of dried seasonings and oil. In 30 minutes you’ll have the most juicy and crispy skin chicken thighs you’ve ever tasted!

Perfect Instant Pot Baked Ziti

Instant Pot Baked Ziti is a family favorite dinner that’s made even easier when you “bake” it in an Instant Pot! 15 minutes start to finish and only a few simple ingredients. Your family will love this perfect baked ziti recipe. BAKED ZITI IN THE INSTANT POT Confession time… I have made this baked ziti

Potato Corn Chowder made in the Instant Pot! Frozen corn, chopped potatoes, and cheese in a creamy chicken broth base. Serve with shredded cheese, bacon, and green onions.

Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder

POTATO CORN CHOWDER This super creamy potato corn chowder cooks for 15 minutes in the Instant Pot. Dump everything in and that’s it! Heavy cream plus cornstarch makes the chowder really creamy and delicious. I especially love this Instant Pot version of potato corn chowder because you simply add it all into the insert and

A picture of the insert of an instant pot filled with Mac and cheese with a serving spoon inside of it.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe cooks in only 4 minutes in a pressure cooker. Homemade mac and cheese is way better than any box, it’s quick & easy to make at home, so creamy, and your family is going to love this easy Instant Pot recipe for dinner. Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Instant Pot Country Style Ribs

Learn how to make deliciously tender Instant Pot Country Style Ribs! You’ll love these flavorful, sweet & spicy, finger-lickin good, easy to make country style ribs in under 1 hour. Lots of helpful tips and information so you can make the best country style pork ribs in an Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker). Instant Pot Country

A white bowl of cooked oats with toppings.

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

These Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats are an easy and fail-proof way to make steel cut oats for breakfast with only 4 ingredients. Learn how to make steel cut oats in the Instant Pot pressure cooker with this simple method that turns out perfect each time! For another delicious recipe that uses these oats be

A white serving bowl of soup with croutons on top.

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup is a velvety cheesy blend of tender broccoli florets, carrots, rich cheddar cheese, in a seasoned broth base. Let the instant pot do all the work for this creamy broccoli cheddar soup.

One Pot Skillet Meals (Easy Weeknight One-Pot Meals)

These are some of the most easy recipes you will find here on my site. By far my family’s favorite is this easy one pot chili mac – and I love it because everything cooks in one pot including the pasta and ground beef! These are all stove top recipes that require one large skillet pan.

A wooden spoon holding some pasta on it from the skillet pan below.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Enjoy a cheesy, creamy, and savory delight for dinner with our Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe. This flavorful easy dinner idea combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, spiral pasta, and a creamy ranch sauce that's sure to be loved by the entire family.

Cheesy Chicken Taco Rice (One Pot Recipe)

Tasty, delicious, and so cheesy – you're going to love this easy Chicken Taco Rice recipe that's made all in one pot! Classic tex-mex flavors with taco seasoned chicken, beans, corn, tomatoes, rice, and cheese that simmers in a seasoned chicken broth.

A photo of this recipe on a white plate showing the sliced ham and sauce.

Quick BBQ Ham Sandwiches

Quick & easy BBQ Ham Sandwiches are a family favorite with slices of tender ham simmered in a semi-homemade bbq sauce. Serve over buns and with provolone cheese for the best 30 minute dinner.

Bowl of ramen with beef and green onions and chopsticks on the side.

Quick & Easy Ground Beef Ramen Noodles

Ground Beef Ramen is an easy recipe that's bursting with asian flavor. The perfect quick meal for busy weeknights made with one pound of ground beef, ramen noodles, and a savory sauce. No more making plain ramen noodles ever again!

A dish with white rice and topped with chicken, teriyaki sauce, and green onions. Close up shot of the side of the bowl.

One Pan Chicken Teriyaki

This recipe for Chicken Teriyaki is made in just one pan and it’s ready for dinner in just 30 minutes! Chunks of tender chicken simmer in a homemade teriyaki sauce that is sweet & savory. Serve this teriyaki chicken over white rice, and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

A cheese pull from the skillet pan of lasagna.

Skillet Lasagna (One Pot Stove Top Lasagna)

This quick, easy, one pot Skillet Lasagna meal simplifies the Italian classic into a hassle-free dinner delight. All the classic lasagna flavors like marinara sauce, Italian sausage, lasagna noodles, and ricotta cheese but with a fraction of the work. It's a simple 7 ingredient dinner idea for busy weeknights.

Close up of the pot of chicken and rice with queso sauce.

Easy One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice

One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice is made in just one pot and loaded with tons of flavor! Seasoned tender chicken pieces, white rice, and a semi-homemade queso sauce of Rotel tomatoes and nacho cheese sauce, this one pot meal is sure to become a family favorite! It's perfect for busy back-to-school weeknights!

Chicken Burrito Skillet

This chicken burrito skillet cooks up in one pot on the stove top and it’s everything you love about a chicken burrito but without the tortilla and made in 30 minutes in one skillet pan.

Easy Beef Taco Pasta Skillet

Easy Beef Taco Pasta Skillet is a simple 30 minute dinner recipe with ground beef that cooks in one pot with only 6 ingredients. No chopping needed!

BBQ beef skillet dinner recipe with ground beef, pasta, corn, and beef broth.

BBQ Beef Pasta Skillet

BBQ Beef Pasta Skillet is a one pan dinner made on the stove top in just 30 minutes! Ground beef, red bell pepper, corn, and pasta cook in a bbq beef broth base. Simple ingredients but huge flavor that the entire family will love & your house will smell like a BBQ restaurant.

Skillet pan with chicken and sauce, with a wooden spoon in it.

Skillet Cashew Chicken

One pan Cashew Chicken is a simple dinner recipes that everyone loves! Chunks of chicken are covered in a sweet homemade sauce, crunchy salty bites of cashew, and then topped with green onions. A family favorite dinner recipe that is sure to please.

three fajitas on a plate inside a flour tortilla.

Skillet Ranch Chicken Fajitas

Ranch Chicken Fajitas are made in one skillet pan on the stove top! Chunks of seasoned chicken, onion, and bell pepper get covered in ranch dressing for a delicious twist to classic chicken fajitas. A quick and easy 30-minute dinner!

One Pot Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese

Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese is made in just one pot! Ground turkey chili with pinto beans cooks in a seasoned tomato sauce and chicken broth base with small shell pasta. Add lots of cheese for a cheesy and creamy mac and cheese with turkey chili!

One Pot Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta is made in one pot with just a few simple ingredients. Ground beef, seasonings, salsa, and pasta noodles cook in one pot on the stove. Cheesy taco pasta is a simple, 30 minute dinner recipe that is sure to be a hit.

Recipe for homemade hamburger helper that is shown inside a skillet pan.

One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper

Make your own Homemade Hamburger Helper at home in just one pot! Ground beef and macaroni simmer in a richly seasoned beef broth, and it’s finished off with cream and cheese. This is so much better than the boxed stuff.

One scoop of chicken broccoli rice on a wooden spoon.

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice is an easy dinner recipe that is made in one pot on the stove. With only 6 simple ingredients like chicken, broccoli, rice, chicken broth, and cheddar cheese it can be on the table in just 30 minutes.

Close up picture of egg noodles plus chicken.

One Pot Chicken and Noodles

Chicken and Noodles is an easy one pot dinner that is ready in just 30 minutes! A comforting classic dinner that is made with convenient ingredients like egg noodles, frozen peas, cooked chicken, chicken broth, and a can of cream of chicken soup. Approved by picky eaters!

One Pot Soups

These hearty soup recipes cook and simmer in one large soup pot on the stove top. Most of them use up leftover chicken, which is a great time saver, while others include cooking the protein in the same pot. Making clean up a breeze and serving. I love serving soup with crusty bread from the local bakery, or go to the bakery area of the grocery store, look in the frozen aisles for take n’ bake bread options, or make some of my easy and buttery one hour rolls.

With an assortment of chicken noodle soup all the way to several different kinds of chicken soup – you’re sure to find some that you love.

A white bowl of this soup wit sour cream and chips.

Green Enchilada Chicken Soup (Creamy One Pot Soup)

Green Enchilada Chicken Soup is a creamy soup recipe that's made in one pot on the stove top. Your taste buds will love all the Tex-Mex flavors, and you'll love less dishes and the simple pantry ingredients needed to make enchilada soup with green enchilada sauce.

A pot of creamy soup with rice, and chicken and veggies. A soup ladle inside the pot of soup.

Rice-a-Roni Chicken Soup

This one pot creamy Rice-a-Roni Chicken Soup is simple to make and the best way to use up leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Chicken broth is the base of this soup, with rice pilaf rice-a-roni mix, chicken, vegetables, and it’s made creamy with cream cheese and cream of chicken soup.

Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup is a healthy soup recipe full of fresh veggies like tomatoes, celery, carrots, onion, zucchini, beans, and spinach in a perfectly & richly seasoned tomato sauce vegetable broth base.

One pot of soup with fresh lemon slices in it and a soup ladle.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe (Easy One Pot Soup)

Easy one pot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a cozy soup recipe with shredded chicken, vegetables, fresh lemon, small orzo pasta, all inside a lemony chicken broth. Simple to make in one pan – where even the chicken cooks in the same pot – and it's a soup that the whole family can enjoy for dinner.

Spoonful of creamy chicken soup with a bowl of soup in the background.

Cream Cheese Chicken Soup

Cream Cheese Chicken Soup cooks up in one pot on the stove and it’s the perfect creamy comfort food. Fresh vegetables, cooked chicken, and seasonings simmer in a creamy milk & chicken broth base. Your family will just love this creamy soup recipe!

7 Can Chicken Taco Soup

Dinner does not get any easier than this 7 Can Chicken Taco Soup! Dump 7 cans into a pot plus some seasonings and that’s it! Serve with tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream. You won’t believe how yummy & easy it is.

Gnocchi soup inside a white bowl with a silver spoon scooping a bite out of the bowl of soup.

Quick & Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a quick & easy version of the classic gnocchi soup! Made easy with jarred Alfredo sauce, cooked chicken, pesto, and chopped fresh spinach. Creamy chicken gnocchi soup can be on the dinner table in just 30 minutes and it’s made in one pot on the stove.

Close up shot of taco soup inside a ladle.

Easy Taco Soup

Learn how to make Easy Taco Soup at home with this simple recipe! Ground beef simmers with convenient canned items like chili beans, corn, tomatoes, beef broth, and a packet of taco seasoning. This taco soup recipe is so hearty and flavorful, and is best served with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

A white pot of soup with noodles, chicken, and carrots with a soup ladle inside the pot.

Easy One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Easy One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is simple to make with leftover chicken and egg noodles. A perfectly flavored chicken broth is the base and then it’s filled with fresh veggies like celery and carrots. A can of condensed cream of chicken soup is the ‘secret ingredient’ for easy, semi-homemade chicken noodle soup in your kitchen.

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Learn how to make homemade Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with simple ingredients like leftover chicken, egg noodles, fresh vegetables, and an easy creamy chicken broth with cream of celery soup and sour cream. This soup is a comfort food classic that is loved by all and it’s simple to make in just one pot.

A large pot of soup with a wooden spoon in it.

Easy Chicken Taco Soup

Looking for a quick & easy meal? Try our delicious Easy Chicken Taco Soup recipe that’s made with cooked shredded chicken, beans, corn, and perfectly seasoned with chicken taco seasoning. It’s a family favorite that will warm you up and fun to eat with all the delicious taco soup toppings.

a bowl of chunky potato soup inside a bowl with toppings.

Easy Hash Brown Potato Soup (With Frozen Hash Browns)

Hash Brown Potato Soup is a quick & easy potato soup with frozen hash browns! No peeling or chopping needed. This easy potato soup cooks in one pot on the stove top and is best served with shredded cheese and bacon bits.

A soup pot of this meatball soup with a wooden spoon inside of it for serving.

Italian Meatball Soup

Looking for a hearty and flavorful soup that's quick and easy to make? You need to try our Italian Meatball Soup! Packed with savory Italian meatballs, vegetables, and ditalini pasta. It's a delicious and satisfying meal for dinner – the best part is that you only need 7 easy ingredients!

Pasta Fagioli Soup

Pasta Fagioli Soup is a classic Italian soup recipe with a 5-star rating! It's savory broth, hearty beans and beef, tender pasta, pasta sauce, and dried seasonings make this the best soup for Fall, or anytime! You'll love the savory broth that has tons of flavor thanks to a jar of marinara sauce!

One Pan Casserole Recipes

You’re going to love these one pan casserole dinner recipes that bake up in one casserole pan! Some easy dump & go casserole recipes along with casseroles that use already cooked chicken – which makes it an easy way to prep dinner in no time.

Casserole recipe with chunks of chicken, black beans, and corn in a cheesy one dish recipe.

Fiesta Chicken Casserole

Fiesta Chicken Casserole is an easy chicken casserole recipe that is so simple to make with chicken, pasta, black beans, corn, seasonings, and cheese! This is a family favorite dinner recipe that is always a hit.

A pasta dish with a serving spoon in it.

Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo Casserole

This Chicken Alfredo Casserole is a cheesy, comfort food dinner that the entire family will enjoy – and you don't even have to boil the pasta! With a jar of alfredo sauce and a rotisserie chicken, this Dump and Bake casserole is one of the quickest meals you'll ever prep!

A serving fork inside the casserole with cheese pulls showing.

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

This Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole only needs 6 ingredients and you don’t even have to boil the pasta before! Quick to make because you ‘dump’ the ingredients into a casserole dish and let it bake. Family-friendly dinners don’t get any easier than this meatball casserole that uses convenient ingredients like frozen meatballs and jarred pasta sauce.

A scoop of casserole being pulled from the pan.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

This family favorite cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a simple weeknight dinner idea that uses convenient store-bought ingredients and already cooked chicken. A creamy base with chunks of chicken, broccoli, and cheesy broccoli rice packets.

A wooden spoon with a scoop of this creamy casserole sitting on it.

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole will have your taste buds dancing with it’s creamy and savory flavor, chunks of hearty chicken, and topped with a crunchy and buttery cracker topping. So simple to make for a quick weeknight dinner.

A picture of a casserole with a serving of it on a wooden spoon up close.

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole is an easy, dump & go casserole recipe, that only takes minutes to make and it’s always a family favorite dinner. Chunks of chicken, instant rice, creamed soups, chicken stock, and onion seasoning mix is all you need to make this easy prep casserole.