37 Dinners That Won’t Leave You with a Sink Full of Dishes

Dinners shouldn’t leave you staring at a mountain of dirty dishes when you’re done eating. That’s why these recipes keep cleanup to a minimum without skimping on flavor. Whether it’s a one-pan meal or something that makes smart use of shortcuts, these are great for busy nights when you just want to eat and relax.

Overhead image of cozy bowl of potato and sausage chowder with breads on the side. — Potato And Sausage Chowder. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Corn Casserole without Jiffy Mix

A close up image of a single serving of corn casserole on a plate with a spoon beside it. — Corn Casserole without Jiffy Mix. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This corn casserole skips the boxed mix and keeps things simple with sweet corn and a creamy texture. It bakes up golden and ready to serve with barely any cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole without Jiffy Mix

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Slow cooker French onion soup brings all the classic flavors without the extra work. Caramelized onions and melted cheese come together in one pot, making cleanup easy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Squash Casserole with Stuffing

An image of Squash Casserole in a baking dish. — Squash Casserole with Stuffing. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This squash casserole with stuffing is a hearty side dish that works for holidays or weeknights. Everything bakes together in one dish, so there’s no extra mess.
Get the Recipe: Squash Casserole with Stuffing

Nigerian Jollof Rice

A close up image of nigerian jolloff rice garnished with slices of red onion and bay leaves. — Nigerian Jollof Rice. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Nigerian jollof rice is a one-pot dish packed with bold flavors and a crispy bottom layer. It’s a go-to when you need something easy, flavorful, and quick to clean up.
Get the Recipe: Nigerian Jollof Rice

Instant Pot Minestrone

An overhead image of a bowl of minestrone soup served in a white bowl, accompanied by a spoon on the side and a white cloth underneath. — Instant Pot Minestrone. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Instant Pot vegetable soup is packed with fresh veggies and beans for a hearty meal. Everything cooks in one pot, so there’s less time spent washing dishes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Minestrone

Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup

Slow cooker tortilla soup is a no-stress meal that’s great for any night. Just throw in the ingredients, let it cook, and enjoy with almost no cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup

Instant Pot Tortellini Soup

This Instant Pot tortellini soup is packed with veggies and cheesy pasta, all in one pot. A simple, cozy dinner that’s ready fast and won’t leave a mess.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Tortellini Soup

Instant Pot Mulligatawny Soup

Mulligatawny soup comes together in the Instant Pot with a rich, spiced broth and hearty ingredients. It’s a hands-off meal that makes dinner easy and cleanup even easier.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Mulligatawny Soup

Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole

Vegetarian enchilada casserole is a cheesy, veggie-packed meal that bakes in one dish. A great choice when you want something comforting without a pile of dishes.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole

Potato And Sausage Chowder

Potato and sausage chowder is a filling, one-pot meal that’s great for chilly nights. A simple, quick dinner with minimal cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Potato And Sausage Chowder

Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup

An overhead image of two cabbage soups in a white serving bowl. — Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This one-pot vegan cabbage soup is full of nutrients and bold flavor. It’s an easy dinner that makes plenty, perfect for meal prep with minimal mess.
Get the Recipe: Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup

Tater Tot Casserole

Tater tot casserole is a quick-prep meal with veggies, a creamy sauce, and a crispy topping. It all comes together in one dish, making cleanup a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Tater Tot Casserole

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Spaghetti squash casserole is a cheesy, veggie-filled meal that bakes up in under an hour. It’s a simple dinner that’s easy to make and even easier to clean up.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Squash and Zucchini Casserole

Close up of zucchini and summer squash casserole in glass dish. — Squash and Zucchini Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Squash and zucchini casserole is loaded with veggies and baked to cheesy perfection. It’s a quick, one-pan meal that works for weeknights or potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Squash and Zucchini Casserole

Slow Cooker Ratatouille

An image of ratatouille on a plate with bread. — Slow Cooker Ratatouille. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Slow cooker ratatouille turns fresh veggies into a rich, herby stew with almost no effort. Just toss everything in, let it cook, and enjoy without extra cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ratatouille

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy green bean casserole is a quick, oven-baked side that’s ready in 30 minutes. Everything cooks in one dish, keeping things easy in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Ayurvedic Indian Kitchari

An overhead view of kitchari in a pot above a wooden board. — Ayurvedic Indian Kitchari. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Kitchari is a one-pot, rice-and-lentil dish that’s simple and comforting. It comes together in under an hour and won’t leave you with a sink full of dishes.
Get the Recipe: Ayurvedic Indian Kitchari

Sheet Pan Bibimbap

Sheet pan bibimbap packs bold Korean flavors with roasted veggies and crispy tofu. It’s a great way to get a flavorful meal on the table without a ton of cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Bibimbap

Carrot Casserole

Carrot casserole is a creamy, comforting dish with a crispy topping. A quick-prep option that bakes in one pan and makes dinner easy.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Casserole

One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Lemon ricotta pasta is a one-pot meal that’s ready in just 15 minutes. It’s quick to cook and even quicker to clean up, perfect for any night.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Instant Pot Tomato Soup

Instant Pot tomato soup comes together fast with fresh or canned tomatoes. Everything cooks in one pot, making it a simple, low-mess meal.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Tomato Soup

Green Rice Casserole

Green rice casserole is a quick and flavorful dinner that bakes up in under 35 minutes. Everything cooks in one dish, keeping cleanup light.
Get the Recipe: Green Rice Casserole

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Slow cooker potato soup is creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. It’s a simple, hands-off meal that won’t leave a pile of dishes behind.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Instant Pot Corn Chowder

Instant Pot corn chowder is creamy, cozy, and done in 15 minutes. A perfect one-pot meal when you want something filling without the extra cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Corn Chowder

Eggplant Casserole

Eggplant casserole layers savory veggies and cheese into a hearty baked dish. Everything comes together in one pan, keeping prep and cleanup simple.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Casserole

3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

An image of broccoli cheese casserole served on a table with a spoon on the right side. — 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Broccoli cheese casserole is a quick, three-ingredient meal for busy nights. It’s simple to make and even simpler to clean up.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Slow cooker black bean soup is rich, hearty, and comes together with almost no effort. Just toss everything in and let it cook—cleanup is minimal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Instant Pot Jollof

A close-up of a pot with cooked jollof rice with a person's hand holding a red spatula. — Instant Pot Jollof. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This Instant Pot version of Nigerian Jollof Rice keeps the bold, tomato-rich flavors with even less work. A one-pot dish that’s great for any night.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Jollof

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

An image of split pea soup divided into two bowls. — Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Slow cooker split pea soup is a hands-off, veggie-packed meal that’s perfect for busy days. Just let it simmer and enjoy with almost no cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Close-up image of sliced homemade Margherita pizza. — Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Broccoli cheddar soup is creamy, cheesy, and ready in 35 minutes. Everything cooks in one pot, so there’s barely anything to wash.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Maple Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan

Sheet pan maple Dijon chicken bakes up with roasted veggies and crispy bacon. It’s a complete meal on one pan, making cleanup simple.
Get the Recipe: Maple Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Stuffed pepper soup brings all the flavors of stuffed peppers into one hearty bowl. It’s an easy, one-pot meal with bold flavors and no extra mess.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Pepper Soup

Pork Roast With Apples

Roast pork with apples bakes up in one pan for a balanced mix of savory and sweet. A great way to get a full meal on the table without extra dishes.
Get the Recipe: Pork Roast With Apples

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Chicken cordon bleu casserole turns a classic dish into an easy, one-pan meal. A great make-ahead option that keeps things simple on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Chicken, sausage, and rice in instant pot with wooden spoon. — Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice is a bold, 30-minute meal that’s packed with flavor. It all cooks in one pot, making dinner fast and cleanup easy.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Spicy Orange Beef Carnitas

Spicy Orange Beef Carnitas is a slow-braised dish with a little kick. This one-pot recipe makes plenty, so you’ll have leftovers with no extra mess.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Orange Beef Carnitas

Cabbage Vegetable Soup

Cabbage soup is loaded with colorful veggies and fire-roasted tomatoes for a rich, hearty meal. Everything simmers in one pot, keeping dishes to a minimum.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Vegetable Soup