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Home » Dinner

If You Still Use More Than One Pan, You’re Doing Dinner Wrong

Published: Oct 10, 2025 by Shruthi · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

If you still use more than one pan to make dinner, you’re working harder than you need to. These recipes prove that good food doesn’t have to mean juggling pots, pans, and endless cleanup. Each one keeps things simple without losing the flavor or comfort you actually want after a long day. Think easy prep, quick cooking, and one dish to wash when it’s all done—because dinner should taste great, not feel like a chore.

An overhead image of baked carrot casserole.

Carrot Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Garlic chicken bites with peppers and mushrooms in a skillet.
Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Garlic chicken bites roast with mushrooms, onions, and peppers in about 20 minutes. It makes weeknight cooking easier since everything goes in one pan and cleanup’s done in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A skillet of creamy sun dried tomato chicken with a wooden spoon.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Sun-dried tomato chicken simmers in a rich sauce with almost no prep time. It’s a quick fix that proves you don’t need extra pans to make dinner feel complete.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

Mexican ground beef skillet recipe with melted cheese.
Mexican Ground Beef Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Ground beef with taco seasoning cooks in a single pan in around 30 minutes. It’s the kind of fast, flavorful meal that keeps both prep and dishes to a minimum.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

Chicken and Queso Rice Bake

Close-up image of Chicken and Queso Rice Bake garnished with fresh chopped parsley on a plate.
Chicken and Queso Rice Bake. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Chicken, rice, and queso bake together into a creamy, filling dinner. It’s simple to make and saves you from juggling multiple pots after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Queso Rice Bake

Sheet Pan Paprika Chicken and Veggies

Hands holding paprika chicken and vegetables on a sheet pan.
Sheet Pan Paprika Chicken and Veggies. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Paprika chicken and vegetables roast together on one sheet pan. The hands-off cooking means you can step away while dinner practically makes itself.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Paprika Chicken and Veggies

Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese

An overhead image of a cooked gouda mac and cheese in a baking pan.
Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Gouda mac and cheese bakes creamy and rich in one dish. It’s great for when you want comfort food without the mess of boiling and baking in separate pans.
Get the Recipe: Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese

Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole

An image of cooked tater tot casserole.
Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Tater tot casserole layers crispy potatoes over a creamy vegetable base. It’s hearty, family-friendly, and leaves just one dish to rinse.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole

Carrot Casserole

An overhead image of baked carrot casserole.
Carrot Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Carrot casserole bakes a cheesy filling under a crisp topping. It’s a full meal in one dish, saving both time and counter space.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Casserole

Pineapple Fried Rice

An image of pineapple fried rice on a plate.
Pineapple Fried Rice. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Pineapple fried rice bakes into a sweet-and-savory meal that’s simple and hands-off. You get bold flavor and just one pan to clean.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Fried Rice

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

An image of spaghetti squash casserole with a serving missing from the lower right side of the baking dish.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Spaghetti squash with cheese and vegetables bakes into a full casserole in under an hour. It’s a smart way to handle dinner when you don’t want multiple pans.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Spicy Orange Beef Carnitas

Close-up image of spicy orange beef carnitas in a bowl.
Spicy Orange Beef Carnitas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Orange beef carnitas cook tender and flavorful in one pan. It’s the kind of meal that feeds plenty without leaving a sink full of dishes.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Orange Beef Carnitas

Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese and Vegetables

Overhead image of sheet pan chicken caprese and vegetables.
Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese and Vegetables. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Chicken and vegetables roast with caprese-style flavors in a single dish. It’s an easy prep that still feels fresh and put together.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese and Vegetables

Creamy Dijon Chicken

A pan of creamy dijon chicken with herbs and bacon.
Creamy Dijon Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

A creamy Dijon sauce ties together chicken, bacon, and spinach in one skillet. It’s quick to make and saves you from a messy stove.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken

Leek and Mushroom Pasta

An overhead image of cooked leek mushroom pasta in a pan.
Leek and Mushroom Pasta. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Ricotta and mushrooms turn pasta into a one-pan meal that feels rich and complete. You get comfort food with fewer dishes at the end.
Get the Recipe: Leek and Mushroom Pasta

Green Rice Casserole

An overhead image of green rice casserole in a white baking dish.
Green Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Green rice casserole uses everyday ingredients for a filling, flavorful meal. It’s a solid go-to when you want dinner done in one step.
Get the Recipe: Green Rice Casserole

Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole

An image of vegetarian enchilada casserole in a clear baking dish.
Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Enchilada casserole layers cheese and vegetables into a hearty bake. It’s simple to assemble and keeps cleanup easy after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Enchilada 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 bake with cheese into a hearty dish ready in under 30 minutes. It’s great for quick dinners or last-minute guests.
Get the Recipe: Squash and Zucchini Casserole

Mac and Cheese

An overhead image of two bowls of mac and cheese with a fork beside each.
Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Mac and cheese bakes creamy and smooth in a single dish. It’s the kind of comfort meal that keeps both effort and cleanup low.
Get the Recipe: Mac and Cheese

Sheet Pan Bibimbap

A bowl of Sheet Pan Bibimbap with a pair of chopsticks.
Sheet Pan Bibimbap. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Crispy tofu with bold seasoning brings everything together on one sheet pan. It’s fast, flavorful, and keeps dinner simple from prep to cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Bibimbap

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Chicken cordon bleu casserole on a black plate with a fork.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Chicken cordon bleu casserole makes the classic dish easier by baking it all in one pan. It’s a time-saver that still feels special.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Chana Masala

Top view image of chana masala served in a white bowl.
Chana Masala. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Chana masala cooks bold and flavorful in about 30 minutes. It’s a straightforward dish that keeps dinner simple and cleanup quick.
Get the Recipe: Chana Masala

Green Bean Casserole

An overhead image of slow cooker green bean casserole on a plate.
Green Bean Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Green bean casserole comes together fast and bakes in one dish. It’s an easy choice for gatherings or nights when you want less cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole

Cabbage beef casserole inside cast iron.
Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole. Photo credit: Low Carb - No Carb.

Cabbage and seasoned beef bake into a cheesy, hearty one-pan dinner. It’s filling and cuts down on both effort and dishes.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Creamy Tuscan chicken in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Tuscan chicken simmers in a creamy sauce in one pan. It’s hearty and simple, proving dinner can be great without extra steps.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole

Image shows a closeup of a spoon holding some Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole with the full skillet behind it.
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Ground beef, rice, and cheese cook together into a full casserole. It’s fast, filling, and keeps cleanup light.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole

Maple Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan

A serving of Maple Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan in a plate.
Maple Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Chicken, bacon, and vegetables roast in a maple-Dijon glaze all in one dish. It’s packed with flavor while keeping prep and cleanup minimal.
Get the Recipe: Maple Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan

Sheet Pan Maple Curry Chicken

Roasted chicken thighs with butternut squash, cauliflower, and rice on a plate.
Sheet Pan Maple Curry Chicken. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

Chicken thighs and vegetables roast in a maple curry sauce in a single pan. It’s bold, easy, and leaves little more than one dish to clean.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Maple Curry Chicken

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Hi, I'm Shruthi! I am the owner and blogger at Parallel Plates. I love everything about food, and I hope that you can find the best recipe inspiration, trends, hacks, and more here.

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