One-pan meals to make cooking easier
Quick and easy one-pan wonders
We're guessing that a mountain of washing up is the last thing you feel like tackling after a meal. Thankfully, there is a solution: the one-pan wonder. We've rounded up 41 of our favourite recipes that can be cooked in just one dish or pot – meaning they're easy to throw together and require less cleaning up time afterwards, too. What more could you want?
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our collection of wonderful one-pan meals, guaranteed to make life a little easier.
Hake and butter beans with lemon mayonnaise
Conjure up a taste of the Mediterranean in your own kitchen with the help of this lovely one-pan fish supper. In our recipe, sweet smoked paprika adds a hint of gentle heat to a tempting combination of creamy butter beans and delicate hake – though you can use another mild-flavoured white fish like cod, pollock or haddock, if you prefer. A dollop of lemon-spiked mayo completes the dish in the most delicious way.
Get the recipe for hake and butter beans with lemon mayonnaise here
Tomato pasta
With this recipe in your repertoire, you'll wield the power to turn a handful of simple store-cupboard ingredients into something incredibly tasty. The key here is patience; to do this dish justice, you'll need to wait for the onions to caramelise gently, and factor in time for the red wine vinegar and herbs to infuse with the tomatoes. Don't skimp on the garlic and dried thyme breadcrumbs – they make for a flavoursome final flourish.
Almond chicken curry
This dish may be a masterclass in how to balance aromatic spices, but don't be fazed – it's actually incredibly easy to make and surprisingly speedy, too (it can be on the table in just 45 minutes). Here, the earthy tones of the turmeric complement the zing of the ginger and contrast wonderfully with the bright flavours of cardamom and fenugreek. For a vegan version, simply substitute the chicken for chickpeas.
Mattar paneer
Peas and paneer (an unsalted white cheese) are a classic combination, and this Indian-inspired dish is comfort food at its best. It's made with plenty of tomatoes, which are gently softened for maximum flavour, and garam masala: a heady, aromatic mix of cardamom pods, nutmeg, cinnamon and cumin seeds. You can make your own garam masala spice blend with the ingredients listed in our recipe – but if you're short on time, you can use shop-bought instead.
Sausage cornbread
When making this dish (a little like British classic toad-in-the-hole), the trick is to cook the sausages first, then pour the batter into the hot pan and arrange the juicy bangers on top; this way, the cornbread will crisp up nicely. Be sure to tuck into your cornbread as soon as it's cooked – it'll taste great slathered in tomato ketchup or chilli sauce. You could even perch a fried egg on top and make it a brunch recipe.
Za'atar salmon and tahini
Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend made with sesame seeds, tangy sumac and dried herbs (often thyme and oregano). In this winning one-pan recipe, its herby, savoury flavours complement the richness of the salmon perfectly – and the tahini sauce gives the whole dish a boost of satisfying nuttiness. If you're not in the mood for salmon, you could easily swap it for your favourite fish and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Quick braised red cabbage, sausages and apples
One-pan cooking allows for an abundance of delicious flavours to mingle together and infuse with each other – just take this hearty sausage dish as proof. Cooked down with red wine vinegar and dark maple syrup, the sweetness of the red cabbage really comes through, and the sharpness of the apples balances the whole thing perfectly. Top tip: the leftovers would make a lovely sausage sandwich for lunch the next day.
Get the recipe for braised red cabbage, sausage and apples here
Braised lamb with sweet potato
Nothing beats a good stew on a dull, dreary day – and this comforting recipe includes cumin and curry powder for a hit of warmth that's guaranteed to chase the blues away. Meanwhile, a good dollop of mango chutney not only helps to lift the dish, but also brings out the tanginess in the tomatoes. The low and slow cook time is absolutely worth it, as it'll create lamb so tender that it falls apart.
Full English fry-up
A full English breakfast (also known as a fry-up) is a wonderfully hearty way to start the day. But if you're put off by all the pots and pans you might need to use to cook those eggs, bacon rashers and tomatoes, you need worry no more: with our easy recipe on your side, you can use just one frying pan and still manage to get everything cooked to perfection. It's the ultimate weekend breakfast!
Pork and onion curry
The perfect balance of sweet and savoury, this irresistible Burmese curry is full of ginger, caramelised onions and tender pork, with a splash of soy sauce for good measure. The secret to getting it right is simmering it low and slow – a method that guarantees fall-apart meat and an irresistibly sticky sauce. It's warming, filling and incredibly satisfying, and it's all made in just one pan.
One-pan vegetable lasagne
This veggie creation may be a bit of a cheat's lasagne but trust us – it's just as delicious as a traditional one. To make it, you'll need to shred your pasta sheets and mix them through a meat-free mushroom, courgette, spinach and tomato sauce, instead of layering everything up in an oven-proof dish as usual. Then, all that remains to do is top the whole lot with Parmesan and mozzarella and stick it under the grill until golden and bubbling.
Chicken with red onion, apple and chestnuts
This taste bud–tingling chicken recipe makes stars of apples and chestnuts – and somehow, it manages to be both incredibly comforting and healthy at the same time. The magic ingredient? Yeast extract spread, whose delectable tanginess helps to balance out the sweet flavours of the fruit. If you want to up the fibre content further, try adding some cooked puy lentils or butter beans before you pop the pan in the oven.
Get the recipe for chicken with red onion, apple and chestnuts
Courgette, pea and broad bean tortilla
The ideal throw-it-in dinner for busy weeknights, a Spanish-style tortilla is a great way to pack a whole bunch of vegetables into one dish – and to make things even easier, you can use frozen vegetables instead of fresh. If you like, you can add a heap of grated cheese to the egg mixture for an indulgent touch (and even more flavour). Serve it with a green salad on the side for a healthy, balanced meal.
Get the recipe for courgette, pea and broad bean tortilla here
Quick lentil ratatouille
Loaded with a filling mix of healthy vegetables and hearty lentils, this easy dish packs a whole lot of flavour into a single pan. Even better, the ingredients are incredibly easy to find – you probably have them in your fridge and kitchen cupboards already. It takes under an hour to prep and cook, so it's a great dinner to whip up when time is of the essence. Be sure to dish it up with plenty of crusty bread on the side to soak up the herby, tomatoey sauce.
Green shakshuka
A vegan twist on a Middle Eastern classic, this vibrant green shakshuka is not only packed full of goodness, but it can also be on the table in just 30 minutes – so it's the perfect breakfast or brunch to make if you're in a rush. Not catering for vegans? You could always give the dish a touch of extra lusciousness by using thick Greek yogurt instead of the plant-based yogurt the recipe calls for. Filling and incredibly tasty, this one-pan wonder will easily serve two hungry people.
Cashew curry
This fragrant Sri Lankan curry has a creamy, coconutty base made from a tantalising mix of cashews, chickpeas, sweetcorn and spinach (though you can swap out the spinach for other leafy greens like chard or green radish leaves, if you like). It's wonderfully filling on its own, but if you fancy bulking it up further, you could always serve it with rice on the side; to stick to the one-pan rule and save time, try using a pack of the microwaveable sort.
Pad Thai carbonara
If you're after something a little bit different, why not try mixing things up with this unusual (yet seriously tasty) Italian-Thai fusion dish? In our quick and easy recipe, classic carbonara gets the pad Thai treatment (think eggs, bacon and spaghetti infused with lip-smacking Thai ingredients like fish sauce, soy sauce, garlic and chilli). The result? A wonderfully moreish bowlful, perfect for snuggling up with in front of the TV.
Pasta and chickpea stew
A twist on the classic Italian dish pasta e fagioli (which literally translates to pasta and beans), this ingenious recipe makes excellent use of store-cupboard staples, elevating a can of spaghetti hoops in ways never seen before – though if you prefer to do things the traditional way, you could use the same amount of cooked macaroni instead. It's a meal the whole family will love, but be careful not to add too much chilli if you're feeding little ones.
Lamb tagine
Incorporating lots of warming spices – and a fair few store-cupboard favourites you won't have to splash out on – this mouth-watering lamb tagine is surprisingly easy to make. Simply throw all the ingredients together in an ovenproof casserole, then sit back and allow the flavours to infuse and work their magic. When it's ready, serve it up with a chopped parsley garnish, and plenty of couscous on the side.
Three-cup chicken
A quick take on a Taiwanese favourite, this is the perfect dish to rustle up when you've got better things to do than spend your evening slaving over a hot stove. It's called three-cup chicken because the recipe traditionally uses one cup of soy sauce, one cup of rice wine and one cup of toasted sesame oil – and though our version is smaller and speedier, it still involves equal measures of all three ingredients. Spicy, sweet and sharp, it has bags of flavour, and pairs wonderfully with a side of steamed rice.
Quick mustard prawn curry
Mustard seeds add plenty of punchy flavour to this gorgeous prawn curry – and you'll probably have the bulk of the other ingredients (onions, garlic, ginger, spices and tinned tomatoes) in your kitchen cupboards already. When we say it's quick to make, we mean it: the preparation will take you all of 15 minutes, then you can leave the sauce to bubble away on the stove until it's thick and rich. Craving carbs? Serve it up with chapatis or rice.
Green baked eggs
A bright green twist on traditional North African shakshuka, this brunchy baked egg dish comes complete with spring vegetables and asparagus for an added boost of freshness. It's a brilliant (not to mention healthy) option for a lazy weekend breakfast, but it'd make a lovely light dinner too. To make it even more filling, simply dish it up with a few slices of toast on the side. Who could resist?
Cod with chorizo and white beans
This indulgent stew is chock-full of sun-soaked Mediterranean flavours. The meaty cod tastes fantastic paired with the subtle spiciness of the chorizo, and the white beans bulk the whole thing up in the tastiest possible way. You'll need to allow a bit of time for it to simmer, but otherwise it's a relatively quick dish to make. To really make it sing, be sure to finish it off with a generous squeeze of lemon and a handful of chopped coriander.
Sweet and sour tofu
Simultaneously spicy, sweet and fragrant, this vegetarian-friendly creation is the closest thing you'll get to a warming hug in a bowl. What's more, it's ready in around 15 minutes, so it's a fail-safe option when you need a satisfying meal in a hurry. If you've never cooked tofu before, don't worry – this easy recipe is the perfect place to begin. For a balanced, filling supper, serve your sweet and sour with a heap of steamed rice.
Satay noodle stir-fry
Another deliciously easy 15-minute meal, made with just a handful of ingredients. In this vegan dish, the satay element comes from a delectable mixture of peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil, giving the whole thing an irresistibly nutty flavour. Though it's simple to make, this stir-fry is certainly big on taste, and – most importantly – you'll have barely any washing up to do after eating it. It's a win-win!
Cornbread with Manchego and chorizo
Made with a duo of Spanish-inspired ingredients – tangy Manchego cheese and smoky chorizo – this tasty take on traditional cornbread has a lovely savouriness to it, though a touch of maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness, too. Made in just one frying pan for maximum convenience, it can be prepped and cooked in less than an hour. When it's ready, serve it warm from the pan so everyone can tear off a piece.
Smoked sausage pasta
A fun, easy twist on a classic Swedish dish that's often served with rice, this supremely comforting combo of smoked sausage, pasta, and creamy mustard and onion sauce is the perfect meal to dig into on a lazy day. It'd be speedy enough to make with dry tagliatelle or pappardelle – but to save even more time and effort, you can use fresh pasta from the supermarket (just add it in when the sauce is ready).
Jackfruit curry
Jackfruit has a slightly meaty texture, making it perfect for adding substance to a vegan curry. In this wonderful one-pan recipe, a punchy sauce of spices, garlic, ginger and chillies is cooled down with coconut, and sweetened with tomato passata. As for the jackfruit, it's available canned, so there's very little preparation to do here (not to mention just 30 minutes of cooking time). If it's still a little spicy for some, serve it up with a dollop of coconut yogurt on the side.
Lamb steaks with artichokes and cabbage
Not only do they have a delicate sweetness, but artichokes also have a gorgeously nutty taste – which, along with a fragrant honey and rosemary glaze, serves to complement the tender lamb steaks in this recipe perfectly. Delivering both on looks and taste, this one-pan feast is just the thing to whip up when you want to show off a little without putting in too much effort. Just be sure to use good-quality artichokes to make it.
Get the recipe for lamb steaks with artichokes and cabbage here
Seafood paella
A sumptuous, seafood-loaded take on a classic Spanish rice dish, this hearty paella also includes chorizo – and while purists may wince at the inclusion of this non-traditional ingredient, we can't help but think that it makes the whole thing even more delicious. The exact mix of seafood is up to you, but if you're looking for inspiration, prawns, mussels and squid will give your meal great colour and texture. Make sure you use the largest pan you can; the rice will swell up a lot as it cooks.
Aubergine shakshuka
Laced with garlic and cumin, this aubergine-scattered shakshuka is spicy, rich and absolutely delicious, making it just the thing for a hearty, laid-back weekend brunch (though we won't judge if you fancy making it for lunch or dinner instead). Ready in under half an hour, this tomatoey feast will feed six hungry people; simply serve it up with warm pittas or toasted sourdough on the side, and let the dunking commence.
Smoky bean and monkfish stew
You can rustle up this hearty stew in next to no time – just take a few simple vegetables, a handful of store-cupboard ingredients and some lovely fresh fish (if monkfish is unavailable or too expensive, hake or another sturdy white fish will work brilliantly). Packed with a satisfyingly smoky, wonderfully tasty combination of paprika, garlic, tomato purée and fish stock, this dish's Mediterranean flavours are guaranteed to warm you from top to toe.
Mussels rassa
In the mood for something that feels super-fancy, but can be made super-quickly? Mussels rassa is just the ticket! In this Indian-inspired recipe, salty, meaty mussels are paired with a gorgeous sauce that's creamy, spicy and zesty in equal measure. For the tastiest meal possible, make sure your mussels are spankingly fresh – and when they're ready, serve them up with plain rice and a generous scattering of chopped coriander.
Pumpkin curry
In this comforting cold-weather curry, pumpkin – an earthy, subtly sweet ingredient that's often overlooked – gets a much-deserved starring role. However, if you can't find a pumpkin at your local supermarket, you can use any winter squash you like (it's equally delicious made with kabocha or crown prince varieties). Want to make this dish veggie? Simply swap out the shrimp paste and fish sauce for an equal amount of Japanese miso.
Cauliflower dhansak
A fusion of Persian and Indian flavours, a dhansak is a rich, slightly sweet curry that's normally made with lentils and lamb or chicken – however, while it still contains plenty of lentils, this just-as-tasty vegan version comes loaded with vegetables instead of meat. Aside from the veggies and a wonderfully aromatic selection of spices, our recipe also includes a heathy dose of coconut yogurt (to prevent things from getting too spicy). Best of all, it's on the table in under an hour – and any leftovers will still be delicious the next day.
One-pan chicken Parmesan
A quick and simple dish that both kids and adults will love, chicken Parmesan is always a great recipe to have up your sleeve. This healthier one-pan take on the family favourite is made with a generous portion of courgetti (courgette spaghetti), but for a heartier, more filling dinner, you could always swap it for regular spaghetti. It's freezer-friendly too, so you can store the leftovers for later – that is, if you have any.
One-pan sausage roast
Got a fridge full of odds and ends you don't know what to do with? We have the perfect solution: use them to make this easy one-pan roast. Our recipe combines new potatoes, crunchy asparagus, sweet vine tomatoes, roasted garlic and leftover sausage, but you could mix and match the vegetables depending on what you have to hand. For the best results, allow the potatoes to crisp up first, then add the cooked sausages and other vegetables later on.
Prawn, pea and courgette risotto
Planning a gathering? Full of lovely fresh flavours, this risotto is practically guaranteed to go down a treat with dinner guests. In this simple recipe, delicate herbs (think parsley, mint, dill and chives), succulent prawns and crowd-pleasing peas keep things light, while the creamy risotto rice ups the comfort factor. Be sure to add a generous heap of Parmesan and a touch of lemon zest for the tastiest possible results.
Get the recipe for prawn, pea and courgette risotto here
One-pan pizza
It may not be a conventional pizza, but this one-pan creation certainly delivers on the flavour front (plus, as an added bonus, the dough and sauce are made from ingredients that are likely to be lurking in your kitchen cupboards already). Our recipe uses a selection of tasty toppings like oyster mushrooms, courgette ribbons, artichoke hearts, rocket and lots of cheese, but you can customise it to your heart's content.
One-pan spinach lasagne
Irresistibly creamy and cheesy, this heavenly one-pan spinach lasagne can be prepped and cooked in under half an hour – so there's nothing stopping you from making it, even on your busiest weeknights. Made with spinach, courgettes and plenty of broken-up lasagne sheets, it's cooked entirely on the hob, with no oven-baking required. When it's ready, serve it up with a generous scattering of pine nuts and a garnish of fresh basil leaves.
One-pan veggie and butter bean orzo
A bit like a risotto, but featuring pasta instead of rice, this wonderfully hearty, soul-nourishingly tasty vegan meal is surprisingly quick and easy to cook; simply add vegetables, rice-shaped orzo pasta, stock and coconut milk to a saucepan, and don't forget to stir regularly. The recipe should feed four people comfortably, but if you have any leftovers, they'll make a brilliant speedy lunch later in the week – just add a drizzle of olive oil and warm them up gently over a low heat.
Get the recipe for one-pan veggie and butter bean orzo here
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