5 Easy One-Pan Meals

Saving time in the kitchen can mean just throwing something from the freezer in the oven, if not ordering an unhealthy takeaway. When you’ve had a busy day, the last thing you want to do is make a complicated meal that leaves you with loads of washing up, which is why one-pan meals are a great idea.

One-pan meals are exactly what they sound like, a full meal that only needs a single pan during cooking. Not only is this a really easy way to cook, as you can throw everything in, it also means you’ve got a lot less washing up to do – this is a win-win in our book!

Whether you’ve had a busy day, are feeling a bit lazy or just really really hate the clean up after cooking, one-pan meals can be a lifesaver. So long as you have a pan that is big enough and can pop in the oven if need be, you’ll be whipping up delicious one-pan meals in no time. Here are a few recipes to try:

Who doesn’t love macaroni cheese and a nice bowl of warming chilli? This fab recipe from Amuse Your Bouche combines two of our favourite comfort foods in one pan to serve up a delicious meal with very little effort. The healthy recipe is sure to be a winner and is perfect for making ahead of time too.

Packed full of flavour and with plenty of cheesy goodness, this dish is ideal for when time is short and can be cooked in big batches so you can be ready to feed an army in no time. You can even add any extra vegetables you’ve got in the fridge to bulk it out further.

This recipe from The Londoner calls for a pan you can pop in the oven to properly melt the cheese on top, which means a heatproof or removable handle – which is where our Ingenio range comes in handy! You can also serve it straight from the pan so you’ll even save on plates!

Whether you use pre-made meatballs or make your own, this meal is mouth-wateringly good. It has a thick and slightly spicy sauce while using fresh herbs adds a really great freshness to the dish. While it is also technically a one-pan meal, if you want to serve it with pasta, you’ll need a second pan, but it’s delicious as it is and you can always use garlic bread to mop up the sauce.

Too many of us are happy to pick up the phone and order a curry from the local takeaway when we don’t want to go through the hassle of cooking, but this isn’t the healthiest choice. Opting instead for a one-pot curry means you still get a deliciously spicy dish that is cheap, easy and much healthier.

Super Golden Bakes has a fab recipe for prawn curry that can be whipped up in one pan – once again this needs to go in the oven – and is full of flavour. Tailor the spice level to your taste, serve up with naan bread and you’ll be onto a winner.

To make one-pan meals really simple, you want recipes with as few ingredients as possible, which this one from Scrummy Lane has. Using just seven ingredients, you can make this wonderful dish that is packed with flavour and is sure to be popular no matter the season.

It can be served up with vegetables or bread if you want to add something extra, but the wonderfully thick tomato sauce is also lovely and filling so you may just want to enjoy it as it is – especially if it saves on washing up!

For those who want a one-pan meal that looks nice and fancy, this is definitely the one to try. Made using pork tenderloin cut into medallions – pork chops work well too – the meal has a super tasty and rich sauce that will make it seem as though you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen.

While this dish from the Recipe Runner is great as it is, you can also finish it off with some crispy roast or creamy mashed potatoes. Of course, you could also just eat it straight from the pan because it really is that good!