Easy, Time-Saving One Dish Meals

Recipes for One Dish Meals That Leave You More Time for the Family

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/24/20
One Dish Meals Shepherd's Pie
One Dish Meals Shepherd's Pie Getty Images

One dish meals have a long history at the family table - and for good reason: They're easy, satisfying and likely to please everyone in the family. These recipes are perfect for busy weeknights, because you can just prepare the recipe, pop it in the oven and do something else while it's cooking. Most of these meals also freeze quite well, which makes them perfect for make-ahead cooking.

  • 01 of 07

    Meat Pie Recipe

    One Dish Meals - Meat Pie Recipe
    Meat Pie Recipe. Stephanie Gallagher

    This meat pie is not only a tasty one-dish meal, it's uber easy, too, because it's made with leftovers. Use leftover beef brisket, frozen hash browns and frozen vegetables for this super simple meat pie the whole family will enjoy.

  • 02 of 07

    Chicken Pasta Casserole Recipe

    Chicken pasta casserole
    burwellphotography Getty Images

    If one-dish meals made with canned soup turn you off, try this chicken pasta casserole. There isn't a person I've met who doesn't love this one-dish meal. It's got flavors that appeal to everyone - chicken, pasta, spaghetti sauce, cheese and baby spinach - and they all come together in one elegantly-flavored casserole.

  • 03 of 07

    Chicken Tamale Pie

    Chicken Tamale Pie

     Anita Schecter

    This easy recipe brings together all of the flavors and textures of a chicken tamale into one pan. A mixture of cooked shredded chicken, onion, salsa, black beans, and taco seasoning is briefly sauteed and then topped with a homemade cornbread batter that is studded with corn kernels, shredded cheddar, and chopped cilantro. Bake the tamale pie until golden and serve with sour cream and avocado on the side.

  • 04 of 07

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe

    One Dish Meals - Shepherds Pie
    Shepherds Pie. Paul Poplis/Getty Images

    Technically, shepherd's pie is made with lamb, and this is cottage pie, but whatever you call this one-dish meal, it's delicious. Ground beef and vegetables are bathed in a gravy, then topped with mashed potatoes. The mere thought of this one-dish meal is comforting.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Baked Ziti with Spinach Recipe

    One Dish Meals - Baked Ziti with Spinach
    Baked Ziti with Spinach. Sam Stowell/Getty Images

    This is one of those one-dish meals that will have you hoping for leftovers, because it tastes even better the next day. And this is another vegetarian one-dish recipe.

  • 06 of 07

    Chicken Fajitas Recipe

    One-Dish Meals Chicken Fajita Recipe
    Chicken Fajita Recipe. Leigh Beisch/Getty Images

    One-dish meals don't have to be casseroles, and this chicken fajitas recipe proves it. It has everything you need in a one-dish meal: protein, vegetables and starch, plus as many toppings as you like. And the kids get assemble their meals themselves. What more could you want?

  • 07 of 07

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

    Meatless Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    The Spruce

    This is one of those one-dish meals that even your pickiest eaters will like. And with just five ingredients, this recipe is easy to throw together on the fly. This casserole is also a vegetarian recipe.