16 20-Minute Skillet Dinners for Busy Weeknights

Getting dinner on the table fast and with minimal cleanup may sound like a tall order, but with this collection of recipes, it’s anything but. These 20-minute skillet dinners make the most of one-pan convenience without sacrificing flavor—think Taco Casserole, Creamy Skillet Shrimp with Corn, and Skillet Pizza Chicken. Whether you’re craving something creamy, cheesy, hearty, or veggie-packed, these quick and satisfying meals are just what you need for a busy weeknight.

01 of 15

Get Recipe: Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole

“Taco night is the best, but it can be a pain to heat up the tortillas, make all of the fillings, and assemble each taco, one after the other. When you’ve got a family to feed, it can feel just plain tedious. The answer? This easy taco casserole.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

02 of 15

Get Recipe: Creamy Skillet Shrimp With Corn, Pancetta, and Tomatoes

“While fresh corn is unparalleled in the summer, frozen is quicker, easier, and honestly still pretty darn delicious. The frozen corn doesn’t have to be thawed for this recipe—just throw it in straight from the freezer and let the ice evaporate immediately.” —Sara Bir, former Simply Recipes Editor

03 of 15

Get Recipe: Summer Tortellini Skillet

“This recipe is flexible in terms of produce, so go ahead and use up whatever’s hanging around in your fridge. You can swap in yellow summer squash, bell peppers, onions, and any other quick-cooking veggies you have on hand.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

04 of 15

Get Recipe: Skillet Pizza Chicken

“My daughter requests chicken for dinner every chance she gets, and my husband can’t get enough cheesy pasta dishes. To please the whole family, I developed this 20-minute skillet pizza chicken, which checks everyone’s boxes and is gone in mere minutes.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

05 of 15

Get Recipe: Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

“Tender wilted greens not only add color, but bulk up the pasta to turn it into a true one-pan dinner. This is a comforting, feel-good meal that’s fit for the busiest of weeknights.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

06 of 15

Get Recipe: Dolma and Ground Beef Skillet

“This dinner tastes like it took hours to make, thanks to the rich flavor of the ground beef combined with the tang of the dolmas, but from start to finish you’ll need less than 30 minutes to get this hearty main on the table.” —Megan Scott, Simply Recipes Editor

07 of 15

Get Recipe: Creamy Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas

“While potato gnocchi is the most traditional, you’ll also encounter cauliflower gnocchi in some grocery stores. Choose whichever type you like, but if the gnocchi is frozen, follow the cooking instructions on each package, as they can vary quite a bit.” —Sara Bir, former Simply Recipes Editor

08 of 15

Get Recipe: Frittata di Pasta (Pasta Frittata)

“What I love most about this dish is how flexible it is. Sometimes I stir a spoonful of pesto straight into the skillet while the eggs and pasta set. You could also grate some lemon zest into the egg mixture for brightness, or if you love preserved lemons like I do, chop some up and throw them into the egg mixture.” —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

09 of 15

Get Recipe: Orzo and Dolma Skillet

“Chopped dolmas are folded in for little savory, fragrant bites throughout. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh dill, and you’ve got cozy comfort food that’s hearty and vibrant. Minimal effort and maximum flavor perfectly describes how a weeknight dinner should be.” —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer

10 of 15

Get Recipe: Caprese Orzo

“To keep the amount of effort as low as possible—it’s a summer recipe after all, and no one wants to spend too much time in a hot kitchen—I decided to make this caprese pasta in just one pot. I also reached for orzo, a rice-shaped pasta that works really well in one-pot preparations due to its small size and quick cooking time.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

11 of 15

Get Recipe: Lemon Orzotto with Spinach and Peas

“While I love classic risotto as much as the next person, I am just not willing to constantly stir a pot of rice for half an hour on a weeknight (call me crazy!). What makes American-style orzotto great is that it cooks in just a fraction of the time, and it requires just a couple of stirs throughout the whole cooking process.” —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

12 of 15

Get Recipe: One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

“I chose straightforward cheese-filled ravioli for this recipe, but the beauty is that it’s versatile and customizable. If you want to switch up the flavor of the ravioli, go ahead. Both fresh and frozen will work, so choose whatever brand or type you normally buy. Or swap for tortellini.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

13 of 15

Get Recipe: Pesto Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes

“On the weeknights when I do not have the bandwidth for much cooking at all, I turn to recipes like this one. It takes less than 10 minutes to make (!!) and requires just a handful of ingredients.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

14 of 15

Get Recipe: One-Pot Lemony Chickpeas

“I like to pop a thick slice of sourdough bread in the toaster, smear it with butter, and then ladle these chickpeas over it. Sprinkle with lemon zest and chives (you can use any herb you like) and enjoy. If you want to serve the chickpeas as a side, that’s great too! They pair wonderfully with chicken, beef, or fish.” —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

15 of 15

Get Recipe: Pan-Roasted Shrimp and Okra

“For sweeter, less bitter okra, choose small pods. To avoid okra’s signature sliminess, the pods are split down the center and charred in the skillet over high heat. Add them back to the pan at the end so that they keep their crisp-tender texture.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor

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