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Home Method One Pot Meals

23 Healthy Skillet Recipes

By: 16 Comments
Posted: 10/15/21 Updated: 10/15/21

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23 healthy skillet recipes that are healthy and delicious! These recipes will get dinner on the table quickly and produce minimal dishes! Includes chicken, vegetarian, low carb, seafood, and more.

When it comes to easy clean-up one pot meals, sheet pan meals, or one pan skillet recipes are the way to go! These 23 healthy skillet recipes can be prepared in a cast iron or stainless steel skillet.

image graphic with text: 23 healthy skillet recipes
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These easy skillet recipes are perfect for busy weeknights. Not only do they produce minimal dishes, but the majority of them are ready quickly!

Loaded with healthy veggies and delicious flavors, these skillet recipes are a fun twist on one pot meals. With a ton of different protein and flavor choices, there should be something for everyone here.

Skillet FAQ

Why should I use a skillet?

A skillet is a great kitchen tool that holds and transfers heat really well. This makes it excellent for foods that you want to get a crust: steak, shrimp, chicken thighs and more.

The other benefit of skillets is that they are non-toxic. The non-stick coating on pans is potentially hazardous to your health, and this is something you don't need to worry about with a skillet.

Which skillet should I buy?

With more than 15,000 five star reviews, it seems that this Lodge Cast Iron Skillet is a pretty solid choice. For stainless steel, I own the Le Creuset. It's pricey, and to be honest, this Cuisinart Stainless Skillet looks like a great, affordable alternative.

How do you clean a cast iron skillet?

When cleaning a cast iron skillet, you should avoid soap. We scrub with coarse salt, or if it's really stubborn, a plastic dish brush. Rinse the skillet out, towel dry completely, and season each time with oil. Here's a great tutorial!

Why use a skillet versus a non stick pan?

It depends on what you are cooking! For food that is prone to sticking, like eggs or fish, we prefer to use a non-stick pan. To get crispy skin on chicken thighs, or a good crust on my steak, I reach for my cast iron skillet.

Chicken

Balsamic Chicken Skillet with Tomatoes and Tarragon
Chicken, potatoes and veggies are cooked up in a delicious sauce flavored with balsamic vinegar and tarragon in this easy balsamic chicken skillet.  Don't forget a big chunk of bread to sop up every last drop!
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of balsamic chicken skillet with wood spoon
Chili Lime Sweet Potato and Chicken Skillet
This Chili Lime Sweet Potato and Chicken Skillet recipe is a healthy one pan dinner recipe that works great for meal prep. GF, vegan- and paleo-friendly.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of blue and white bowls filled with chili lime sweet potato and chicken skillet with fresh lime wedges, tortilla chips and cilantro
Spanish Chicken and Rice Skillet
This paella-inspired Spanish chicken and rice skillet cooks up all in the same pan and is packed with chicken, rice, bell peppers and peas.  Healthy, easy and delicious! 
Check out this recipe
saffron chicken with peppers and peas in large pan
Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
With sweet potatoes, apples, Brussels sprouts and bacon, this healthy Paleo and Whole30 approved chicken skillet is packed with flavor and delivers every food group in one pan!
Check out this recipe
Caprese Chicken Gnocchi Skillet
You are going to love this caprese chicken gnocchi skillet!  It is packed FULL of summery flavors, has only 7 ingredients, and cooks up in one pan!
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of caprese gnocchi skillet with basil

30 Minute Meals

Balsamic One Pan Chicken and Veggies
This balsamic one pan chicken and veggies has a ton of flavor from a tangy balsamic vinegar gravy, salty feta cheese and sweet pomegranates. Cooks up in one pan in just 30 minutes.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of skillet with balsamic one pan chicken and veggies
Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Skillet
My easy pulled pork sweet potato skillet recipe is the perfect addition to your weeknight meal plan. Made with pre-cooked pulled pork and hearty veggies, this filling and flavorful meal comes together in less than 30 minutes using just one pan.
Check out this recipe
pulled pork sweet potato skillet
30 Minute Tuscan Chicken Skillet
A rustic Tuscan chicken skillet that is full of flavor and ready in under 30 minutes.  Don't forget to serve with a chunk of bread to sop up the sauce!
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of a large skillet with tuscan chicken and wood spoon
Sweet Potato Hash Protein Bowl
For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this sweet potato hash protein bowl is packed with tons of veggies and protein. Start off by making a homemade sweet potato hash, then add in tons of other veggies and your favorite chicken sausage for a delicious protein bowl recipe.
Check out this recipe

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Vegetarian

Vegan Moroccan Chickpea Skillet
Vegan Moroccan chickpea skillet is freezer-friendly and perfect for meal prep! With chickpeas, sweet potatoes and spicy Moroccan seasoning.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of glass container filled with vegan Moroccan chickpea skillet
Spiralized Sweet Potato Enchilada Skillet
This enchilada sweet potato noodles skillet is a delicious vegetarian recipe that gets dinner on the table quickly and makes clean up a breeze.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of enchilada sweet potato noodles skillet in large pan on table
Vegetable Hash Breakfast Skillet
This hearty vegetarian hash breakfast skillet is packed with peppers, potatoes and onions then topped with protein-packed eggs cooked-to-order.
Check out this recipe
One Pan Broccoli Quinoa Skillet with Parmesan and White Beans
One Pan Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Skillet with Parmesan and White Beans. An easy and filling vegetarian recipe that’s great for quick dinners and healthy meal prep lunches.
Check out this recipe

Low Carb

Perfect Cauliflower Fried Rice (with cashews!)
Cauliflower fried rice is flavored with ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil, and cooks up in one pan! Lighter, yet filling, it has soft scrambled eggs, chicken and cashews.
Check out this recipe
close up shot of bowl of cauliflower fried rice
Skillet Bruschetta Chicken and Asparagus
This Easy Bruschetta Chicken and Asparagus is served with a tangy balsamic glaze and is a one-skillet meal that's ready in under 30 minutes! No one will know this restaurant-quality dinner is secretly healthy, low-carb, and Whole30.
Check out this recipe
Low Carb Indian Chicken Skillet
This low carb Indian chicken skillet has incredible flavor with spiced cauliflower rice, chicken thighs and green beans. Easy to prep ahead for grab and go lunches.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of Indian chicken in a large skillet
Egg Roll in a Bowl (30 min, low carb)
Egg roll in a bowl tastes just like your favorite take out and comes together quickly using a single pan. With only 7 g net carbs, this recipe has slaw, ground pork, and a delicious sauce.
Check out this recipe
egg roll in a bowl in a blue bowl
Low Carb Lasagna Skillet
This low carb lasagna skillet replaces noodles with spaghetti squash. So simple to throw together on a weeknight, and easy prep ahead and reheat for easy lunches!
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of large pot filled with lasagna skillet and fresh basil
Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet
This 4-ingredient buffalo turkey cauliflower skillet makes a quick and easy, healthy dinner and doubles as a great meal-prep option for the week!
Check out this recipe

Seafood

Light Coconut Shrimp Pineapple Quinoa Skillet
Light Coconut Shrimp Pineapple Quinoa Skillet is an easy one pot dinner idea loaded with healthy tropical flavors. Quinoa, shrimp, pineapple and unsweetened coconut make up this flavorful and delicious dish for a healthy meal everyone will love.
Check out this recipe
Authentic, Spicy Seafood Paella
Seafood Paella is a joyous, delicious and flavorful seafood recipe that you can make at home. With fresh shellfish, mussels, and other seafood this meal is packed with flavor! Fresh seafood cooks really quickly; be careful not to overcook. I know this is a seafood paella but I really love using chicken stock in this recipe. You can also use seafood stock.
Check out this recipe
Spicy Salmon Sweet Potato Skillet
This Spicy Salmon Sweet Potato Skillet recipe features perfectly seasoned and crispy salmon that is a great partner for the sweet potato and milted kale. It’s a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner for you and your family!
Check out this recipe
20 Minute Skillet Blackened Shrimp Fajitas
20 Minute Skillet Blackened Shrimp Fajitas are such an easy and flavorful meal packed with blackened shrimp, peppers and onion. This classic meal is perfect served up in tortillas with avocado and chopped cilantro!
Check out this recipe

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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Reader Interactions

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  1. SK says

    Wow these all look great. Love skillet dinners. Going to happily work my way through the list. Thank you 😀

    Reply

  2. Jessica Motley says

    Thanks for sharing this! Great way to stay healthy and easy to follow through with!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      You're very welcome, Jessica! I hope you enjoy the recipes 🙂

      Reply

  3. melissa says

    I love all of these recipes! I'm always looking for easy one dish meals for weeknights. Question: on the beef skillet fajita recipe, there are no measurements for the cumin, paprika, and black pepper. I know cumin and black pepper can easily overpower a dish, so I'm hesitant to just wing it. What did you start with?

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Hi Melissa! That recipe is actually from the blogger A Healthy Life For Me...you are right, there are question marks for the measurements. I would send her an e-mail or leave a comment on that post and hopefully she can help you out with that!

      Reply

  4. Kelly says

    Love this skillet meal round-up! I want them all dinner tonight! 🙂 Thanks for including me too, friend! xo

    Reply

  5. Ashley@CookNourishBliss says

    I definitely need more skillet meals in my life! It's starting to get so hot by us already ... I need to keep that oven off!! 🙂 haha

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Aww send some of your hot weather my way 😉 Thanks Ashley!

      Reply

  6. marcie says

    I love skillet meals, and this round up is full of great recipes that I can't wait to try! Thanks for including my mexican quinoa skillet, Denise!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      No problem Marcie, can't wait to try it!

      Reply

  7. April Anderson says

    They all look delicious, but that Greek meatball one.... !!!! Great round-up 🙂

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Right?? I think that's my favorite. It looks so delish! Thanks April!

      Reply

  8. Jane Couric says

    Wow thanks for sharing this, there are lots of new recipes to try from your list.

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Thanks so much Jane!

      Reply

  9. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

    Denise, thank you so much for the link love! I LOVE a good skillet dinner!!! this round-up is fabulous!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Anytime Alice! I love paella but have never used a stove-top recipe. Can't wait to try!

      Reply