burrito scramble

Photo: Johnny Miller

5-Minute Burritos
Not only does this superfast supper not require more than one skillet—it also barely necessitates a knife. It starts with warming canned black beans in some butter; then you toss in torn pieces of tortilla, crack eggs into the mix, scramble them and top with pico de gallo, scallion, cheddar and Greek yogurt. And while this recipe serves one, you can easily double, triple or quadruple it.

Get the recipe: Burrito Scramble
one pot pasta

Photo: Lynn Andriani

The Life-Changing Pasta
The beauty of this recipe—which is chock-full of kale, basil and tomatoes—is that you boil the penne, ziti or bow ties together with the sauce ingredients, so it's truly, honestly a no-strings-attached one-pot dish. Just add the vegetables to a big skillet or stockpot, then pour in pasta and water. It'll simmer away; and, in a few minutes, you'll be topping the dish with grated Parmesan and fresh basil and digging in.

Get the recipe: One-Pot Pasta
chickpea plov

Photo: Leah Lizarondo

A Delicious Rice Dish That's Not Fried
It can be hard to come up with fresh twists on rice as a main course, but this Eastern European dinner is one we hadn't tried before. It's a twist on plov (also known as pilaf), omitting the traditional lamb, which can take awhile to become tender, relying instead on quick-cooking chickpeas for protein, making it an ideal weeknight entrée. Warm spices, including coriander and cumin, add nice depth.

Get the recipe: Chickpea Plov
lasagna skillet

Photo: Kate Dean

A Sunday Supper You Can Make on Any Weeknight
This smart recipe manages to deliver ooey-gooey lasagna on days when a multi-step, multi-hour affair is just not possible. You simply sauté ground beef, add canned tomatoes and seasonings and throw in wide egg noodles (which are almost like minilasagna sheets). The pasta cooks in the sauce as you stir in ricotta and shredded mozzarella—and the cheeses melt on the spot.

Get the recipe: Easy One-Skillet Lasagna
Layered Tortilla Casserole

Photo: Alison Gootee

The Spiced, One-Bowl Meal That Isn't Chili
This no-brainer dish proves just how versatile Mexican ingredients, such as black beans, corn, avocado, shredded Monterey Jack, cumin and ancho chili can be. Quinoa is the base for the healthy meal—it cooks in the same pan as the beans and corn, along with diced, red bell pepper and tomato. The spices add depth. Garnish the somewhat spicy mixture with cooling dollops of sour cream, sliced avocado and shredded cheese.

Get the recipe: One-Pot Mexican Quinoa