These Are the One Pan Meals You Should Make in March
Barely any dishes? Sold!
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Friends, we’re going to talk about March because somehow February has come and gone. And, I am SO ready. I am ready to get outside more with my boys and Logan. I am ready to fire up the grill again. I am ready to not be pale anymore—truly, being tan again can not come soon enough. (Don’t forget your sunscreen though!) I am ready for all of it.
The good news is, we are literally right there. Spring is basically knocking on the door. I know one day it’s warm and sunny and one day it’s gray and cold, but let a girl dream a little please.
Lately, I’ve really enjoyed embracing the one-pot meals and one-pan dinners. They come together fast on the nights when I’ve been running around and the cleanup is so much easier. I can get back to daydreaming about the sun in peace.
So here are some delicious, but low-effort meal ideas to have on rotation all month long. Some are still embracing the coziness of winter, but some have a brighter, springier vibe. Just go with the flow of the weather on any given day. Enjoy!!
A good baking sheet. Essential for the two sheet pan recipes — the salmon and the arrabiata. A pan that heats evenly and doesn’t warp in the oven makes a real difference, and I always line mine with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
A Dutch oven or large pot with a lid. A necessity for these one pot meals!
A meat thermometer. Since almost every recipe here is chicken-based, an instant-read thermometer takes all the guesswork out of knowing when it’s perfectly cooked through. You’ll never have to cut into a piece of chicken to check again.
A block of good parmesan and a box grater. The orzo dishes and the broccoli pasta all finish with freshly grated parmesan, and I will never stop saying this: buy the block and grate it yourself. It melts better, tastes better, and you will absolutely notice the difference.
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This One Pan Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice is inspired by my Best Ever Greek Chicken Marinade, which has become one of the most popular recipes on the blog, and for good reason. As the chicken cooks alongside the rice, the juices seep right in, leaving every grain tender, fluffy, and packed with that bright, lemony flavor. It comes together in one skillet and is honestly better than anything you would find at a restaurant.
The lore behind the original “marry me” chicken is that the dish is so good, whoever you make it for will want to propose on the spot. True story or not, this One Pan “Marry Me” Chicken Orzo adds orzo to the mix, which soaks up the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce in the most dreamy way. It is warm, cozy, and deeply satisfying, and has become one of the most-made recipes on the entire blog.
This One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken and Rice comes straight from my friend Alex’s cookbook, Dinner Tonight, and the moment I made it, I knew I had to share it with you. The rice toasts in the chicken juices before simmering in a fragrant mixture of coconut milk, fish sauce, jasmine rice, Thai chilis, and fresh lime, which means every single bite is loaded with flavor. It also happens to taste even better the next day, which makes it an absolute meal prep win.
This One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Orzo is the recipe I keep coming back to on the weeks when I want something effortlessly delicious. Skin-on chicken thighs cook right on top of orzo simmered in chicken broth, with briny Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives tucked in throughout. Finish it off with a crumble of feta and some fresh parsley.
Twenty minutes is all you need for this One Pan Saucy Coconut Chicken, and I mean that. The chicken is seasoned with a blend of paprika, cumin, and coriander, seared until golden, and then simmered in a thick, creamy coconut milk sauce with tomato paste and fresh cilantro. It is the kind of recipe that gets better as it sits, so making a big batch on Sunday means you have a delicious dinner ready to go all week long.
If you’re looking for the easiest one pan chicken dish that will have dinner on the table in mere minutes, then look no further because this is it! My Juicy One Pan Middle Eastern Chicken & Potatoes is a quick, easy, one pan meal that comes together with minimal mess. It’s made from tender chicken thighs marinated in creamy labneh (or greek yogurt) and perfectly cooked potatoes for a hearty and comforting meal that the whole family will enjoy!
This Sheet Pan Lemon-Herb Salmon with Asparagus is a true set-it-and-forget-it recipe: the salmon gets brushed with a simple marinade of olive oil, lemon, garlic, dried thyme, and parsley, the asparagus goes on the same tray, and the whole thing is done in 13 minutes. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, and packed with Omega-3s and heart-healthy ingredients, which means it is as good for you as it tastes. When spring is starting to show up and you want something lighter and brighter on the table, this is the recipe to reach for.
Penne Arrabiata is a fiery Italian recipe that combines tomatoes with chili flakes for just the right amount of heat! This is my Sheet Pan Crunchy Penne Arrabiata with Meat Sauce – a fun twist on the classic Italian recipe. It combines the arrabiata sauce with ground beef and a crunchy breadcrumb topping for a rich and hearty dish that is the perfect weeknight dinner, made in under 30 minutes!
This Creamy One Pot Broccoli Pasta is delicious, incredibly simple to make, and requires just a handful of ingredients. Oh, and did I mention, it comes together with only one pot? It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing recipe that is sure to delight, every time!
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