Hate Dark-at-5 Season?
Make These 6 One-Pan Dinners
It’s 5:00 p.m. It’s already dark. Everyone is hungry. And somehow you’re supposed to summon the enthusiasm to make dinner AND clean it up afterward.
Nope.
These easy one-pan dinners are what I want this time of year. They’re cozy, filling, gluten-free, and most importantly, don’t leave four pans soaking in the sink after dinner. Because once it gets dark at 5, my motivation seems to clock out right along with the sun.
Pot pie sounds like a weekend project. This one isn’t. Ground beef, leeks, vegetables, potatoes, and a creamy filling all cook in the same skillet before a gluten-free crust goes right over the top. Cozy dinner, very little cleanup, nobody needs to know you took shortcuts.
Perfect for: The night when only serious comfort food will do.
Not every cold-weather dinner needs to simmer for three hours. This pork stir fry is ready FAST with cabbage, mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and a homemade hoisin-style sauce that I would absolutely double. It’s one pan, loaded with vegetables, and considerably faster than waiting for takeout.
Perfect for: The 5:30 p.m. “we need dinner NOW” situation.
Check out these posts.
Chicken, rice, artichokes, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes all cook together in one skillet, so the rice gets to soak up every bit of that flavor. This feels considerably fancier than a random Tuesday dinner, which is always a nice little trick.
Perfect for: When you want comfort food but still want vegetables involved.
This is fall in a skillet. Apple cider, butternut squash, apples, thyme, and tender chicken make the whole house smell amazing while dinner basically takes care of itself. Exactly what I want when it’s dark outside before I’ve even figured out what we’re eating.
Perfect for: Cold nights when you want something cozy without making something heavy.
This is what I make when I want comfort food but another chicken dinner is absolutely not happening. Pan-seared salmon gets tucked into a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with garlic and herbs. Add pasta, rice, or something green and you’re done.
Perfect for: When salmon needs to feel a little more exciting.
This is the meatless dinner that still feels like real comfort food. A hearty vegetable filling gets topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until everything is hot and golden. Nobody is leaving the table wondering where dinner was.
Perfect for: Meatless nights when a salad isn’t going to cut it.
One Pan. Dinner Done. Lights Out.
These easy one-pan dinners aren’t about being impressive. They’re about making really good food on the nights when your energy disappeared with the daylight.
After cooking for clients all day or running everyone around after school, I’m not interested in ending the night with half my kitchen soaking in the sink.
One pan. Everyone fed. Kitchen mostly intact.
I’ll take it.
Now tell me: which one are you making when it’s pitch black outside at 5:15?
Have you seen these recipes yet?
Chef's Note
My dark-at-5 strategy is very sophisticated: make dinner easier.
Keep microwaveable rice around. Buy the pre-cut butternut squash. Use the prepared gluten-free pie crust. Grab the bagged salad.
This is not the season to prove anything. It’s the season to get dinner on the table and move on with your night.
Hi, I'm Kat.
Welcome to my Kitchen Counter. I’m excited to share with you a new series called “Make my kitchen work for you” along with a collection of blog posts about a variety of topics – building a gluten free pantry, staples to always have on hand and gift guides for the Chef in your life. Take a look around. I’d love to hear from you – do you like these posts?
