Ditch the greens and grab a skillet because these 18 stovetop recipes are perfect for when you’ve had it up to here with sad salads. Quick, uncomplicated, and far from the monotonous leafy routine, each dish is a hearty escape from the salad spinner. They’re great for those evenings when you want something that hits the spot and doesn’t leave you pining for more.

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Break from your salad routine with Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Ready in only 30 minutes, this dish combines succulent shrimp and fresh spinach with a garlic-infused sauce and tomatoes. It’s a straightforward way to bring a taste of Italy to your table with minimal effort. It’s a great choice for a family dinner or a romantic date night. The simplicity of the ingredients and the cooking process makes this dish a breeze to prepare and clean up, ensuring it’s as practical as it is great.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

White Bean Soup

When you need a comforting meal that’s not a salad, White Bean Soup is your answer. Ready in 40 minutes, this soup combines creamy white beans with spinach, carrots, celery, and a hint of garlic for a richly flavored broth. It’s an easy one-pot meal that has all the comfort of homemade soup with little prep or cleanup. This dish is particularly perfect for chilly evenings or when you just need something soothing and nutritious to wind down your day.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Soup

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

The Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts is a quick and straightforward dish that pairs chicken thighs with a creamy artichoke sauce, making it a great choice for family dinners or special occasions. It can be prepared in just 30 minutes. This dish stands out for its creamy sauce enriched with heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and the distinctive flavor of artichokes, accented with a splash of lemon juice. It’s a straightforward recipe that promises a hearty meal with minimal kitchen time, perfect for those evenings when you need a comforting meal without the hassle.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Chicken Tortellini Soup

Skip the salad and go for something heartier with Chicken Tortellini Soup. Ready in just 40 minutes, it combines cooked chicken — great for using up leftovers or a store-bought rotisserie chicken — with cheese tortellini in a rich broth flavored with onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and Italian seasoning. It’s a simple, comforting meal that’s easy to make and even easier to clean up. Perfect for feeding the family or enjoying a quiet dinner at home, it’s a stress-free way to fill up and feel good on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Forget salads and whip up some Garlic Butter Chicken Bites in just 20 minutes. These bite-sized pieces of chicken are pan-fried until golden and then drenched in a flavorful garlic butter sauce. It’s a quick and easy meal that’s big on flavor and perfect for those days when you’re short on time but want something more filling than a simple salad. This dish is a hit with both kids and adults alike. Serve over rice or pasta to stretch it further and for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Cabbage and Sausage

Swap out the salad for a meal that cooks in 25 minutes: Cabbage and Sausage. This dish features chunks of juicy sausage and sautéed cabbage and onions, which create a flavorful and hearty meal. It’s a great choice for a fast dinner that doesn’t skimp on taste or satisfaction. With minimal prep and cooking time, it’s a great way to end a hectic day, allowing you to have a delicious dinner on the table quickly and with little effort.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

If you’re tired of unexciting salads, Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce is a flavorful escape. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish features seasoned chicken thighs smothered in a rich mushroom sauce with sun-dried tomatoes that add a nice tangy flavor, Parmesan, and heavy cream. It’s super easy to make and pairs brilliantly with any side dish. This meal will lift your spirits on those evenings when you need something comforting and quick to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Reuben Bowls

When the thought of another salad seems unbearable, these Reuben Bowls are a great escape. Ready in just 30 minutes, they’re a fantastic pick for a fast dinner or to prep in advance for lunch. Brown some deli corned beef, mix it with coleslaw or shredded cabbage, add sauerkraut, top with melted Swiss cheese, and finish with a drizzle of homemade Thousand Island dressing — or take a shortcut with a store-bought version. These bowls are a hearty alternative to the typical salad and are sure to please.
Get the Recipe: Reuben Bowls

Creamy Dijon Chicken

Say goodbye to boring salads with Creamy Dijon Chicken. It’s an easy-to-make dish that packs plenty of flavors into a 30-minute, one-pan meal. It combines juicy chicken thighs with a creamy sauce enriched with Dijon mustard, fresh spinach, and bits of crispy bacon. Not only is it quick to cook, but chicken thighs also keep the meal moist and flavorful. It’s guaranteed to quickly become a weeknight favorite, serving a delectable change that will spice up your dining routine without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken

Fried Cabbage With Bacon

Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a great choice when you’re looking for something as quick and hearty as a salad but more flavorful. This dish combines sweet cabbage and crispy bacon in a delicious mix that cooks up in just 25 minutes. It’s incredibly simple and uses ingredients you likely have on hand. Prepared in a skillet, this dish delivers a well-rounded mix of flavors and textures, making it a great option for a straightforward and nutritious meal. This meal shows that simple ingredients can create a filling dinner.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage With Bacon

Sausage Curry

Ditch the salad for something more exciting like Sausage Curry — a quick, one-pan meal inspired by Indian flavors popular across Europe and Australia. Made with sausages and veggies in a creamy curry sauce, it brings together rich and robust tastes with a spicy kick from curry and ginger. It’s perfect for a quick family dinner, ready in about 45 minutes. It’s perfect for those days when you want a flavorful meal without the hassle, and the one-pan approach means minimal cleanup, making your evening smoother.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Lemon Garlic Scallops

Lemon Garlic Scallops are your answer to a speedy yet impressive dinner that’s not a salad. These scallops are seared to perfection and dressed with a citrusy lemon-garlic sauce. Add the scallops back into the pan at the end to heat them up and soak up some of the sauce, enhancing their flavor. Lemon juice is added last to give a fresh kick. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish adds a special touch to your dinner routine without taking up your whole evening. It’s perfect for those days when you need a quick meal that still feels a bit fancy.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Break away from routine salads with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken — a rich and flavorful one-pan dish that’s quick to prepare, taking only about 30 minutes from start to finish. This dish features boneless, skinless chicken thighs seasoned with Italian seasoning, ground thyme, cooked in a creamy sauce of chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and shredded Parmesan cheese. It’s an easy and effective way to add some excitement to your mealtime with minimal cleanup, giving you more time to relax after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Broccoli Fritters

For those days when you can’t face another salad, Broccoli Fritters is an easy and delectable alternative. Ready in about 35 minutes, these fritters are not only easy to make but also fun to eat. Combine chopped broccoli florets with Parmesan cheese, eggs, and ground sunflower seed meal or almond flour. They are pan-fried in avocado oil to achieve a crispy exterior and a tender interior. They’re a hit with both kids and adults, making dinner time fun without the hassle. This meal is a great way to keep everyone happy and fed, perfect for a relaxed evening.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Fritters

Green Chile Chicken

If you’ve had enough of eating salads and have leftover chicken, Green Chile Chicken comes to the rescue and is ready in 20 minutes. It combines cooked shredded chicken with a creamy, spicy green chile sauce for a quick stovetop meal that’s far from boring. It’s not only a delicious way to repurpose leftovers but also helps you save money. Perfect for those evenings when you want something quick and comforting without spending much or wasting food.
Get the Recipe: Green Chile Chicken

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Step away from salads and enjoy Creamy Tuscan Chicken, a hearty dish that comes together in about 40 minutes using just one pan. It features chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a rich, creamy garlic sauce made with grated Parmesan cheese and heavy whipping cream. This dish is a great choice for a wholesome dinner that feels special without requiring a lot of time or ingredients. It’s especially good for a relaxed evening meal that still tastes like you spent hours cooking.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Creamy Garlic Chicken

When you need a quick dinner that feels gourmet yet simple to make, Creamy Garlic Chicken is your best bet. Ready in 30 minutes, it combines tender chicken breasts with a luxurious sauce of garlic, Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream. This dish is easy to make and guarantees a delicious meal without the long prep or cooking times. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a comforting meal that won’t keep you in the kitchen for hours.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

For a change of pace from typical meals or salad, try the Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. This dish is ready in 30 minutes and combines ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms in one pan for a cheesy and filling meal. This dish packs a rich flavor, anchored by the mouthwatering taste of the beef, complemented by the mildness of the cauliflower rice. It’s a great solution for meal prep too, for a quick way to prepare multiple meals at once. This skillet meal serves a hearty meal without much effort, even on busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet