18 Really Easy Stovetop Recipes So You Can Avoid the Oven and Extra Dishes

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18 Really Easy Stovetop Recipes So You Can Avoid the Oven and Extra Dishes

If you’re looking for really easy stovetop recipes, you’re in the right place. Who needs more dishes when you can whip up something great on the stovetop? These recipes are perfect for when you want to keep things simple and avoid the kitchen chaos. So, grab your skillet and let’s get cooking — no oven mitts required.

A skillet with sautéed red and white cabbage, topped with melted cheese and a drizzle of creamy sauce, stirred by a white spatula.
Reuben Bowls. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Creamy chicken thighs with artichoke hearts in a pan.
Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts is a stovetop marvel that brings together tender chicken thighs and hearty artichokes in a creamy, lemony sauce. Ready in about 30 minutes, it serves up a dish that seems fancy but is incredibly easy to prepare and clean up after. It’s a smart choice for anyone wanting to impress without the mess.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Tuscan garlic shrimp and spinach with tomatoes in a pan.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This quick dish combines succulent shrimp, fresh spinach, and ripe tomatoes with a rich garlic sauce, ready in 30 minutes. It’s practically magic how it leaves your kitchen as clean as before you started. Perfect when you want a meal high on flavor but low on cleanup. It’s about enjoying the good life without the aftermath of a kitchen storm.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Chicken Tortellini Soup

A bowl of chicken tortellini soup with vegetables and herbs.
Chicken Tortellini Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Chicken Tortellini Soup is like a cozy night in, served up in a bowl. This dish combines rich broth with chicken, cheese tortellini, carrots, and celery, ready in 40 minutes. The meal fills you up and warms you down to your toes. Cleanup? Barely a thought, with just one pot to consider. It’s perfect for those evenings when you’re looking for comfort without the commitment of cleaning a full kitchen. A bowl of this, and you’ll feel like you’ve cheated the system — in the best way possible.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup

Cabbage and Sausage

A pan of cabbage and sausage garnished with fresh herbs.
Cabbage and Sausage. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Cabbage and Sausage is straightforward cooking at its best. Just toss cabbage, sausages, and onions into a pan, splash in some apple cider vinegar and spices, and have a full-flavored dinner ready in 25 minutes. This one-pan wonder keeps things simple and your kitchen spotless. It’s the perfect solution for those who’d rather relax than wrestle with a sink full of dishes. Plus, it’s a great reminder that sometimes the simplest meals are the most rewarding — especially when cleanup is a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Broccoli Fritters

A stack of broccoli fritters on a plate.
Broccoli Fritters. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

If you think broccoli is just for steaming, these Broccoli Fritters will change your mind. Ready in 35 minutes, they mix steamed broccoli with eggs and Parmesan to create crispy, golden fritters. Cooking these in just one pan means less cleaning and more time to kick back — or maybe convince the kids that greens are cool. Forget about scraping a bunch of pans tonight; one pan, zero stress. Plus, who said you can’t enjoy your greens and have fun eating them too?
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Fritters

Sausage Curry

Sausage curry in a skillet garnished with herbs.
Sausage Curry. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish packs sausages, sweet potatoes, carrots, and peas into a curry sauce that simmers to perfection on your stovetop. Ready in under an hour and with only one pan to clean. You can throw everything in and let it cook while you relax. This dish is easy to make and keeps your kitchen clean, making it a top pick for those who’d rather enjoy their meal than scrub pots and pans afterward. Everyone appreciates a great-smelling kitchen that doesn’t take hours to clean.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

A person is holding a wooden spoon full of chicken bites in a garlic butter sauce.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites — they’re small but mighty in flavor, thanks to being smothered in a rich garlic butter sauce. They’re done in 20 minutes flat, and this dish is a win for anyone who wants to whip up something quickly and spend more time eating than cleaning. Just cook these bites quickly on your stovetop, serve them hot, and you’re good to go. Minimal ingredients, minimal cleanup, maximum flavor.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Reuben Bowls

A bowl of coleslaw with creamy dressing, garnished with green onions, served in a ceramic bowl with a fork.
Reuben Bowls. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Reuben Bowls recipe transforms your favorite deli classic into a mess-free bowl. This dish combines corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, coleslaw, and melted Swiss cheese for a bread-free feast. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick, filling dinner and is always a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Reuben Bowls

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Chicken with creamy mushroom sauce in a pan.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

The Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce is the stuff of weeknight dinner dreams. Juicy chicken thighs smothered in a rich and creamy mushroom sauce, ready in just 30 minutes. It’s a one-pan wonder that simplifies your cooking and cleanup. This dish serves comfort without the commitment, letting you enjoy a hearty meal without chaining you to the kitchen sink. Plus, it’s cooked all in one pan, which means less mess and more eating. This recipe is perfect for those evenings when you want to feel like you’ve cooked a feast without having to clean up like one.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Creamy Dijon Chicken

A pan of creamy dijon chicken with herbs and bacon.
Creamy Dijon Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Get a taste of gourmet with our Creamy Dijon Chicken, all done in 30 minutes in just one pan. This dish is a creamy concoction of chicken thighs, Dijon mustard, spinach, and crumbled bacon, creating layers of flavors that are both rich and comforting. The sharp tang of Dijon mustard mixed with the taste of bacon adds a sophisticated touch to this simple dish, making it a crowd-pleaser. It’s perfect for those who want to impress without the pressure of cleaning up a storm afterward. Serve this up, and watch the compliments roll in as the dishes stay out. It’s like magic — delicious magic.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken

Lemon Garlic Scallops

Scallops with parsley and garlic in a skillet.
Lemon Garlic Scallops. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Lemon Garlic Scallops are here to show you how gourmet can get simple. These scallops are quickly seared and doused in a lively lemon-garlic sauce, all done in 20 minutes. It’s the kind of dish that looks like you’ve been over it, but really, it’s a breeze. Just a few ingredients and one pan keep things neat. Plus, they cook so fast on the stovetop that you’ll have plenty of time left to do whatever you want — except dishes. This recipe is perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself without the cleanup drama.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops

Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A skillet of creamy sun dried tomato chicken with a wooden spoon.
Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is a dish that brings a lot of flavors without a lot of effort. It features chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, a touch of cream, and Parmesan in about 30 minutes on your stovetop. It’s a dish that’s big on taste and low on cleanup, using just one pan. This is the go-to dinner recipe when you need something quick but impressive.
Get the Recipe: Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

White Bean Soup

A bowl of white bean soup with carrots and croutons.
White Bean Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

White Bean Soup, because sometimes you need a big bowl of comfort without a big mess in the kitchen. This soup combines white beans, various veggies, and a hint of lemon in a soothing broth. It’s all done in one pot and ready in 40 minutes, making it a great choice for a hearty dinner that won’t leave your kitchen in shambles. This soup is about getting that deep, comforting flavor without the deep clean afterward. It’s a great choice for chilly nights or just when you need something filling but simple.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Soup

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Creamy Tuscan chicken in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish loads up juicy chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach in a creamy, garlicky sauce, all cooked in one skillet in only 40 minutes. Delicious, impressive, and filling every single time.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Creamy ground beef skillet with cauliflower rice with a wooden spoon.
Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This easy recipe combines ground beef, creamy cheddar cheese, earthy mushrooms, and light cauliflower rice, making this skillet dish a hearty meal on its own. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s designed for maximum taste with minimal kitchen mess. The real kicker? You’ll have just one skillet to clean. It’s a game-changer for nights when you want to eat well but feel like cleaning’s not on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Green Chile Chicken

Green chile chicken in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Green Chile Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Speedy, spicy, and spectacular, our Green Chile Chicken is the answer to your dinner prayers. This one-pan wonder combines tender shredded chicken with fiery green chiles and a creamy sauce, ready in just 20 minutes. It’s the perfect pick for those evenings when even ordering takeout feels too much work. Less mess, less stress, and a lot of flavor — what’s not to love?
Get the Recipe: Green Chile Chicken

Creamy Garlic Chicken

A white skillet of creamy garlic chicken garnished with herbs.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Nothing says comfort like a good Creamy Garlic Chicken, especially when it’s ready in 30 minutes and all in one pan. This recipe features chicken breasts swimming in a rich and delicious homemade creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce. It’s perfect for a quiet night in or when you’ve got company but don’t want the hassle of a big cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

A pan full of bacon and cabbage with a wooden spoon.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Fried Cabbage with Bacon is your quick fix for a flavorful meal with minimal kitchen time. This 25-minute dish combines bacon, cabbage, and onion in one pan for a straightforward meal but packs a punch. It’s the perfect recipe for adding some veggies to your day in a way that’s anything but ordinary.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

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