Drop Your Meal Kit Delivery Service For These 15 Skillet Dinners Instead

Tired of those meal kits that make you do half the work anyway? Ditch the boxes and get back to basics with skillet dinners that are quicker, fresher, and actually make sense for busy nights. These skillet recipes bring all the flavor without the endless chopping and endless packaging. One pan, minimal cleanup, and ingredients you already know – you’ll have dinner sorted before you can even find the scissors to open that meal kit.

Chicken and chickpea curry with rice. — Creamy Turmeric Chicken Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet

A skillet filled with ground turkey, cauliflower rice and greens. — Buffalo Turkey Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

With just four ingredients, this buffalo turkey cauliflower skillet is both a quick, healthy dinner option and a fantastic meal-prep choice, proving you don’t need a meal kit for a flavorful week.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet

Greek Shrimp Skillet

Shrimp in a skillet with tomatoes and feta cheese. — Greek Shrimp Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Enjoy a Mediterranean feast with this Greek shrimp skillet, ready in 30 minutes. It combines tomatoes, spinach, olives, and feta for a fresh meal that makes meal kits redundant.
Get the Recipe: Greek Shrimp Skillet

Smoky Steak Potato & Pepper Skillet

A skillet full of steak, potatoes and peppers. — Steak and Potatoes Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This smoky steak, potato, and pepper skillet combines all your favorites in one pan for a hearty dinner ready in just 40 minutes, making it a great reason to skip the meal kit tonight.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Steak Potato & Pepper Skillet

Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Pasta with meat and tomatoes in a white dish with a wooden spoon. — Ground Beef Pasta Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Make a delicious ground beef pasta in under 30 minutes with this skillet recipe. It’s a straightforward way to create a meal that tastes like it simmered all day, outdoing any meal kit.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

Ground beef sweet potato skillet. — Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This ground beef and sweet potato skillet brings southwestern flavors to your table in an easy one-pan meal, great for those looking to move away from meal kits.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

Vegetable Bean Skillet

A skillet filled with beans and vegetables. — Vegetable Bean Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Filled with fresh veggies and two types of beans, this vegetable bean skillet is an easy, meatless meal that’s proof you don’t need a meal kit to enjoy a hearty, healthy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet

Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Beef and broccoli stir fry with rice and chopsticks. — Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This shaved beef and broccoli stir-fry comes together in minutes, offering a quick dinner solution that’s so satisfying, you’ll forget about meal kits. Its crave-worthy sauce is a game-changer.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Creamy Turmeric Chicken with Chickpeas

Opt for this creamy turmeric chicken with chickpeas for a vibrant skillet meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes. It’s a simple way to create a flavorful dinner over rice, making meal kits a thing of the past.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Turmeric Chicken with Chickpeas

Ground Beef Stir Fry

A skillet full of vegetables and beef on a wooden table. — Ground Beef Stir Fry. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This ground beef stir fry is the ultimate weeknight skillet meal, combining fresh veggies with a homemade sauce that beats takeout or meal kits any day, and it’s ready in no time.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry

Spicy Skillet Lamb Ragu

A dish of pasta with lamb and vegetables in it. — Lamb Ragu Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Dive into the flavors of spring with this one-skillet spicy lamb ragu. It’s a hearty, flavor-packed meal that easily beats out meal kit options with its simple preparation and robust taste.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Skillet Lamb Ragu

Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

A skillet filled with chicken and cashews. — Cashew Chicken Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This Thai basil cashew chicken skillet is all you need for an easy, delicious dinner. Its one-pan magic and savory sweet sauce over rice show why it’s time to ditch the meal kits.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

Gochujang Chicken

Chinese chicken in a skillet on a table. — Gochujang Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This gochujang chicken brings the heat and sweet in a 30-minute dinner that makes dropping your meal kit delivery service a no-brainer. It’s perfect for a spicy night in and goes great over white rice.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Chicken

Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Chicken and mushrooms in a skillet with a wooden spoon. — Garlic Chicken Bites. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This garlic chicken bite skillet promises a fulfilling dinner in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect example of how simple, flavorful meals can outshine any meal kit.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Cream Cheese Chicken

Chicken thighs in a cream cheese sauce with potatoes and parsley on a wooden table. — Cream Cheese Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Break free from boring dinners with this cream cheese chicken, seasoned to perfection. It’s an easy, quick meal that demonstrates the unnecessary luxury of meal kits.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Chicken

Chinese Chicken Zoodles

Zucchini noodles with chicken in a skillet with a fork. — Chinese Chicken Zoodles. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Ready in 15 minutes, these Chinese chicken zoodles are packed with the flavors of your favorite takeout but healthier, showing you can have quick, tasty meals without a meal kit.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Zoodles

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.