Easy Weeknight Skillet Dinner

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easy skillet dinner

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Satisfy your cravings with an easy skillet dinner that features rich flavors and simple ingredients all in one pan. It’s Mediterranean goodliness!

Pasta Primavera

This simple, satisfying pasta dish brings together the creamy comfort of ricotta, the salty punch of pecorino romano and kalamata olives, and the freshness of seasonal vegetables—all in a single skillet. Perfect for busy weeknights or effortless entertaining.

Creamy Pasta with Vegetables

Simple ingredients. Big Mediterranean flavors!

This dish brings together:

  • Pasta – Any short shape like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli

  • Fresh vegetables – Think zucchini, cherry tomatoes, spinach, or bell peppers

  • Ricotta cheese – Light, creamy, and protein-rich

  • Pecorino Romano – Sharp and salty, balances the creaminess

  • Kalamata olives – Briny and bold, they add depth

  • Italian Seasoning & Olive oil – The essential aromatic base

 

Easy Dinner Ideas

Cooking pasta right in the skillet with limited water means fewer dishes and more flavor. The starches from the pasta help thicken the sauce naturally, making every bite creamy without heavy cream or flour.

Skillet Meals

Instead of boiling or overcooking vegetables separately, steaming them directly in the creamy ricotta sauce helps retain their nutrients and infuse the whole dish with garden-fresh flavor. It’s a healthier, more vibrant way to enjoy your veggies.

One skillet meals make weeknights actually manageable. Need more ideas, well, here you go!

Healthy One Skillet Meal

Health benefits in every bite.

  • Fiber from whole veggies and pasta supports digestion

  • Ricotta and pecorino offer calcium and protein

  • Olives and olive oil provide heart-healthy fats

  • Spinach (if you use!) and tomatoes give antioxidants and vitamins

You’re getting a full-spectrum, satisfying meal—comforting, clean, and nutritious.

Healthy Stovetop Meals

You can totally change the look of this skillet meal by make some innovative swaps! 

  • Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick

  • Toss in chickpeas or white beans for more protein

  • Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to suit dietary needs

  • Swap vegetables based on what’s in season or what you love

Veggies with Pasta

Need more convincing that this is the perfect weeknight meal?

1. Less Cleanup, More Time

Only one pan to wash means you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your meal (or relaxing afterward).

2. Maximum Flavor, Minimal Effort

Cooking everything together allows starches, spices, and sauces to blend beautifully—creating a rich, cohesive flavor without complicated steps.

3. Nutritious & Balanced in One Dish

Pasta gives energy, veggies provide fiber and vitamins, and cheese or legumes add protein and healthy fats—no need for sides.

4. Smart Cooking = Nutrient Retention

Steaming veggies right in the skillet helps preserve their nutrients compared to boiling them separately.

5. Customizable for Every Season (or Fridge Clean-Out)

Use whatever fresh or frozen vegetables you have—this kind of meal is flexible, budget-friendly, and reduces food waste.

easy skillet dinner

easy skillet dinner

Easy Weeknight Skillet Dinner

Yield: Serves 3-4

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. of pasta, preferably rigatoni, penne, corkscrew, bowtie
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk ricotta
  • 1 Tbl. Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup freshly grated pecorino romano
  • 10 oz. vegetable medley, your choice veggies, cut in bite size pieces
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives, optional, can substitute drained capers
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet over medium high heat, put 2 1/2 cups of filtered water, let it come to a simmering boil. Add the pasta, move around in the hot water, cover and cook about 5 minutes. Much of the liquid should be absorbed.
  2. Add the ricotta, Italian seasoning, cheese and olives. Mix and blend. Add the veggies (and olives if desiered). Toss lightly Turn your heat to simmer/low. Cover and let it cook about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender al dente.
  3. Serve and savor!

Your sharing is GOLDEN! Thank you!

Your sharing and comments help me stay in business! Share a photo if you make the recipe #allyskitchen Thank you! xo Ally

easy skillet dinner

 

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