17 stovetop recipes so good, they leave zero leftovers behind

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Stovetop recipes really shine when it comes to making sure nothing goes to waste. Whether you’re cooking for a group or just trying to avoid those leftover containers piling up in the fridge, these meals are here to help. No need to worry about food sitting around for days — these dishes are so good they disappear fast.

A bowl of creamy soup topped with croutons and chopped green onions, with a spoon in the bowl. Another bowl of soup is partially visible on the right.
Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

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

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce gives you a comforting meal without the hassle. Tender chicken thighs get cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce, all in just 30 minutes. It’s a great option when you need something simple but hearty, perfect to pair with rice or mashed potatoes. Plus, since it all comes together on the stovetop, you’ll have fewer dishes to clean. This meal will leave everyone happy, and you won’t have to worry about any leftovers sticking around.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

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

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach bring a great balance of flavor and simplicity to the table. In just 25 minutes, shrimp, spinach, and tomatoes cook together in a simple garlic sauce that’s both light and filling. Everything happens on the stovetop, so you don’t need to worry about a complicated cleanup. This recipe is great for a quick dinner that feels special enough for guests but is easy enough for any busy weeknight. And if you’re tired of leftovers hanging around, this dish solves that problem — there won’t be any.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

A hand holding a spoon serves a portion of fried rice mixed with beef, cabbage, and garnished with chopped herbs from a beige bowl.
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls are a one-pot stovetop meal that gets dinner on the table in about an hour. Ground beef, onions, cabbage, rice, and seasonings simmer together for a hearty dish with fewer steps than traditional stuffed cabbage. Cleanup is easy, and this recipe works well for batch cooking since leftovers refrigerate or freeze without losing flavor.
Get the Recipe: Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

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

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts is a great option when you need a quick, flavorful dinner. The chicken and artichoke hearts are cooked in a creamy sauce, all in just 30 minutes. It’s a simple meal that feels comforting without being heavy. The cleanup is quick and easy since it all cooks in one pan. This stovetop meal will leave everyone full and happy, with no need for leftovers the next day. It’s perfect for busy nights when you want to keep things easy but still delicious.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

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.

The Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet is a quick, filling meal that’s perfect for busy nights. In just 30 minutes, lean ground beef, mushrooms, and cauliflower rice are cooked in a creamy sauce, all in one pan. It’s a great option when you want something hearty minus the heavy feeling post-dinner. Since everything cooks in one skillet, the cleanup is easy, too. This dish will leave no leftovers and is perfect for those nights when you want something comforting without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

A plate of garlic butter chicken bites.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are a great solution for quick, flavorful dinners that everyone will love. Bite-sized pieces of tender chicken are fried in a skillet until cooked through, then coated in a delicious buttery garlic sauce. The chicken cooks tender, juicy, and ready to serve in just 20 minutes. With only a few simple ingredients, this dish is easy on both time and budget, making it perfect for busy nights. Plus, this meal is so good that you’ll never have to worry about leftovers — everyone will finish their plates.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

White Bean Soup

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

White Bean Soup is a comforting, no-stress option when you need something comforting and hearty. Ready in 40 minutes, it’s packed with white beans, carrots, and a handful of herbs, making it both filling and budget-friendly. Half of the cannellini beans are blended into the broth for richness and texture. This soup is a great choice for cold nights or when you just want something easy but filling. There’s no need to worry about leftovers — this soup is so delicious that every last spoonful will disappear.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Soup

Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup

A bowl of creamy soup garnished with croutons and chopped green onions, with a spoonful of soup and croutons being lifted from the bowl.
Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup is a stovetop favorite, combining sharp cheddar, vegetables, and beer for a rich, hearty dish ready in about an hour. You’ll sauté onions, carrots, and celery, whisk in flour, and gradually add broth and beer before finishing with cheddar cheese. This one-pot meal is an easy go-to for cozy dinners with little cleanup, and it’s always a hit for anyone who loves bold, cheesy flavors.
Get the Recipe: Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup

Tuna Melt Quesadillas

Four quesadilla slices on parchment paper, filled with melted cheese and tuna, garnished with chopped parsley.
Tuna Melt Quesadillas. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

These Tuna Melt Quesadillas come together quickly, making them perfect for a 30-minute stovetop meal. With tuna filling layered between cheddar cheese and flour tortillas, they crisp up beautifully on the stovetop. Great for busy weeknight dinners or an easy lunch, this recipe is one you’ll want to revisit. Any leftovers reheat easily, but don’t be surprised if there aren’t any left.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Melt Quesadillas

Cabbage and Sausage

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

Cabbage and Sausage is a simple, hearty meal that comes together fast. In just 25 minutes, crispy cabbage and sausage are cooked up in one pan, making cleanup easy. It’s a budget-friendly dish that’s filling enough to keep everyone satisfied. Whether you’re short on time or just want something quick and delicious, this meal is perfect for keeping dinner easy and stress-free. You won’t need to worry about leftovers because this dish will be gone as soon as it’s served.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Chicken Tortellini Soup

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

Chicken Tortellini Soup is perfect for when you need a comforting meal that’s easy to make. It comes together in about 40 minutes with chicken, tortellini, and fresh vegetables simmering in a flavorful broth. It’s a great way to use leftover chicken while feeling like you’ve made something new. Plus, since everything cooks in one pot, cleanup is a breeze. This soup is perfect for family dinners where everyone leaves the table full with no leftovers to worry about.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup

Creamy Dijon Chicken

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

Creamy Dijon Chicken takes just 30 minutes to cook and feels a bit more special than your average weeknight meal. The creamy Dijon mustard sauce pairs perfectly with tender chicken thighs, spinach, and bacon, making it a great option when you want something a little more flavorful without the extra effort. It’s a dish that makes weeknight cooking easier, and you won’t have to think about leftovers because this meal is too good to leave anything behind.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon 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 a simple, quick stovetop meal that’s affordable and delicious. In just 25 minutes, you’ll have crispy bacon and tender cabbage, and it’s the kind of meal that doesn’t leave leftovers hanging around. The balanced flavors of salty bacon, sweet onion, and earthy cabbage are perfected with a touch of sweetener. It’s great for those nights when you want something fast but still full of flavor. And with this dish, there’s no need for storage — it’ll all be eaten up right away.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Creamy Garlic Chicken

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

Creamy Garlic Chicken is a comforting dish that’s quick to make, taking only 30 minutes from start to finish. Tender chicken is cooked in a rich garlic-Parmesan sauce that’s flavorful but easy to pull together. This dish is perfect for weeknights when you want something comforting without too much effort. The creamy sauce and tender chicken make this meal something everyone will enjoy, and it’s likely to become a regular in your dinner rotation. Pair it with some vegetables or pasta, and you’ll have a complete meal with no leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Sausage Curry

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

Sausage Curry is a perfect option when you’re looking for something comforting but don’t have a lot of time. With hearty sausages, sweet potatoes, and a rich curry sauce, this meal comes together in 45 minutes and leaves no leftovers in sight. The sauce coats and saturates the ingredients as they become tender in the pan for a mouthwatering creation. It’s great for busy evenings when you need a dinner that fills you up without leaving a ton of extras to store. You won’t have to deal with leftovers here because this curry gets devoured.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

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

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is a simple, stovetop meal that feels like a treat. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in a creamy, tangy sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, and everything comes together in about 30 minutes. This is a great go-to for busy nights when you need something quick but still packed with flavor. Don’t worry about leftovers — this one-pan dish will disappear before you know it.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Broccoli Fritters

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

Broccoli Fritters are a great way to make your veggies more interesting, ready in just 35 minutes. Chopped broccoli, Parmesan, eggs, and ground sunflower seeds come together to create crispy bites with a soft inside. This is a perfect option for dinner or a snack when you need something fast and healthy. It’s an easy way to add more greens to your meal without feeling like you’re forcing it. Plus, they’re so good that you won’t need to worry about storing any for later because there’s no chance of leftovers sticking around.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Fritters

Green Chile Chicken

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

Green Chile Chicken turns leftovers into something exciting in just 20 minutes. Adding green chiles and a creamy sauce gives regular chicken a bit of a kick without much effort. It’s a quick fix for busy nights when you don’t have time to spend in the kitchen. This stovetop dish is perfect for transforming boring leftovers into something flavorful and fresh there’s no chance of anything being left over. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your family, this dish keeps things simple and delicious, making your dinner routine much easier.
Get the Recipe: Green Chile Chicken

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

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

Creamy Tuscan Chicken brings rich Italian flavors to your table in less than an hour, all made on the stovetop. With chicken breasts, a creamy sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, this dish feels like a treat without the complicated steps. It’s great for those nights when you want something a little more special but still quick enough for a weeknight. The sun-dried tomatoes give it a tangy punch that pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce. Serve it with pasta or some bread, and you have a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Lemon Garlic Scallops

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

Lemon Garlic Scallops bring a light and fresh meal to your table in just 25 minutes. These scallops are pan-seared to a golden finish, then drizzled with a simple lemon-garlic sauce that makes them bright and flavorful. It’s a great choice for when you want something quick but don’t want to sacrifice flavor. The scallops are tender, and the lemon and garlic combination adds just the right amount of freshness to make this dish stand out. It’s easy enough for any weeknight, and because they’re so good, there won’t be any leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops

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