A one-pan meal is a dish in which every component is cooked together in a single skillet or sauté pan, distinct from a one-pot meal, which typically simmers or braises in a deeper pot, and from a one-dish meal, the broader term that also covers oven-baked casseroles. Ingredients are added in stages, longer-cooking items first, so everything reaches the right doneness at the same time. Common one-pan dishes include stir-fries, skillet casseroles, paella, and sautéed or roasted vegetable-and-protein combinations; sheet-pan dinners, which use the oven rather than a stovetop pan, are a related but separate category. The method suits quick weeknight cooking, uses minimal added fat, and lets flavors meld as everything cooks together.