The One-Skillet Shrimp That Makes Any Night Date Night

What does “feel-good food” mean? It depends on whom you ask. That’s why each month our Feel-Good Food Plan—with delicious recipes and a few wild cards—is hosted by someone new. This month our social media manager, Olivia Quintana, shares how one-pan dinners are about much more than convenience.

After a long day, it’s easy for my husband and me to slip into TV mode while eating dinner, allowing our brains to switch off. He’s juggling his last semester of a masters program while working part-time at a landscape architecture firm and as a teaching assistant. I’ve got my own work and volunteering, not to mention the strenuous schedule of our dog, Henry. Plus, we have to stay on top of the new episodes of The White Lotus and The Bachelor. But at least once a week, we try to be more conscious about making time for each other.

In these moments, I turn to what I call scoopable meals: a dinner served right in the skillet, ready to be hand-delivered to our mouths via warm flatbread or a crusty baguette. It’s funny how ditching cutlery can instantly change the vibe. Sharing one pan to dip into helps my husband and I more actively engage with each other. We’ll pour a couple glasses of wine and catch up about the latest podcast I’ve listened to or the progress he’s made on his project designs. It’s hard to get distracted and end up on your phone when you're focused on scraping up every last bit of sauce.

When it’s time for these shareable, TV-free dinners, there are a few dishes we typically choose from. But a recent favorite has been this Saucy, Spiced Shrimp and White Beans with earthy cumin and a pile of fresh herbs. Keep reading for the recipe, plus a few more joyful things to slot into your month.

April’s Feel Good Recipes

It’s spring! The perfect time to breathe life into a few new traditions. Whether you want a moment to connect with your partner, friends, or family, these dishes will invite deeper conversation while you all dig in.

A saucy shrimp skillet

My favorite part of this meal is how quickly it comes together. You’ll build flavor with dried spices, garlic, and shallots before adding in double-concentrated tomato paste and white beans. Then toss in your shrimp, which cook in just a couple of minutes. Shower it all with some dill and mint leaves and you’re done. When I’m feeling particularly organized, I’ll spend some time making homemade flatbreads to pair with the dish. But other times, I’ll just buy some pita from the store, toast some tortillas, or heat up a few frozen parathas.

Saucy, Spiced Shrimp and White Beans

Dive into this shareable skillet with warm flatbread.

View Recipe

Sheet-pan meals work too

If you’re looking for a speedy option, a sheet-pan meal might just be one step ahead of the skillet dinner (and it means easy cleanup too). That way you can still find space for connection even on the busiest of days. This one has all my favorite ingredients: chickpeas, cheese, tomatoes, and greens. Pile it all on a plate (or keep it on the sheet pan) and scoop up with some pita.

Tomatoes and Feta With Chickpeas

All of the hallmarks of a sheet-pan dinner (quick! simple! very few dishes to do!), plus big slabs of warm, melty feta.

View Recipe

A stir-fry for scooping

I don’t eat meat, so I swap in tempeh for the protein in this Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry With Celery and Peanuts. I keep most of the ingredients on hand, and I love the texture that’s created from a medley of crispy tempeh, chewy dates, and crunchy peanuts. Serve with the flatbread of your choice and sliced cucumbers on the side. The leftovers make an easy wrap for lunch the next day too.

Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry With Celery and Peanuts

This one-skillet recipe is fast and furious—ideal for those nights when you have 10 minutes to stand at the stove, tops. The cooking technique is in the tradition of Chinese stir-fry, in which proteins and vegetables are chopped small so that they cook quickly over high heat, then bound together with a cornstarch-thickened sauce.

View Recipe

A shareable dessert

If you’re splitting dinner, why not split dessert too? This Chocolate Dutch Baby is very simple to make but feels luxurious and decadent. And it looks pretty impressive too. I first started making it for special occasions (holidays, anniversaries, etc.) but it quickly became a weekend staple too. Pair with herbal tea or decaf coffee for the ideal wind down to your day.

Faster than a soufflé, easier than a molten chocolate cake, and more delicious than both.

View Recipe

More Feel-Good Finds for the Month

A show for when you do want a distraction

Even though I’m trying to avoid TV during dinner, that doesn’t mean I don’t look forward it after. The latest obsession in our house has been the show Slow Horses on Apple TV. It focuses on a group of MI5 agents who have all come close to being fired, so they’re not given top security clearance or even allowed into the office building without an escort. But they still find ways to get wrapped up in elaborate schemes and power struggles within the agency. It has four seasons so far, but the third was particularly interesting. With Slow Horses, Severance, and Bad Sisters all on the same platform, we have been heavily tuned into the Apple content.