My favorite sheet pan dinners make it easy to have a delicious home-cooked meal on the table, every night of the week. These healthy sheet pan recipes are totally fuss-free. Line your pans for speedy cleanup!
Quick and Easy Sheet Pan Dinners
If you’ve yet to discover the joy that is sheet pan dinners, let this be your guide. These one-pan meals are my ultimate go-to for busy weeknights and meal prep. It’s also a great way to get into cooking because it really makes the process so easy! Your oven is about to become your new best friend.
I’ve rounded up some of my best sheet pan dinner ideas below for inspiration. And the best thing about cooking your whole dinner in one pan is that you can customize your ingredients however you’d like. Clear out your fridge and line your baking sheets, because we’re about to cook some delicious all-in-one dinners.
Why You’ll Love These One Pan Dinner Ideas
As you’ll see below, you can cook anything from Thanksgiving dinner to your weekly meal prep on a single sheet pan. There are loads of reasons to love sheet pan dinners (aside from the obvious bonus of having only one pan to clean). Here’s why these recipes are the best:
- Healthy ingredients. Sheet pan recipes are some of the best ways to fit in loads of fresh veggies and lean protein into one meal.
- Easy prep and cooking. Many of the ingredients for sheet pan dinners can be prepped ahead of time. This makes it even easier to simply combine your protein and veggies in the pan, roast, and enjoy. Don’t forget to check out my sheet pan dinner tips below!
- Adaptable. You can get creative with the ingredients you choose to roast up on your sheet pan. Change up recipes with your choice of protein, vegetables, seasonings, marinades, and more.
What Is a Sheet Pan Dinner?
If you haven’t guessed by now, a sheet pan dinner is an easy meal idea where everything – protein and veggies – is roasted all together on a single baking sheet. It’s like the oven-baked answer to a one-pot meal. There are fewer dishes to wash, and you have a full dinner on the table quickly and with minimal effort.
What Pan Should I Use?
The best baking pan for sheet pan dinners is an 18×13-inch rimmed baking sheet. This size makes it easy to spread the ingredients out evenly, without crowding the pan. Jelly roll pans are on the smaller side (measuring about 15×10 inches). They’ll work in a pinch, though you won’t be able to fit as many ingredients in your pan. If you ask me, it’s worthwhile investing in a sturdy, aluminum baking pan that’s large enough, that still fits in your oven. You’ll use it for way more than just sheet pan dinners, too!
An Easy Formula for Sheet Pan Meals
Most sheet pan dinners come down to two components: protein and vegetables. I like to strike a good balance between the two. Here’s a simple “formula” for planning a sheet pan dinner:
- Protein: Aim to fill one-half of your pan with your choice of lean protein, such as chicken breasts or thighs, salmon, shrimp, chicken sausage, or turkey sausage.
- Vegetables: Fill the rest of the pan with veggies that are good for roasting. Carrots, potatoes, squash, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and onions are all great options.
- Oil: Choose a good-quality cooking oil, like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil for roasting your sheet pan dinner ingredients.
- Toppings: Bring even more flavor to your sheet pan meals by adding optional toppings, like homemade pesto, garlic aioli, or spicy Peruvian green sauce.
How Long Should I Cook a Sheet Pan Dinner?
A good rule of thumb is to choose meat and veggies with similar cooking times. Most protein and vegetables take between 20-30 minutes in a 400ºF oven. Bone-in chicken and harder root vegetables will take longer to cook, while seafood and softer veggies cook the quickest. You can always add ingredients to the pan at different stages to ensure that they cook evenly. The exact cooking times will vary, so check the recipe to be sure.
Tips for Making the Best Sheet Pan Dinners
You’re going to be a one-pan dinner pro in no time! Here are some final tips in case you’re new to the world of sheet pan dinners:
- Line the pan. Line your baking pan with foil or parchment paper for the easiest-ever clean-up. No scrubbing! It makes all the difference.
- Prep your ingredients ahead. Meats can be marinaded up to a day ahead, and you can chop your veggies in advance, too. Keep everything stored airtight in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
- Timing is everything. Make sure that you plan to roast sturdier veggies, like carrots and potatoes, ahead of ingredients with shorter cooking times. I’ll indicate whenever this is needed in my recipes below.
- Oil your ingredients well. This is especially important when it comes to roasting vegetables, as you don’t want them drying up in the oven.
- Season your ingredients. Along with oil, another key to delicious sheet pan dinners is seasoning. Make sure that your protein and vegetables are well-seasoned when they go into the oven, either by marinating or using a seasoning blend. You can also never go wrong with salt and pepper!
- Use a rack when needed. Most sheet pan dinners can cook directly on the baking sheet, no questions asked. However, if you’re baked breaded chicken alongside your veggies, for example, make sure to place it on a wire rack. This way the breading won’t get soggy in the juices released by the veggies.
16+ Best Sheet Pan Recipes to Make Tonight
On your marks, get set, roast! You’re going to love making these easy sheet pan dinners every night of the week.
Italian Turkey Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
My lightened-up Italian turkey meatballs are just the best. I use them in all sorts of easy meals, like this sheet pan dinner that’s also loaded with healthy veggies! This one-pan recipe is full of protein and excellent for meal prep, too.
Shrimp & Andouille Sheet Pan Roast
This New Orleans-inspired sheet pan dinner idea is like a deconstructed gumbo, and so tasty. Succulent shrimp and Andouille sausage bake up with a medley of Cajun spiced mushrooms and veggies. Light and easy, and popping with flavor!
Sheet Pan Shrimp Oreganata
We love seafood, and this baked shrimp oreganata recipe is one of our favorite ways to prepare juicy jumbo shrimp. This Italian American favorite is sprinkled with seasoned breadcrumbs mixed with sharp pecorino cheese and baked all on one pan.
Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner for Four
If you’re keeping things small this Thanksgiving, an easy sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner is the way to do it! This recipe makes enough to comfortably serve four people with juicy roast turkey, plus a side of maple-glazed sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. The best part: no sink full of dishes!
Kielbasa Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner
This keto-friendly sheet pan recipe is low in carbs and jam-packed with lean protein and vegetables. It’s made with juicy turkey kielbasa sausage, asparagus, peppers, and tomatoes, and perfect for meal prep!
More One Pan Meals to Try
When it comes to fast and easy dinner ideas with minimal cleanup, sheet pan dinners are winners! I also have lots of skillet dinners and one-pot recipes available in the recipe finder that make weeknight dinners a breeze.
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