You can't go wrong with a sheet pan! Dinner time meets easy cooking and clean up. This post will help kick your healthy sheet pan dinners up a notch with 6 tasty recipes & tips for the best results.
I don't always have the time to whip up a complex meal for dinner, and I imagine you don't, either. When days are busier than I anticipate, sheet pan dinners come to the rescue.
I used to stress out about what to cook in a pinch until I discovered the wonders of the sheet pan. Yes, I wish someone told me about this years ago. Rather than turning to Chinese takeout or ordering pizza delivery when you're pressed for time, consider one of these recipes. They're easy, quick and healthy!
In This Post You'll Find:
- What Is A Healthy Sheet Pan Dinner?
- 6 Delicious Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas
- Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies - Perfect for Meal Prep!
- Baked Sea Bass And Zucchini Sheet Pan Recipe
- Teriyaki Salmon
- Easy Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Shredded Chicken Nachos
- Breaded Shrimp Meal Prep
- What Is The Purpose Of A Sheet Pan?
- How Do I Make Sure I Don't Burn My Veggies Before My Meat Is Cooked?
- How Do I Make Healthy Sheet Pan Dinners?
- Reviews
What Is A Healthy Sheet Pan Dinner?
Healthy sheet pan dinners are similar to a one-pot meal. But, we use a sheet pan! What's the appeal? Well, they make for a super convenient meal. Not only do sheet pan dinners save time, but they also make clean-up WAY easier.
Because of this, I'll usually make these meals during weekend meal prep or mid week (when things get really busy). All you need to do is place your ingredients on the sheet pan, add some spices for flavor and some fat...and leave in the oven until ready.
Classic sheet pan dinners are all about tossing some protein and veggies together. But, after some tasty experimenting in the kitchen, I can show you creative ways to elevate your sheet pan meals!
6 Delicious Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas
Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies - Perfect for Meal Prep!
Baked Sea Bass And Zucchini Sheet Pan Recipe
Teriyaki Salmon
Easy Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Shredded Chicken Nachos
Breaded Shrimp Meal Prep
What Is The Purpose Of A Sheet Pan?
With raised edges, sheet pans allow you to cook a variety of ingredients in the oven without it spilling over. It works great for roasting meats and vegetables. Made from aluminum or stainless steel, sheet pans are designed for maximum airflow and browning capacity. Sheet pans come in three popular sizes...
- Full Sheet (26 x 18): A full sheet pan is usually 26 x 18 inches with sides that are around 1 inch high. Most of the time they don't fit in home ovens and are often used in restaurants and bakeries.
- Half Sheet (18" x 13"): Now these on the other hand are exactly half the size of the full version. If you're planning on adding sheet-pan dinners to your weekly menu, this is the perfect pan for the job!
- Quarter size (13" x 9"): For smaller or personal size meals, you can use a quarter size sheet pan.
Is A Sheet Pan The Same As A Cookie Sheet?
While both are flat, sheet pans and cookie sheets are not the same. With a different design and different purpose, cookie sheets have one raised side (which is often slanted outward), and three-flat edges. You can see how it becomes problematic if using a cookie sheet for healthy sheet pan meals...because the juices will trickle off the flat edges. So, just make sure you use a real deal sheet pan for these recipes.
What Can I Use Instead Of A Sheet Pan?
Just because you don't have a sheet pan doesn't mean you can't have a sheet pan dinner. Try using a large cast iron pan, casserole dish, or a broiler pan.
How Do I Make Sure I Don't Burn My Veggies Before My Meat Is Cooked?
There's some strategy involved when choosing your protein and veggies for your healthy sheet pan dinners. In that...you gotta make sure that you pair proteins and vegetables that have similar cook times.
Let's say you want to cook some green beans and sheet pan steak for dinner. It sounds like a great combo BUT they do have uneven cook times. So in this case, you'll add the ingredients in stages. Simply pop in the green beans when your meat just about done. Or if you're cooking potatoes with chicken, it can be the other way around; potatoes first and then the chicken.
Some of my favorite veggies for busy weeknights saved by a sheet pan meal are brussels sprouts, broccoli, sweet potatoes and butternut squash. Proteins can include fish, shrimp, chicken thighs and beef.
How Do I Make Healthy Sheet Pan Dinners?
Sheet pan recipes can be made by following these general steps:
- Use the right pan: Now that you have a better idea of the different types of pans, you can pick one that fits well not only in your oven but also the recipe. The ingredients should spread out evenly, without too much crowding.
- Line the pan: Trust me when I tell you that lining your plan will make clean-up MUCH easier. To avoid scrubbing off oven baked crusty bits, line your pan with foil or parchment paper.
- Add oil: To avoid drying out your ingredients, coat them with some oil. Make sure you choose one with the right smoke point (you can read about this in my blog post on Avocado Oil vs Coconut Oil). I find it helpful to mix the oil and the ingredients in a bowl first. But drizzling them once they're in the pan can work, too.
- Give the ingredients that cook longer a head start: As mentioned earlier, it's best to bake those that have longer cook time first. For dense veggies like potatoes and carrots, cut them up into smaller pieces for a quicker cook time.
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