Easy Sheet Pan Dinners: 1 Baking Sheet, 5 Great Entrees
Delicious last minute meals.
When you walk through the door after a long day, the last thing you want to do is cook dinner and clean up after yourself. Unfortunately, dinner won’t make itself and going for takeout every night can get expensive. Luckily, you can whip up a delicious meal with just one sheet pan without the hassle of traditional dinners. Read on for five easy sheet pan dinners that make weeknights a breeze.
For a simple yet tasty dinner, go with a classic chicken and vegetable bake. Simply add chicken breasts to your sheet pan along with your favorite vegetables like asparagus, carrots, or broccoli, and a starchy carb like potatoes. Be sure to season your chicken well, or pop it into a container of your favorite marinade in the refrigerator, so it’s ready to go onto the pan when you get home. Prep your pan with your favorite nonstick cooking oil, add your ingredients, and bake until your meat and veggies are fully cooked.
If it's fish you fancy, try a salmon sheet pan bake instead. Add salmon filets to your sheet pan with mini potatoes and asparagus. Squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice over each salmon fillet and leave the lemon pieces on the pan while baking for an extra kick of flavor. Season your fish and veggies with your favorite seasoning mix and bake until the fish is fully cooked. Salmon should reach an internal temperature of at least 130°F, so be sure to check it with a meat thermometer. Garnish this meal with fresh dill, and serve straight from this sheet pan to your plate.
Pizza lovers are in luck, because sheet pans are great for whipping up a quick weeknight flatbread. Simply shape a premade pizza dough to fit your pan and don it with all your favorite pizza toppings. The choices are endless, and you can get the kids involved in this one for a fun family activity. Follow the pizza dough packaging instructions for heating time and temperature, and make sure any meats you add to the pizza are cooked to their required temperature as well. Cut into equal pieces with a pizza cutter and serve up this easy dinner!
Stuffed peppers are a versatile weeknight dinner that will serve the whole family. Simply wash and cut bell peppers in half and fill them with your favorite filling. Typical stuffed pepper filling mixtures include cooked rice, salsa or diced tomatoes, ground meat, and seasoning. Feel free to add black beans and corn for a Southwestern-style pepper. Cook your rice in a rice cooker while prepping your veggies to make this process quick and easy. Go in a whole different direction by cutting up chicken tenders and adding parmesan cheese and pasta sauce, for chicken parm–stuffed peppers, or create a mixture of your favorite veggies, rice, and beans for a healthy vegetarian option!
Tip!
Place a nonstick silicone baking mat on your sheet pan before placing your peppers on for even easier cleanup.
This Southwest-style sheet pan egg bake is perfect for an easy breakfast – but who says you can’t eat breakfast for dinner? Load up your sheet pan with your favorite chopped-up veggies, such as zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions. Sprinkle corn and black beans on your veggie mixture and crack 4–6 eggs on top. Generously season your egg bake with a southwest style spice mix and pop it in the oven until your eggs are cooked and veggies are softened. Scoop out servings with a spatula for a healthy meal at sunup or sundown.
