Most nights, when it comes to cooking, we just don't have time for a whole big Julia Child-style to-do. And by that, we mean we are so busy we don't really have any time to cook at all, but somehow kids still need to be fed, and we deserve a good-quality, balanced meal, too. We will freely admit that our snacks are frequently no more sophisticated than "a spoon stuck into a jar of peanut butter" or "two bites of the kids' mac and cheese."
There's absolutely no shame in being too busy to cook, but we do deserve nice meals for ourselves and our families. So what's the solution when we know we want and need to get a wholesome, balanced meal on the table, but we just don't have the time?
Three words: sheet pan meals. Throwing everything on a pan — from the main dish to the two sides — is exactly how sheet pan meals work. Laying the entire meal out on one sheet makes not only for lickety-split prep, but simple and fast clean up as well. Dishes can range from tasty chicken meals that are familiar to the family, to more "exotic" meals that will help expose the kiddos to new flavor profiles. On this list, we included dishes like the at-home version of Mongolian beef, vegetarian meals, and a few hearty steak recipes, too. Each serves as a complete meal, so there is no need to be dashing around the kitchen from pot to pot. Simply prep, place in the oven, and enjoy.
We have 20 recipes that will help any sheet pan meal novice get started, and will hopefully solve the "what's for dinner" conundrum for a few nights.
Sheet Pan Balsamic Caprese Chicken & Veggies
In summer, we can't get enough Caprese flavor. We want Caprese skewers, Caprese salads, Caprese everything… and this sheet pan balsamic Caprese chicken and veggies is exactly the ticket.
Sheet Pan Mongolian Beef
OK, we love Mongolian beef, but how often do we really get to have it? With this recipe, frankly, as often as we feel like! This sheet pan Mongolian beef is so incredibly easy, it's inexpensive, and it's way healthier than takeout.
Barbecue Pork One Sheet Pan Dinner
OK, there are few dishes we want to eat more on a regular basis than this barbecue pork one sheet pan dinner. It's so easy and delicious, it's a hit with everyone in the family, and it would go even more amazingly with a side of mashed potatoes (or mashed cauliflower). Yes, please.
Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi With Asparagus & Tomatoes
We have always associated shrimp scampi with a skillet, but this sheet pan shrimp scampi with asparagus and tomatoes recipe is absolutely delicious and totally works in the oven — which reduces mess and still tastes great.
Sheet Pan Salmon & Fingerling Potatoes
We've always been a bit scared to put fish in the oven — it's so delicate, we don't want to let it overcook! — but the truth is, this sheet pan salmon dinner and fingerling potatoes turns out perfectly every single time.
Pesto Roasted Veggies
This recipe for pesto roasted veggies is absolutely delicious on its own as a hearty side, or throw some dried and pressed hard tofu for a healthy, complete vegetarian meal (or some chopped up sausage for a non-veggie option).
Sheet Pan Greek Chicken
This recipe for sheet pan Greek chicken is so simple, but it turns out juicy and gorgeous, full of amazing Greek flavors. We love this paired with a tasty chickpea and cucumber salad, and leftovers work so well in a pita pocket for lunch the next day!
Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage, Potatoes & Veggies
We challenge anyone to find a complete dish that's easier to make than this sheet pan smoked sausage, potatoes & veggies. With a protein, starch, and veggies, it's exactly right for a one-sheet-pan-only regular weeknight dinner. Plus, we love the smoky flavor.
Sheet Pan Asian Salmon & Broccoli
This sheet pan Asian salmon and broccoli brings a lot of really beautiful Asian flavor, and it looks so elegant, it's easy to forget how incredibly healthy it is, too. Lots of omega-3s from the salmon, and vitamin K in the broccoli!
Sheet Pan Crispy Teriyaki Tofu & Broccoli
This sheet pan crispy teriyaki tofu and broccoli is everything we love about crispy tofu without any of the added fats we normally get when it's deep-fried, as it is at most restaurants. Healthy and tasty!
One Pan Parmesan Garlic Chicken with Zucchini
This one pan Parmesan garlic chicken with zucchini is such a perfect meal, especially in summer when zucchini is exploding in everyone's gardens. Pair with some garlic bread to double down on those garlic flavors!
Sheet Pan Chicken with Green Beans & Potatoes
Another amazing sheet pan complete meal, this recipe for sheet pan chicken with green beans and potatoes is so easy to follow, it's a great starter meal to teach older kids and young teens to make, too.
Sheet Pan Steak & Veggies
This is such a low-fuss way of preparing steak, and the flavors are so simple and delicious. This sheet pan steak and veggies is exactly what we want to manage on a weeknight — throw it in the oven, then pull it out and serve with baked potatoes or bread.
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken & Veggies
Buffalo wings are some of our favorite things in the entire world, but they also tend to be deep-fried, so we don't eat them often. However, this sheet pan buffalo chicken and veggies offers all the buffalo flavor without the fat (and it's cheaper than getting wings out, too).
Naked Sheet Pan Tacos
Everyone loves taco night. These naked sheet pan tacos make this simple dish even simpler. Pair it with a crisp side salad, or throw some veggies on a separate roasting rack for a complete meal.
Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Tilapia
We love how delicate the flavor is in this delicious sheet pan garlic butter tilapia. It's beautiful serve with couscous, quinoa, or rice, especially seasoned with a hint of lemon pepper and parsley. Yum!
Sheet Pan Root Vegetable & Sage Pesto Salmon
This sheet pan root vegetable and sage pesto salmon is so elegant it can easily be served to guests or at a stay-at-home date night, but it's also really, really easy, with minimal cleanup — perfect for a weeknight meal, too.
Sheet Pan Baked Parmesan Pork Chops Potatoes & Asparagus
Another amazing complete meal! We love this sheet pan baked Parmesan pork chops potatoes & asparagus and it's become part of our heavy rotation because it's so easy and is everything we want to serve!
Sheet Pan Tofu Stir-Fry
We love a good tofu stir fry, but they're often kind of oily and greasy. With this sheet pan tofu stir-fry, it eliminates the grease (and the mess that grease makes all over the kitchen) while still bringing the flavor.
Sheet Pan Honey Barbecue Chicken Dinner
This sheet pan honey barbecue chicken dinner is so ridiculously good. Barbecue flavors are made even better with the addition of honey, and cooking it on a sheet pan means really minimal clean-up. Talk about winning.
