It’s the eternal dinnertime dilemma: how to get a healthy meal on the table while juggling a million other responsibilities. Our solution? Break out the baking trays, because sheet pan dinners are about to change your life. These easy dinner recipes are a cinch to make and even easier to clean up. You’ll serve up a hearty feast your family will devour and then be off to your next commitment in no time. Looking for other dinner recipes that don’t take too much work? Take a look at our favorite slow cooker recipes.
Sheet Pan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
The ultimate comfort food might have just gotten easier. By using a sheet pan, your family can customize their grilled cheese and you can make more than one at once. Get more details at Food for a Year.
Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin
What is it about pork tenderloin that makes it a perfect dinner for a cozy night at home? This recipe from No. 2 Pencil includes all the sides and only takes 25 minutes in the oven.
Teriyaki Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
If there’s one thing (almost) every kid likes, it’s teriyaki chicken. This easy sheet pan dinner from Six Sisters Stuff calls for veggies too, but you can steam them for picky eaters or just skip them together.
Sheet Pan Smashburgers
Smashburgers you can make without a grill? We like the sound of that! This version of a hamburger is flatter than others, which gives it a crispy edge and locks in flavor. With this recipe from The View from Great Island, you can make it all in your oven in no time.
Lemon Rosemary Chicken Thighs
For a quick and easy dinner that looks like you've spent a lot of time in the kitchen (Shhhh! We won't tell!), try these flavorful lemon rosemary sheet pan chicken thighs with vegetables from Boulder Locavore. You won't even have to pre-marinate.
Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
This recipe will get dinner on the table in 30 minutes! This salmon sheet pan dinner from Weelicious is delicious and so easy to clean up after a long day.
Sheet Pan Nachos
This recipe from Cait’s Plate is bound to be an instant favorite with your crew. You can customize the toppings to fit your family’s tastes, while still getting in plenty of veggies and protein.
Sausage and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner
This Oktoberfest-inspired kid friendly sheet pan dinner from The Rustic Foodie is a year-round favorite. The smoked sausage pairs beautifully with red potatoes, and a tangy mustard glaze brings everything together.
Shrimp Fajitas
This lightning-fast dish from Meal Prep on Fleek is the perfect pick for busy weeknights. The shrimp and veggies cook up in less than 10 minutes and pair perfectly with a fresh pico de gallo and warm tortillas.
Related: 10 Ways to Get Dinner on the Table Faster
Chicken Shawarma
You can’t go wrong with this crowd-pleasing shawarma recipe from Inquiring Chef. The well-seasoned marinade makes the chicken super delicious, and your little ones can jazz it up at the table with toppings like tzatziki sauce, veggies, and hummus.
Caprese Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
Pretend you’re in Italy for the evening with this delish idea from Nicole’s Tasting Spoon. Like a Caprese salad, melty fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil pair perfectly with chicken breast.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Sausage and Broccoli
Keep things simple and healthy with this great recipe from Kalyn’s Kitchen. Sweet potatoes, broccoli, and sausage go well together, especially when you add a balsamic glaze to the equation.
Related: 25 Easy Crock Pot Recipes to Try This Fall
Hawaiian Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
Sesame oil is the pantry item you'll need for this tray bake from The Seasoned Mom. It combines pineapples, peppers, and sweet potatoes for a fresh, sweet roast of Hawaiian flavors. When you're looking for an easy sheet pan dinner to lift the family's spirits, this is it.
Chicken Enchilada Sweet Potato Fries
These Mexican chicken enchilada fries might sound like a side dish but topped with chicken, black beans, and corn, they're likely to become a filling family favorite. The good news is that the tray can be made a few hours ahead of time and reheated to crisp up when everyone's ready to eat. Get the recipe from Well Plated, and skip the jalapeño to make it an extra kid friendly sheet pan dinner.
Bacon Potato Skins
The humble baked potato goes a long way to filling empty tummies (check out this version in our archives). You can take it a step further with this irresistible combination of bacon and cheese in crunchy potato skins from Pinch of Yum. The kids won't even care that there's kale pesto involved! Don't be put off by the idea of scooping out and refilling potato skins—save the mash for later in the week—and treat the family to a baked potato meets pizza feast. Yum!
Baking Sheet Paella
One of our favorite sheet pan dinners is this paella dish from A Spicy Perspective. Fresh shrimp, chorizo, peas, and easy-cook rice all layer up to make a meal the family will love. It's easy and delicious, plus it can be cooked and prepped in less than 30 minutes. Switch out the chorizo for a mild sausage alternative if the kids aren't into hotter flavors.
Chinese Five Spice Pork Chops
Marinated pork chops are the star attraction in this sheet pan dinner; they're complemented by roasted broccoli and fresh pineapple chunks. The only tricky bit is getting prepped with the marinade the night before, but other than that, this recipe from Aggie's Kitchen couldn't be easier—dinner will be ready in 20 minutes.
Chicken Fajitas
Kids will love these tasty sheet pan chicken fajitas from Boulder Locavore! Just 20 minutes of cooking time, and dinner can go straight from the oven to the table. Just wrap it in tortillas, and you're good to go.
Pizza from Scratch
Don't be put off by the idea of making pizza from scratch—this one shapes up in an hour and will be worth the extra effort. The View From Great Island will get you going on this recipe, and then you can add your family's favorite toppings.
Parchment Paper Fish
This recipe from Weelicious calls for the ingredients to be cooked in a parchment paper envelope, so the pan doesn't even need washing! It can also be adapted for different tastes, as you can swap out the Asian flavors of ginger and sesame for basil and tomatoes or add different veggies or cooked grains—whatever the kids will eat. The contents of the bag will be gently steamed for an easy dinner.
Related: 10 Easy Dinners You Can Make for Less than $15
Pesto Chicken and Vegetables
Chicken sheet pan dinners come in so many forms, and this one from NeighborFood can be in your oven in less than 15 minutes. Then, 45 minutes later, the dishes are done and dinner's ready. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and pesto are the secrets here.
One Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetable Dinner
This shrimp and veggie sheet pan dinner from Weelicious is delicious and easy! Everyone will love it and kids will love to help make it. This recipe is great for getting everyone together in the kitchen.
Sheet Pan Sausage with Cabbage and Apples
This tasty sausage with cabbage and apples recipe from Weelicious is simple to make and easy to clean up. Your family will love to eat this and your kids can help make it!
