Healthy Sheet Pan Dinner Formula - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (2024)

Sheet pan dinners are one of my favourite suppers because once they’re prepped, you can stick them in the oven and relax! In this post, I’m sharing a simple healthy sheet pan formula so that you can make your perfect dinner in no time – every time.

Making a healthy sheet pan dinner is an easy way to cook a delicious, nutritious meal for the whole family. By following this one formula, you can make a variety of sheet pan meals by swapping out the vegetables, starchy veg, and protein. I love these because I can pop them in the oven and relax (or do something else)! Serve the dinner with a green salad for even more nutrition. If you like the idea of a quick dinner, you’ll also love my easy turkey chili!

Ingredients

• chopped bite-sized vegetables like sweet bell peppers, onion, asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, broccolini
• chopped bite-sized starchy vegetables like potato, turnips, beets or sweet potato
• protein like salmon fillets, chicken breast, chicken wings, chicken thighs or pork chops
• extra virgin olive oil
• salt, pepper & spices

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Start by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Once your oven is heated, prepare your vegetables by washing them and cutting them into bite-sized pieces. You can use any combination of vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, squash, eggplant, potatoes and mushrooms. Place the prepared vegetables on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil and seasonings of your choice. Make sure all the vegetables are lightly coated in oil before spreading them out on the sheet pan so that they cook evenly.

Next, add some protein like chicken breasts or salmon to the sheet pan and sprinkle it with herbs or spices as desired. Place the protein in between the vegetables on the sheet pan so they all cook at an even rate.

Slide the sheet pan into your preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until everything is cooked through and golden brown on top (check after 15 minutes).

When finished baking, remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving so that all ingredients can be enjoyed at their best temperature. Your healthy sheet pan dinner is now ready for serving!

Hint: If you are using chicken breasts, be sure to cut them into cubes, strips or butterfly them so that they cook through properly. Alternatively, you can start baking them solo for about 10 minutes before adding your veggies to the pan.

Healthy Sheet Pan Dinner Combo Ideas

The ingredient combinations are truly endless for a healthy sheet pan dinner, but here are some starter ideas:

• Classic Chicken Dinner – use butterflied chicken breast, chopped carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and chopped yellow potatoes seasoned with rosemary, garlic powder, salt & pepper
• Sweet Potato Salmon Dinner – use salmon fillets rolled in unsweetened shredded coconut, sweet potatoes cut into fries, and broccoli seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper
• Easy Pork Chop Dinner – use pork chops, chopped broccoli and halved red baby potatoes seasoned with garlic powder, salt & pepper

Equipment

For this recipe, all you really need is a fabulous knife, cutting board, a large sheet pan and your good ol’ oven! I buy extra large sheet pans from Costco.

Storage

You can store a cooked sheet pan dinner in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

FAQ

Food safety

• Cook any poultry to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.