The short answer: sheet pan dinners are full meals roasted on one rimmed baking sheet: a protein, two vegetables and a seasoning, cooked at 400°F to 425°F for 20 to 40 minutes.
- One pan to wash and almost no hands-on time
- For 4 people: 1 1/2 to 2 lb of protein
- 15 dinners with exact temps and times
- A timing chart so everything finishes together
- Next step: Plan it with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
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Sheet pan dinners are full meals roasted on one rimmed baking sheet: a protein, two vegetables and a seasoning, cooked at 400°F to 425°F for 20 to 40 minutes. You get one pan to wash and almost no hands-on time. Below are 15 sheet pan dinners with exact temps and times, plus a chart for getting every ingredient done at once.
I love cooking, and I'll watch just about any cooking show, but cooking shows never show you the sink full of pans. On a weeknight, one pan and a plan is what gets dinner on the table. The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) lets you map a week of these dinners and shop for them in one trip.
The sheet pan dinner formula
Every sheet pan dinner follows the same pattern, so you can build your own from what's in the fridge.
| Part | How much for 4 people | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 1 1/2 to 2 lb | Chicken thighs, sausage, salmon, shrimp, pork chops, chickpeas |
| Sturdy vegetable | 1 1/2 lb | Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash |
| Quick vegetable | 1 lb | Broccoli, green beans, peppers, zucchini, asparagus |
| Fat | 2 to 3 tbsp | Olive oil, avocado oil, melted butter |
| Seasoning | 1 to 2 tbsp | Italian seasoning, taco spice, garlic and lemon, Cajun |
| Finisher | A handful or a drizzle | Fresh herbs, lemon juice, parmesan, a sauce |
15 easy sheet pan dinners
Times are for a 425°F oven unless noted. Use a half-sheet pan (about 18 x 13 inches) or two for hearty meals.
- Lemon garlic chicken thighs and potatoes. Bone-in thighs, halved baby potatoes, green beans. Roast 35 to 40 minutes. More in our chicken dinner ideas.
- Smoked sausage and veggies. Sliced smoked sausage, potatoes, peppers, onions. Roast 25 to 30 minutes.
- Chicken fajitas. Sliced chicken breast, peppers, onions, fajita spice. Roast 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with Mexican street corn on the side. New to cooking chicken? Our how to cook chicken guide has times and temperatures for every cut. For the stovetop version, see our chicken fajitas recipe.
- Honey garlic salmon. Salmon fillets, broccoli, carrots. Roast 15 to 18 minutes.
- Shrimp boil. Shrimp, corn pieces, baby potatoes, sliced smoked sausage, Old Bay. Roast the potatoes 20 minutes, then add the rest for 8 to 10 minutes. More ideas in our easy shrimp recipes.
- Pork chops and apples. Boneless chops, apple wedges, sweet potato cubes. Roast 20 to 25 minutes.
- Chicken and broccoli teriyaki. Chicken thigh pieces, broccoli, teriyaki glaze. Roast 20 to 25 minutes.
- Italian sausage and peppers. Raw Italian sausage links, peppers, onions. Roast 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F.
- Greek chicken. Chicken pieces, red onion, zucchini, tomatoes, oregano. Roast 25 minutes. Serve it with a Greek salad.
- Sheet pan nachos. Chips, cooked taco meat or beans, cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 400°F.
- Crispy chickpeas and sweet potatoes. Chickpeas, sweet potato, kale, cumin. Roast 25 to 30 minutes.
- BBQ chicken drumsticks. Drumsticks, corn, potato wedges. Roast 35 to 45 minutes.
- Meatballs and green beans. Frozen cooked meatballs, green beans, marinara for dipping. Roast 20 minutes at 400°F.
- Sheet pan pancakes. Pancake batter, berries or chocolate chips. Bake 15 minutes at 425°F.
- Kielbasa and Brussels sprouts. Kielbasa, halved Brussels sprouts, red potatoes. Roast 25 to 30 minutes.
For more weeknight options beyond one pan, see our easy dinner ideas. For lighter meals, our healthy dinner ideas include a full section of sheet-pan dinners. For a cookout side, try Mexican street corn.
Timing chart: get everything done at once
The trick to sheet pan dinners is starting slow ingredients first. Cut pieces evenly and use this as a guide at 425°F.
| Ingredient | Cut | Roast time |
|---|---|---|
| Potatoes, sweet potatoes | 1-inch cubes | 30 to 35 min |
| Carrots, butternut squash | 1/2- to 1-inch pieces | 25 to 30 min |
| Bone-in chicken thighs | Whole | 35 to 40 min |
| Boneless chicken thighs or breast | 1 1/2-inch pieces | 18 to 22 min |
| Brussels sprouts, cauliflower | Halved or florets | 20 to 25 min |
| Raw sausage links | Whole | 25 to 30 min |
| Broccoli, green beans, peppers | Florets or strips | 15 to 20 min |
| Salmon fillets | 1 inch thick | 12 to 15 min |
| Shrimp, asparagus, cherry tomatoes | Whole | 8 to 10 min |
How to make a sheet pan dinner step by step
- Heat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the middle. Line the pan with parchment or foil.
- Prep the produce first. Cut vegetables on a clean board before you touch raw meat.
- Season in a bowl. Toss vegetables with oil, salt and spice so every piece is coated.
- Roast the slow stuff. Spread potatoes or root vegetables out and roast 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add the protein. Push vegetables aside, add seasoned meat or fish in a single layer.
- Add quick vegetables. Tuck in broccoli, beans or shrimp for the last 10 to 15 minutes.
- Check doneness. Use a food thermometer, then finish with lemon, herbs or sauce.
Safe temperatures for sheet pan proteins
Color alone won't tell you when meat is done. These targets come from the FoodSafety.gov temperature chart.
| Protein | Safe internal temperature |
|---|---|
| Chicken and turkey, any cut | 165°F |
| Ground meat and raw sausage (pork or beef) | 160°F |
| Pork chops and tenderloin | 145°F, then rest 3 minutes |
| Fish fillets | 145°F, or flesh flakes easily |
| Shrimp | Flesh is pearly and opaque |
The 4 steps to food safety also recommend separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce, and washing hands after handling raw chicken.
Make-ahead and leftovers
- Sunday prep: Chop sturdy vegetables and mix spice blends; store them in labeled containers.
- Marinate: Put chicken and marinade in a zip bag in the fridge for up to a day.
- Leftovers: Refrigerate within 2 hours. The USDA leftovers guide gives 3 to 4 days in the fridge; reheat in a 400°F oven to bring back the crisp edges.
Plan a week of one-pan dinners
Pick four sheet pan dinners, write them down and shop once. The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) is a 12-page printable with a weekly meal planner, dinner plan and prep page, grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories. Keep the keepers in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99), and if December is coming fast, the Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99) pairs the meal planner with five holiday budgeting and home printables. Browse all our Printables or the home printables.
Our free Holiday Budget Starter Kit is three US Letter pages we email you after you join our list.
See also
- Easy dinner ideas
- Meal prep ideas
- How to meal plan for a family
- Meal planning on a budget
- Freezer meals
Baked salmon works on a sheet pan too: our guide has bake times at 375°F, 400°F and 425°F so the fish and vegetables finish together.
Sheet pan meals make easy end-of-week dinners. Find more in our Friday night dinner ideas.
Not sure what you're in the mood for? Our what should I make for dinner guide narrows it down using what you already have. One pan on the stove instead of the oven? Try our easy one pot meals. When you want a breaded cutlet night instead of a sheet pan, cook chicken katsu. More 30-minute plates live in our quick dinner ideas roundup.
Want the stovetop or sliced bake instead? See ratatouille recipe.
Not sure which dinner to make? Use this list of what to cook for dinner to choose by time and main ingredient, and see the 30-minute meals for stovetop options.
Building a full week around these? What to cook this week pairs sheet-pan nights with other easy dinners.
Plan the week's meals and shop once
Weekly meals, a grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories so you shop once and waste less.
$3.99 · Instant download. Print at home or fill it in on screen. Or browse the full Home & Organizing collection.
Frequently asked questions
What are sheet pan dinners? Sheet pan dinners are complete meals of a protein and vegetables roasted together on one rimmed baking sheet, usually at 400°F to 425°F. They cut prep and cleanup to a single pan, which makes them a dependable weeknight plan.
What temperature do you cook sheet pan dinners at? Most sheet pan dinners roast best at 400°F to 425°F. That heat browns the vegetables and cooks chicken, sausage or fish through in 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the protein and how thick it's cut.
How do you keep sheet pan vegetables from getting soggy? Spread vegetables in a single layer with space between pieces, pat them dry, and use a hot 425°F oven. Crowded pans steam instead of roasting, so use two pans for a family of four or more.
Can you put raw chicken and vegetables on the same sheet pan? Yes, raw chicken and vegetables can roast on the same sheet pan as long as the chicken reaches 165°F. Prep vegetables on a separate cutting board from the raw chicken and wash hands and tools between them.
What vegetables are best for sheet pan dinners? The best sheet pan vegetables are sturdy ones that brown well: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, onions, cauliflower and green beans. Cut slower-cooking vegetables like potatoes smaller so everything finishes together.
How do you time sheet pan dinners so everything finishes together? Start the slowest ingredients first. Put potatoes and root vegetables in for 10 to 15 minutes, then add chicken or sausage, and add quick items like shrimp or asparagus for the last 8 to 10 minutes.
Should I line the sheet pan with foil or parchment? Line the pan with parchment for easy cleanup and gentle browning, or foil for very high heat and broiling. Don't use parchment under the broiler, and skip wax paper, which melts in the oven.
Can you meal prep sheet pan dinners? Sheet pan dinners are easy to meal prep ahead of time. Chop vegetables and mix marinades up to 2 days ahead, or roast a full pan and refrigerate portions in shallow containers for up to 3 to 4 days.
How many sheet pans do I need for a family of four? For a family of four, use one large half-sheet pan for a lighter dinner or two pans for hearty meals with potatoes. Two pans keep food in a single layer, so everything browns instead of steaming.
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Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperatures foodsafety.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: 4 steps to food safety foodsafety.gov
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety fsis.usda.gov