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

Sheet pan smashburgers
The View from Great Island

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

Lemon rosemary sheet pan chicken thighs with veggies are ready to be served
Boulder Locavore

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

A Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner is on a plate ready to be served
Weelicious

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

Cait’s Plate

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

Smoked sausage and potatoes made from an easy sheet pan recipe
The Rustic Foodie

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

Shrimp and veggies sit on a plate ready to be eaten after being made quickly for dinner
Meal Prep on Fleek

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

Inquiring Chef

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

Nicole’s Tasting Spoon

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

Sweet potatoes, broccoli and sausage that was roasted in a sheet pan as a quick, easy dinner
Kalyn’s Kitchen

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

A Hawaiian chicken recipe made in a sheet pan with pineapples, peppers and sweet potatoes
The Seasoned Mom

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

A sheet pan of chicken enchiladas, made as a quick and easy dinner
Erin Clarke at Well Plated

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

Potato skins made with bacon and kale as an easy sheet pan dinner
Pinch of Yum

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

A simple-to-make paella with fresh shrimp, chorizo, peas, and easy-cook rice
A Spicy Perspective

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

A sheet pan dinner with pork chops, roasted broccoli and fresh pineapple chunks
Aggie's Kitchen

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

Quick and easy sheet pan chicken fajitas
Boulder Locavore

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

A pizza made from scratch as a quick, easy sheet pan dinner
The View From Great Island

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

Fish in parchment paper is cooked as a sheet pan dinner
Weelicious

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

NeighborFood

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

Shrimp and veggies made in a sheet pan for a quick, easy and cheap dinner
Weelicious

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

Sheet Pan Sausage with Cabbage and Apples on a cooking sheet ready to be served
Weelicious

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!

It’s so sweet, it’s hot, literally. Hot honey is the perfect accent to just about any appetizer or meal. Find this new versatile condiment at ALDI starting Aug. 12. 

You can drizzle this hot honey on veggies, add to dressings or complement your charcuterie boards with it. Try it as a marinade as well. 

Berryhill Hot Honey Hot Honey Chili

Berryhill Hot Honey Chili

Berryhill Hot Honey Siracha

Berryhill Hot Honey Siracha

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of ALDI

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For a meal that feels fancy without hours of prep work, you’ve got to try this genius recipe from Queen of My Kitchen. Mozzarella, tomato and basil is a winning combination, and with the help of your crock pot, it couldn’t be easier to get this dish on the table.

Ingredients
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 2 lbs. total
1 8.5-ounce jar of olive oil packed sun-dried tomatoes (halves or julienne cut)
4 mozzarella sticks (also known as string cheese)
1 ounce fresh basil
1 14-ounce can of quartered artichoke hearts, drained
1 lemon, cut into wedges
½ cup shaved Parmesan or Asiago cheese

Method
1. Using a fillet knife carefully slice each chicken breast through the middle to make 6 thin cutlets. Place them in a shallow casserole dish and empty the entire jar of sun-dried tomatoes on top. Let the chicken marinate for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight.

2. Lay the cutlets flat (reserve the marinade) and place 2-3 basil leaves on top of each. Place a mozzarella stick (trim them to fit) in the middle of each cutlet and, starting at the thicker end, roll it up and secure with a toothpick.

3. Place the cutlets in a slow cooker and pour all of the sun-dried tomatoes, with the olive oil marinade, on top. Follow with the artichoke hearts.

4. Cook on high for 1½ to 2 hours or on low for 3 to 3½ hours.

5. Transfer to a serving dish and remove the toothpicks. Garnish with the remaining basil (chop if desired) and lemon wedges. Serve with Parmesan or Asiago cheese.

This recipe and photo come courtesy of Mona at Queen of My Kitchen. Be sure to visit her site, where you’ll find more family-friendly recipes that are as delicious as they are healthy.

Even the best chefs get a little assistance in the kitchen sometimes! Involving kids in the cooking process is a great way to get them interested in exploring new foods, flavors and textures (Plus, it’s fun bonding time!). We’ve got five super delish, totally simple recipes that are perfect for you to whip up with your little helper. Grab your aprons, grab your mini sous chef and get cooking!

photo: Apron Strings

1. One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
If you’re looking for a quick no-fuss meal, this one-pot pasta recipe is the definition of easy! Best of all, since you just need to dump everything into one pot and let it cook, there’s time for a quick story or snuggle while you wait for dinner. Check out the recipe right here.

What the Kids Can Do: Little kitchen helpers can pick basil from the stem and tear the leaves, pour all of the ingredients into the pot and garnish the dish with parmesan when it’s done.

photo: GI 365

2. Honey Garlic Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry
This simple stir-fry from Kari of GI 365 is big on flavor and comes together in less than 30 minutes. You can substitute any protein that you like in place of the chicken, or switch it up with any veggies that need to be used up in the fridge. This one is sure to be a hit with everyone in the family! You can find everything you need here.

What the Kids Can Do: They can whisk the sauce, peel the broccoli or crush the garlic in a garlic press.

photo: Amazing Almonds

3. Crispy Parmesan-Crusted Fish
You’ll never reach for a box of frozen fish sticks again once you see how fast you can make these yummy fish fillets with a crunchy parmesan and panko crust, courtesy of !Hola! Jalapeno.

What the Kids Can Do: Mini chefs can jump right in by squeezing the lemon, seasoning the fish by sprinkling it with salt, mixing the panko and parmesan and helping to coat the fish. Get started with the recipe by clicking here.

photo: Gabriel Bergin via Flickr

4. Grilled Flank Steak with Rosemary
Grilled flank steak in three easy steps sounds like a dinner dream come true! With the addition of this sweet and savory marinade, you’ll have a fast summer meal that everyone will cheer for. Click here for the recipe.

What the Kids Can Do: Your sous chef can help with dinner prep by picking the rosemary from the stem, stirring up the ingredients for the honey-spiked marinade or mixing the steak and marinade in a Ziploc bag.

photo by Dairy Made Easy

5. Baked Roasted Veggie Pasta
Packed with colorful veggies and topped with tangy feta cheese, this delicious pasta dish from the cookbook Dairy Made Easy is a treat for the eyes as well as hungry tummies! Check out the full recipe here.

What the Kids Can Do: Little fingers can help out by washing the tomatoes in a colander, tossing the veggies with olive oil, tearing basil leaves or crumbling the cheese on top.

Do you plan to try any of these recipes? What are your best tips for having kids help in the kitchen? Let us know in the comments below!

—Anna Doogan

Weeknight dinners just got much easier (and quicker) thanks to Marin Mama Cooks who created this simple rosemary skillet chicken that’ll soon become your go-to dinner recipe. The marinade is simple to make and you can even whip it up in the morning before school. The chicken will cook in under 30 minutes but will taste like it’s been roasting in the oven for hours.

Ingredients:

2-3 pounds of bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, thighs or drumsticks (Just get enough chicken for your family here. Jacquelyn usually buys her chicken in pieces rather than by the pound. She’s cooked up 3 smaller breasts one time, and also cooked up 4 thighs and a drumstick.)

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced, divided – You will mince 2 cloves for the marinade in the morning and the other 2 at night when making the sauce.

3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 small shallot (about 2 tablespoons), finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

3/4 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Method:
First let’s get the marinade together for the chicken. Wash and chop up the 2 tablespoons rosemary, mince your 2 garlic cloves and pour 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil into a small bowl. Add to the olive oil, the minced garlic and rosemary. Give it a stir.

Wash and pat dry your chicken and rub the marinade on both sides of the chicken. Cover the chicken or put it all into a ziploc bag, (that’s what I did) and refrigerate the chicken for 1-12 hours. This is a great and easy marinade to make ahead the morning, so when you get home, all you have to do is roast up the chicken.

When you’re home and ready to make dinner, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place a rack in the lower third of the oven.

Pat the skin side of the chicken dry, and season with salt and pepper.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium high heat. I used my 12″ cast iron skillet. Add the chicken, skin side down to the preheated skillet, and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and transfer the skillet to the oven.

Roast the chicken until and instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh or breast, registers 165 degrees, about 20-25 minutes. The time varies depending on how large your chicken breasts or thighs are. When I cook up thighs it takes about 20 minutes and breasts typically take about 20-25 minutes.

Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.

Meanwhile, while your chicken is cooking, prep the ingredients for the sauce. Chop up your shallot, mince your 2 garlic cloves, wash and chop up your thyme, cut up your 2 tablespoons of butter and measure out your chicken broth.

Take the same skillet that you cooked the chicken in and set it over medium heat. Add to the skillet, the chopped shallot, thyme, and the garlic.

Stir occasionally until the shallot and garlic are softened, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.

Add the chicken broth and cook, scraping up the browned bits, until the broth is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the 2 tablespoons butter until melted.

Turn off the heat and pour the sauce into a serving bowl.

Serve up the chicken and top each piece with the sauce. The sauce is seriously amazing and tastes like gravy. It’s the perfect sauce to dip a popover in.

“Like” this story if you plan to make this dish.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Jacquelyn of Marin Mama Cooks. Visit her website for more tasty kid-friendly recipes.

Savory steak and sweet pineapples! We would have never tried this amazing combination if it weren’t for food blog The Rustic Willow who dreamed up this awesome combo. Lunch or dinner this meal will be a huge hit with your youngsters, especially when it’s in an easy-to-eat wrap. Or, serve it buffet-style so kids can make their own portions. Scroll down for the full recipe.

steakpineappletacos-6

Ingredients:
Marinade
1 can of sliced pineapple rings
Juice from half a lime
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Meal
1.5 lb flank stank
1 large tomato
1 cup fresh cilantro
Sour Cream
1 package of 10 medium-sized tortillas
1 gallon-sized Ziploc bag

Method:
1. Take 2 pineapple rings and the juice from the can and pour into a blender (reserve the rest of the slices).
2. Add the remainder of the marinade ingredients into the blender. Blend until all ingredients are well combined.
3. Place steak in Ziploc bag and pour marinade over. Make sure steak is covered.
4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (no longer!)
5. While marinating, chop your tomato, additional pineapple rings, and cilantro.
6. Heat your grill to medium-high heat.
7. Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
8. When steak is done marinating, cook steak on grill: 3-4 minutes each side for medium rare to medium, and 5-6 minutes on each side for medium to medium well.
9. Take steak off grill and let sit for 10 minutes.
10. Wrap tortillas in tinfoil and bake in oven for 10 minutes.
11. After 10 minutes, cut the steak in strips against the grain.
12. Fill the tortilla with 3 strips of steak, a handful of tomatoes, pineapples and cilantro.
13. Lastly, add a dollop of sour cream.
14. Dig in!

Have you tried any other awesome flavor combinations? Let us know in the Comments below!

Inspired by her time in New Orleans, Cat runs the wonderful The Rustic Willow, a blog that covers recipes, DIY, projects and fun life lessons. Her amazing flavor combinations and bright photographs will make you want to experiment in the kitchen. Click here to see her awesome recipes.

 

Fish Tacos

Skip the battered fish tacos and try these fresh tilapia tacos instead from food blogger, Marissa of OMGFood. You’ll say, “OMG this is so good” after taking a bite. Read on for the full step-by-step recipe.

Ingredients:
2 tilapias, about 1lb
2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
juice from half a lemon
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Toppings:
8 corn or flour tortillas*
shredded cabbage
red onion, finely chopped
cilantro leaves (optional)
lime wedges (optional)

Good to know: Warm your tortillas by preheating a small skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan one at a time for 30 seconds to a minute per side; until the tortillas are soft and warm. Set aside in a tortilla warmer or foil covered plate until ready to use (I warm my tortillas as the fish is cooking).

Method:
1. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, and spices in a small bowl and whisk until well blended.

2. Place the fish in a large bowl or ziplock and coat with the dressing. Let it marinate for at least twenty minutes or up to two hours.

3. Preheat skillet over medium-high heat.

4. Add fish to skillet and cook three minutes per side. Discard the remaining marinade.

5. Shred the fish with a fork.

6. Assemble tacos with toppings. Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite type of fish for fish tacos? What do your kids think of this recipe? Leave a comment below!

For more fantastic recipes visit Marissa’s blog, OMGFood and don’t forget to follow this Boston write and foodie on Facebook by clicking here. 

Ready to fire up your grill? Skip the hamburgers and make this recipe for Churrasco Steak on skewers from the new book, Mr. Food Test Kitchen: Guilt-Free Weeknight Favorites. Published by the American Diabetes Association, this new cookbook features healthy family recipes for diabetic and non-diabetic eaters. Bonus: if you don’t have a grill these skewers an easily be cooked on your stovetop.

Serves 8, 4 skewers per serving

Ingredients:
3/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, stems removed
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds well-trimmed boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into 32 (1/2-inch) strips across the grain
32 (6-inch) skewers

Method:
1. In a food processor or blender, combine oil, lime juice, parsley, garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper; process until marinade is well blended.

2. Thread one piece of steak onto each skewer. Place skewers in a 9 × 13-inch baking dish and pour marinade over steak; cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

3. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and cook steak on skewers 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until desired doneness.

Tip from the Book: These can be cooked on the grill, too. If you are using wooden skewers, just make sure you soak them in water for a few minutes before skewering the meat to prevent them from burning.

Health Information: 
Calories 230, Calories From Fat 130, Total Fat 14.0g, Saturated Fat 3.0g, Trans Fat 0.0g, Cholesterol 40mg, Sodium 210mg, Potassium 430mg, Total Carbohydrates 1g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 0g, Protein 24g, Phosphorus 235mg

Do your kids love eating food on skewers? Tell us below!

With more than 30 million adults and children with diabetes in the United States alone and an additional 1.7 million are newly diagnosed each year diabetes is a disease that touches us all. MR. FOOD TEST KITCHEN: GUILT-FREE WEEKNIGHT FAVORITES will provide your diabetic and non-diabetic eaters with healthful recipes they can make Monday through Friday when they’re short on time but have a family to feed. Available on Amazon.com for $12.

While chicken breast isn’t especially known for its natural flavor, Nicole from Nibbles by Nic discovered a great way to dress up an otherwise bland piece of poultry. She seasons the chicken and then marinates it, which creates big time flavor. The best part? Most of the ingredients should already be in your pantry. Huzzah!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoon light agave nectar
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic minced
zest 1/2 lemon
zest 1/2 orange
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt/peper to taste
Ground Pepper to taste
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast trimmed of fat and cut into 4 uniform pieces

Method:
1. Heat grill or grill pan to high heat.

2. Whisk first 8 ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Season chicken with salt pepper and garlic powder.

3. Marinate spice-dusted chicken for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.

4. Place chicken on grill or grill pan for 3-4 minutes to cook per side depending on thickness (When you see char marks flip it)

5. Baste chicken with remaining marinade halfway through cooking time.

Chef’s Tips: Throw peppers and zucchini strips tossed with olive oil on pan for side.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Nicole from Nibbles by Nic. Hop on over to her blog for more fantastic recipe ideas and nibbles for kids. 

As the weather heats up, we all gravitate toward the grill for quick, super satisfying meals. But if you’re getting sick of hot dogs and hamburgers, try out one of these awesome kebab recipes. From classic beef and vegetable skewers to fancy salmon varieties, it’s surprisingly easy to whip up a meal-on-a-stick that will please everyone in your family. Click through the slideshow below to see our favorite kebab recipes from around the web.

Chicken Souvlaki

Go Greek tonight with The Healthy Foodie’s awesome recipe for chicken souvlaki. Whip up a quick marinade and a creamy tzatziki sauce to go on the side—this one’s sure to be a home run with the whole family.

What’s your go-to summertime kebab recipe? Let us know by leaving a comment below. — Susie Foresman