When money is tight, feeding the family healthy, interesting meals can be a real challenge. Grilled cheese sandwiches and spaghetti dinners are fast, filling, and inexpensive comfort foods but eating a variety of foods is important for good health, particularly for kids who are still growing. If you’re not the kind to spend all day in the kitchen, though, don’t despair. You can prep a nutrient-packed meal in no-time flat without lots of prep work and without a sink full of dishes.
Meet the sheet pan meal! These one-dish recipes are an easy way to try out new flavors and get more veggies into everyone’s tummies without spending more than a few dollars per serving. Try out one of the 5 sheet pan meal recipes below and let us know how it goes with your family!
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Sheet Pan Breakfast
Instead of standing over the stove scrambling eggs and turning bacon first thing in the morning, throw these favorites onto a sheet plan according to this Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Bake recipe. Kids might balk at the inclusion of the tomatoes, so feel free to swap in another veggie if needed. Carrots or baby potatoes should work just fine.
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Sheet Pan Fajitas
For those who love Tex-Mex flavors, these Healthy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas feeds 6 and takes just 30 minutes to make including prep time. The recipe takes garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper but you could substitute prepackaged taco seasoning for all of the above if you’re not one to keep individual spices on hand.
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Sheet Pan Ratatouille
Roasting can make nearly any vegetable palatable to picky eaters (okay, maybe not Lima beans) and this recipe for Ratatouille with Goat Cheese includes a variety of veggies to ensure there’s something for everyone. In fact, the goat cheese might end up as the most controversial ingredient for this sheet pan meal. It goes on last for just a minute of broiling, so feel free to keep in on the side just in case.
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Sheet Pan Chili
Chili and cornbread are a beloved combo when it’s cold outside and this Turkey Chili with Cornbread “Dumplings” recipe will keep everyone cozy through the night. The jalapenos and chili powder will heat up their taste buds, too, so feel free to adjust the recipe as needed if your fam prefers less spicy heat.
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Sheet Pan Salmon
Unless you grew up near the water, seafood prep can seem a little intimidating but, once again, a sheet pan recipe comes to the rescue. Next time you find some salmon fillets at a great price, try out this recipe for Sweet & Tangy Salmon and Green Beans. It’s light and flavorful, serves 4, and take just about 35 minutes to prep and bake.
Once you get the hang of sheet pan cooking times and discover the kinds of flavors your family prefers, it’s easy to mix and match ingredients according to what you have on hand, find on sale, or just have a hankering for at mealtime.
