Clean up is arguably the biggest cooking pain. Preparing and cooking the meal is all fun and games, but then comes the dreaded “doing the dishes”. With big families, in particular, there are always more pots, pans, cutting boards, knives, forks, and spoons to clean, and who likes that? Here at Spud, we’ll do anything to make our lives easier when it comes to food. So when we heard of a way to enjoy a healthy meal with fewer dishes, we were all ears. Enter the sheet pan recipes.

If you don’t know what I mean by “sheet pan”, I’m referring to a large rimmed baking sheet that is most commonly used for baking cookies. The benefits of using a sheet pan are that it’s large enough for a big meal (this is perfect for a family of 4) and there’s space leftover to cook everything evenly. And of course, the minimal cleanup.

4 Easy Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes

Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken

Lightly breaded with garlic, lemon, and parmesan, and roasted alongside crisp and juicy asparagus. You might forget that this dish is made in 1 pan. Yep, that’s right. One. Single. Pan.

Roasted Sausage and Veg

Simply toss loads of veggies and your favourite sausage with olive oil and your favourite seasonings. Use a large sheet pan, lined with parchment (for easy clean up), for an even cook and a perfect roast.  Bake in a 400 degrees F oven for 15 minutes, give the tray a shake and bake for another 10 minutes until vegetables and sausage are cooked!  Serve and enjoy! Leftovers are great in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days!

Sheet Pan Kimchi Nachos

Most think of guac and sour cream when it comes to nachos. Unbeknownst to most though, there are tons of other topping varieties out there – like these kimchi nachos. A fresh twist on the classic, they’re loaded with gut-healthy kimchi, minced shallot, freshly grated ginger, and topped with a chilli yoghurt sauce to bind the goodness together. Have them as a pre-dinner appy or bring them along to a potluck! 

One-Pan Deconstructed Chicken Caesar with Roasted Romaine

If you like Caesar salads, you’ll love this. The lemon, parmesan, and garlic combo gives it all the Caesar flavours, but without the heavy dressing. Roasted romaine adds a flavourful, earthier spin to the dish, too. Pro-tip: if you’re feeling extra Caesar-y, try drizzling anchovy oil over the meal.

We hope you enjoy these sheet pan recipes! Sheet pan dishes are great because they save you time, they’re easy on the cleanup, and they still maintain great flavour (who knew these pans weren’t just for cookies?). Most foods taste great roasted too, so you can get creative. What are your favourite sheet pan recipes?