When it comes to feeding a family, a sheet pan knows how to get things done. Not only does a simple rimmed sheet of metal combine prep and cook space, but because it’s the lone ranger (or at least prefers few companions), it also makes clean-up a breeze. And if you like how easy sheet-pan cooking is, just wait until you experience the flavor.
Our favorite sheet pan recipes are one-stop dinner shops—think of a chicken sheet pan dinner, nachos, pizza, tots, and empanadas. Hungry for sliders, salmon, or ribs and need sides? Save half the sheet pan for your favorite vegetable and toss with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Pop it all in the oven and your entire dinner comes out hot and ready for hungry humans.
Four-Ingredient Sheet Pan Meals
Even if you have just a few ingredients on hand, a sheet pan can turn just about anything into an easy dinner with big flavor. Here are our general rules for engagement for sheet pan meals with just 4 ingredients:
Sheet pan + 2 swirls of olive oil + protein + seasoning + vegetable + 1 swirl of olive oil
Here’s how it goes:
- The sheet pan. Cover this in aluminum foil if you want easy, breezy clean-up.
- 2 swirls of olive oil. This amounts to about 4 Tbsp., or 1/4 C. Swirl the oil right into the bottom of the sheet pan.
- Protein. Think bone-in pork chops, chicken thighs, bone-in skin-on chicken breasts, sausages, bratwurst, meatballs, and chicken drumsticks. Roll these around in the olive oil resting in the sheet pan to coat.
- Seasoning. Choose your favorite all-purpose seasoning—we’re partial to our Original Championship Seasoning—and use it generously on all surfaces of your protein (with the exception of sausage links).
- Vegetable. Our favorite vegetables for sheet-pan meals are those that can stand up to some heat and time while soaking up plenty of flavor. Think broccoli, diced potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, and butternut squash, prepped to be bite-sized. Add these to the sheet pan around the protein.
- 1 swirl of olive oil. This helps bring out the flavor of the vegetables as they bake to a golden softness on the inside and a crisp outside. The olive oil also has a way of pulling together the flavors of the meal as it cooks.
Bake it all at 420 degrees F, or until the internal temperature of the meat shows it’s done and the vegetables are tender. Plate, and enjoy! And sauce, if you so choose. (We usually do.)
Sheet Pan Dinners Kids Will Love
Kids will not only love eating these quick and easy sheet pan meals, but they’ll want to get in the kitchen and help prepare them, too.
BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Pizza
What it is: A quick pizza night at your fingertips. Grab prepared pizza crust from the grocery or your local pizza place, press it into a sheet pan, and top with our favorite BBQ pizza toppings: chicken, onions, cilantro, and plenty of cheese.
Why we love it: A hot oven and a sheet pan make delicious pizza possible, without the wait of delivery. Plus, iit’s all ready in minutes, and with only one pan to wash.
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Pizza
Sheet Pan Chicken Tenders
What it is: Chicken tenderloin rolled in a savory breading mix and then baked until golden brown, all on one pan.
Why we love it: Dinner, done. These chicken tenders are crispy and crunchy, dippable and dunkable, and they’re ready in under 30 minutes—without the mess or guilt of deep-frying.
FULL RECIPE: Sheet Pan Chicken Tenders
Loaded Totchos Street Taco Style with BBQ Pulled Pork
What it is: A quick, piled-high sheet-pan dish inspired by tater tot casserole and your favorite roadside taco stand.
Why we love it: Make the most out of weeknights—and leftovers. The smoke of the chipotle, the twang of the pickled radish, and the bright cilantro add grown-up flavors to this family favorite, and it’s one of our favorite ways to use what’s left from the weekend’s BBQ.
FULL RECIPE: Loaded Totchos Street Taco Style with BBQ Pulled Pork
Eat These Sheet Pan Dinners With Your Hands
We love how these meals keep your kitchen clean—you don’t even need a fork. (Keep a napkin or two on hand, though. We’ve been known to get saucy.)
Empanadas with Chipotle BBQ Steak
What it is: An empanada is a hand-held meal, a spicy stew fried crispy inside light, flaky dough.
Why we love it: An empanada will be delicious no matter how you fill it, but our favorite is this smoky, saucy BBQ chipotle steak. The aromatic steam off one of these, wrapped in parchment paper for easy handling while you enjoy the tailgating party or the early embers of the backyard fire pit, could ward off even the stiffest chill. This recipe can be used for air-fryer cooking, too.
FULL RECIPE: Empanadas with Chipotle BBQ Steak
Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pull-Apart Sliders
What it is: This twist on the classic BBQ sandwich is a treat for the kids, who love to watch the cheese stretch when they pull their servings from the baking dish.
Why we love it: Using a package of Hawaiian rolls puts a whole herd of sandwiches just one slice away. The garlic-herb butter takes this dish over the top. If you want to count on leftovers, make extra.
FULL RECIPE: Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pull-Apart Sliders
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Nachos
What it is: These nachos are layered deep with all the fixings of a classic cheeseburger—ground beef, bacon, plenty of cheese, and an added drizzle of your favorite flavor of our sauce—and topped with fresh green onion and spicy jalapenos.
Why we love it: We love when our favorite foods team up, and we always knew cheeseburgers and nachos had chemistry. The key to good nachos is layering, and with the help of a sheet pan, the layers can sprawl, making it easy to ensure each chip is covered in goodies.
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Nachos
Sheet Pan Dinners for BBQ and Meat Lovers
Sometimes a craving hits for BBQ, but there’s no time or energy for fuss. These sheet pan meals are some of our favorite BBQ shortcuts—big on flavor, low on effort (and mess).
Sweet & Sticky Sheet Pan BBQ Ribs
What it is: This recipe for BBQ ribs, slowly braised in the oven in their own juices and then caramelized under the broiler, is an easy and fun way to feed a crowd.
Why we love it: While the ribs tenderize in the low, slow heat of the oven, you’ll have the opportunity to rustle up plenty of napkins. You’ll need them. Did we mention that these ribs need just 10 minutes of prep time?
FULL RECIPE: Sweet & Sticky Sheet Pan BBQ Ribs
BBQ Dry Rub Wings
What it is: These BBQ Dry Rub Chicken Wings are one of the easiest—and tastiest—ways to make wings. This recipe stars crispy skin, flavorful meat, and a blue-cheese sauce that will do absolutely nothing to slow down how fast the wings disappear.
Why we love it: Whether you choose to go with the grill, air fryer, or sheet pan for cooking, these wings are sure to be a hit for your next game-day gathering or tailgating party.
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Dry Rub Wings
Sweet & Sticky Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
What it is: Why are drumsticks so fun to eat? We’ve known it since we were kids. These drums are the excuse you’ve been looking for to sit at the kids’ table again, even if it’s just for one night.
Why we love it: Three ingredients are all you need to create this sheet-pan wonder. Pair with a scoop of creamy mac and cheese.
FULL RECIPE: Sweet & Sticky Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Low Carb Bacon-Wrapped Personal Sized Meatloaf
What it is: Meatloaf hits all the right comfort-food buttons. This low-carb, bacon-wrapped version, made into individual servings, comes together quickly and easily.
Why we love it: No messy slicing here. These mini-loaves of smoky, meaty goodness go straight from sheet pan to plate. They make a leftover lunch easy, too—just grab and go.
FULL RECIPE: Low Carb Bacon-Wrapped Personal Sized Meatloaf
Sheet Pan Asian BBQ Salmon
What it is: In one of our most-popular recipes of all time, two pounds of salmon get infused with the flavors of Asian cuisine before a blazing-hot few minutes in the oven.
Why we love it: In just a few ingredients and with the help of a sheet pan and oven heat, deep flavor teams up with a hint of smoke, with a crisp crust of sweetness to hold it all in.
FULL RECIPE: Sheet Pan Asian BBQ Salmon
