15 Easy Sheet Pan Recipes to Make When You’re Too Tired to Cook

When you’ve just finished up a long day at work (whether that’s in an office or let’s be real, from your dining room table), most of us are too tired to think about making dinner. But we have to make something because your stomach (or that of your family) isn’t going to feed itself. In fact, it’s probably growling at you—subtle! But we have the answer: easy sheet pan recipes.

You don’t have to be a pro in the kitchen to whip up something delicious (and nutritious). In fact, the old adage rings true here—the simple things in life are often the best. And in the case of sheet pan recipes, it really is. So, if you’re tired and hungry, then keep reading for 15 easy sheet pan recipes that are guaranteed to become your new weeknight go-to.

Feature image by Michelle Nash.

Sheet Pan Veggie Bowl

Why We Love It: This spring veggie bowl is perfect for adding into your rotation. It’s totally plant-based and comes together quickly in just one sheet pan. A perfect lunch for one, or dinner for two, or side dish at any spring gathering.

Hero Ingredient: Celebrate with all of the in-season favorites like baby carrots, radishes, fingerling potatoes, and sweet shallots.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Veggie Bowl.

Easy Sheet Pan Tomato Herb Pizza from Half-Baked Harvest

Why We Love It: This Sicilian style sheet pan recipe features fresh pizza dough topped with roasted cherry tomato sauce, three kinds of cheese, pepperoni (you can remove or replace with a plant-based protein alternative), house style “pizza seasoning” and so much fresh garden basil. It requires a little more prep time to make the dough and the sauce but in a pinch, you can always use ready-made dough and sauce from the store! (We won’t tell.)

Hero Ingredient: More of a method than an ingredient, Teighan from HBH says the key to this pizza is baking it on a sheet pan at a high temp until the crust becomes just a little crisp and the cheese is melty. Mmmm….

Get the recipe for Easy Sheet Pan Tomato Herb Pizza.

Chorizo Sheet Pan Breakfast from Fed & Fit

Why We Love It: Who says all sheet pan recipes need to be for dinner? We love the idea of this chorizo sheet pan breakfast. The good news is it’s packed with healthy protein, starches, fats, and veggies. This makes enough to feed the whole family—and then some. It’s also a great meal to prep for a week’s worth of breakfast. Just grab it out of the freezer, reheat in the oven, and you have breakfast or brunch in a snap.

Hero Ingredient: Squeeze some fresh lime juice over the top of your tray for a zingy punch in each bite.

Get the recipe for Chorizo Sheet Pan Breakfast.

5-Ingredient Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Why We Love It: This easy sheet pan recipe is Camille’s go-to whenever she’s faced with the “what to cook for dinner tonight” conundrum. They’re so easy. The entire meal is made completely on one sheet pan. And you probably have most of the ingredients in your fridge or pantry already: boneless skinless chicken breast, bell peppers, and onions (doesn’t get more basic than that, people). Plus, of course, with a little taco seasoning on top. Line the sheet pan with foil or parchment paper. The dreaded after-dinner clean-up? Nonexistent.

Hero Ingredient: The simplicity of these fajitas gives you all the space to make them your own via the magic of toppings. Pile your fajitas high with jalapeños, pico de gallo, guacamole, and/or cilantro for a fresh twist, or make your Tex-Mex dreams come true with shredded cheese, sour cream, and rice and beans.

Get the recipe for 5-Ingredient Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas.

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower from Foodie Crush

Why We Love It: If you haven’t roasted your cauliflower with parmesan cheese on a sheet pan, have you even lived? Well, yes, of course, you have, but seriously if you haven’t, please buy cauliflower and make this easy sheet pan recipe this week. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Cook these on Taco Tuesday and crumble them in with your beans and salsa. YUM!

Hero Ingredient: Parmesan, obviously. It gets to that crisp, roast-y state that’s basically perfect in every way.

Get the recipe for Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower.

Curried Sweet Potato & Chickpeas from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: I can almost guarantee you have these three ingredients in your pantry: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and curry powder. This easy sheet pan recipe combines all three of them in one very flavor-packed meal. It’s made entirely on one baking sheet, too—our favorite kind of dinner.

Hero Ingredient: To dial up the flavor, use a blend of curry powder, garam masala, fresh ginger, onion, and garlic.

Get the recipe for Curried Sweet Potato & Chickpeas.

Sheet Pan Chipotle Chicken Nachos from Spoon, Fork, Bacon

Why We Love It: When are you ever not in the mood for nachos? Most likely never. Especially when you can throw all of your favorite ingredients onto one tray. You can also add whatever toppings you like, but this one has so many that it’s totally filling, and perfect for a movie-watching night. Count us in!

Hero Ingredient: It’s time to go the extra mile. Make your own queso sauce in the recipe above and drizzle it all over. You won’t regret it.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Chipotle Chicken Nachos.

Sheet Pan Aloo Gobi

Why We Love It: If you too have no desire to stand in front of a stove but still crave food that tastes delicious and makes you feel good (with the most minimal amount of effort possible) then you’ve come to the right place. This Aloo Gobi sheet pan recipe is to die for and is incredibly easy to make. Dinner shortcuts this way.

Hero Ingredient: Char the vegetables in the same way you would when they stick to the bottom of a stovetop pan. There’s nothing quite as delicious as a spiced potato edge that’s perfectly crisp and brimming with warm spices. It makes the recipe.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Aloo Gobi.

Sheet Pan Roasted Chili-Orange Salmon With Garlic & Green Veggies

Why We Love It: A lengthy ingredient list or complicated techniques are the last things any of us feel like facing at the end of a long day. #amiright? Usually, we just want to pour a glass of pinot (or a delicious mocktail), turn up the Spotify chill mix, and make something simple and delicious. Enter your newest favorite dinner that cooks entirely on one sheet pan. Yep, you’ll be as addicted as we are.

Hero Ingredient: Follow Camille’s lead and ask the fish guy at your local grocery store to remove the skin and bones from the salmon filets. From there, all you have to do is put them on a parchment-lined sheet pan with whatever veggies you feel like roasting them alongside. Kinda genius.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Roasted Chili-Orange Salmon With Garlic & Green Veggies.

Sheet Pan Coconut Vegetable Curry

Why We Love It: The rice cooks alongside everything on the sheet pan, which is a total game-changer in all aspects. This curry is perfect for lunch or dinner and is totally customizable for a crowd if that’s your jam. Or, if it’s dinner for a few, stick to the script and enjoy this easy vegetarian meal.

Hero Ingredient: A spoonful of peanut butter completely transforms those veggies into pure decadence.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Coconut Vegetable Curry.

Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Confit

Why We Love It: Ah, roasted chicken. It’s the humble kitchen staple that’s a must-have for weekdays and nights. In this recipe, it shares the spotlight with vegetable confit that’s to die for. Use this chicken throughout the week or enjoy it as-is out of the oven. You can’t go wrong either way.

Hero Ingredient: Stay with me on this one: The hero ingredient here is the olive oil. But, it’s the olive oil after it’s been in the oven with all the headliners. It basically collects all the flavors of caramelized, roasted chicken and juicy veggies. Think roast-y garlic, brine-y olives, and zesty lemon. Save that infused oil for crusty bread-dipping. It’d be a shame not to.

Get the recipe for Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Confit.

Sheet Pan Broccolini Pizza from What’s Gaby Cooking

Why We Love It: It doesn’t get much easier than sheet pan pizza, and this recipe proves my point exactly. You can use store-bought or homemade pizza dough to house the mozzarella, broccolini, and red onion. Whatever your speed, be sure to enjoy this simple lunch or dinner with a glass of your favorite chilled white wine or a tasty mocktail.

Hero Ingredient: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, roasting broccolini is the best way to enjoy the veggie. It gets those crispy edges that are just unbeatable.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Broccolini Pizza.

Sheet Pan Spring Chicken With Artichokes and Asparagus from The Defined Dish

Why We Love It: Another winner (dare I say, winner winner chicken dinner?), this recipe uses bone-in, skin-on thighs to get maximum crispy-skinned exterior and juicy meat interior. And with roasted artichokes and asparagus alongside it, you’ve got a recipe for success. Or, at least dinner.

Hero Ingredient: The recipe calls for frozen artichoke hearts, which is a total time and effort saver.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Spring Chicken With Artichokes and Asparagus.

Sweet Potato & Broccoli Rabe Sheet Pan Dinner With Peanut Sauce from The First Mess

Why We Love It: This easy veggie sheet pan dinner is perfect for weeknights or meal-prepping. With sweet potatoes and chickpeas, it’s substantial enough for any occasion.

Hero Ingredient: Ginger peanut sauce is the star of the tray here. It’s nutty from the peanut butter (obviously), sharp from ginger and lime, and full of umami from soy sauce. As always, consider doubling the batch to drizzle over roasted veggies, use as a dip for raw veggies, or serve alongside veggie spring rolls. Had enough veggies yet?

Get the recipe for Sweet Potato & Broccoli Rabe Sheet Pan Dinner With Peanut Sauce.

Sheet Pan Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chicken Enchiladas from Half-Baked Harvest

Why We Love It: Try saying that three times fast. There’s so much goodness going on in this recipe with chipotle peppers, corn, poblano peppers, cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, and so much more all wrapped up in yummy corn tortillas. It’s simple and totally comforting and basically everything you could want in an enchilada.

Hero Ingredient: Juicy corn brings a dash of sweetness to balance the heat from those peppers. And it gets charred and delicious. I’m already eating it with my eyes.

Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chicken Enchiladas.

What’s your favorite easy sheet pan recipe? Share the link below or just sound out with the ingredients!

This post was originally published on March 9, 2021 and has since been updated.