Summer always makes me want to cook fresh, healthy recipes. Of course, I never want anything that takes too much time, because I LOVE being free to spend more time with my family. With the pandemic, obviously, we have had more time together than normal, but I still love the warmer months and the ability to stay up a little later and soak up time at the lake or on beautiful hikes here in Southern Oregon. So, one of my favorite things to do is prep sheet pan suppers. They are easy, healthy, and so simple to modify or change depending on dietary issues or allergies. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite sheet pan suppers, so you can save time and have dinner ready to pop right in the oven each night!
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-Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken from Taste of Home: This one couldn't be any simpler! Easy, pantry staple ingredients, and barely any prep time! Plus, your house will smell amazing.
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 bone-in chicken thighs
6 chicken drumsticks
1 pound baby red potatoes, halved
1 medium lemon, sliced
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, whisk the first 7 ingredients until blended. Pour 1/4 cup marinade into a large bowl or shallow dish. Add chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade.
Drain chicken, discarding any remaining marinade in bowl. Place chicken in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; add potatoes in a single layer. Drizzle reserved marinade over potatoes; top with lemon slices. Bake until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175° and potatoes are tender, 40-45 minutes. If desired, broil chicken 3-4 inches from heat until deep golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
-Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas: Another winner! Kid friendly, simple, and healthy. Add plenty of warm tortillas and rice for a fast Mexican food feast. Recipe from Taste of Home
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
3 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1-1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins, halved lengthwise
1 large red or sweet onion, halved and sliced (about 2 cups)
1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 large green pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeno pepper
2 cans (8 ounces each) unsweetened pineapple tidbits, drained
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons lime juice
12 corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed
Optional toppings: Pico de gallo, sour cream, shredded Mexican cheese blend and sliced avocado
Lime wedges, optional
Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, mix first 5 ingredients; stir in chicken. Add onion, peppers, pineapple, honey and lime juice; toss to combine. Spread evenly in 2 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans.
Roast 10 minutes, rotating pans halfway through cooking. Remove pans from oven; preheat broiler.
Broil chicken mixture, 1 pan at a time, 3-4 in. from heat until vegetables are lightly browned and chicken is no longer pink, 3-5 minutes. Serve in tortillas, with toppings and lime wedges as desired.
-Sweet and Tangy Salmon Dinner: Who doesn’t love salmon? And, cooking in the oven gives you a healthy, beautiful texture without tons of oil or frying. I love the tangy sauce on this recipes from Taste of Home:
4 salmon fillets (6 ounces each)
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 lb green beans
Preheat oven to 425°. Place fillets in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. In a small skillet, melt butter; stir in brown sugar, soy sauce, mustard, oil, pepper and salt. Brush half of the mixture over salmon.
Place green beans in a large bowl; drizzle with remaining brown sugar mixture and toss to coat. Arrange green beans around fillets. Roast until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork and green beans are crisp-tender, 14-16 minutes.