Our 20 Absolute Favorite Sheet-Pan Recipes (2024)

This article was originally published in June 2020. It has been updated to include more of our community's favorite recipes.

I’d like to give a shout-out to sheet pans. Because it’s amazing how the simplest, cheapest of tools can accomplish quick, delicious, and fuss-free (in the planning, prepping, and cleaning) meals the entire family adores. Sure, we love Instant Pots, Air Fryers, and the like, but sheet pans are the OG busy (and hungry) cook’s best friend.

But I hardly need to tell you this. Sheet-pan recipes are some of our most popular attractions (ahem, please refer to this list). There are the buttery, flakey slab pot pies, roast-y salads, a full American breakfast...I could keep going!

But I don’t want to keep you here all day, so I’ve combed through Food52's recipe box for the most cooked, most favorited sheet-pan recipes ever. Yes, it was hard to narrow it down to just 20, but these superstars are the best of the best—our community's absolute favorites. Now, without further ado:

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Our 20 Best Sheet-PanRecipes

1. Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi for One

Senior Editor Eric Kim was inspired to make this solo shrimp scampi supper after a trip to Hawaii. Now we can enjoy it, too (without stepping on an airplane).

Sheet-Pan Shrimp Scampi for One

2. Sheet-Pan Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

“I love this cake because it's one of those things I'm able to throw together when it seems I have nothing in my pantry and fridge,” writes recipe developer Eric Kim. “All it needs are the usual suspects, things like brown sugar, butter, flour, eggs, and milk—plus chopped dates.”

Sheet-Pan Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

3. Sheet-Pan Eggs

This egg-cellent (not sorry) breakfast is perfect for those blurry mornings when you have to cook for a crowd. Simply whisk eggs, pour into a greased pan, bake, and then pat yourself on the back.

Sheet Pan Eggs

4. Sheet-Pan Chicken With Broccoli, Chickpeas, And Parmesan

This all-in-one traybake from the queen of weeknight suppers, EmilyC, uses tons of smartypants tricks. My favorite? Add baking powder for better browning.

Sheet-Pan Chicken With Broccoli, Chickpeas, and Parmesan

5. Sheet-Pan Croquembouche

Sheet pans make quick work of desserts, too. “This streamlined version makes at-home croquembouche totally doable,” writes recipe developer Emma Laperruque. “Look no further for a holiday showstopper or even a birthday cake replacement (trust me, no one will complain).”

Sheet-Pan Croquembouche

6. All-In-One Sheet-Pan Brown Rice With Sweet Potato And Broccoli Rabe

This recipe highlights a reliable, forgiving method for cooking grains on a sheet pan in the oven, and results in a flavorful, do-it-all grain salad you’ll turn to again and again.

All-in-One Sheet-Pan Brown Rice with Sweet Potato and Broccoli Rabe

7. Sheet-Pan Roast Chicken and Cabbage

In just 40 minutes, you’ll get juicy, crispy-skinned chicken and sweet, tender cabbage, flavored by not only the spicy dressing, but also the aromatic drippings of the chicken. What are you waiting for?

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8.

This bright and bold harissa chicken maintains a perfect, five-star rating amongst our community members. Trust Cathy on this one: “This is amazing! Every element blends perfectly together." It won over Emily, too: Consider me a skeptic until about 3 minutes before plating. Never been happier to be wrong.”

9.

Yes, salads can be cozy comfort food, too. See below.

10. Sheet-Pan Chicken And Cauliflower Bake

This tray bake is the spicy, smoky shawarma-inspired dinner that you’ll definitely want to add to your weeknight rotation.

Sheet Pan Chicken and Cauliflower Bake

11. Sheet-Pan Crispy Rice With Bacon And Broccoli

Absolute Best Tests columnist Ella Quittner speaks the truth: “Crispy bits are textural and flavor magic.” And this dish is chock full of ‘em.

Sheet-Pan Crispy Rice with Bacon and Broccoli

12.

This convenient play on huevos rotos (“broken eggs” in Spanish) is the perfect lazy brunch recipe. It requires only 10 minutes of actual work, serves up to six people, and highlights the beloved trio of sausage, potatoes, and eggs.

13. Sheet-Pan Lamb Meatballs With Cauliflower And Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

Fact: Super tender lamb meatballs and comforting cauliflower combined with the refreshing brightness of pomegranate, makes the crowd go wild.

Sheet Pan Lamb Meatballs with Cauliflower and Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

14.

With a scrappy vinaigrette that does triple-duty, as well as tapping into the wallet-friendly bulk bin (hey there, dried figs), this dinner is both inexpensive and satisfying.

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15.

Consisting of white miso, yellow mustard powder, sugar, and rice vinegar, nuta is a typical Japanese dressing for blanched greens and seafood that tastes like really good honey mustard. Here nuta works double-duty: caramelized on chicken thighs and squash, and as a piquant dressing for peppery arugula.

16.

Salad? On a sheet-pan? Recipe developer EmilyC thinks yes, making three great cases for it.

17. Our Best Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

Our best version of the best food partnership (okay at the very least tied with peanut butter and eggs). Top a bowl of these Brussels sprouts and crisp bacon bits with a soft, oozy egg, for a square (round?) meal.

Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

18.

While a schnitzel-ready, thin, boneless pork cutlet is likely to dessicate in the oven, a thicker-cut, bone-in chop is ready. Dry-rub one per person and lay atop a bed of root vegetable hunks—the recipe calls for carrots and fennel, but why not beets, parsnips, or turnips?—eager to drink in any (sheet-)pan juices.

19. Baking Sheet Macaroni and Cheese

Food52 co-founder Amanda Hesser wanted a mac and cheese that didn’t skimp on the crunch—so she made this recipe. Combining techniques from baked pasta, gratin, and kugel, Amanda’s mac is texturally complex and decidedly delicious.

Baking Sheet Macaroni and Cheese

20. Sheet-Pan Apple Crisp

A traditional apple crisp is heavy on the apples, lighter on the streusel. Not with this sheet-pan riff from Food Editor Emma Laperruque. “Instead of using a deep-dish casserole pan, a sheet pan creates a shallow crisp that’s equal parts jammy apples and oaty streusel,” Emma writes. If there’s a more perfect use for an eighth-pan, I don’t want to know about it.

Sheet-Pan Apple Crisp

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Just kidding I do—share some of the best things to come out of your half-, quarter-, and eighth-sheet-pans in the comments below!
Our 20 Absolute Favorite Sheet-Pan Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I use parchment paper for sheet pan dinners? ›

Lining the pan

Cleanup is a breeze when you line the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

What is the basic of sheet pan dinners? ›

A sheet pan takes the concept of a one-pot meal and flips it onto a pan. It saves time, makes clean-up easier, and doesn't require expensive equipment or fancy ingredients. Just start with your protein of choice, then add vegetables, fat and flavorings, and roast at high heat until everything is golden brown.

What temperature is a sheet pan dinner? ›

Temperatures range from 375-400°F for sheet pan meals. Depending on the vegetables and protein you've chosen, it may take anywhere from 35-45 minutes to cook thoroughly. Remember if you've chosen something you know will overcook in that period, you want to add it in later on in the cooking time.

Will a half sheet pan fit in a standard oven? ›

Will a half sheet pan fit in a standard oven? Yes, it will. Full sheet pans, which are 26 x 18, won't typically fit in a standard oven but instead are designed more for commercial ovens.

Do you cover sheet pan dinners with foil? ›

We recommend foil over parchment paper for sheet pan cooking. As it conducts heat, foil can help accelerate the cooking process and help browning.

Do I have to grease the pan if I use parchment paper? ›

Greasing Pans

Rege always uses oil or butter in addition to parchment to ensure that everything will come out cleanly. She makes sure to grease the pan before adding parchment (which helps the parchment adhere and hold in place), then greases the parchment surface as well.

What is the difference between a baking sheet and a sheet pan? ›

Quarter sheet pans are typically 9 by 13 inches (a standard size for sheet cakes), half sheet pans are 18 by 13 inches (this is the size of most pans described simply as baking sheets) and full sheet pans are 26 by 18 inches (too big to fit in many home ovens, but the standard commercial size).

What size sheet pan for sheet pan dinners? ›

The right baking sheet to use for sheet pan dinners is called a half-sheet pan. It's made of heavy-gauge metal, measures 18 by 13 inches, and has a 1-inch rim all the way around. It's sturdy enough to take high oven heat — and sometimes broiler heat if your recipe calls for it.

What are restaurant sheet pans made of? ›

Professional sheet pans used in commercial kitchens typically are made of aluminum, with a 25 mm (1 in) raised lip around the edge, and come in both standard and non-standard sizes.

Can you put a cold sheet pan in the oven? ›

While warping is natural, you can lessen its chances of happening by reducing rapid temperature changes. For example, don't put a cold (i.e. right out of the fridge) sheet pan into a hot oven, and avoid rinsing a hot sheet pan (i.e. right out of the oven) in cold water.

Why do we have sheet pan dinners? ›

They are complete dinners, including a protein, vegetable and starch, that are simply seasoned and placed to cook on one rimmed baking sheet, which is lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil, so there isn't even a mess to clean up after!

How many people does a sheet pan feed? ›

A full-sheet cake (18 x 24 inches, requiring approximately 16 cups of batter) serves up to 80 people. Meanwhile, 1/2 sheet cake (18 x 12 inches and using 7 to 8 cups of batter) should be enough for 36-48 guests. And the smallest option, 1/4 sheet cake (9 x 13 inches, up to 4 cups of batter), can feed 20-24 people.

Are stainless steel cookie sheets better than aluminum? ›

Aluminized steel, which is essentially steel sandwiched in aluminum, is more prone to uneven heat distribution. While stainless steel is a preferred material for many cookware pieces, it's widely known to be a poor performer in the baking sheet category because it's not as good at conducting heat as aluminum.

How often should you replace cookie sheets? ›

With frequent use, baking sheets can eventually show wear and tear. Perhaps the most obvious sign of a well-loved baking sheet is when it has browned and lost its natural shine, but that doesn't mean you should throw it out altogether. A well-made baking sheet should last a lifetime, even with stains or scratches.

Is a jelly roll pan the same as a cookie sheet? ›

A jelly roll pan has one-inch rims, which makes it ideal for working with liquid batter or food that releases juices as they cook. A cookie sheet only has one raised rim (for ease of handling), so it's not great for working with liquids like the Dutch Oven is.

Can you put parchment paper in the oven on a cookie sheet? ›

Parchment paper is oven-safe in conventional ovens for temperatures up to 425°F. For safety, never let the parchment paper touch open flames, the sides or bottom of the oven, or use it with a broiling unit or a toaster oven.

Can I use parchment paper instead of ungreased cookie sheet? ›

It turns out MOST cookies turn out far more reliably when baked on parchment and without grease on the pan. There are two ways in which a greased pan may negatively affect your cookies: 1. The additional fats are likely to seep into your cookie and cause more spreading and less rise than desired.

What can you not cook on parchment paper? ›

This means that if you're cooking in a skillet over medium, medium-low, or low heat, you'll probably be fine using parchment. Hill uses it in the oven all the time for any temps under 450°F, but never risks using it on the grill, with the broiler, or in a skillet over high heat because the temperature can exceed 500°F.

Is it better to cook with parchment paper or foil? ›

A basic saying to guide your use of papers in the kitchen: "Sweet treats need parchment sheets; grill or broil, go with foil," says Weaver. Foil conducts and distributes heat, making it able to withstand high temperatures from baking, broiling, roasting, or grilling. For anything above 400 degrees, use foil.

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