Easy Sheet Pan Meals Menu Plan {Free Printable}
Get an easy and healthy dinner on the table in minutes with this menu plan of thirty-one easy sheet pan meals. Sheet pan meals go from prep to serve with minimal clean up!
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Sheet Pan Meals
Sheet pan cooking takes the concept of a one-pot meal and puts in in the oven. It saves time, makes clean-up easier, doesn’t require expensive equipment or fancy ingredients, and adds the health benefits of baking.
Easy sheet pan meals like these sheet pan Italian Style Nachos or this Easy Italian Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner are perfect for those busy seasons of life like back to school, tournament seasons or anytime when mom will be out of the house more than usual.
Sheet pan meals, like this Sheet Pan Sausage and Potato Dinner, are also another terrific tool in our toolbox that allow us to save money on groceries and stop eating fast food.
Pans and Supplies
Since I cook for a large family, my favorite sheet pans are oven size like these.
For those cooking for a smaller family or cooking more than one meal at a time, these smaller pans work well.
Choosing a sheet pan that will last is key. Whether you purchase an aluminum or stainless steel pan, get the heaviest gauge metal you can afford. The thicker the metal, the longer it will last. Anything from 13 to 18 gauge will work well. However, I would suggest reading about the harmful effects of aluminum before making a final decision.
Once you have purchased your sheet pans, storing them safely and for easy access will make the process of getting dinner on the table even easier. To store your sheet pans on the counter or in a cabinet, an adjustable rack like the one below works perfectly.
Easy Sheet Pan Meal Clean Up
Clean up after a sheet pan meal is the easiest! Providing you have sprayed your pan with cooking spray or an oil mister to prevent sticking, you should be able to run some hot water over your pan and then just scrub it clean. I like to use a heavy duty non scratch scouring pad for this.
Many of the smaller sheet pans are dishwasher save and will fit easily on the bottom rack of standard dishwashers.
Sheet Pan Freezer Meals
Most sheet pan meals work really well as freezer meals. Once a month cooking has been a way of life for my family for years. When we discovered sheet pan meals, we immediately began trying to work them into our freezer meal plan.
Prepping sheet pan meals for the freezer is really simple. Just add all of the ingredients to a gallon size freezer bag or if you are avoiding plastics, I really like the lock and seal glass freezer containers below.
Once you have frozen your sheet pan meals, simply make a list of the meals you have in your freezer. Then, create a menu plan from the list you made. Check the menu plan each night and lay out the meal for the following day. Allow the meal to thaw all day and then pour it from the freezer bag onto the pan when you are ready to cook.
**Note** The thawing process is extremely important if you are doing a smaller sheet pan meal in a glass freezer safe dish. The dish must come to room temperature before you place it in the oven.
Sheet Pan Recipes
You don’t really need a recipe for sheet pan meals. Just start with your protein of choice, then add vegetables, fat and flavorings, and roast at high heat until everything is golden brown.
If you like to have specific recipes for your meals, there are several excellent sheet pan meal cookbooks available.
Free Printable Menu Plan
Just in case you need some helpful ideas for your first sheet pan meals, I have compiled a menu plan for a month of sheet pan meal favorites. Just download the menu plan below to get started and enjoy the other free menu plans and printables in my Mom’s Resource Library!
