Winner! Sheet Pan Dinner
life is hard; food doesn't have to be #70 [vol2, 10.4]
I love sheet pan dinners for their easy clean up. Grab ingredients for this one and add to your rotation. I made it on a half sheet pan (13x18). You could halve the recipe for 9x13. If you don’t have a 13x18 pan, make this in two 9x13 pans. Or just buy a couple 13x18 pans. I have about 6 and use them all.the.time.
Ingredients
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs - if using bone-in thighs, roast alone 10 minutes before adding everything else. Fish could be substituted here, reduce roasting time.
¼ c oil (olive oil or avocado)
4-6 garlic cloves, pressed or 2t garlic powder
2t smoked paprika
2t cumin
2t oregano or any Italian seasoning blend
1.5t fine sea salt
Optional spices, but definitely recommended if you have:
1t curry powder
2t coriander
1/4t cayenne pepper or flakes, or more depending on preferences
after chicken is marinated & placed on the pan:
¼ c oil (olive oil or avocado)
2 cans white beans, rinsed and drained (garbanzos, navy, etc.) or cubed potatoes** - both options pictured below
1-2 pints cherry tomatoes
1/2t fine sea salt
1 bunch cilantro, rinsed and blotted dry, chopped and divided in half
1-2 lemons, sliced
Green onions, chopped, optional for garnish
**If using potatoes instead of beans: roast potatoes 10-15 minutes alone before adding other ingredients on top of the potatoes.
Instructions
Marinate chicken in 1/4c oil and spices for 30 minutes, up to 24 hours in a larger bowl. I like to minimize dishes and use this same bowl for the next step. Best if chicken comes close to room temp before roasting - but this is something I feel comfortable doing. You do you.
Preheat oven to 400* convection (with fan) or 425* conventional (regular oven).
Lay marinated thighs flat on sheet pan, leaving room between each piece.
In the same bowl the chicken marinated in, toss in the remaining ingredients: beans, tomatoes, HALF of the cilantro (save other half for garnish) and pour oil on top then toss together, making sure tomatoes are coated. Dump this on the chicken sheet and spread around. Lay the slices of lemon on very top. This was one small lemon. Two would have been better. I was surprised by how much the lemon elevates this simple meal.
Roast for 20 minutes, less if it smells like it's burning, more if you think it needs it.
Below is after twenty minutes, 400* convection and the chicken started room temp.
Garnish with green onions and remaining cilantro.
Serve with steamed broccoli, tzatziki (creamy cucumber sauce), red sauerkraut and quick pickled red onions.
Tahini yogurt sauce would be yum too: 1/4c tahini, 2T plain yogurt, 2-4T olive oil, 2-4 T lemon juice and salt to taste (maybe 1/2t). If you’re dairy-free, totally omit the yogurt. It’s a sauce and you make it how you like it.
Related: other ways to use a sheet pan + more sheet pan recipes I love.
Conversation Starters
Here’s a list of 36 questions to help kids make friends. It’s a good list for adults, too. Print it to generate good conversation at your table.
Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be,
Julie