16 Plant-Based Sheet Pan Recipes (2024)

16 Plant-Based Sheet Pan Recipes

16 Plant-Based Sheet Pan Recipes (1)

Every year at the beginning of autumn, I feel an overwhelming desire to revisit my New Year’s resolutions. Apparently I’m not alone as this phenomenon has been written about in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes and recently covered by NBC News.

Now that my kids and I are getting settled into the new school year and new routines, I am recommitting to two goals I set for myself earlier this year. The first one is making sure to meal plan every Sunday so that our family can have nice, healthy dinners together as often as possible. I have three kids in three different sports so sometimes this feels like an impossible feat… but I haven’t lost hope yet! The second is eating a more plant-based diet both for health and the planet.

After doing a bit of research, I’ve decided that sheet pan meals are the way to go during especially hectic weeks. As I’m sure you know, sheet pan dinners have been all the rage for a while since you basically just throw some healthy veggies and protein on a sheet pan with some sauce, spices, or herbs for flavor and roast in the oven. It couldn’t be easier.

Here’s my round-up of plant-based sheet pan dinner recipes for easy (and healthy) go-to weeknight meals.

1. Vegan Sheet Pan Shawarma

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This vegan sheet pan shawarma takes 20 minutes of hands-on prep time and is packed with Middle Eastern-inspired flavor. It’s perfect alone, with rice or paired with hummus.

2. Veggie Sheet Pan Fajitas with Cumin-Lime Crema

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These Veggie Sheet Pan Fajitas are dinner guest-worthy — especially when paired with this homemade guacamole bar.

3. Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

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Okay, so technically this doesn’t fall under the exceptionally healthy category. BUT for the times when you just have to have a comforting bowl of mac and cheese, this does the trick. Pasta is my favorite thing in the world but I don’t miss it at all in this Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

4. Curried Sweet Potato and Chickpeas

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I made a batch of this Curried Sweet Potato and Chickpeas on Sunday and I brought it for lunch three days in a row. Yep, it’s that good. Probably not something my kids would be huge fans of (they are super picky) but I love the combination of kale, sweet potatoes, and a vegan protein.

5. Roasted Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Nourish Bowl and Tumeric Tahini Dressing

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You can never have too many “nourish” or grain bowls in your rotation and this Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Nourish Bowl is one of my favorites. It has lots of roasted vegetables, cauliflower, and sweet potato, all drizzled with a turmeric tahini dressing.

6. Sheet Pan Greens and Veggie Frittata

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We have breakfast for dinner every Wednesday night and this Sheen Pan Greens and Veggie Frittata is a nice departure from our usual waffles or pancakes. Perfect for Sunday brunch too.

7. Herbed Potato, Asparagus, and Chickpea Dinner

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This herbed potato, asparagus and chickpea sheet pan recipe is ideal for the springtime when asparagus is in season. And while I typically try to buy locally-grown produce (and by definition, in season) I sometimes make an exception for asparagus since it’s one of the few vegetables my kids actually ask for. This recipe is super simple and has loads of flavor.

8. Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan

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This Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan is a healthier and way less time-consuming spin on chicken parmesan. Use zucchini instead of chicken and bake it to perfection with marinara and cheese! When I’m staying away from dairy I’ll swap out the cheese with So Delicious shreds.

9. Sheet Pan Crispy Teriyaki Tofu and Broccoli

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We are getting our first cold spell of the season here in Chicago, and for me, that means cozy sweaters and take-out Chinese food (weird, I know). Since I’m trying to go easy on the DoorDash deliveries, I found this Sheet Pan Crispy Teriyaki Tofu and Broccoli that curbs my cravings. Even the non-tofu lovers in our house approved of this one.

10. Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi

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This vegan and dairy-free Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi is big on flavor without a lot of work. Simply roast some vegetables, heat up some broth, add gnocchi, pesto, and greens and enjoy.

11. Chipotle Portobello Tacos Sheet Pan Recipe

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This Chipotle Portobello Tacos Sheet Pan Recipe is one of my “fancier” sheet pan favorites and one that I recommend to friends that are trying out a more plant-based diet. If you are short on time you can swap out the Vegan Cilantro Crema and Pickled Onions with guacamole and roasted onions. But I have to say, it’s the crema and pickled onions that puts these tacos over the top.

12. Sheet-Pan Rosemary Potatoes with Mushrooms, White Beans and Kale

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I’m obsessed with these sheet-pan rosemary potatoes with mushrooms, white beans, and kale. Simply marinate the mushrooms in a balsamic rosemary sauce while the buttery fingerling potatoes are roasting. Prep your kale, add the mushrooms and white beans to the potatoes on the roasting pan until warm and dinner is done.

13. Roasted Greek Vegetables with Polenta

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This Roasted Greek Vegetables with Polenta recipe is perfect for my meal prepping on Sundays because it’s easy to make a big batch and divide into containers – and holds up well during the week. I use a tube of polenta when I have it on hand since it’s so easy, but I’ve also used quinoa if I’m trying to up my protein intake.

14. Sheet Pan Pizza

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So by now, you have probably figured out that I really like routines (it saves my sanity). Taco Tuesday, breakfast for dinner on Wednesday, and pizza on Friday. I learned this insanely delicious Sheet Pan Pizza recipe from Chef Billy Parisi and it makes me feel like I’m winning at life when I make it (I just use vegetables instead of the meat toppings). When the kids have friends over I make it into an activity and they customize their own.

15. Za’atar-Spiced Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner with Tahini Miso Sauce

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Keep this za’atar-spiced veggie sheet pan recipe on hand whenever you need to empty out the veggie bin since the tahini miso sauce is delicious on pretty much any kind of vegetable.

16. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella

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Four ingredients and on the table from start to finish in under 30 minutes. I always thought you had to boil gnocchi so I like them even better cooked in the oven. Add some fresh basil to this Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella and you’ve got yourself the perfect weeknight meal.

16 Plant-Based Sheet Pan Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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.

Do you cover sheet pan dinners? ›

Foil is the right choice when you're roasting at temperatures of 425°F (220°C) or higher. Unless it's labelled non-stick, foil needs greasing, and — surprise! — it makes no difference if the shiny side is up or down. Cover the baking sheet completely, including the sides and corners, to catch any mess.

How do you make a sheet pan for dinner? ›

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.

How long do sheet pan meals take to cook? ›

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.

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

Rimmed baking sheets are also colloquially known as sheet pans, baking sheets, or rimmed pans. They're sometimes also called by their size; most commonly a “half sheet” or “quarter sheet.”

When should you throw out sheet pans? ›

If your surface just does not hold the non-sticking power that it used to, it's time to get rid of it. The same goes for enamel-coated baking surfaces, too. In the case that you find any coating particles in your food, throw your pan away immediately.

Can you prep sheet pan meals ahead of time? ›

You can also prep components ahead and store in the fridge for up to 5 days, making it even easier! Sheet pan chicken fajitas with tender and juicy chicken, bell peppers, and onions tossed in a delicious homemade fajita seasoning. Ideal for meal prep or for a simple weeknight dinner.

Can you use foil for sheet pan dinners? ›

Aluminum foil and parchment paper are your friends.

Line the pan with either foil or parchment before cooking to help make clean-up easy! Remember: If you're broiling, do not use parchment paper, which can catch fire. Go with the foil, and mist it with cooking spray to prevent food from sticking.

What does Ina Garten use sheet pans for? ›

Garten reportedly uses half sheet pans for everything from cooking vegetables to baking brownies to roasting her famous “engagement chicken,” which even worked for Meghan Markle. And according to enthusiastic Amazon buyers, you can't go wrong with HeroFiber's version.

How many people does a sheet pan feed? ›

Generally, a full sheet cake can serve around 70 to 80 people, a half sheet cake serves about 36 to 48, and a quarter sheet cake caters to approximately 20 to 24 guests.

Can you use a casserole dish instead of a sheet pan? ›

The answer is yes, and we'll explain the difference between a glass and metal baking dish (besides the material they're made with, obviously).

What size pan for sheet pan dinners? ›

Buy a Commercial-Grade Half Sheet-Pan

The standard size for a half sheet-pan (or “rimmed baking sheet”) is 13"x18". All of the sheet-pan dinners we develop in the Test Kitchen are developed to fit perfectly on that size pan—try making one of those recipes on a smaller jelly roll pan or cookie sheet and it won't work.

Should you preheat a sheet pan? ›

Without preheating the baking sheet, ingredients that contain a lot of moisture will essentially start to steam in their own juices before they roast, softening and never quite developing that crispy exterior you want.

Can you deglaze a sheet pan? ›

It was, admittedly, a somewhat fussy extra step, but it didn't require any extra cookware, and deglazing the baking sheet gets you that much closer to cleaning it anyway. Plus, I wanted to see if it could be done. The answer was yes, and it opens up a fun avenue for future sheet-pan exploration.

What is a 1 2 sheet pan used for? ›

Measuring in at around 18 x 13 inches (and as small as 16 x 12 inches), this size typically fits comfortably into a home oven. Simple in design and offering a ton of versatility, it can be used for making cookies and crackers, creating sheet pan dinners, roasting vegetables and proteins, and much more.

What is the difference between 1 2 and 1 4 sheet pans? ›

What are the different sizes of sheet pans? Half sheet pans measure 18″ x 13″. Quarter sheet pans are 9″ x 13″.

What size pan is best for sheet cake? ›

Full Sheet Cake: Use a full-sheet cake pan, which usually measures around 18 x 24 inches. Half Sheet Cake: A half-sheet cake pan, approximately 12 x 16 inches, is the best way to bake this size of cake. Quarter Sheet Cake: For a quarter sheet cake, quarter-sheet cake pans, about 9 x 13 inches, are the ideal size pan.

Will a full size sheet pan fit in a regular oven? ›

Full sheet pans, the ones you see used in restaurant kitchens and commercial bakeries, are actually ginormous (26x18") and won't fit in most home kitchen ovens.

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