Dinner’s in the Pan
It’s nearly impossible these days to look at any websites related to healthy eating and not come across sheet pan dinners. I wanted to find out why they had become so popular, and decided to share what I found with our readers.
A sheet pan is generally a fancy name for a cookie sheet. However, you want to make sure that the pan you want to use has a small raised rim on all four sides and is made of a fairly heavy metal. Most home ovens will accommodate a pan that is 18 by 13 inches. This is the size of a standard cookie sheet, and is also referred to as a half sheet pan. You can also use a quarter sheet pan, which is 9 by 13 inches. I imagine you could also use a 9 by 13 inch cake pan. This might be especially helpful for those who have difficulty keeping things level, or who have hand tremors.
Essentially, a sheet pan meal is comprised of protein, vegetables, and whatever seasonings and flavorings you want. You can follow recipes, or create your own. I made shrimp fajitas, and they came out fantastic. I skipped the tortillas, and just enjoyed the shrimp and veggie goodness. (Tip: to jump directly to the recipe, search for the words “red onion,” and you’ll be at the top of the ingredients list.
Once I make one kind of recipe, I like to get creative and try other variations. I found lots of wonderful suggestions at this page on how to make a sheet pan dinner.
With a little preparation, you can toss together a delicious meal in minutes, and let your oven do most of the work. And if you are limited for time or do not feel comfortable cutting up vegetables, your supermarket can be a good source for fresh or frozen vegetables that have already been prepared. If you don’t find them already bagged, consider checking out the salad bar.
If you have a sheet pan recipe or method you love, we’d be happy to hear from you. Just contact us by visiting our website.