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? ›

In this guide, we'll use the 18-by-13-inch pan as our standard, though the quarter sheet pan, measuring about 9-by-13 inches, is terrific for smaller ovens or kitchens as well as for cooking several ingredients in the oven at once without letting the flavors bleed into one another.

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.

How do you keep sheet pan dinners from getting soggy? ›

Use the Right Kind of Pan

The size allows for ingredients to be spread out so you don't crowd the pan. (Crowded pans make for mushy meals because the ingredients steam instead of roast.) And the rim is low enough for heat to move across the ingredients to give them a crisp, brown, caramelized finish.

What are the benefits of sheet pan cooking? ›

Recipes usually involve permutations of protein, starch, and veg, and most proponents of the method cite relative affordability, approachability, and abundance (thanks to the sheet pan's surface area) as hallmarks of a sheet-pan recipe — pile everything onto one pan, and dinner will soon be on the table.

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

Although cookie sheets are often referred to as "baking sheets," there are differences between a cookie sheet and a baking sheet (also known as a baking sheet pan or simply a sheet pan): Baking sheet pans have rolled edges with a lip around the entire pan, whereas cookie sheets do not.

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.

Can you prep sheet pan meals ahead of time? ›

Here, you'll assemble dinner components in reusable containers or zip-top bags so during the week all you need to do is dump everything on sheet pan, maybe toss with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then bake. You'll also be ready to tackle the week with simple, ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch options.

Do you cover sheet pan meals with foil? ›

Foil to cover the pan when baking if needed. Use parchment paper instead of foil if your purpose is to keep the bottom of the pan cleaner. Wouldn't the oil, grease (if cooking meat), etc.

What is the best temperature to roast vegetables? ›

The perfect temperature– 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for most roasted vegetables. It allows for a crispy, perfectly browned exterior and a fork tender interior. But it will vary based on the types of veggies and oil used. If your veggies are not browning enough, try increasing the temperature.

Why does my sheet pan pop in the oven? ›

The metal of your sheet pan is at a cooler temperature than your hot oven. Metal expands as it heats. The large surface of your sheet pan will heat and expand faster than the short rimmed sides. This creates stress right where the flat base meets the raised lip, causing some pans to buckle or twist.

Why do my sheet pans warp in the oven? ›

Sheet pans are most prone to buckle due to the uneven expansion of the surfaces of the pan. Most sheet pans have turned-up continuous edges all around, so you have multiple surfaces, all expanding in the heat, with the greater the length the greater the amount of expansion.

Can you put food directly on sheet pan? ›

Just throw some chopped veggies and meat on a sheet pan, toss with oil and seasoning… voila? Well, done right, yes, sheet pan cooking can make your dinner prep so much easier.

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.

Should you clean sheet pans? ›

Grease, burnt-on bits of food, and basically any kind of debris left on your baking sheet after cooking count as grime that should be washed off.

What is the difference between 1 8 sheet pan and 1 4 sheet pan? ›

The quarter sheet pan is 9 1/2″ x 13″ (24 x 33cm) and the one-eighth pan clocks in at a mere 6″ x 9″ (13 x 23cm). If you're concerned about cooking on aluminum, which is an excellent – and even – conductor of heat, bakers line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

What is a 1 2 sheet pan used for? ›

We've told folks before that half-sheet pans (along with cooling racks) are the unsung heroes of the kitchen; they can be used to not only bake cookies, but also to roast vegetables, make sheet pan meals, dry brine chicken and turkey, rest meat, and so much more.

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

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.

What is a 1 4 sheet pan used for? ›

They're great for cooking for one, too, and can accommodate a single serving of protein for baking or roasting in the oven (or toaster oven!). I also like to use one to toast a handful of croutons for a single-serving salad.

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