When life gets chaotic (hello weeknight practices, weekend activities, homework and trying to remember to switch the laundry) dinner needs to be simple. These 5 dinner recipes are true time-savers - minimal prep, minimal dirty dishes and maximum stomach satisfaction! An added bonus are two equally easy recipes for breakfast and dessert to round out the week of meal time simplicity.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Total Time: 30 minutes

Why we love it: Everything cooks together, and kids love building their own fajitas

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs chicken breast, sliced
• 3 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 packet taco or fajita seasoning
• Tortillas + lime + sour cream (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Spread chicken and veggies on a sheet pan.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle seasoning over everything.
4. Toss, then bake 20–22 minutes.
5. Serve with warm tortillas and toppings.

Mom Tip: Swap chicken for shrimp and bake only 10 minutes!

One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini

Total time: 20 minutes
Why it works: Minimal ingredients + one pot = no-brainer on busy nights

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jar marinara
• 2 cups chicken or veggie broth
• 1 package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Parmesan + basil

Directions

1. In a large pot, sauté garlic in olive oil for 1 min.
2. Add marinara, broth, and tortellini.
3. Bring to a simmer and cook 5–7 minutes.
4. Stir in cream and simmer 2 minutes more.
5. Top with Parmesan and basil.

Mom Tip: Add spinach at the end — it wilts in seconds and boosts nutrition.

Sheet Pan Salmon & Broccoli

Total time: 25 minutes
Why it works: Healthy, fast, and while the sauce is often a kid-pleaser, it's easy to alter. We make it with just lemon, butter and garlic as a family-pleasing alternative

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Place salmon on one side of a sheet pan, broccoli on the other.
3. Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, and lemon.
4. Brush salmon heavily and drizzle remaining over broccoli.
5. Bake 15–18 minutes.

Mom Tip: Swap broccoli for green beans or asparagus, depending on kid preferences.

One-Pot Chicken & Rice

Total time: 35 minutes
Why it works: Comfort food with zero fuss — and easy to reheat

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb chicken thighs or breasts, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 ½ cups uncooked rice
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. Sauté chicken in olive oil until lightly browned.
2. Add onion and carrots; cook 3 minutes.
3. Add rice, broth, and seasonings.
4. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 20 minutes.
5. Fluff with a fork and serve.

Mom Tip: Stir in frozen peas during the last 5 minutes — no chopping required

Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes & Veggies

Total time: 30–35 minutes
Why it works: Zero measuring, no complicated ingredients — just toss and cook

Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked sausage or Italian sausage, sliced
• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Spread all ingredients on a sheet pan.
3. Toss with olive oil and seasonings.
4. Bake 30–35 minutes, stirring halfway.

Mom Tip: Use pre-chopped veggies from the grocery store to save even more time

Bonus Recipes! Busy weekend? Holiday visitors? These simple recipes for a crowd-pleasing breakfast and dessert are worth a try.

Sheet Pan Pancakes (Breakfast)

Total time: 20 minutes
Why it works: No flipping, no batches — everyone eats hot pancakes at the same time.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pancake mix (any brand)
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp melted butter or oil
• Optional toppings: blueberries, chocolate chips, sliced bananas, sprinkles

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Mix pancake batter until smooth.
3. Pour onto a greased or parchment-lined sheet pan.
4. Add toppings in rows so each kid gets the flavor they want.
5. Bake 12–14 minutes until lightly golden.
6. Slice into squares and serve with syrup.

Mom Tip: Freeze leftover individual squares for grab-and-go school morning breakfasts.

Sheet Pan Berry Crisp (Dessert)

Total time: 30 minutes
Why it works: It's a dessert that basically makes itself after tossing it all on a pan, and kids love making the crumble

Ingredients

• 4 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen — no need to thaw)
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 6 tbsp butter, softened
• Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Spread berries on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Toss with sugar and lemon juice.
3. In a bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon until crumbly.
4. Sprinkle topping evenly over berries.
5. Bake 20–25 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

Mom Tip: Serve with vanilla ice cream and watch it disappear in seconds.