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A colorful plate with a balanced back-to-school dinner, featuring chicken nuggets, broccoli florets, and sweet potato fries, ready for a child.

Back To School Dinner Ideas

This easy sheet pan chicken and vegetable dinner is perfect for busy weeknights, offering a complete meal with minimal cleanup. Featuring tender chicken, roasted potatoes, broccoli, and bell pepper, all seasoned and baked to perfection.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 lb baby potatoes quartered
  • 1 head broccoli cut into florets
  • 1 red bell pepper cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 lemon half thinly sliced, half for juice
  • fresh parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the quartered baby potatoes, broccoli florets, and red bell pepper pieces.
  3. Add the chicken pieces to the same bowl with the vegetables.
  4. Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken and vegetables. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  5. Toss everything together until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.
  6. Spread the chicken and vegetables in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Arrange the lemon slices among the ingredients.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C) and the vegetables are tender-crisp. Flip the ingredients halfway through baking to ensure even cooking.
  8. Once cooked, remove from the oven. Squeeze the juice from the remaining half lemon over the entire sheet pan.
  9. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Feel free to customize this sheet pan meal with your favorite vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or sweet potatoes. For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the seasonings.