Sheet Pan : A festive, frightfully fun sheet-pan dinner that brings spooky vibes to the table with minimal cleanup perfect for busy Halloween nights and hungry ghouls alike.
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Ultimate Spooky Sheet Pan Dinner
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
A festive, frightfully fun sheet-pan dinner that brings spooky vibes to the table with minimal cleanup—perfect for busy Halloween nights and hungry ghouls alike.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken thighs or drumsticks (or plant-based protein for a vegetarian spin)
- 1 lb (450 g) baby potatoes, halved
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 small orange bell pepper, cut into strips (Jack-o’-lantern accents)
- 1 red onion, sliced into rings (makes “moon” shapes)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp dried rosemary or thyme (optional)
- Black olive slices for spooky eyes
- Mini mozzarella balls or halved cherry tomatoes for “eyeball” pops
- Optional: a drizzle of sriracha or BBQ sauce “blood”
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 °F (220 °C). Line a sheet pan with parchment or foil.
- Season the chicken (or substitute) with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and dried herbs.
- Arrange seasoned chicken, halved potatoes, broccoli florets, bell pepper strips, and onion rings on the sheet pan—grouping similar cook-time items together.
- Roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Toss veggies, then return to oven for another 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165 °F / 74 °C internal) and potatoes are tender and golden.
- Create spooky faces: top veggies with olive slice “eyes” or mozzarella/cherry tomato “eyeballs.” Drizzle with a scarlet effect using sriracha or BBQ sauce for extra eerie charm.
- Serve straight from the pan—with haunted delights on every plate!
Notes
Even Cooking: Put thicker items (like chicken) at one end and quicker-cooking veggies on the other.
Crisp Finish: Flip ingredients halfway through roasting to ensure even browning.
Use Two Pans: For larger crowds or better airflow, split ingredients between two sheet pans.
Flavor Pop: Sprinkle fresh herbs or lemon zest just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sheet Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: halloween, sheet pan, spooky dinner, easy dinner, one pan meal
At a Glance
- Servings: 4–6
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Total Time: ~55 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Estimated Cost: $
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken thighs or drumsticks (or plant-based protein for a vegetarian spin)
- 1 lb (450 g) baby potatoes, halved
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 small orange bell pepper, cut into strips (Jack-o’-lantern accents)
- 1 red onion, sliced into rings (makes “moon” shapes)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp dried rosemary or thyme (optional)
- Halloween Touches:
- Black olive slices for spooky eyes
- Mini mozzarella balls or halved cherry tomatoes for “eyeball” pops
- Optional: a drizzle of sriracha or BBQ sauce “blood”
Swaps & Notes:
- Swap chicken for tofu or cauliflower for a vegetarian version.
- Use sweet potatoes for added fall flavor.
- For gluten‑free, ensure spices and sauces are certified GF.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 °F (220 °C). Line a sheet pan with parchment or foil.
- Season the chicken (or substitute) with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and dried herbs.
- Arrange seasoned chicken, halved potatoes, broccoli florets, bell pepper strips, and onion rings on the sheet pan—grouping similar cook‑time items together.
- Roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Toss veggies, then return to oven for another 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165 °F / 74 °C internal) and potatoes are tender and golden.
- Create spooky faces: top veggies with olive slice “eyes” or mozzarella/cherry tomato “eyeballs.” Drizzle with a scarlet effect using sriracha or BBQ sauce for extra eerie charm.
- Serve straight from the pan—with haunted delights on every plate!
Pro Tips & Variations
- Even Cooking: Put thicker items (like chicken) at one end and quicker‑cooking veggies on the other.
- Crisp Finish: Flip ingredients halfway through roasting to ensure even browning
- Use Two Pans: For larger crowds or better airflow, split ingredients between two sheet pans.
- Flavor Pop: Sprinkle fresh herbs or lemon zest just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a side of “creepy” garlic bread or warm dinner rolls.
- Add Halloween-themed garnishes like carrot “fingers” or beetroot “blood splatter.”
- Offer a dipping bowl of ‘monster sauce’ (ranch dyed green with avocado or pesto).
Storage & Reheatin
- Storage: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350 °F (175 °C) for 10–15 minutes to retain crispness. The microwave works too, but veggies may soften.
Troubleshooting
- Potatoes still hard? Parboil for 5 minutes before roasting.
- Veggies over-cooked? Reduce initial roast time or remove early.
- Chicken dry? Use bone-in pieces or drizzle pan juices back over before serving.