One Sheet Pan Summer Dinners That Are Easy and Elevated

When summer is in full swing, the last thing you want is a sink full of dishes or a complicated dinner plan. Enter: these four one-pan (or one-pot!) meals that deliver big flavor with minimal cleanup. They’re light, fresh, and elevated enough to serve guests—without the stress. From zesty shawarma chicken to buttery citrus salmon, each dish is a warm-weather weeknight win.

Here are four easy yet impressive dinners to add to your summer rotation:

One Pan Shawarma Chicken

A bold and cozy all-in-one dish that bakes right in the pan—spiced chicken, sautéed peppers, and fluffy rice, all infused with shawarma flavor.

One Pan Shawarma Chicken

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Course Main Course, Lunch, Dinner

Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients

  

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• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons shawarma spice divided
• pinch of salt and pepper to season
• 1 onion thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1/4 cup parsley chopped
• 1 lemon juiced (plus more for serving if desired)

Instructions

 

• Heat oven to 350.
• Heat a heavy bottomed or cast iron frying pan to medium-high heat and add oil. Once hot add chicken. Top with 1 tablespoon of shawarma spice, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread out evenly in one layer in the pan and let cook until golden. Mix until browned but chicken still remains uncooked inside. Remove chicken to a plate. Add more oil as needed then add onions and peppers. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes.
• Add rice to the pan and mix to toast for a few seconds then pour in the stock. Add in the remaining tablespoon of shawarma spice, a little pinch of salt and the parsley. Mix everything together and then add the chicken back in mixing it all together and nestling the chicken into the rice. Add the juice of the lemon, give it one more mix and bring mixture to a boil. Shut off flame and cover with lid.
• Place covered pan into the oven and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with more lemon if desired.

Keyword Chicken, One Pan, Shawarma

Serves: 4
Highlights: Spiced, hearty, and minimal cleanup

What You’ll Need:

• Boneless chicken breasts
• Shawarma spice blend
• Onion + red pepper
• Basmati rice
• Chicken or veggie stock
• Fresh lemon + parsley

How It Comes Together:
Sear the chicken with shawarma spices, then sauté the vegetables until soft. Stir in rice, stock, parsley, and lemon juice. Nestle the chicken back in, cover, and finish in the oven. The result? Perfectly seasoned chicken over fragrant, fluffy rice.

Honey Garlic Sheet Pan Kielbasa Dinner

Sweet and savory with just a hint of heat, this dish turns humble ingredients into a weeknight favorite.

Honey Garlic Sheet Pan Kielbasa Dinner

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Course Main Course, Lunch, Dinner

Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients

  

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• 2, 12 ounce beef or turkey kielbasa links
• 1 medium sized head green cabbage chopped
• 2 whole roasted sweet potatoes diced
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Slice the kielbasa links into bite sized pieces. Add the sliced kielbasa, chopped cabbage, and diced sweet potatoes to a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, minced garlic, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Pour the honey sauce over the mixture and toss until well combined.
• Roast for about 20-25 minutes, stirring once.
• Turn the oven to broil and broil for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice to get crispy edges over the entire sheet pan.
• Serve with hot sauce.

Keyword One Pan, Garlic, honey, Summer

Serves: 4
Highlights: Sweet, garlicky, and great with hot sauce

What You’ll Need:

• Kielbasa (turkey or beef)
• Green cabbage
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Honey + garlic
• Olive oil

How It Comes Together:
Toss sliced kielbasa, cabbage, and sweet potatoes in a honey-garlic glaze, roast until caramelized, then broil for those irresistible crispy edges. Don’t skip a drizzle of hot sauce before serving!

One Pot Cherry Tomato Spaghetti Pasta

This pasta practically makes itself—everything simmers in one pot until the noodles are perfectly coated and tender.

One Pot Cherry Tomato Spaghetti Pasta

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Course Lunch

Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients

  

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• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 pound spaghetti noodles or gluten free noodles
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
• ½ cup kalamata olives halved
• ⅓ cup capers
• ½ medium yellow onion thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pinch red pepper flakes if desired
• 5 cups water
• ½ cup chopped basil plus more for serving
• 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded or grated (or vegan parmesan)

Instructions

 

• In a large pot over high heat, add all of the ingredients except the basil and parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente and most of the water has evaporated and absorbed. Make sure to leave the lid off of the pot so the water is able to partially evaporate.
• Add basil and parmesan cheese and stir to combine. Serve immediately with extra basil, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Keyword Spaghetti, Tomato, Pasta, Cherry

Serves: 4
Highlights: Bright, briny, and effortless

What You’ll Need:

• Spaghetti (or gluten-free noodles)
• Cherry tomatoes
• Olives + capers
• Onion + garlic
• Fresh basil + parmesan

How It Comes Together:
Add everything to a pot (yes, even the pasta) and simmer uncovered until the water mostly evaporates and creates a flavorful sauce. Stir in basil and parmesan, and you’re done in under 15 minutes.

Marinated Sheet Pan Salmon with Citrus

Restaurant-worthy and stunning enough for guests, this citrus-roasted salmon is as fresh and beautiful as it is simple.

Marinated Sheet Pan Salmon

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Course Dinner, Main Course, Lunch, Protien

Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients

  

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• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• Pinch salt and pepper
• 2 pounds whole salmon filet
• 1 lemon sliced
• 1 large tangerine sliced
• 1 cara cara orange sliced

Instructions

 

• Whisk together all ingredients except the salmon, then add the salmon and cover with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for a few hours before baking.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay half of the sliced citrus in the center. Place the whole salmon filet over the citrus and cover with the remaining sliced citrus. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, depending on thickness of the salmon, until cooked through.

Keyword Salmon, Lemon, Marinated

Serves: 4
Highlights: Bright, elegant, and only 5 minutes of prep

What You’ll Need:

• Whole salmon filet
• Olive oil, honey, dijon mustard
• Garlic, salt + pepper
• Sliced lemon, tangerine, and cara cara orange

How It Comes Together:
Marinate your salmon ahead of time for extra flavor. When ready, lay the citrus on a sheet pan, place the fish on top, and roast until tender and flaky. It’s a total showstopper with zero fuss.

These are the kind of meals I turn to again and again—seasonal, simple, and packed with flavor. Whether you’re feeding your family or hosting friends, these one-pan recipes make summer cooking feel relaxed and rewarding. Loving these recipes? There’s SO MANY MORE in our archives, don’t miss out! Subscribe to become a member of Prep and Rally today.  Let me know which one you try first—and don’t forget to tag @prepandrally so I can see your creations.