Do you ever want to eat something healthy, but you just have no energy left in the day? I’ve got you! This is one of my favorite go-to, healthy 30 minute dinner ideas when my energy is running low. Whilst I enjoy this any time of the week, this is especially a lifesaver after a long day of work / etc. midweek when I’m trying to not give into ordering take out. I give you: Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon, Veggies, and Potatoes.
The Short “Recipe” for Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon, Veggies, and Potatoes
This healthy dinner idea is so easy you don’t really need a recipe. Since I know some of you prefer recipe format, you can get that at the end of this blog post.
For those of you who want the quick, less-detailed version, here’s how to make this Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon, Veggies, and Potatoes meal idea:
- Pre-heat the oven to 425 F.
- Place 1) salmon filet and 2) chopped potatoes + veggies on two parchment lined baking sheets.
- Top salmon with spices of choice.
- Toss potatoes with a drizzle of EVOO and spices of choice. Repeat with veggies.
- Bake for about 20-25* minutes, until the salmon, veggies, and potatoes are cooked to your liking.
*Note: Your salmon likely needs far less cooking. See Salmon FAQ for details. However, I’m lazy and also I like well done salmon. So I bake both sheets at the same time and for the same length to keep things simple. I’m a woman cooking after a long work day, not a chef, so don’t come for me. Lol! Please adjust to your preferences.
Why I Make This Meal on Repeat
This is literally one of my go-to meals when I want to eat healthy but don’t want to cook for myself. Here’s why:
- Easy Clean-Up: Everything is cooked on a baking sheet topped with parchment paper for easy clean-up. No sink full of pots and pans for me!
- 5-Minute Prep: Whilst you do have to chop the potatoes and some veggies, it really only takes about 5 minutes to prep this and then the oven does the work – you don’t have to stand at the stove and stir something or watch it. Just flip once halfway through and then eat when it’s done. So simple!
- Mindset Refresh: I tell myself that cutting the vegetables and potatoes is my chance to let my mind breathe and see it as a relaxing part of the process, and it makes it more enjoyable.
- Time-Efficient: Since the oven does the work, this means I can multi-task (or take a TV / relaxation break) while the food is cooking. I’ll often make this after an evening workout, so I can do a quick rinse off shower or clean up dishes from lunch while the food is cooking. Very efficient!
- Simple Ingredients: Since the flavoring / cooking ingredients are EVOO and spices, I don’t have to buy a thousand ingredients to make this, which keeps this nice and easy.
So basically this requires about 5 minutes of work, and I get a yummy, healthy, nourishing dinner that tastes great.
It’s such a winner!
FAQ + Tips on Baking Salmon
What spices are good in baked salmon?
I’ve been roasting salmon for a very long time, and I have some go-to favorites:
- Old Bay (this has salt in it, so you don’t need to add extra salt) – shout out to my friend Meghan who introduced me to this
- Dried dill + salt + pepper (get a full recipe for Dill Roasted Salmon here with pictures)
- Blackening seasoning (I’ve enjoyed the “Organic Seafood Seasoning Blackened” by Frontier Co-Op that I found on sale at Whole Foods)
Want another option that isn’t based on spices? Try this Lemon-Roasted Salmon Recipe here.
How long to bake salmon at 425 degrees F?
It generally takes about 10-12 minutes to bake salmon per inch of thickness. So this will depend on your salmon. Personally, to keep things simple, I often bake the salmon at the same time as the veggies and potatoes. This results in well-done salmon, but I actually like it that way
Which is better: farm raised on wild?
Ever since I learned that farm raised salmon is often actually gray and only *dyed* to the vibrant orange color we love, I’ve been skeptical about farm raised salmon. Wild is generally considered better because not only is it not filled with dyes, it is typically more nutrient-dense. That being said, I do find some farm raised can be pretty good. For example, I spoke with the fish monger at Whole Foods and learned enough about their farm raised salmon to be comfortable eating it. Let me know if you want more details on this – it could be a whole blog post on its own!
Should you bake salmon on aluminum foil or parchment paper?
Personally, I’ve heard that aluminum can seep into your food if you use aluminum foil, so I go for parchment. Additionally, I no longer use cooking spray, so I like that you don’t need any additional sprays or oils since the salmon will not stick to parchment paper.
FAQ + Tips on Baking Veggies and Potatoes
Which veggies are best for roasting?
I’ve been roasting veggies for YEARS! It’s just so easy and they come out really delicious. It’s a great way to get your veggie servings in.
My personal favorite vegetables to roast are:
- Brussels sprouts (as featured in this meal)
- Caulifower
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Carrots
What spices are good on roasted veggies and potatoes?
This is where I love switching up the flavor profile of my roasted veggies and potatoes. Simply by changing which spices you use, you can make roasted veggies and potatoes again and again and make them taste a little different every time!
Here are some of my fave spices for roasted veggies:
- Garlic granules + paprika + salt + pepper
- Ajika Spices (this is a Georgian spice blend – I found mine at Trader Joe’s)
- Mt Elbert’s by Savory Spice Shop
Here are some of my fave spices for roasted potatoes:
- Garlic granules + paprika + salt + pepper
- Homestead Seasoning by Savory Spice Shop
- Dill Pickle Blend by Trader Joe’s
- Ranch Blend by Trader Joe’s
- Mt Elbert’s by Savory Spice Shop
Let me know if you want me to make a full blog post on roasting veggies, complete with cooking times per vegetable and additional veggie ideas to roast.
Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon, Veggies, and Potatoes (Healthy 30 Minute Dinner Idea)
Description
This is so easy, it’s barely a recipe. Save this easy dinner idea for when you want something healthy and delicious but are running low on energy after a long day. This Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon, Veggies, and Potatoes “Recipe” only takes 5 minutes to prep. After that, the oven does the work. All you have to do is toss the veggies and potatoes halfway through cooking. So simple! It’s a weeknight dinner winner!
Ingredients
- Salmon filet (approximately 6 ounces)
- 1 medium red potato, chopped into cubes (about 1/2 cup)
- 3/4 cup veggies of choice (I used brussels sprouts)
- Spices for salmon (I used about 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay)
- 1/2 tablespoon, plus 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Spices for potatoes (I used about 1/4 teaspoon Homestead Seasoning – but it depends how strong your spices are)
- Spices for veggies (I used a mix of garlic granules, salt, and pepper – about 1/4 teaspoon – but it depends how strong your spices are)
Instructions
- Pre-Heat the oven to 425 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place salmon filet on one baking sheet and chopped potatoes and veggies in separate piles on the other.
- Sprinkle salmon filet with spices of choice until the top is evenly coated (see Salmon FAQ or recipe for suggestions).
- Drizzle potatoes and veggies with EVOO – 1/2 tablespoon each. Sprinkle spices of choice over potatoes and veggies. Use your hands to toss each pile separately to evenly spread the oil and spices.
- Bake for about 20-25* minutes, tossing the potatoes and veggies halfway through cooking, until the salmon, veggies, and potatoes are cooked to your liking. Note: if you don’t like your salmon well done or have more energy than I typically do when I make this, feel free to cook the salmon for less time. Salmon typically takes about 10-12 minutes per inch, but that’s too much work for me. I told you this is one of my lazy meals! Lol!
Notes
- Personally, I don’t measure my spices – I eyeball how much to use. The amount you need really depends on how strong the spices you want to use are. I find it’s best to go a little lighter than you think you need. And adjust next time!
- Spice recommendations: See blog post for additional options beyond this recipe).
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More Easy Dinner Ideas to Love
Thank you for stopping by and checking out my blog post about Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon, Veggies, and Potatoes (Healthy 30 Minute Dinner Idea).
Let’s share ideas with each other! What spices, spice blends, etc. have you tried with this easy dinner idea? Comment below!