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Turkey is something many of us only eat once a year (more than once if you’re counting all the meals from leftovers!) But if you don’t want to cook a huge turkey, you might prefer this sheet pan turkey breast dinner instead. You still get all the flavor and deliciousness of cooking a whole bird and sides, but with a simpler method.
If you only like dark meat, you might want a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but if you’re looking for all the flavor with something simpler, this sheet pan try this.
Also try honey garlic pork chops or a sheet pan ham dinner with red skin mashed potatoes, or this garlic and herb stuffing (perfect with turkey!)
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: There are so many different dishes that can be cooked on a sheet pan, and they’re popular because they’re so simple. If you can put your ingredients on a sheet pan and put that in the oven, then you can make delicious sheet pan recipes such as this easy Thanksgiving dinner or something else like sheet pan ham dinner or one of these popular sheet pan dishes.
Tasty: Thanksgiving is largely about the food, and this sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner means you can expect a wealth of flavor and all the classic Thanksgiving dinner ingredients including homemade stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes and, the star of the day, turkey!
Versatile: You can change any of the components of this sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner you want, to customize it perfectly to everyone’s taste. Perhaps you want regular potatoes instead of sweet, or another kind of vegetable instead of green beans. It’s your recipe so make it your way!
Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Bread cubes: For the stuffing.
Onion and celery: To flavor the stuffing.
Sage and thyme: These herbs are delicious in the stuffing mixture.
Turkey breast: I like to use skin-on, boneless turkey.
Sage and garlic: To flavor the turkey breast.
Green beans: To add color, nutrients and flavor to the dish.
Sweet potatoes: For sweetness and festive flavor.
Maple syrup and marshmallows: To add a fun sweetness to the sweet potatoes.
How to Make Sheet Pan Turkey and Sides
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Dry out the brioche bread: Bake the bread cubes (for the stuffing) in the oven until dried out. You can omit this step if your bread is a bit stale since it will be dry already.
Cook the turkey breast: Coat the turkey breast with butter, sage, garlic, and some salt and pepper, then cook for 45 minutes.
Prepare the stuffing: Melt the butter in a pan and sauté the onion and celery, then mix in the bread, broth, sage, thyme, and some kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, and put the prepared stuffing on the baking sheet next to the turkey.
Prepare the green beans: Toss the beans in oil and add then to the sheet pan, then bake for 15 minutes.
Cook the sweet potatoes: Microwave the sweet potatoes (pierce them first!) until tender, then cut into halves.
The finishing touches: Brush the butter and maple syrup over each sweet potato and add marshmallows on top. Add them to the sheet pan, cook until the marshmallow are golden, and then serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Turkey: You can use chicken instead, either breast or thighs.
Adjust the sweetness: You might like to omit the maple syrup and/or marshmallows from the maple glazed sweet potatoes if you prefer them less sweet.
Green beans: Swap the green beans for Brussels sprouts or another vegetable.
Serving Suggestions
With condiments: This is a meal-in-one, so all you have to add is your condiments, such as cranberry sauce and so on.
With another vegetable side option: Sheet pan roasted carrots (if you have enough sheet pans!) or gouda cream cheese corn would be good.
With a salad: Enjoy charred zucchini salad or a simple parmesan and lemon salad on the side.
How to Store Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner
Store: Leftovers will keep for 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months if you like, preferably in portions so you can only thaw what you need.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: The microwave is the easiest way to warm your Thanksgiving dinner back up.
Top Tips
Dry the bread: Before you start cooking, place the bread cubes in the oven at 300 degrees F and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. This is an easy way to quickly dry out your bread cubes.
Use multiple sheet pans: You can use 1 or 2 sheet pans to make this meal. If you use 2, I recommend using one for the turkey breasts and the other one for the rest of the ingredients.
Cooking time: Depending on the size of your turkey breasts, you may need to add more cooking time. A general rule is 30 minutes per pound.
Checking the doneness: I recommend using an instant-read internal thermometer to ensure proper cooking. Turkey should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
Use real maple syrup: Real maple syrup works best for the sweet potatoes.
Turkey Breast Sheet Pan Dinner FAQs
It depends on the size of your sheet pans (here), so one large one or maybe two medium sized ones (one for the turkey and the other for the rest). Also, ensure you’re using sheet pans with a deep rim. You don’t want the juices from the meat spilling over a low rim and making your oven messy.
To reduce the carb count, you can omit the marshmallows and swap regular maple syrup for the sugar-free kind. You could even swap the sweet potatoes for Brussels sprouts or another vegetable side.
The best way to figure this out is to give the turkey 30 minutes per pound, and then check it’s 165 degrees F in the center.
Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner Recipe
Sheet Pan Turkey Breast Dinner
Equipment
- Baking Sheet with High Rims
- Skillet Large
Ingredients
For the Stuffing:
- 4 Cups bread cubes, brioche, dried in the oven – see notes
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ white onion, medium, diced
- 2 Ribs celery, diced
- ¼ Cup chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon sage, chopped, fresh
- 1 Tablespoon thyme, chopped, fresh
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
For the Turkey:
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 ½ Tablespoons sage, chopped, fresh
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ Teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ Teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
- 2 boneless turkey breasts, 2 to 3 Pounds, skin-on,
For the Green Beans:
- 1 Pound green beans, fresh
- 1 ½ Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ Teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
For the Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 sweet potatoes, small or medium
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 Cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
Prepare the Turkey:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray 1 or 2 large-rimmed baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, combine butter, sage, garlic, salt and pepper. Using your fingers, carefully spread the butter mixture on top and under the skin of both turkey breasts. Place them onto a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
Prepare the Stuffing:
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onions and celery, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion and celery mixture, dried bread crumbs, chicken broth, sage, and thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir until the chicken broth is absorbed and well combined. Place the stuffing mixture onto one side of the prepared baking sheet with the turkey breasts.
Prepare the Green Beans:
- Place green beans in a single layer onto the baking sheet. Toss in olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
- Place the sheet pan with the turkey breasts, stuffing, and green beans back into the oven for 15 minutes.
Prepare the Sweet Potatoes:
- Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork and place into the microwave for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Cut the potatoes down the center lengthwise.
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together the melted butter and maple syrup. Brush the inside of each sweet potato with the melted butter mixture and place marshmallows on top.
- Place the sweet potatoes onto the sheet pan in a single layer. Place into oven and bake until the marshmallows just start to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Slice the turkey and serve immediately.
Notes
Use multiple sheet pans: You can use 1 or 2 sheet pans to make this meal. If you use 2, I recommend using one for the turkey breasts and the other one for the rest of the ingredients.
Cooking time: Depending on the size of your turkey breasts, you may need to add more cooking time. A general rule is 30 minutes per pound.
Checking the doneness: I recommend using an instant-read internal thermometer to ensure proper cooking. Turkey should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
Use real maple syrup: Real maple syrup works best for the sweet potatoes.
Nutrition
This year, why not make your whole Thanksgiving dinner on a sheet pan? All the delicious components are there, the turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and green beans, and both prep time and cleanup afterwards are reduced. This recipe would be great for Thanksgiving, Christmas or whenever you’re in the mood for a comfort food style dish with turkey breast.
Other Recipes to Try
- For a twist on a classic, try Air Fryer Whiskey, Sausage, and Cranberry Stuffing.
- These Sheet Pan Crab Legs make for a luxurious seafood feast at home.
- Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup is packed with hearty ingredients.
- And this Stuffed Turkey Breast is a really special, flavorful dish.
- Simplify breakfast with Easy Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This was one of the easiest dinners I’ve made, and it was so good. Win-win!
So easy and flavorful! I will make this again when my relatives come over next week! 😋😋
One of the easiest and most delicious recipes I’ve tried recently. Two thumbs up!
Found myself a new dinner favorite! Definitely a new go-to at home.