Chicken Nugget Sheet Pan Dinner

This post has been sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sheet Pan Chicken Nuggets and Ranch Potato Wedges:

This sheet pan meal is loaded with flavor and ease and is something the whole family will enjoy. Perfect for those busy nights during back-to-school.

Tender potatoes, crispy vegetables, and delicious Tyson® Chicken Nuggets, all conveniently picked up from Safeway.  Cook together on a single sheet pan for a low mess, quick and easy dinner that has lots of protein and is sure to make the kids in your life smile.

With back-to-school coming up quickly, it is so important to have an arsenal of 30-minute meal ideas moms and kids both love!

When trying to adjust from the more relaxed summer routine, where bedtimes and meal times are not as structured, it important to establish routines and use hacks that make getting back into the groove a little easier.

Otherwise, it is a tough transition for kids and mom alike.

As a busy mom who loves sitting down to eat meals as a family, I am grateful for quick and convenient options like the variety of Tyson® products.

The convenient preparation and amount of protein make them perfect for breakfast, lunch, after-school snacks, and dinner on the busiest of days. Plus, my kids love them!

So today, I am going to share one of the simplest meals ever. It is a single sheet pan meal of vegetables, ranch potato wedges, and Tyson® Chicken Nuggets. It is flavorful, delicious and so easy to make!

Plus, the fact it is made on a sheet pan means low mess! The perfect meal for back-to-school.

Check out more recipes and tips/tricks as well as coupons at this Tyson® Back-To-School product page!

While I love making homemade meals from scratch, I always keep a supply of Tyson® Chicken Nuggets, and State Fair® Corn Dogs in the freezer for hectic nights. You know what nights I am talking about.

Whenever I am shopping at Safeway, I will hit up the freezer aisle to re-stock on my kids’ favorites. They love the sweet and savory State Fair® Corn Dogs, and I love the quick prep time, fun form, and low mess.

I also love that they are 100% beef! Such a great source of protein, especially since it is portable.

And the Tyson® Chicken Nuggets are always a hit. I love that they are a fun source of protein. They, too, are portable; you just heat and eat!

And I love that I can save money on them using the Safeway Mobile App!

If you haven’t downloaded the Safeway Mobile App, do it now. You can get great coupons and exclusive offers. It is amazing!

TIPS FOR SHEET PAN MEALS

Uniform Sizes: When chopping your potato wedges and broccoli up, you want to make sure the sizes of each piece are the same. If you don’t cut them the same size, they won’t cook at the same rate—which means some will cook faster and be done sooner, and some will cook slower.

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that will mean you end up with some overcooked and some undercooked food. Take time to do it right.

I know I spent time at Safeway selecting from the fresh produce to get great broccoli and potatoes, and I didn’t want to ruin them!

So, I took the time to cut the pieces into the same size. It isn’t perfect, but a little effort goes a long way.

Preheat Your Pan: Before putting the potatoes on, put the pan in the oven for 10 minutes so it is nice and hot when you add the potatoes, this will help them form a nice golden crust on one side, which means more flavor!

This is a little pro tip, and is not necessary, so if you are in a rush, skip it.

But if you remember to do it while chopping the potatoes and other veggies, it can make a difference.

Pat Food Dry: If you wash your veggies just before placing them on the sheet pan, make sure you pat them dry. A little oil is great; water, on the other hand, will make everything take longer to cook.

Why?

Because the oven will have to evaporate the moisture before it can cook the food. So save yourself time by patting veggies dry before adding them to the sheet pan.

I like to prep my veggies as soon as I get home from Safeway, washing and chopping everything so it is ready  for the week and I don’t waste as much.

This is also super helpful for those busy back-to-school nights. I prep when I have time so on the nights I don’t have time, the prep work is already done.

In this case, some of the veggies will already be dry, but I keep potatoes soaking in water so they do not brown, which means they would need to be patted dry before cooking.

Cook in Stages: If you want your sheet pan meal to turn out perfectly, whether you are making these Tyson® Chicken Nuggets with Ranch Potato Wedges and veggies or cooking vegetables with your State Fair® Corn Dogs, one of the important things to keep in mind is cooking time for the various ingredients.

Potatoes take a lot longer to cook and become tender than Tyson® Chicken Nuggets do.

Which means if you want to make this a sheet pan meal, you start your potatoes first, then add the nuggets and other items (vegetables) along the way in order for everything to cook through and finish at the same time.

Cooking in stages means everything gets finished at the same time, and nothing is over- or under-cooked.

Position Wisely: When you cook a sheet pan meal, it is important to position the food in the right places. The center of the pan has the most residual heat, so the things that take the longest to cook should be placed there.

The outsides reserved for delicate veggies, etc. that may not need as high of heat.

Don’t Overcrowd: Along the same lines as thoughtful food positioning, make sure you don’t overcrowd your pan. If you do, the moisture from the food won’t be able to evaporate and this will lead to soggy veggies, soggy potatoes, and worst of all, soggy nuggets!

And no one wants that. If you need to cook for a larger crowd, consider two sheet pans instead of one.

For this recipe, I used half the bag of Tyson® Chicken Nuggets, about 1 lb, and made sure to space everything out.

Test for Doneness: I have provided a recipe which I tested several times, but there are going to be lots of variables in how long it takes for your sheet pan meal to cook because of things like how accurate your oven temperature is, how hot or cold your climate is, whether or not the oven is opened often, how long it is left open as it may take longer to come back up to temp, how thick you cut the potatoes, and how thick you cut the veggies.

So keep in mind the times listed are estimates, but you should test the food.

• Are the potatoes soft?
• Are the Tyson® Chicken Nuggets hot and cooked through?
• Are the vegetables to your desired level of tenderness?

OTHER BUSY NIGHT MEALS

If your back-to-school season is as busy as mine, head to Safeway and stock your freezer with these quick grab options: Tyson® Chicken Nuggets and State Fair® Corn Dogs

The State Fair® Corn Dogs cook in under 20 minutes and are an ideal after school snack when you need something portable and fun!

Other Recipes:

• Low Calorie Sheet Pan Dinner: Shrimp & Asparagus
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
• Sweet and Sour Chicken (Sheet Pan)
• Sheet Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Chicken
• Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Potatoes