Effortless One-Sheet Pan Garlic Citrus Chicken with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes: Your Ultimate Healthy Weeknight Dinner

Tender, succulent garlic and citrus chicken, perfectly roasted alongside vibrant Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes – all prepared on a single sheet pan! This isn’t just a meal; it’s a weeknight revelation. Imagine a complete, healthy dinner with a main dish and two delicious sides, ready in under an hour, and requiring only one pan to clean. It’s the ultimate solution for busy evenings when you crave home-cooked goodness without the usual culinary fuss.

Embrace the Magic of One-Sheet Pan Dinners

For those who cherish simplicity and efficiency in the kitchen, one-sheet pan meals are nothing short of culinary magic. This concept has truly revolutionized dinner time for countless home cooks, and for good reason. The ability to combine your protein and all your side dishes onto a single baking sheet, slide it into the oven, and emerge with a perfectly cooked, flavorful meal less than an hour later is incredibly appealing. Forget juggling multiple pots and pans; this method streamlines the entire cooking process from prep to cleanup. It’s truly a game-changer, allowing you more time to relax and enjoy your meal rather than being tethered to the stovetop.

Today, we’re diving into a recipe that perfectly embodies this philosophy: a vibrant Garlic and Citrus Chicken dish, complemented by roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. This particular combination is designed not just for convenience, but for an explosion of flavors, especially when fresh citrus fruits are at their peak. The bright notes of lemon, orange, and lime infuse the chicken with an incredible aroma and tenderness, while the roasting process caramelizes the vegetables to perfection. This healthier, winter-appropriate adaptation of our beloved one-sheet pan recipes promises comfort and zest in every bite.

Why This Garlic Citrus Chicken Recipe Will Be Your New Favorite

This sheet pan garlic citrus chicken stands out for several compelling reasons, making it a go-to choice for home cooks looking for healthy, flavorful, and incredibly easy meals:

• Health-Conscious Choice: Packed with lean protein from the chicken and a bounty of nutrients from the Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, this meal is naturally wholesome and balanced. The fresh citrus not only adds incredible flavor but also boosts your vitamin intake, making it a nutritious option for the whole family.
• Unbeatable Flavor and Texture: The star of this dish is undoubtedly the chicken. Marinated in a bright blend of lemon, orange, lime, and garlic, the chicken emerges from the oven incredibly tender, juicy, and infused with a delightful zesty aroma. We’ve tested this with both dark meat (thighs, drumsticks) and white meat (bone-in breasts) to ensure consistently succulent results across the board. Whether you prefer the richness of dark meat or the lean profile of white meat, you’ll find the chicken cooked to perfection, practically falling off the bone. Yes, it’s so tender and moist – a quality often hard to achieve but guaranteed with this method!
• Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact: True to the one-sheet pan philosophy, this recipe demands minimal active cooking time. Once prepped, simply pop it in the oven and let it do its thing. There’s no need for constant flipping, stirring, or “babysitting” the ingredients. This hands-off approach makes it perfect for those hectic weeknights when every minute counts, freeing you up to tackle other tasks or simply unwind.
• Effortless Cleanup: The single sheet pan means significantly less washing up afterwards. For even easier cleanup, you can line your baking sheet with heavy-duty foil or parchment paper. More time savoring, less time scrubbing – that’s a win-win in our book! This aspect alone makes it a favorite for busy households.

The Secret to Perfectly Tender & Flavorful Chicken: Marination

The key to achieving that incredibly tender and deeply flavorful citrus chicken lies in one simple yet crucial step: marination. A robust marinade, combining the bright zest and juice of lemons, oranges, and limes with pungent minced garlic, a touch of sweetness (sugar, agave, or honey), red pepper flakes for a hint of warmth, salt, pepper, and olive oil, transforms ordinary chicken pieces into culinary delights. You’ll notice all the beautiful flecks of citrus zest clinging to the chicken, promising an aromatic experience that awakens your senses even before the first bite.

This marinade not only infuses the chicken with phenomenal flavor, penetrating deep into the meat, but also helps to tenderize it. The acidity from the citrus gently breaks down the fibers, ensuring every bite is moist and enjoyable. While a quick 20-minute soak is sufficient, allowing the chicken to marinate for a longer period – up to 24 hours – will yield even more profound, complex flavors. This flexibility makes it an ideal candidate for meal prepping. Marinate your chicken on Sunday, and you’ll have a quick-assembly dinner ready for Monday night, turning a 60-minute recipe into a mere 30-minute affair on a busy weeknight. Even if you’re scrambling last-minute, the minimum marinating time works wonders, making this a truly versatile recipe for any schedule.

Choosing Your Vegetables: Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

For this recipe, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are chosen for their excellent compatibility with citrus flavors and their ability to roast beautifully alongside the chicken within the same timeframe, creating a cohesive and flavorful meal on one pan.

• Brussels Sprouts: These often-misunderstood vegetables truly shine when roasted. Their slightly bitter notes mellow and transform into a sweet, nutty flavor, which perfectly complements the bright, tangy citrus juices from the chicken. Moreover, Brussels sprouts are sturdy enough to withstand the 30-minute roasting period without becoming mushy, ensuring they retain a pleasant texture. They also effectively absorb all those delicious drippings from the chicken and marinade, becoming little flavor bombs themselves.
• Sweet Potatoes: The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes creates a wonderful contrast with the savory chicken and earthy Brussels sprouts. When roasted, they caramelize beautifully, and their soft texture is a delightful counterpoint to the more firm sprouts. To ensure they cook through evenly and are tender by the time the chicken is done, it’s crucial to dice your sweet potatoes into pieces smaller than a 1-inch cube. Larger pieces might require additional cooking time, meaning you’d have to remove the chicken and sprouts earlier. If sweet potatoes aren’t your preference or you don’t have them on hand, feel free to substitute with baby red potatoes (halved) or diced Yukon gold potatoes. Both options work wonderfully and adapt well to the cooking method. The key is consistent sizing for even cooking!

Step-by-Step Guide to Your Sheet Pan Masterpiece

Creating this delightful meal is incredibly straightforward, making it perfect for both novice cooks and seasoned home chefs. Here’s how to achieve perfection:

1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Position an oven rack near the center of the oven and preheat your oven to a robust 425°F (220°C). For the easiest possible cleanup, we highly recommend lining a sturdy baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil or parchment paper. This simple step saves you scrubbing later.
2. Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the zests (lemon, orange, lime), their respective juices, minced garlic, your chosen sweetener (sugar, brown sugar, agave, or honey), red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved, creating a vibrant, aromatic marinade. Place your chosen chicken pieces (thighs, breasts, drumsticks – whatever you prefer, skin-on or off) into a gallon-sized zip-top bag. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, seal the bag, and give it a good massage to ensure every piece is thoroughly coated. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 20 minutes while your oven preheats and you chop your veggies. For maximum flavor depth, marinate for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
3. Assemble the Sheet Pan: On your prepared baking sheet, arrange the halved Brussels sprouts and the uniformly diced sweet potatoes. Drizzle them with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a generous grind of fresh black pepper. Toss the vegetables thoroughly to ensure they are evenly coated and seasoned. Spread the seasoned vegetables out to create a border around the edges of the pan, making a space in the center. Place the marinated chicken pieces in this central area. Drizzle about half of the remaining marinade from the bag over the chicken and, if desired, a bit over the vegetable pieces – this adds an extra layer of flavor as they roast. Discard any leftover liquid in the bag. For an extra aromatic touch and beautiful presentation, you can optionally add thin slices of fresh lemon and orange directly onto the chicken and scattered among the vegetables.
4. Roast to Perfection: Transfer the assembled sheet pan to the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces and the calibration of your oven. The chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) as measured with a reliable meat thermometer, and its juices run clear. The vegetables should be fork-tender and beautifully caramelized with slightly crispy edges. If you notice the chicken browning too quickly during the roasting process, you can loosely cover the tray with a piece of aluminum foil to prevent over-browning while allowing the rest of the dish to cook.

This dish was a resounding success in our household. I loved it for its incredible ease of preparation and the phenomenal tenderness of the chicken, which truly melted in the mouth. My husband was equally thrilled, especially appreciating the juicy dark meat chicken and, of course, the minimal cleanup afterwards. It just goes to show, when you opt for a one-sheet pan dinner, everyone wins – from the chef to the diners, and even the dishwashers!

Tips for Success & Customization

• Chicken Variety: This recipe is incredibly forgiving and works wonderfully with various cuts of chicken. Bone-in, skin-on thighs and drumsticks will yield the juiciest results due to their higher fat content and skin protection. Bone-in breasts also work beautifully. If using boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins, be mindful that they might cook faster; consider adding them to the pan a little later or monitoring them closely to prevent drying out. You can also opt for a mix of dark and white meat to please everyone at the table.
• Vegetable Swaps: While Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are a fantastic pairing, don’t hesitate to experiment with other vegetables. Chopped carrots, bell peppers, parsnips, or even broccoli florets would make excellent additions or substitutions. Just ensure that denser vegetables are cut into smaller pieces to cook in sync with the chicken, and softer vegetables are added later if necessary.
• Herbs & Spices: For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme sprigs to the sheet pan during roasting. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or cilantro after baking can also brighten up the dish. If you enjoy more heat, a pinch more red pepper flakes in the marinade or a dash of cayenne pepper can elevate the spice level. A dash of smoked paprika could also add a lovely depth.
• Doneness Check: Always rely on a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is safely cooked. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken, avoiding the bone, to confirm it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The vegetables should be fork-tender and slightly caramelized, indicating they’re perfectly roasted.
• Even Roasting: To achieve optimal caramelization and avoid steaming, it’s crucial not to overcrowd your sheet pan. Giving the ingredients enough space allows them to roast properly, leading to better texture and more flavorful results. If you’re cooking for a larger crowd or find your pan is too full, consider using two sheet pans to ensure everything cooks evenly.

Serving Suggestions

This one-sheet pan meal is a complete dinner on its own, offering protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. However, if you’re looking to expand the meal or add an extra touch, consider serving it with:

• A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to add freshness and a crisp texture.
• A side of quinoa, couscous, or brown rice if you desire more grains or a heartier meal.
• A dollop of cooling Greek yogurt, a fresh herb salsa, or a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese for a delightful topping that adds an extra dimension of flavor.

No matter how you choose to serve it, this One-Sheet Pan Garlic Citrus Chicken with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes promises a delicious, wholesome, and incredibly convenient meal that will quickly become a cherished recipe in your culinary repertoire. It’s the ideal blend of health, flavor, and ultimate ease for any busy weeknight.

IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

One Sheet Pan Roasted Za’atar Chicken and Potatoes

One Pot Greek Chicken and Rice Pilaf