A One-Pan Dinner That Makes My Life Easier (and Everyone Still Loves)
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Time to Read: 6 min
One-Pan Dinner
On busy weeknights, the hardest part of dinner isn’t always the cooking, it’s the cleanup, the coordination, and the mental load of making sure everyone is fed and the meal feels balanced.
This one-pan dinner is the system I come back to when I want something real, filling, and family-friendly without creating a sink full of dishes. One pan, simple ingredients, predictable results.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Why This Works
Everything cooks together on one pan
Minimal prep and even less cleanup
Familiar ingredients kids recognize
Easy to portion visually for balanced meals
Flexible enough to swap ingredients based on what you have
It’s not fancy. It’s reliable. And that’s the point.
Sheet-Pan Chicken, Potatoes, and Veggies
5-10 min
30-40 min
Ingredients (Serves 4)
Protein
1 ½–2 pounds chicken thighs (boneless or bone-in) or extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed for a plant-based option
Starch
1 ½ pounds potatoes or sweet potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables (pick 1–2)
Broccoli / cauliflower florets
Green beans
Bell peppers
Zucchini
Carrots
Seasoning
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional fresh or dried herbs + spices: rosemary, thyme, or oregano, paprika, garlic powder
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven
Preheat to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper if desired. Prep the vegetables and potatoes
Add potatoes and vegetables to the baking sheet. Drizzle with about half the olive oil, sprinkle with half the salt and seasonings, and toss to coat.Add the protein
Place chicken thighs (or tofu) on the same pan. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and season evenly.-
Roast
Roast for 30–40 minutes, flipping or stirring once halfway through, until:Potatoes are tender
Vegetables are lightly caramelized
Chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temperature)
Rest and serve
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
That’s it. One pan from start to finish.
How to Serve (Balanced Bites in Action)
This meal is a great example of how to visually build a balanced plate without measuring or stressing:
Protein section: chicken or tofu
Starch section: potatoes or sweet potatoes
Veggie section: roasted vegetables
Using the Balanced Bites Plate helps kids see how the meal fits together while allowing them autonomy in deciding what and how much to eat.
Mealtime Essentials
Make It Work for Your Family
For picky eaters: keep ingredients separated on the pan
For leftovers: this reheats well for lunches or wraps
For variety: swap seasonings instead of ingredients
For kids helping: let them toss veggies or choose seasonings
Same system, endless flexibility.
Why This Matters Beyond Dinner
This isn’t just about saving time. It’s about: reducing decision fatigue, modeling balanced meals without pressure, and showing kids how foods work together.
One pan. One meal. Less stress for everyone.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
