8 Sheet-Pan Recipes That Fight Inflammation — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’re looking for a way to fight inflammation and still enjoy delicious meals, then look no further than these 8 sheet-pan recipes from Eat This Not That. Sheet-pan meals are a great way to get a nutritious and balanced meal on the table quickly and easily. These recipes are packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Plus, they’re all cooked on one sheet-pan, so you don’t have to worry about a sink full of dishes afterwards. So, get ready to enjoy some delicious and nutritious meals that will help you fight inflammation.

8 Sheet-Pan Recipes That Fight Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection, but when it becomes chronic, it can lead to a variety of health issues. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health. These sheet-pan recipes are packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and omega-3 fatty acids, making them a great way to fight inflammation.

1. Roasted Salmon and Vegetables

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammation. The salmon is roasted with a mix of vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms, and seasoned with turmeric, garlic, and ginger. Serve with a side of quinoa or brown rice for a complete meal.

2. Roasted Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprouts

This simple sheet-pan dinner is packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients. Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, which helps reduce inflammation, while Brussels sprouts are rich in antioxidants. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

3. Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your fiber and protein. Cauliflower is a great source of antioxidants, while chickpeas are a great source of fiber. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

4. Roasted Broccoli and Tofu

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your protein and fiber. Broccoli is a great source of antioxidants, while tofu is a great source of protein. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

5. Roasted Carrots and Lentils

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your fiber and protein. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, while lentils are a great source of fiber. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

6. Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your antioxidants and fiber. Asparagus is a great source of antioxidants, while mushrooms are a great source of fiber. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

7. Roasted Eggplant and Chickpeas

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your fiber and protein. Eggplant is a great source of antioxidants, while chickpeas are a great source of fiber. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

8. Roasted Zucchini and Quinoa

This sheet-pan dinner is a great way to get your protein and fiber. Zucchini is a great source of antioxidants, while quinoa is a great source of protein. The vegetables are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful and healthy meal.

There’s a catch 22 when it comes to inflammation, the body’s process of emitting white blood cells to fight off infection. In the short term it helps our bodies to fight infections or any foreign pathogens, but if inflammation becomes chronic then it can result in any number of chronic diseases, like diabetes, cancer or heart disease. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind ways to fight inflammation.

“Excessive inflammatory responses can result in chronic diseases,” says Paulina Lee, RD and the founder of Savvy Stummy. “There’s increasing recognition between inflammation and its link to chronic diseases. Therefore, it is important to regulate inflammation as part of our healthy lifestyle habits to prevent or manage disease.”

There are ways to control inflammation, including different dietary choices, as some foods contain anti-inflammatory properties that can help regulate inflammation so it’s not a chronic problem. Here are some of the best sheet pan recipes that help to fight inflammation.

keto butter baked salmon with asparagus on the side horizontal
Waterbury Publications, Inc.

It’s hard to argue against the combination of salmon and asparagus—especially in this Keto-friendly recipe topped with butter. This high-fat recipe is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to helping to lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack, and aiding healthy brain function.

Get our recipe for Keto Butter-Baked Salmon and Asparagus.

Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken
Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

Maybe your kitchen gets boring after a while and you want to branch out. There are few better inspirations for culinary delight than Morocco, and while North African-inspired cuisine might seem intimidating for any newcomers, this simple recipe only takes 45 minutes to make.

While the berries might not be the star of the show in this flavorful recipe, they are what give it its anti-inflammatory properties, according to Lee, who says that berries, along with fermented foods and salmon, have a lot of polyphenols, which help to fight inflammation.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

Fish tacos
Courtesy of Laughing Spatula

There’s no going wrong with fish tacos, so it’s safe to assume that salmon fajitas would be just as good, right? This recipe pairs a 10 oz salmon filet with red, green, and yellow bell peppers, onion, and tons of seasoning to make the dish extra flavorful. Not only that, but it’s also great at fighting inflammation because salmon contains polyphenols, a compound that’s great at combating inflammation.

“[Salmon] contains polyphenols, like curcumin and anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to support oxidative stress,” Lee says.

Get the recipe from Laughing Spatula

Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Tuna Steaks
Courtesy of Le Creme De La Crumb

Not only is this sheet pan tuna and potato pairing delicious, but it’s also an effective way to lower the glucose levels in the meal, thereby helping to fight inflammation. Higher levels of glucose have been shown to lead to spikes in inflammation, according to a 2016 study, so it’s important to not only focus on foods that will fight inflammation but also shows that will avoid spikes in glucose.

“Lower glucose spikes by putting clothes on your carbohydrates,” says Lee, who recommends tuna as an effective protein to help lower glucose levels. Pair your carbs with protein, healthy fats, or fiber to dampen glucose spikes after eating.”

Get the recipe from Le Creme De La Crumb.

vegan sausage sheet pan
Carlene Thomas/Eat This, Not That!

Sheet pan meals are a simple dinner fix, but this recipe also works great for breakfast. This entirely-vegan meal is not only full of flavor and protein thanks to the vegan sausage, but it’s also great at fighting inflammation because it’s plant-based.

“Lightly processed and raw fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, nuts, legumes, seeds and plant-based protein, are the best foods for fighting inflammation as part of an eating plan that’s adequate in fiber,” says registered dietitian Elizabeth Ward.

“Plant foods contain antioxidants that reduce inflammation while foods rich in saturated fat tend to be pro-inflammatory.”

Get our recipe for Vegan Sausage and Vegetables.

Potato, Salmon and Asparagus One Pan Dinner
Courtesy of Let The Baking Begin

Fish is well-known for having anti-inflammatory properties because of its high quantity of omega-3 fatty acids, but that’s not the only thing on the plate helping to fight inflammation. Asparagus has been proven as an effective anti-inflammatory food. Although this recipe is pretty high in sodium, it’s relatively low in calories and fat, so as long as the rest of your meals throughout the day aren’t total salt bombs, it’s a relatively healthy choice as well.

Get the recipe from Let The Baking Begin.

Sriracha Cauliflower and Chickpea Sheet Pan Meal
Courtesy of Eating Bird Food

Some of the best parts of this recipe are that it’s low in calories and fat, high in protein and packed with spicy flavor. Another perk of the recipe? It’s simple to make with just six ingredients, not including the Sriracha sauce. All of the ingredients are plant-based as well, making your Sriracha Cauliflower and Chickpea dinner an easy way to fight against inflammation.

Plant-based diets not only help in lowering the risk of rheumatoid arthritis pain and swelling according to a 2019 study, but they’re also extremely effective at fighting inflammation in general.

Get the recipe from Eating Bird Food.

RELATED: 50 Healthy Dinner Recipes That Take 30 Minutes (or Less!)

sheet pan bbq chicken dinner on a marble counter
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Making a meal on a sheet pan helps to simplify the cooking process, and making a meal with only five ingredients helps to simplify it even more. While the barbecue chicken may be the star of this meal, the sides are just as important, in this case it’s broccoli and sweet potatoes. The tangy chicken and sweet potatoes might be delicious, but if you’re looking to reduce your risk of inflammation, it’s the broccoli that’s crucial, as the vegetable contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Get our recipe for 5-Ingredient BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner.

“Garlic, broccoli, turmeric and green tea are examples of anti-inflammatory foods,” says Dr. Annelie Vogt von Heselholt, a registered dietitian and doctor of clinical nutrition. “They have antioxidants and plant compounds such as sulforaphanes that help protect your body. You can prevent inflammation by eating a diet rich in foods with anti-inflammatory properties.They have nutrients in them that have the potential to reduce inflammation.”