Sheet Pan Dinner: Chicken Sausage and Veggies

When was the last time you blew a bubble? Chances are it's been a while since you've done it. Unless you have a toddler. Then your answer to that question is probably "What do you mean? I'm blowing bubbles right now, duh."

Dallas LOVES bubbles. Seriously, the kid could sit outside and blow bubbles for hours and not get tired of it. We have bubbles in the bath tub, in the backyard, on the front porch, and even in my truck! And Dallas knows exactly where they are and how to get to them. So needless to say, we are always doing bubbles. But I really don't mind one little bit. He's soooo into it and he's so darn cute. How can I say no?

Look at those little bare feet and those adorable curls. Nope, I won't say no to bubbles. And I have to admit, bubbles are pretty cool. Especially in champagne.... Ahem. Anyway.
So what do bubbles have to do with a sheet pan dinner? The answer is EVERYTHING.

Here's the thing: all this afternoon bubble-blowing is enough to make anyone pretty hungry. And it's kind of hard to be babysitting something over the stove and do bubbles at the same time. That's why I have come to rely on sheet pan dinners a lot. It's brilliant! A whole dinner on one sheet pan. And the prep is totally simple - just chop up some veggies. I'll do it whenever I have a little time during the day, usually during Dallas's nap. But if you work during the day, prep the ingredients in the morning, put everything in zip lock bags, and just bake when you get home. So simple!

This recipe is very flexible. You can add whatever vegetables you want but these are my faves. I love how the sweet potato and carrots get slightly caramelized, the tomatoes become sweet, and the Brussels sprouts get crisp. Also, roasting green beans is a new revelation to me. Holy cow, they're so delicious. And feel free to use bone-in chicken breasts but I always go for the chicken sausage. It takes the easy factor up a notch. Just throw those bad boys on the top of the veggies, toss it all in the oven, and grab the bubbles.

Sheet Pan Dinner: Chicken Sausage and Veggies

1 small sweet potato, cut into 1½-inch long strips

2-3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½ inch slices

1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half

½ pound green beans, trimmed

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound hot Italian chicken sausage

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Place the sweet potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and tomatoes on a baking sheet (Careful not to overcrowd the vegetables, otherwise they will steam instead of roast). Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper to the vegetables and toss with your hands. Place the sausage links on top of the vegetables. Bake for 50 minutes, until the sausage is cooked through. Enjoy!

recipe courtesy: LaurenMarieGlutenFree.com