Easy tray bake recipes

When you’re time-poor, there’s nothing better than a recipe that only needs a single tray and a few ingredients to create a fantastic, healthy dinner that everyone will love. These easy tray bake recipes are both delicious and nutritious, making them perfect for  when you crave hearty, warming meals. 

With minimal preparation and clean-up, these recipes are great for busy weeknights or relaxing weekends, giving you more time to spend with the family, or even curl up on the couch.  

Veggie tray bake

Tossing canned veggies and chickpeas lightly in oil and seasoning before tray baking them in a hot oven transforms them into caramelised, flavourful bites. The chickpeas add an affordable protein boost to keep you full, while the canned veggies can be more cost effective then fresh, especially during the cooler months  - as well as saving you the prep.  This dish works beautifully as a hearty side dish, or pair with brown rice or quinoa for a meal.  

For a creative twist, try sprinkling them over creamy avocado spread on a slice of toasted wholegrain bread for a quick and satisfying meal. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch or a vibrant addition to your dinner table, these versatile veggies will do the trick. 

Oven baked veg fried rice with crispy tofu

Save time and simplify meal prep with this oven-baked vegetable fried rice by Sneh Roy of @cookrepublic. Perfect for making ahead of time, it's a family favourite everyone will love. Loaded with veggies to help you reach your daily goal of 5 servings and including crispy tofu for a filling protein hit, it’s both nutritious and satisfying.  

Enjoy it the next day too, when you'll get an extra dose of gut-loving prebiotics from the resistant starch formed by cooking and then cooling the rice. 

Two potato bake

Who doesn’t love potatoes? And when you have two types of potatoes, it’s even better! This creamy and delicious bake blends the rich flavours of kūmara and regular potatoes into a dish that's the ideal complement to any meal.  

Adding kūmara to the dish not only enhances the flavour, but also boosts its nutritional value. Kūmara are rich in vitamins A and C, providing essential antioxidants that support immune function and skin health. They are also high in fibre, which helps with digestion, and contain potassium which helps regulate blood pressure.  

Oven baked mushroom risotto

A comforting risotto is perfect for winter nights, and this oven-baked mushroom risotto is an excellent weeknight meal - quick and easy to prepare with no need to stir. Simply combine arborio rice, mushrooms, and a few other ingredients in an ovenproof dish, then bake until the rice is tender.  

Mushrooms are a fantastic addition to this dish at this time of year, offering not only a rich, savoury flavour but are packed with folate and selenium, which help support the immune system.  

Almond and blackberry self-saucing pudding

No winter meal is complete without a delicious comforting dessert. This almond and blackberry self-saucing pudding is a mouth-watering treat that combines the sweet and tart flavours of blackberries with the nutty richness of almond meal, creating a perfect balance. The pudding is easy to prepare, using frozen blackberries for extra convenience, requiring just a few simple steps before it bakes into a warm, satisfying dish. 

Not only is this pudding delicious, but it’s also nutritious. The blackberries are high in fibre and antioxidants, while the almond meal adds a dose of healthy fats and protein, making this a dessert you can feel good about enjoying.