Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli

This Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli comes together and cleans up quickly—perfect for busy weeknights. Antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes and broccoli become sweeter and brighter plus gain a little char from roasting, while heart-healthy salmon gets a creamy, smoky-spicy chili-mayo dressing to ramp up its flavor profile. The dressing then receives a flavor boost from lime before being drizzled over everything and joins briny cotija cheese and fresh herby cilantro for the finishing touches. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to save on prep time.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• Make sure the 4 portions of salmon are all the same thickness so they’ll cook at the same rate, and letting them come to room temperature about 15 minutes before cooking will help them cook evenly.
• Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel before cooking. This will promote a nice crisp sear and help prevent the fish from sticking to the pan.
• Lining a baking sheet with heavy-duty foil makes cleanup a breeze. Parchment paper can typically withstand temperatures up to 425°F. If you choose parchment paper instead of foil, verify the temperature limit on the box before purchasing.
• One of the best ways to achieve fine lime zest is to use a Microplane grater. If you don’t have one handy, use a box grater or a vegetable peeler. Alternatively, you can use a sharp paring knife to carefully cut the peel, which you can slice further while avoiding the bitter pith.

Nutrition Notes

• Salmon is an amazing source of heart- and brain-healthy omega-3s—those fatty acids most of us don’t get enough of. Salmon also supplies your body with protein and the antioxidant astaxanthin, which helps calm inflammation.
• Broccoli can have a strong odor, but that is thanks to its disease-fighting compounds. Broccoli is loaded with nutrients, like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, that fight off cancer and heart disease and support your immune system.
• Sweet potatoes add to the nutrient-packed nature of this meal. Also loaded with antioxidants, they help reduce inflammation. They’re especially high in vitamin A, which supports healthy vision. The fiber in the sweet potatoes and broccoli provides food for your beneficial gut bacteria, which helps them thrive and multiply.