How to cook multiple things in the oven

Save yourself time and money by utilizing your oven for various recipes.

Published on November 17, 2020

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

It's roasting season, which means your kitchen's biggest energy user, the oven, is working overtime to crisp vegetables, slow-roast beef, bake cookies, and more. Why not make the most of all that space (and all that energy) by cooking multiple dishes together? You can create one big meal in less time or get ahead for the week by getting the most time-consuming components out of the way. Follow these tips and temperature guidelines for maximizing your oven's output every time you turn it on. Your future self—and your energy bill—will thank you.

Tips for Cooking Multiple Dishes in Your Oven

Don't Trust That Dial

The display on your oven isn't always accurate, and shifts up or down depending on how full your oven is or how long you leave your oven door open. Get a cheap oven thermometer to tell you the true temperature and adjust as needed.

Leave Some Room

Allow a couple inches for air to circulate between the dishes and between the dishes and the walls of your oven. This helps everything cook more evenly. Sheet pans should sit completely flat so that any dripping juices don't cause smoke or grease fires.

Match the Food to the Dish

Use pans and baking dishes that are the same size as the food you're cooking (not much bigger or smaller) so you don't lose oven real estate and your food has room to get nicely browned.

Meet in the Middle

If one dish calls for a roasting temp of 325°F and another calls for 375°F, you can meet in the middle and cook both at 350°F. Most ovens are usually off by about 25 degrees, so both should be fine. The exception is baked goods, which do require a specific temperature.

Do a Dry Run

While the oven is off, place the empty dishes you plan to use inside so you know what can fit where (with room in between) and what racks to move. Dishes that won't suffer from extra crisping on the bottom should go on the lowest rack. Those that can stand to get more browned on top should go above.

What to Cook Together at Each Temperature

300 Degrees

This temp is perfect for drying out airy whipped egg whites in an Easy Pavlova and for slowly braising tough cuts of meat like a classic Pot Roast (keep the lid on the pot to avoid crossover smells). You can also gently roast tomatoes or bake apple slices for chips.

350 Degrees

This temp is most common because it's just high enough for browning but not high enough to quickly burn what you're cooking or baking. It holds true for Award-Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, as well as Broccoli Casserole, or a simple roast chicken.

400 Degrees

Fish and vegetables love this temperature. Use it for Parchment Baked Salmon or for any similar fish fillets (start checking for doneness after 10 minutes). Roast cut vegetables, flipping halfway through for even browning. Wrap whole garlic heads in foil for Roasted Garlic. Do the same for whole beets and sweet potatoes.

450 Degrees

The blast of heat at this temp creates a crunchy crust on breads and pizzas like this Brick-Oven Pizza (Brooklyn Style). It also gives you the ultimate crispy edges on these Roasted Rosemary Onion Potatoes. Use caution at this temp: Turn on your exhaust fan and have oven mitts at the ready.

Related Content:

• Everything You Need to Know About Using Your Oven's Broiler
• How to Meal Prep on Sunday for a Week of Easy Dinners
• This Jetsons-Inspired Oven Is the Futuristic Appliance We'll All Be Using Soon

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.

Hosting a holiday is a serious undertaking — especially when you have about 20 dishes to make and you don’t have the luxury of multiple ovens. Sure, we all wish we had a stainless-steel double oven paired with a fancy fridge and granite countertops, but the reality for most of us is that we have only one oven. While it seems like the only solution is to jump ship and have someone else host, don’t give up yet. You can cook Thanksgiving dinner in one oven, and we’re here to help you figure out how to maximize your oven space during the holiday season.

Can you cook 2 or more dishes in the oven at once?

Yes. Most people fret when it comes to cooking two dishes at once, but it’s your oven’s job to keep the internal temperature set to what you selected. It may have to work a little harder when two or more cold dishes are inserted but trust that it will do its job.

The dishes will typically take 15 percent longer to cook than if only one is cooking, so adjust the time accordingly. To ensure even cooking, make sure the oven is fully preheated before inserting dishes, and rotate the dishes halfway through. We highly recommend purchasing an oven thermometer because even though the dial is set to the correct temperature, the temperature inside could be totally different.

Courtesy of KT THERMO.

3-inch Dial Oven Thermometer $9.60 on Amazon.com

You can also try using cast iron cookware to cook your food in because cast iron holds heat a lot better than traditional cookware so you won’t lose as much heat if you do need to open the oven to add a new dish. We recommend Le Creuset cookware for optimal heat retention.

Courtesy of Le Creuset.

Stoneware Heritage Covered Rectangular Casserole $107.95 on Amazon.com

Related story Shoppers Say This Sensitive Skin-Friendly Moisturizer Works 'Amazingly Well’ on Dry Winter Skin, Even Their Husbands Are Hooked

Lodge also makes quality cast iron cookware at an affordable price.

Image: Lodge.

Can you cook one dish & bake another simultaneously?

Yes, but there are some guidelines you’ll need to follow. First, baked goods are not flexible when it comes to temperature. Preheat the oven to the correct temperature for the baked good. Most cooked dishes are flexible when it comes to temperature — this includes meats, veggies, casseroles, baked potatoes and the like. It may take a little less or more time for the cooked dish to be done, but it will turn out the same. Baked goods are more of a science, and each variable needs to be precise.

Second, make sure the meat (or main dish) doesn’t have a strong flavor, such as garlic. If that’s the case, it’s best to cook the items separately so the flavors don’t cross over.

Tips for cooking multiple dishes

• Meat is the most flexible. Technically meat can cook at any temperature until it’s done. The lower the temperature, the longer it will take, and the juicier it will be. If cooking multiple dishes, set the temperature to what the nonmeat dish requires.
• Meat stays hot for a while. Large roasts, such as a ham or turkey, will stay hot for an hour after coming out of the oven. Plan on cooking smaller side dishes during this time.
• Most ovens have a 25-degree variance. If one dish needs to be cooked at 350 degrees F and another at 400 degrees F, set the oven for 375. Most ovens are off by about 25 degrees anyway, so as long as it’s set around the required temperature, the dish will turn out fine.
• Arrange the dishes so there is enough space between them. Air should be able to circulate between all the dishes, so space them out accordingly.

A version of this article was originally published in November 2013. 

Before you go, check out these Ina Garten-Approved holiday gift ideas:

Watch: Giada De Laurentiis Just Shared a Bunch of Holiday Cooking & Hostess Tips With Us & They Are Brilliant