What To Cook In A Convection Oven: 21 Awesome Ideas

Convection ovens are efficient, fast, and oftentimes can provide tastier meals than conventional ovens. In addition to this, there is no shortage of the types of meals that you can prepare in a convection oven. In this post, we will discuss the various types of foods that you can cook in these ovens to help you get the wheels turning for your next dinner idea.

Here are 21 food ideas to cook in a convection oven:

Polish Sausage and Peppers
Spicy Black Bean Burgers
Oven-Baked Salmon Cakes
Chipotle Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Shepherd’s Pie
Greek Chicken and Veggies
Baked Ziti With Roasted Veggies
Oven-Baked Meatballs
Sweet Potato Pasta Bake
Breaded Chicken Spinach Burgers
Beef & Cheese Sour Cream Bake
Spinach and Artichoke Roasted Salmon
Baked Pork Chops
Baked and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Sausage Pizza
Thai Coconut Braised Chicken
One-Tray Hoisin Peanut Chicken
Oven-Baked Risotto With Saffron and Chorizo
Oven-Baked Fajitas
Baked Fish and Chips
Loaded Baked Cheese Fries

Convection ovens are great for cooking easy, quick meals as well as larger family-style meals. They're also perfect for browning, caramelizing, and cooking various foods at once. Continue reading to learn more about some of the things you can prepare in your convection oven.

21 Foods To Cook In Convection Ovens

One of the great things about using convection ovens is that they aren't typically plagued with hot and cold spots when it comes to heating food. You also don't have to worry about flavor transfer if you're planning to heat different meals in the oven at the same time. The hot air circulating inside the oven can filter and eliminate odors and cook the foods evenly.

1. Polish Sausage and Peppers

This American favorite may taste even better when it's made in the oven instead of on top of the stove. The oven's heat can bring out the juices in the polish sausage and help caramelize the peppers to perfection.

2. Spicy Black Bean Burgers

If you're looking to make these tasty burgers in a batch, a convection oven is a perfect way to do it. Combine aromatic herbs such as cumin, garlic, and rosemary to help bring out the burgers' flavors. You'll only need to set the oven for about 20 minutes, and these patties are ready to go.

3. Oven-Baked Salmon Cakes

These oven-baked salmon cakes can be quickly tossed in the oven after mixing them with an egg and cornmeal batter. You can drizzle them with a mustard vinaigrette and toss them in with some veggies for the perfect evening meal--and in 30 minutes, you have an awesome meal.

4. Chipotle Turkey Stuffed Peppers

This super simple turkey stuffed pepper recipe is perfect for convection ovens. Simply mix turkey, corn, black beans, and cheese, and then stuff the mixture inside the peppers. Next, toss the peppers inside the oven, and you have a meal that's ready in about 40 minutes.

5. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd pie is a classic English dish that is perfect for convection ovens. Not only is it simple to make, but the even heating provided by the convection oven means that you don't have to worry about cold spots in the middle of the pie. If you have beef, potatoes, cheese, and a bag of frozen mixed veggies on hand, you can make this meal in less than an hour.

6. Greek Chicken and Veggies

If you are a fan of juicy sheet pan chicken, here's the meal for you. You can turn this version of Greek salad into a delicious baked chicken recipe in no time. All you need is a handful of chicken breast, olive oil, lemon, and chopped veggies for a delicious meal that can be ready in no time. The oven will give the veggies a roasted flavor that will send your taste buds over the top.

7. Baked Ziti With Roasted Veggies

In the mood for this hearty Italian dish? A convection oven can heat your ziti dish in no time. You'll be amazed at how well the sauce and various cheeses in this meal melt once you place the ziti in a convection oven for about 45 minutes to an hour.

8. Oven-Baked Meatballs

Oven-baked meatballs are probably one of the easiest meals that you can make in your convection oven. Simply toss the seasoned ground and place them in the oven for about 45 minutes. If you prefer your meatballs with a crunchy brown top, be sure to leave them uncovered for about 10 to 15 minutes.

9. Sweet Potato Pasta Bake

Convection ovens are perfect for bringing out the flavor in sweet potatoes. This sweet potato bake is a great way to combine Italian dishes' savory flavors with the versatile flavor of potatoes. After mixing your potatoes, pasta, cheese, and other ingredients, simply toss this meal in the oven for about 45 minutes for a delicious dinner meal.

10. Breaded Chicken Spinach Burgers

A convection oven can help you make juicy, protein-packed chicken burgers in about 15 to 20 minutes. All you need is a little breading to coat the outside of the chicken and cheese and spinach to create a tasty stuffing. You can have the same pan-fried taste without all of the calories.

11. Beef & Cheese Sour Cream Bake

If you have beef, cheddar cheese, and sour cream available, you can combine these rich ingredients with rice or cauliflower to make a protein-packed oven bake that can be ready in about 30 minutes. Convection ovens are especially great for melted cheese dishes, as it provides even heating for the cheese to melt over the other foods.

12. Spinach and Artichoke Roasted Salmon

Do you love stuffed salmon? Consider preparing it in a convection oven for a creamy and cheesy meal that can be ready in less than 40 minutes. You can also leave out the salmon if you want and create a creamy spinach and artichoke spread that you can use as a snack throughout the week.

13. Baked Pork Chops

Baked pork chops give you the option of enjoying the wonderful flavor of the dish without feeling guilty about any added calories from cooking oil. All you need are a few eggs and bread crumbs (if you want a crispy crust) to get the same crunchy texture as the oven-fried version.

14. Baked and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

The even heating quality of convection ovens can help the cheese in stuffed mushrooms melt within minutes, leaving you with a creamy center in this delicious meal. So if you are looking for an easy meal to prepare on those lazy Sunday evenings, consider throwing a few stuffed mushrooms in the oven.

15. Sausage Pizza

Convection ovens are absolutely perfect for baking any type of pizza, especially meat pieces such as sausage or bacon. Whether you prefer your pizza meatless, with veggies, or with tofu, a convection oven can help you get the even and crispy crust textured crust that you're looking for.

16. Thai Coconut Braised Chicken

With just three of four South Asian seasonings, you can prepare a delicious coconut braised chicken in your convection oven in less than an hour. You'll need to pan-sear the sauce on top of the oven, but after that, you only need to set the chicken in the oven for about 45 minutes for a delicious and crispy dish that is bursting with flavor.

17. One-Tray Hoisin Peanut Chicken

Here is another Asian-inspired dish that you can make in your convection oven. Not only does baking the chicken make it extra juicy, but it also allows you to conveniently cook the meat and the rice all in one dish.

18. Oven-Baked Risotto With Saffron and Chorizo

If you have a convection oven, you can make this delicious meal in no time. And the great thing is that you don't have to worry about constantly stirring the dish to get a creamy and smooth texture. Once you mix the rice with the other ingredients, simply toss the meal in the oven for about 15 minutes.

19. Oven-Baked Fajitas

Turn savory chicken fajitas into a simple oven-baked dish by replacing your saucepan with a convection oven. The great thing about this dish is that it requires very little prep time, and it can be ready for your plate in about 45 minutes. You'll need to season your chicken, cut up a few veggies and then toss them into the oven for a flavorful meal.

20. Baked Fish and Chips

If you have crushed almonds or breadcrumbs, you can combine them to make a deliciously crispy batter for your fish. You can get the same wonderful texture and flavor by tossing the fish in the oven instead of deep-frying it--not to mention it's much healthier.

21. Loaded Baked Cheese Fries

Convection ovens a perfect for baking french fries because you get the fried version's crispiness with only half of the calories. You'll also find that melting cheese is way easier and less messy. Simply toss your fries in the oven until they are cooked, and then toss your cheese and other ingredients to top them off.

What Can You NOT Bake In A Convection Oven?

Though convection ovens can be used to prepare several meals, they aren't recommended for foods that require more humidity during their heating process. This is especially true for delicate foods such as bread, souffles, cakes, and other baked goods. As the fan in the oven blows around the hot, dry air, it can cause these-moisture prone dishes to shift and burst.

Is A True Convection Oven Worth It?

It depends. True convection ovens have a third heating element along with the fan that offers a more uniform oven temperature than regular convection ovens. It is true that convection ovens can reduce your cooking time by around 25%, but the rest of the features that they offer can be found in traditional convection ovens. So, whether or not the faster cook is enough to offset the higher price tag that comes with them will depend on how important cooking time is to you.

Wrapping Things Up

Convection ovens are wonderful for preparing several meals, and they provide a great way to make healthier versions of fried dishes. The efficiency and speed that you get when using convection ovens make them an investment that's well worth the money.

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