If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner that’s full of flavour but requires almost no effort, this halloumi tray bake is one of my favourite things to cook.
Everything goes onto one tray – baby potatoes, peppers, courgettes and red onion – topped with thick slices of halloumi and roasted until the vegetables are soft and caramelised and the halloumi is golden around the edges.
A quick harissa yoghurt sauce finishes the dish and brings a little gentle heat and tanginess that works beautifully with the salty halloumi.
If you enjoy cooking with halloumi, you can also explore more ideas in my Halloumi Recipes Hub, where I’ve gathered together lots of easy dinner recipes featuring this wonderful cheese.
Why This Halloumi Tray Bake Works So Well
There are plenty of halloumi tray bake recipes out there, but this one has become a regular dinner in my kitchen for a few simple reasons.
- First, the vegetables cook perfectly alongside the halloumi. The potatoes become soft and crisp around the edges, the peppers sweeten as they roast and the courgettes add a gentle freshness that balances the richness of the cheese.
- Second, the seasoning is simple but effective. Smoked paprika and olive oil give everything a warm, slightly smoky flavour that works particularly well with roasted vegetables.
- And finally, the harissa yoghurt brings the whole dish together. The cool yoghurt contrasts with the salty halloumi while the harissa adds a little depth and warmth.
The result is a tray bake that is full of flavour while still being incredibly easy to make.
Why Halloumi Is Perfect for Tray Bakes
Halloumi is one of my favourite ingredients for easy dinners because it behaves quite differently from most cheeses.
Unlike many cheeses, halloumi holds its shape when heated. Instead of melting, it softens slightly while forming a delicious golden crust.
That makes it ideal for:
- roasting
- frying
- grilling
- tray bakes like this one
As it cooks, the outside becomes beautifully golden while the inside stays soft and slightly chewy.
This texture works particularly well in tray bakes where the halloumi can soak up some of the flavours from the vegetables and spices.
If you love halloumi dinners like this, you might also enjoy my Halloumi Schnitzel, Halloumi Pittas with Sriracha Mayo or Chorizo and Halloumi Pasta.
Ingredients for This Halloumi Tray Bake
One of the nicest things about this recipe is that it uses simple ingredients that are easy to find.
- Baby potatoes – These provide the heartiness of the dish. Roasting them until crisp around the edges adds texture and makes the tray bake feel satisfying enough for dinner.
- Bell peppers – The red and orange peppers become beautifully sweet as they roast. They also add colour and freshness to the tray.
- Red onion – Roasted red onion brings a gentle sweetness and depth of flavour to the vegetables.
- Courgettes – Courgettes soften beautifully in the oven and help balance the richness of the halloumi.
- Halloumi – The star of the dish. Thick slices roast until golden and slightly crisp around the edges.
- Olive oil – Helps the vegetables roast evenly and adds richness.
- Smoked paprika – Adds warmth and subtle smokiness which works beautifully with roasted vegetables.
- Sea salt – A small amount enhances the flavour of everything.
- Natural yoghurt – Provides a cooling contrast to the salty halloumi.
- Harissa paste – Adds gentle heat and depth to the yoghurt sauce.
Variations and Substitutions
One of the reasons I love tray bakes is how easy they are to adapt depending on what you have in the fridge.
- Change the vegetables – This recipe works well with lots of different vegetables. Try adding cherry tomatoes, aubergine or broccoli.
- Make it spicier – Add a little extra harissa to the yoghurt or sprinkle the tray with chilli flakes before roasting.
- Add grains – Serve the tray bake over couscous, bulgur wheat or rice to make it go further.
- Make it vegan – Halloumi is obviously the key ingredient here, but you could replace it with roasted chickpeas or tofu if needed.
What to Serve with Halloumi Tray Bake
This recipe works perfectly as a simple dinner on its own, but you can easily add something alongside it.
Good options include:
- warm flatbreads
- couscous
- a simple green salad
- roasted chickpeas
- hummus
Because the tray bake already contains potatoes and vegetables, it’s already a complete meal.
More Halloumi Recipes
If you enjoy this vegetarian halloumi tray bake, you might also like some of my other halloumi dinners:
- The Creamiest Butter Halloumi Curry – decadent and perfect for a veggie treat!
- Halloumi Salad Bowl with Satay Dressing – just 5 ingredients for this quick weeknight salad.
- Easy Vegetarian Halloumi Pasta with Roasted Courgettes & Tomatoes – packed full of mediterranean flavours.
You can also browse all of my halloumi recipes in the Halloumi Recipes Hub.
Easy Halloumi Tray Bake with Roasted Vegetables and Harissa Yoghurt
Ingredients
- 500 g baby potatoes halved
- 1 orange bell pepper cut into chunks
- 1 red bell pepper cut into chunks
- 1 red onion roughly chopped
- 2 courgettes halved and chopped
- 500 g halloumi sliced into 1cm pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp sea salt
For the harissa yoghurt:
- 150 g natural yoghurt
- 2 tsp harissa paste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Place the baby potatoes, peppers, onion and courgettes on a large baking tray.
- Top with the slices of halloumi.
- Drizzle the tray with olive oil and sprinkle over the smoked paprika and sea salt.
- Roast in the oven for around 40 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the halloumi is golden.
- Meanwhile, stir together the yoghurt and harissa paste in a small bowl.
- Serve the tray bake with the harissa yoghurt spooned over the top.