If you’re cooking for a family, you’re almost always looking for easy, family-friendly dinner recipes that every member of your crew will enjoy. And while it’s easy enough to make a pot of mac and cheese or whip up a batch of DIY chicken tenders, sometimes you’re in the mood for something a bit more elevated.
Luckily, we’ve curated a list of quick and simple family dinner recipes that are ready in under an hour. Aside from being easy to make, which is a huge plus no matter who you are cooking for, these dishes are balanced, tasty, and bound to be a hit with even the pickiest eaters. That’s because, for the most part, these meals take ingredients most kids know and love and make them palatable for adults too. Take the Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce, for example. On the surface, this easy meal seems like any other pizza, but it actually takes things up a notch thanks to its thin crust, rich pink sauce, and crispy pepperoni.
What’s more? Since all of these dishes are filling and nutritious enough in their own right, you don’t need to worry about making a bevy of sides to go with ’em.
If you’re running low on recipes the whole family enjoys and are at a loss regarding what to make for dinner this week, keep reading for some easy meals you and your brood will love. Trust us, you’ll want to add many of these to your weekly dinner rotation ASAP!
Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw
Fred Hardy
There’s breaded chicken and then there’s this breaded chicken. Here, chicken cutlets get extra flavor thanks to unsweetened shredded coconut, but instead of dredging each piece in flour and egg, mayonnaise gets the job done. Round out the meal with a zesty coleslaw amped up with a touch of mango chutney and sambal oelek. If your kids don’t like spice, simply skip the sambal.
Carbonara Pizza
Jen Causey
If you enjoy classic spaghetti Carbonara, we bet you’ll love this pizza. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and only takes a handful of ingredients to conquer. Garnish with chives and freshly ground pepper for a gentle kick.
Shawarma-Seasoned Cauliflower and Chickpea Pitas
Fred Hardy
A warmed pita round is topped with creamy yogurt and a cauliflower chickpea mix seasoned with a shawarma spice blend. Cucumbers, red onion slices, and mint leaves are garnished atop the pita before serving. With a short list of ingredients and only 20 minutes of active time, this simple vegetarian meal will be a breeze to make for dinner tonight.
Summer Nachos
For a lighter take on nachos that’s perfect for summer, give this vegetarian recipe a whirl. Here, tortilla chips are topped with paprika-spiked corn for pops of smoky sweetness, tender bits of sautéed zucchini, and a creamy avocado-yogurt topping you’ll want to smear on everything. Serve these nachos family-style so everyone can dig in.
Linguine With Cherry Tomato Sauce
Pasta with tomato sauce never disappoints, and this version combines plenty of summery tomatoes with crispy pancetta. Since you’ll start by rendering cubes of salty pancetta and use the same pan to cook the tomatoes, the fat infuses every bite of the sauce. Once you plate the cooked pasta, a generous shower of Parmesan and basil completes the dish.
Smoky Sheet Pan Salmon and Potatoes
Sunny oranges pull double duty in this recipe, first as orange zest joins a dressing of olive oil, smoked paprika, and dried oregano to season both the potatoes and salmon, and then as orange slices get tossed with creamy avocado, cilantro, and lime to make a bright, chunky salsa. Ready in just 40 minutes, this simple dinner works in any season.
Ginger and Honey-Soy Salmon en Papillote
Greg DuPree
Sure, this salmon sounds fancy, but if your little ones are fish fans they’re bound to like this recipe. The rich salmon filets are cooked inside of a parchment paper packet alongside strips of bell pepper and ginger in a sweet soy-sesame-garlic sauce. When the food is ready, simply open each packet and enjoy with a side of noodles or rice.
Crispy Peanut Tofu With Sugar Snap Peas And Peppers
Greg DuPree
This vegetarian meal proves that tofu is a star. You’ll start by crisping tofu cubes up in a pan and tossing them in a spicy peanut sauce made with peanut butter, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and Sriracha. Sautéed sugar snap peas and bell peppers round out the dish, which is best served over rice or rice noodles. If you’re little ones can’t handle spice, skip the Sriracha.
Almond-Crusted Chicken With Arugula Salad
Almond flour takes the place of panko on these crispy chicken cutlets, while sesame seeds add a pop of flavor and crunch. Serve the chicken with a lemony arugula and Brussels sprouts salad and you’re good to go. For a more kid-friendly take, cut the cutlets into strips and serve with ketchup.
Sheet Pan Pierogies With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Shallots, and Mustard Dressing
There’s nothing not to love about this recipe, which comes together in a single sheet pan. Frozen pierogies cut down on prep time, while fresh shallots and Brussels sprouts roast alongside the dumplings. A tasty mustard dressing ties everything together, but feel free to serve it on the side if that works better for your crew.
Sheet Pan Salmon With Potatoes and Broccolini
Another sheet pan dinner for the win! This one features roasted potatoes, salmon, and broccolini all topped with a light yet flavorful lemon juice and Dijon mustard dressing. When shopping for salmon, look for filets that all have the same thickness. This will help ensure that they cook evenly.
Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers
Burgers never fail, and these turkey burgers manage to be juicy, tasty, and packed with vegetables. That’s because each patty is made up of grated zucchini and plenty of seasoned turkey meat. Top the finished burgers with sliced tomatoes, Bibb lettuce, mayonnaise, honey mustard, and pickles, and dinner is ready.
Spring Minestrone
While some soups need to simmer for hours, this one is ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish. Here, lemon, basil, crisp green beans, and silky Swiss chard are joined by some toothsome ditalini pasta, leeks, and celery for a comforting meal. Opt for high-quality store-bought broth for this dish, or make your own.
Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
Greg DuPree
Stock a bottle of salsa verde in the pantry for nights when you’re craving tacos. This dish pairs the store-bought condiment with simmered chicken thighs. For more flavor, top each taco with chopped onion, plenty of fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, and creamy avocado slices. If you have sour cream in the fridge, add a dollop of that, too.
Artichoke-Chard Pasta and Cheese
Greg DuPree
While this dish is an elevated take on mac and cheese, it still hits all of those familiar flavor notes. Inside, you’ll find savory Provolone, silky chard, and tender artichoke hearts. For those who love spinach artichoke dip, this recipe will definitely be on repeat.
Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese
Another dish that’s always a hit is mac and cheese. This version, which is ready in 30 minutes, pairs fusilli pasta with a seasoned mozzarella sauce and sautéd Swiss chard. If you want your little ones to eat more greens, add this recipe to your meal rotation ASAP.
Creamy Veggie Chicken Noodle Soup
GREG DUPREE
Everyone loves chicken noodle soup, and this version is creamier and heartier than your standard bowl thanks to a generous amount of cream. You’ll also find typical ingredients like chicken, noodles, and broth, as well as unexpected additions such as scallions, fresh tarragon, and haricots verts.
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
If you’re tired of buttered noodles, give this hearty pasta dinner a try. It’s packed with spaghetti (obviously), Asiago cheese, and shredded rotisserie chicken, which is an easy addition that just so happens to be a good source of protein. Since this savory casserole is reminiscent of traditional fettuccine alfredo, your little ones will (most likely) gobble it up.
Chicken-Pesto Flatbread Sandwiches
Rotisserie chicken strikes again in these flatbread sandwiches, which are also stuffed with mozzarella, baby arugula, and pesto. And if you don’t have the time to make the pesto yourself, the jarred stuff works just as well. Thanks to these shortcuts, plus some store-bought pizza dough, this meal is ready in just 40 minutes.
Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
What’s better than a quick meal? A quick meal you can make on one baking sheet. This colorful meal calls for shrimp, bell peppers, and red onion, which gets a flavorful boost from some tasty taco seasoning. To serve, simply wrap the shrimp and veggies in warm tortillas, and bring out all the fixings.
Crispy Chicken Cutlets
There’s no denying that this 40-minute meal is a major step up from chicken fingers, while still being familiar enough that everyone will like it. Here, chicken breasts are coated with eggs and panko breadcrumbs, which helps ensure maximum crispiness. Eat these cutlets solo, or serve them with a fresh side salad or an easy rice dish.
Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo and Crispy Oven Fries
Sure, turkey burgers in their own might not be the most exciting dinner, but here, the weeknight staple gets a little help from spices blended with the turkey meat, as well as a tangy lime mayo and thick oven-roasted fries. Top the burgers with sliced avocado to give the meal a creamy texture and a nutrient boost.
Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce
If you’re not familiar with a grandma pie, think of it as a thin-crust pizza that can be made in a standard baking sheet instead of a dedicated pizza oven. This easy version is topped with a rich pink sauce, melted mozzarella, crispy coins of pepperoni, and rounds of red onion, but feel free to customize the toppings to your liking.
Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles
This stir-fry tastes exactly like takeout, which means it’s (literally) a recipe for success. The “orange” part of this dish comes from orange marmalade, which adds the citrus flavor as well as a welcome bitter note to balance the sweet and salty elements. The recipe calls for veggies such as snow peas and a red bell pepper, but feel free to swap in some of your faves instead. And if you aren’t a fan of rice noodles, white or brown rice will work well too.
Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
This sheet pan meal requires next to zero cleanup and is ready in 30 minutes. It’s also balanced thanks to chicken, healthy sweet potatoes, and watercress, and gets an irresistibly flavorful boost courtesy of crisp, salty bacon.
Pasta with Bacon and Cauliflower
Pasta goes a long way in feeding a hungry family. Add in some bacon, and it’s nearly irresistible. But don’t worry. There are also a ton of veggies in here, thanks to the addition of cauliflower.
Venezuelan Arepas
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This three-ingredient Venezuelan staple is made with precooked cornmeal, oil, salt, and water. The result is a bread-like patty that can be opened and stuffed with all manner of ingredients. Traditionally, you’ll see arepas filled with reina pepiada (chicken avocado salad) or ham and cheese, though breakfast variations with scrambled eggs are popular, too.
Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Avocado-Basil Dressing
For nights when it’s too hot to turn on the oven, try this refreshing pasta salad. While you do need to boil water in order to cook the pasta, the noodles are meant to be served at room temperature with a healthy, savory dressing made with Greek yogurt, basil, vinegar, honey, and avocados. Chopped toasted almonds add a satisfying crunch, while fresh cherry tomatoes bring bursts of bright acidity. As an added bonus, whatever you don’t eat for dinner makes for one delicious lunch the following day.
Steak Stir-Fry With Snap Peas, Bok Choy, and Basil
There’s no need for takeout—this sweet and spicy stir fry will satisfy everyone’s cravings. This dish packs in the green veggies with bok choy and sweet snap peas but doesn’t skimp on the protein thanks to the flank steak. Fresh red hot chili brings the heat to the sauce, which will soak into the rice it’s served over perfectly.
Cantonese Light Sauce
While this isn’t a full meal, you can easily turn any simple dish like plain rice or a stir fry into one with this Cantonese light sauce. It uses low-sodium chicken broth or water and dry white wine and soy sauce. Ingredients like grated ginger and minced scallions add flavor to any meal you pair it with.
Shrimp and Chorizo Skillet Supper
This smoky chorizo and extra-large shrimp recipe is super quick to put together, but don’t let the speediness fool you; it certainly doesn’t sacrifice any flavor. You’ll lay the chorizo and shrimp over a bed of tomato-braised chickpeas and arugula, but you can also keep leftovers for a pasta or rice meal, too. They’re all easy dishes you can whip up in well under an hour.
Spinach Alfredo French Bread Pizza
Greg DuPree
This super simple family dinner comes together in a snap thanks to loaves of French bread and jarred Alfredo sauce. But don’t worry—simplicity doesn’t mean lack of flavor! Red onions, fresh spinach, and Fontina cheese pair with the Alfredo sauce in this fun play on a childhood favorite. It’ll become your family’s new favorite, too!
Rosemary Lamb Chops
Greg DuPree
Sometimes simple is best, and that’s definitely true for this recipe, which highlights juicy lamb and fresh Persian cucumbers. You can make this family-friendly meal in just 15 minutes, so it’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Creamy yogurt and crusty, toasted bread are welcome accompaniments.
