29 Easy Family Dinners (Crowdsourced From Parents)

Gina I. said:  It's hard to say when my love for quiche started, but it has been a go-to weeknight dinner for a few years now, and my kids still devour it every time. I love that it only takes a few minutes of prep, and within the hour I can serve a complete meal in a single dish. We use this recipe as a base, but feel free to get creative. Throw in some ham if you'd like, swap out the mozzarella for cheddar or swiss...you can't go wrong!

Kristy Pepping said:  We have a few picky eaters, but everyone can agree on this easy family dinner idea! It's a good recipe for sneaking veggies - I hide spinach in the sauce! Basically, it is rice and chicken with avocado, lime and cilantro. It says white rice, but really you can use a different variety and it still turns out great.

Stephanie W. said:  Trader Joe's has many easy family dinner recipes but this is my favorite one so far! This layered casserole is super flavorful and easy to make, especially if you use their recommended Pork Carnitas which is already cooked (easily substituted for ground beef if that sounds better to you!). Just layer corn tortilla strips, enchilada sauce, cheese and the meat mixture and bake.

Kristy Pepping said:  My kids love spaghetti and this 5-ingredient carbonara dish is super easy to throw together. One of my go-to easy family dinner ideas when I'm wondering what should I make! For an even healthier version, use turkey bacon and whole wheat pasta.

Kristy Pepping said:  This fried "rice" is a healthy and fast family dinner idea! Instead of rice, this recipe uses cauliflower which will get your kids the evening serving of veggies they need. Plus, picky kids won't even know this is cauliflower since it is so small!

Amanda Banta said:  This easy family dinner recipe proves that making a beautiful pot of chili doesn't have to be an all-day affair. In addition to being easy and quick, it's also loaded with good stuff. The black beans are a great source of protein and using a mix of red, green and yellow peppers will add beautiful colors to the pot. I use ground turkey instead of beef and toss in extra veggies for a lighter version. The soup still will taste amazing if you skip the jalapeno, which I do since my kids don't like spicy foods yet.

christadiserio said:  It's not always easy to get the kids to eat fish but this pineapple teriyaki salmon is a hit. I do recommend marinating the fish for as long as possible (preferably overnight), as this really helps it absorb the flavors of the pineapple and teriyaki. Serve with rice and green beans or asparagus.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  I’ve tried various recipes and this is everyone’s favorite in our home. I don’t add the spicy things and I use less sugar than this recipe calls for. Enjoy!

Kelly R said:  These fajitas are easily one of my family's favorite sheet pan dinners, and we make them all the time! Chicken and veggies cook together on one pan with a simple spice mixture that my kids can help make. They're delicious the first night wrapped in tortillas, and we all love the leftovers over the next few days repurposed as quesadilla filling, on nachos, over rice, or all alone!

Vibrant kid-approved pasta salad with couscous, chickpeas, salami, mozzarella, bell peppers, olives, and cherry tomatoes, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing.

Sarah C. said:  This is a well balanced, colorful and delicious salad! Make sure to use the Israeli Couscous. We pair with fruit and garlic bread and my whole family loves it.

Lisa R said:  This one pan meal is quick, easy to prepare, avoids a lot of common allergens and fits in with a lot of different adult diets (paleo, whole 30). It is also delicious and gets my kids to eat asparagus.

Vibrant quinoa salad with fresh vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, feta cheese, and a tangy lemon-oregano dressing.

Sarah C. said:  My whole family loves this greek quinoa salad! We serve with falafel (lots of great freezer options!), tzatziki and mini pitas.

Kelly R said:  These shrimp tacos are 100% delicious and quickly became one of the go-to easy family dinner recipes in our house. Mini tortillas (we use flour) are laid out on a sheet pan and topped with cheese and a shrimp mixture. Bake until crispy, then fold each one in half to make tacos! There's room to get creative here with other fillings like chicken, beans, beef, or whatever your family enjoys.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  I love this because I can easily double or triple it and freeze the filling for another meal. It’s not hard to make but it saves steps for next time! These Chicken Flautas are filled with chicken, salsa, and cheese and baked in the oven until crispy. Your whole family will love this easy, delicious recipe.