When it comes to trying to be creative in the kitchen these days, it’s always smart to have quick and easy family dinner ideas up your sleeve. That’s why we’ve collected dynamite dishes that take very little prep work and guarantee to satisfy the whole family. Even better? Some of these quick meal ideas call for the slow cooker!
If you need more easy family dinner ideas, check out our favorite sheet-pan recipes, easy recipes for when you’re burned out, one-pot dinner ideas, and chicken breast recipes everyone will love.
Hamburger Casserole
Ground beef serves many purposes and this recipe is probably one of the best—hamburgers aside. Cheesy goodness, pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce come together in 30 minutes for what we think will be a family favorite. Get the recipe from Yellow Bliss Road.
Cheesy Pasta
Cheese? Check. Pasta? Check. Sounds like a total kid-pleasing easy dinner. Throw some rotisserie chicken in at the end of this recipe from The Cozy Cook to make it a one-pot meal.
Easy Dinner Recipe for Cashew Chicken
We’re always looking for recipes that taste just like (better?) our favorite take-out items. This recipe for Cashew Chicken fits the bill, and it’s made in one skillet. Get the recipe from Modern Honey.
Sloppy Joes
We promise this won’t taste like the nightmare that popped up in your cafeteria as a kid. Get the recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen.
Shrimp Fried Rice
So maybe your kiddo hates peas. Or carrots. Or both. The good news is, this easy family dinner idea from The Cozy Cook is super adaptable, so you can throw in whatever the kids will actually eat.
Instant Pot Chicken Marsala
Chicken Marsala is one of the ultimate comfort foods. This easy dinner recipe from Easy Chicken Recipes uses an Instant Pot to get the meal done in under 30 minutes, so we’re huge fans.
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is a classic pasta dish, and this ground beef version from Chelsea's Messy Apron comes together quickly. It's a meal that even picky eaters can get behind. Get the recipe here.
Crock Pot Chicken from Heaven
It's right there in the title. This chicken is a little bit of heaven. It's also convenient, delicious, and can be adapted for Paleo diets! Grab the recipe by clicking here.
Chicken Fajitas
One of the best easy family dinner ideas, it's perfect for picky eaters because they can build their own plates. Get the recipe from Weelicious.
Ham and Swiss Pasta Roll Up
Ham and Swiss cheese nestled into pasta and baked to perfection? Yes, please! This surprisingly simple recipe can be made ahead of time and popped into the oven before dinner time. Get the recipe from The View from Great Island.
Chicken Cordon Blue Sandwiches
You’ll be able to serve up warm, tangy sandwiches in no time with this 30-minute recipe for Chicken Cordon Blue from Sprinkles and the Smiths. Best of all, it can be made in an air fryer, which makes it (almost) healthy.
Sheet Pan Nachos
Sheet pan nachos are a good option for busy families because you can add what you want, divide it up into sections for picky eaters, and of course, they’re ready in under 30 minutes. Get the scoop from Maple + Mango.
Grilled Cheese with Apple and Jam
Give your classic grilled cheese a major upgrade with two ingredients you probably have on hand: apples and jam! Get the tasty recipe here.
Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
This chicken recipe is a keeper when it comes to weeknight dinner recipes! It only has a few ingredients, so you can get this into the Crock Pot in the morning in less than ten minutes! Get the recipe from Hello Spoonful.
Instant Pot Chili
Love your Instant Pot? Then you’ll love this weeknight dinner recipe! Just sauté your beef, add veggies, beans, and spices and the pressure cooker will do the rest. Get the recipe from Oh Sweet Basil.
One-Pot Orecchiette, Sausage, and Broccoli Pasta
The flavor of the sausage, parmesan cheese, and olive oil gives this dish all the seasoning it needs, which means there's no heavy sauce to make on the side. Get the recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron.
Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Bites
These meatloaf bites from our friend Catherine McCord of Weelicious are petite versions of your favorite comfort food. And you can bet they're perfect for kids' taste buds!
Hawaiian Barbecue Pizza
With BBQ sauce, pineapple, and rotisserie chicken, this pizza couldn't be more simple. Get the kids in on the cooking to make dinnertime extra fun! Click here for the recipe.
Related: 18 Easy One-Pot Dinners Perfect for Busy Weeknights
One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
This pasta dish isn't too fancy, sports kid-friendly ingredients, and is sure to be a weeknight dinner recipe that you'll make again and again. Bonus: It only gets one pot dirty! Get the how-to here.
Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
Everyone's favorite party app also makes a great dinner-in-a-pinch! And with just two ingredients and four steps, kids can help whip these up! Make your own with this recipe from Bake Me Some Sugar.
Fettuccine Alfredo
Creamy fettuccine Alfredo that's healthy, too? The secret to this recipe is sneaking spinach into the sauce and adding pre-cooked chicken. Get the recipe here.
Grilled Cheese Rollups
Think outside the grilled cheese! These rollups have the classic taste kids love, with just a bit of a twist. And they only take 10 minutes to make! Find out how here.
Related: 31 Make Ahead Meals That Are Perfect for Busy Weeknights
Korean Beef Bowl
You can fulfill your Korean food cravings in 15-20 minutes with this beef bowl recipe. And you probably have the ingredient list in your pantry! Click here for the recipe.
Crispy Parmesan Crusted Fish
Want to introduce the kiddos to fish? Try this mild white fish covered in a crunchy parmesan crust. The ingredients are simple, and the flavors are excellent! Get the recipe here. Or, if you want to try salmon, check out our family-friendly salmon recipes here.
One-Pot Chicken and Rice
Is there anything more comforting than chicken and rice? We don't think so. This quick one-pot version from Scrummy Lane is one of our favorite easy family dinner ideas.
Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki
Fact: Kids love teriyaki. Another fact? This recipe from Our Little Acre uses the slow cooker and is super simple to make. What's not to love?
