61 Easy Family Dinners Everyone at the Table Will Eat
You got everyone at the table for family dinnertime—congrats. But Suzy is still in a chicken-fingers-only phase, and Johnny has been telling everyone he knows that green vegetables are “ew.” Figuring out what you’re all going to eat might be daunting, but that’s what we’re here for. Presenting 61 easy family dinners that everybody will love—yep, even the picky eaters.
RELATED: 15 Slow-Cooker Recipes for Kids (Even the Picky Ones)
1. One-Pan Spaghetti and Meatballs
It’s a classic for good reason, but a modern update—one skillet, almost no cleanup—never hurt anything.
2. Cheater’s Italian Wedding Soup
With pasta, beans and Parm, no one will even know there’s a whole bunch of kale in there.
3. Chrissy Teigen’s Cheesy Chicken Milanese
She’s not just our favorite source of internet comic relief. Teigen’s mouthwatering chicken Milanese is proof that she’s also our kitchen inspo.
4. Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets
We’re not above serving nuggets for dinner. Just skip the frozen kind and make these easy-peasy, 30-minute homemade ones instead.
5. Zucchini Carbonara with Parsnip ‘Pancetta’
Oh hey, instant crowd-pleaser. Don’t tell boxed mac and cheese, but thanks to you, we’re never looking back.
6. Sheet-Pan Miso-Glazed Fish with Broccoli and Coconut Rice
Here’s proof that making fish at home is both easy and kid-friendly. The miso glaze is sweet, salty, easy and irresistible.
RELATED: 30 Sheet-Pan Meals You Can Make in an Hour or Less
7. Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas
You don’t have to tell the kids they’re eating whole zucchinis. They won’t even know.
8. Pasta Florentine with Grilled Chicken
It’s creamy, smoky and packed with good-for-you spinach. What more could you ask for?
9. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
The secret to making this 30-minute meal is two-fold: A single skillet makes for less cleanup, and store-bought fresh gnocchi means it’s ready to eat in no time.
10. Market Corn Chowder with Summer Savory
It’s a known fact that everyone likes soup—even picky eaters. Add corn to that equation and you’re looking at a dinnertime hit (in 30 minutes, might we add).
11. One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo
Cheesy, creamy pasta is a no-brainer. What’s genius is that it requires only one pot and 35 minutes of your time.
RELATED: 15 One-Pot Pasta Recipes for Lazy Nights
12. Dijon-Maple Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
The glaze is what really takes this dish over the top. It’s a little spicy, a little sweet and pairs equally well with the chicken and veggies.
13. Ina Garten's Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Eggplant
If only we could invite Ina Garten to make this 30-minute meal for us. Cooking from her recipe is the next best thing.
14. Katsu Bites with Chipotle-Gochujang Sauce
Yep, they’re fancy chicken tenders. But the dipping sauce is *kisses hands like a chef.*
15. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir-Fry
Even the most green-veggie-averse will gobble up this stir-fry. It’ll be gone almost as fast as it took to make it (20 minutes, FYI).
16. Sticky Asian Meatballs with Udon Noodles
In a room full of jarred marinara sauces, be this sesame-and-soy-based stunner.
RELATED: 10 Unexpected Meatball Recipes You Need to Make for Dinner
17. BLT Pasta Salad
How to get your kids to ask for seconds? Bacon. Avocado. Repeat.
18. 30-Minute Cheater’s Beef Stroganoff
It’s rich, creamy and just like how your grandma used to make it…but in less than half the time.
19. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Find us a kid (or adult) who doesn’t like buffalo chicken. We dare you.
20. One-Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone
Throw the ingredients in a pot, heat and serve. Then try *not* to make this on repeat Monday through Friday.
21. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
It looks complicated, but we promise it’s not—the only thing you have to cook is the fritters (and they’re worth it).
22. Mozzarella Meatball Frittata
Got leftovers? Repurpose them into this delightful frittata. Any cheese or veggie will work, but we’re partial to mozz and cherry tomatoes.
23. Buffalo-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
How many of these guys can we acceptably eat in one sitting? Asking for a friend…
24. Korean-Style Popcorn Cauliflower
Vegetables masquerading as something they’re not? Yep, we’re sneaky like that.
25. One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
Once you’ve mastered this easy version, you can customize to your heart’s content.
26. 30-Minute Creamy Chicken, Corn and Tomato Skillet
You had us at 30 minutes (and again at “creamy” and “corn”).
27. Slow-Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Prep everything in the morning and by the time dinner rolls around, you won’t have to lift a finger.
28. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
We’ve never said no to a tender—especially not a homemade, oven-baked one.
29. Honey-Mustard Chicken Bake
Don’t be scared away by the one-hour cooking time. Most of it happens in the oven while you whip up a quick mustardy glaze.
30. Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw
Because the fish is baked (not fried), these tacos are super easy to make. Tuesdays have never been tastier.
RELATED: 12 Fish Taco Recipes to Try at Home
31. BLT Tacos
Speaking of tacos, have you ever had one with bacon in it? It’s life-changing.
32. Sheet-Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage
A hands-off dinner with almost zero dishes that everyone will eat? We’re swooning.
33. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Bites
Be warned: Your kids will go bonkers when they get their hands on these. Bye, sad can of chicken noodle.
34. Portobello and Avocado Quesadillas with Magic Green Sauce
The kids will love that it’s glorified finger food; you’ll love that it’s low-effort and maximum payoff (not to mention the spicy, herbaceous magic green sauce, yum).
35. Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes
We like to call this one “the easiest way to get a mushroom-hater to eat mushrooms.” Come on, who doesn’t love pizza?
RELATED: The 23 Best Side Dishes for Pizza
36. Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
It tastes like you spent all day stirring and slaving over a hot stove. No one will even suspect that you actually dumped everything into your slow cooker, pressed a button and walked away.
37. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
Our favorite vegetable met up with our favorite pasta dish and created this masterpiece. It really is as amazing as it sounds.
38. Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
It’s just as easy as opening up a can of the store-bought stuff, but way tastier. And the actual amount of time you’ll spend prepping? Five minutes.
39. Zucchini Noodle Pad See Ew
This one goes out to the takeout lovers in the family. Since you can’t eat greasy pad see ew every night, swap it for this healthier take. It’s just as good (if not better).
40. Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Frittata
We bet you didn’t know your slow cooker could do this. It’s great for breakfast, sure, but just as brilliant at dinnertime.
41. Ina Garten’s Baked Spinach and Zucchini
How to get picky eaters to feast on nutritious veggies? Smother them in two different types of cheese à la Ina Garten.
42. Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
Once you’ve done the hard work (i.e., dumping all the ingredients in a pot), simply press the button and wait for your reward. Then pile it high with coleslaw and all the fixings, and give yourself a pat on the back.
RELATED: Essential Slow-Cooker Recipes You Need in Your Life
43. Baked Coconut Shrimp
We can’t decide which is the best part: the crispy, sweet baked shrimp or the two-ingredient sweet chili dipping sauce.
44. Broccoli Cheese Quesadilla with Chipotle Sauce
It’s simple, healthy and comforting—sure to elicit oohs and ahhs from the entire table.
45. Cheesy Kale Pasta
If you’re thinking, “LOL, my kids won’t touch this with a ten-foot pole,” think again. Thanks to a combination of garlic, noodles and Parmesan cheese, they won’t be able to resist. (Thanks, Coterie member Gaby Dalkin.)
46. Taco Pasta Skillet
It’s like Hamburger Helper got a 21st-century makeover (and we’re not mad about it at all). Serve this easy dish with tons of toppings (like sour cream, avocado and scallions, for starters) for a hands-on dinner.
47. Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes
This humble spud doesn’t seem like a complete meal until you add roasted chickpeas and a savory garlic-herb sauce. Then we’re really talking.
48. Cheater’s Skillet Lasagna with Corn and Cherry Tomatoes
Once you get over how pretty this one-skillet meal is, you’ll be greeted by the fact that it takes 35 minutes to make, start to finish. You’re welcome.
49. Basil Chicken Saltimbocca with Marinated Tomatoes and Burrata
It turns out, absolutely no one is immune to the powers of fresh burrata and basil—even crazy-particular kids.
50. Seriously Good Sweet Potato Cheddar Barbecue Chicken Burgers
Not only are these burgers—courtesy of Coterie member Monique Volz—mouthwateringly tasty, they’re also pretty darn good for you. The shredded sweet potato packs a nutritional punch while also keeping the burgers from drying out.
51. Weeknight Instant Pot Beef Ragu
Sunday supper on a busy Thursday? We’ll bite. Thanks to our trusty pressure cooker (and jarred tomato sauce), this meaty sauce takes half the time. Just don’t tell Nonna.
RELATED: 30 Dinners You Can Make with a Jar of Tomato Sauce
52. Skillet Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Coterie member Jesse Reilly knows the secret to pleasing a crowd of hungry people: gooey, cheesy meatballs and lots of crusty bread.
53. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce
What’s more fun than eating dinner on a stick?
54. Cacio e Pepe
This classic Italian dish requires a mere six ingredients and 20 minutes to make. Memorize it, then make it over and over.
55. Firecracker Chicken with Rice
This is as low-maintenance as it gets: a 35-minute meal that uses, like, two dishes max. Don’t even get us started on how good it tastes.
56. Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
Oh hi, easiest dinner on the planet. Watch us find an excuse to make this three times a week.
57. Mediterranean Salmon Sheet-Pan Dinner
Take a page out of Coterie member Ali Maffucci’s book and make the entire meal on one pan. (Bonus points for the fun, spiralized veggies.)
RELATED: 15 Quick Sheet-Pan Seafood Recipes to Try for Dinner
58. Spicy Corn Carbonara
It’s luscious and creamy without being heavy, and full of kid-friendly corn and bacon. Anything else you need to know?
59. Mediterranean-Style Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki Dipping Sauce
Just prepare yourself: They’re going to ask for these again tomorrow (and the next day).
60. Beef Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps
Gaby Dalkin does it again, this time with an effortless take on Korean food. And if you’re not into spicy food, don’t worry: You can adjust as needed.
61. Chicken Parm Bites
That’s it. We’re inviting ourselves over for dinner—hope you don’t mind.
RELATED: 50 Secretly Easy Dinners That Look Really Impressive
