Our Best Family-Friendly Dinners To Try In 2024
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
It can be hard to put a meal on the table that's kid-friendly, hearty, and easy. Luckily, a year of recipes in Southern Living is a year of family-friendly dinners that combine the best of classic Southern food with modern and quick and easy recipes.
From timeless Southern dishes like chicken pot pie to fresh teriyaki salmon bowls, these are our favorite family recipes. The kids won't complain when you serve up homemade calzones or sheet-pan nachos, and you'll love how easy these recipes actually are to whip up. With all-time favorite slow-cooker family dinners like chili and pot roast, your family will be full and happy at dinnertime– any day of the week.
This year, we're resolving to cook more at home and eat out less, and these family-friendly dinners are the perfect place to start. Best of all, these easy family dinners are kid-and Mama-approved.
Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Honey and garlic are always a winning duo. Especially when they're tossed into the slow cooker with chicken thighs to create a delicious dinner the whole family will request again and again.
Ravioli Lasagna
Shortcuts to the rescue! You're just five ingredients and 30 minutes away from serving up this pasta dinner.
French Onion Soup Casserole
Georgia-grown Vidalia onions are ideal for French onion soup, and this casserole version will be an ultimate family favorite.
One-Pan Ranch Chicken And Vegetables
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Ranch seasoning can make almost any meal better, and this one pan recipe is a great example. The classic mix ensures there's plenty of flavor in every bite of this meal.
Extra Easy Lasagna
If you think you have to spend all day in the kitchen to serve up homemade lasagna, we're here with the good news that you can get this easy lasagna recipe on the table in just one hour.
Chicken Nachos
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Make suppertime fun by serving these nachos up family-style by serving them straight from the pan in the middle of the table. Plus, covering the sheet pan with aluminum foil makes cleanup a breeze.
Mini Meatloaves
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Meatloaf made quick! Not only are these mini meatloaves a cute choice for dinner, but their size helps them cook much quicker than a normal loaf.
Instant Pot Chili Mac
If your family loves both chili and mac and cheese, they're sure to love this meal that combines the flavors of both. Thanks to your favorite multicooker, the meal comes together in just 30 minutes.
Crispy Chicken With Sweet Potato Fries And Green Beans
This crispy chicken and both side dishes take just 45 minutes to cook up, so your family can enjoy a well-rounded meal in well under an hour. A marmalade mixture for the beans will ensure that everyone eats their veggies.
Easy Chicken Parmesan
Stacy Allen; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
What if we told you it's possible to serve this restaurant-quality meal to your family in just 35 minutes? With this recipe you can do just that.
Sloppy Joes
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
Ready in just 15 minutes, this suppertime sandwich is a quick and easy family meal you can serve on even the busiest weeknights. It's sure to become a go-to dinner if it's not already.
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
Keep your family warm on cool evenings with this creamy take on comforting chicken noodle soup. It comes together in just 25 minutes.
Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings is one of the most famous and comforting dishes to ever come out of the South.
Oven-Fried Pork Chops Recipe with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
There's nothing better than a meal that cooks in one pan, especially when budget-friendly, kid-approved pork chops are the star. This hearty sheet pan supper is pretty enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Stacy K. Allen; Props: Josh Hoggle; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray
Using rotisserie chicken cuts down on prep time and helps this crowd-pleasing casserole come together from start to finish in just 50 minutes.
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts
Don't pull those frozen chicken nuggets out tonight. This easy dinner is one the kids will love just as much.
White Cheese Calzones with Marinara Sauce
This easy, homemade calzone recipe will be a weekly request at your house after your kids get a taste.
Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole
Louisville's classic Hot Brown Sandwich gets big-batch treatment with this hearty casserole recipe.
Skillet Enchiladas Suizas
If the kids are craving Mexican, don't spend money eating out. Make a delicious enchilada dish right in your skillet.
Greek Baked Ziti
This easy, cheesy pasta dish is easy to prepare on busy weeknights and if you double the recipe, it's the perfect pull-out-of-the-freezer dinner for later.
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms
Chicken pot pie is a Southern classic that will never get old, and this one-dish recipe makes it easier than ever.
Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce
The dijon-buttermilk sauce is truly the star of this easy and company-worthy dinner.
Beef Stew
A cozy bowl of classic beef stew is the best way to warm up on chilly nights, and it's always smart to have a batch in the freezer for the busiest weeks.
Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots
Is there anything better than a 30-minute dinner that's made in your sheet pan? No, there's really not.
Turkey with Shallot-Mustard Sauce and Roasted Potatoes
The turkey cooks in the slow cooker for ultimate hands-off ease for this dinner that would impress company, too.
Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables
Get a healthy meal on the table for the family in no time with this quick, easy dinner.
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Pot roast is a classic dinner that every family member will agree on, and the slow cooker makes for the easiest prep.
Shepherd's Pie
Although Shepherd's Pie is a traditional recipe from over the pond, it has all the comfort of a classic Southern casserole.
Sheet Pan Nachos with Chorizo and Refried Beans
It doesn't get more kid-friendly than nachos, and you'll only have to clean up one pan after this fun dinner.
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Recipe
We put everyone's favorite pasta dish in a casserole for a kid-approved meal.
Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili
Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Hector M. Sanchez
This slow-cooker chili is an easy, comforting dinner that will fill your family up.
Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Forget takeout—these teriyaki bowls are an Asian-inspired (and healthy!) meal that the kids will love.
Chicken Fried Chicken
This twist on chicken fried steak is a fan favorite among kids and adults alike. Serve it with easy steamed veggies and your favorite version of potatoes.
Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs Recipe
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos
During the summer months, there's nothing better than firing up the grill, and no one can resist a delicious kebab.
Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce
Serve this traditional meat sauce over whatever pasta variety you have on hand. This recipe serves a crowd, so you might have leftovers for the freezer.
Country Captain Chicken
This Lowcountry favorite is packed with flavor from various spices like curry powder, paprika, and nutmeg.
Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas
This gnocchi spin on a traditional gratin is extra cheesy and oh-so-comforting.
Spring Onion Grilled Pizza
Grilling out is a fun way to enjoy family pizza night in the summer, and you can top these pizzas with whichever protein and veggies are in your refrigerator at the time!
Beef Stew with Cheddar Biscuits
This hearty stew is made in your skillet for easy one-dish cleanup.
Burgoo
This Kentucky-born stew is perfect for feeding a crowd and freezing leftovers for later.
Martina McBride's Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Readers could not stop raving about this easy Tex-Mex soup from Martina McBride's cookbook, and your family is going to fall in love.
Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
Without a doubt, this reader-favorite casserole recipe became an instant classic this year, and there's never been a ground beef recipe our families haven't loved.
Heirloom Tomato Pie
This is hands-down our most popular tomato pie recipe of all time, not to mention how beautiful a variety of heirloom tomatoes looks on your table.
Chicken-Mushroom Skillet
This pretty dinner recipe is healthy but filling, and you have to make it if you're a mushroom lover.
Baked Ziti with Sausage
Easy, cheesy, and impossible to mess up, this baked pasta is a shoo-in for your weeknight repertoire.
Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder
We love using fresh summer corn when it's abundant, and this hearty soup is a way to get it on the table with minimal work on your part.
Old-Fashioned Meatloaf
Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Since meatloaf has been a prized recipe in every Southern cook's recipe box for decades, it came as no surprise that this old-school iteration became popular with readers.
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This chicken spaghetti is literally the definition of a crowd-pleasing dinner recipe.
Shrimp and Grits Casserole
Readers loved this dish for its versatility and how easy it is to serve. Rather than have two separate dishes for shrimp and grits, we combined them into one easy casserole that you can serve at brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese
When in doubt, creamy tomato soup is always going to hit the spot. Serve this easy dinner with a classic grilled cheese, and even the pickiest eaters at the table will be happy.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
A trusty standby for dinnertime, this Tex-Mex casserole has never met an opposer.
Smothered Pork Chops With Rice
This Louisiana-inspired pork chop recipe takes a Creole spin on the classic homestyle dish. Packed with flavors, this dish is all about the sauce.
Easy Taco Casserole
Cleanup following Taco Tuesday has never been easier than now thanks to this hearty casserole.
Macaroni Pie
Sliceable yet creamy macaroni and cheese? We made it possible.
Julie Yoste's Mississippi Roast
The Mississippi Roast is one of the most popular recipes on Pinterest, so if you haven't tried it, this is the year.
Rosemary Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
This healthy skillet dinner is pretty enough for guests but quick enough for weeknights, and that's what we call a winner.
Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon
This rich, creamy soup comes together in your Dutch oven from start to finish, so you have less to clean up after dinnertime.
Pizza Casserole
From the name alone, you know your kids are going to be huge fans of this recipe. This hearty supper tops delivery every time.
Chicken Tamale Pie
A corn muffin crust and your trusty skillet will make this your new favorite weeknight dinner.
Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce
Although this pasta is paired with a dreamy cream sauce, it remains a light and airy feel.
One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice
This one-dish chicken and rice dinner packs more flavor than your family will believe.
Healthy Turkey Lasagna
The kids will have no idea that you took your old-school beefy lasagna and lightened it up a bit.
Ground Beef Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi
If one kid is craving the comfort of a warm bowl of soup and the other pasta, this hearty soup will be on the table in 30 minutes to satisfy everyone.
Cowboy Casserole
We know this dinner isn't necessarily diet-proof, but with a tater-tot crust, it's definitely kid-proof, which is enough to hope for one some nights.
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry
You might not have the time or patience to make old-school chicken pot pie with homemade crust, but this skillet recipe brings you all the flavor you love in half the time.
Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese
We love any recipe that's done in less than an hour and uses our favorite skillet (and that has pasta and cheese, of course).
Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes
This herby, healthy sheet pan dinner has so much depth of flavor.
Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole
This one-pot meal flavored with country ham and mushrooms takes the classic chicken-and-rice number to the next level. This easy dish is weeknight friendly and company worth.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Do Sloppy Joes take you back to your childhood days? Well, we gave the camp-favorite a sophisticated spin that is ready for the dinner table.
Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
Hannah Zimmerman
With only 20 minutes of hands-on time, this roast is ridiculously easy and even more delicious.
One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards
Put dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with this hearty and healthy dish that only requires one pan to keep the mess at bay.
Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This stir fry is the ideal weeknight throw together in a hurry dinner and is packed with nutrient dense broccoli and peppers.
Shepherd's Pie with Potato Crust
Lighten up the traditional Shepard's Pie by topping it with a medley of thinly sliced sweet potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes in lieu of mashed potatoes.
Soulful Chicken Soup
We can't talk about family favorite dinners without including this crowd pleaser. This slow-cooker dish is made for more than just sick days, but is a dish you should always keep extra of tucked in the freezer.
One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
Satisfy your Tex-Mex craving with cast-iron skillet dish full of just the right amount of smokey flavors from chili powder and cumin.
Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes
Winner winner chicken dinner when you're serving this citrusy, fragrant, and flavorful dish.
One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp with Orzo
Get your seafood fix with minimal effort when it comes to this 30 minute dinner. It's nothing shy of a five-star rating.
Smothered Enchiladas
Mix up your casserole routine with cheesy, melty enchiladas. The kids will ask for seconds, and you can enjoy a margarita on the side.
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.
