A woman stood in front of an open fridge, stared at random foods, and prayed for the right ingredients to leap onto the counter and cook themselves. The food never moved.
It’s me. I was that woman, and eventually, I got tired of staring into the fridge. It was time to plan some easy family dinners.
I’ve come to enjoy meal planning, but ideas for easy family dinners don’t always pop right into my head. I have a few go-tos, but I also appreciate a good, curated list that shares meals that have gotten a thumbs up from kids and moms. So, I figured it was iMOM’s turn to share our own list. Many of these 20 recipes are five or fewer ingredients, some the kids can help with, and they’re all delicious. So which one’s for dinner tonight?
Super Easy Family Dinners
1. English Muffin Pizzas
Kids love miniature foods, so why not let them build their own personal pizzas? All you need are English muffins, sauce, cheese, and your kids’ favorite toppings. A couple of tips: Chop pepperoni into tiny bites, toast the English muffins, and warm the sauce before putting the pizzas together. Once the toppings are on, just pop ‘em back in the oven to melt the cheese under the broiler.
2. Proper Nachos
You don’t need a recipe for nachos, but I need to tell you something. I made nachos all wrong for years. I just learned three things that have taken my nachos to the next level. First, bake the chips for a few minutes before adding any toppings. Second, cover them with shredded cheese and do another super quick bake. And third, mixing your ground beef with refried beans helps it stay on the chips. You’re welcome.
3. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
So simple. So obvious. Sooooo delicious. Drop chicken breast into a crockpot with a jar of salsa and taco seasoning and let it cook on low for six to eight hours or high for four to six. Shred the meat with tongs or a couple of forks. Then put out taco shells and the toppings your family likes best, and let everyone walk around the counter and build their own tacos!
4. PB & ?
Peanut butter and jelly might not seem like a dinner food, but have you tried a “PB & ?” Put out a variety of ingredients—honey, sliced banana, sliced strawberries, Nutella, granola, marshmallow fluff, and, of course, peanut butter—and let everyone create their own sandwich. Butter the bread (before adding fillings) and heat in a skillet for a warm crunch. Serve it with a salad, or french fries if you want your children to cry tears of joy.
5. Mac. And. Cheese. Bar.
Yes, it gets a pause after each word because it’s just that good. Whip up your preferred mac and cheese and then set out a variety of add-ins. Here are some of our kids’ favorites: salsa, diced chicken, Doritos, hot dogs, blue cheese and buffalo sauce, and meatballs with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
6. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
This combo has been around for decades for a reason. Jazz up your tomato soup by adding some Italian-style diced tomatoes. And offer extra ingredients to the grilled cheese like a slice of turkey bacon. Oh, and here’s a fun tidbit: If you don’t have any softened butter to spread on the bread, mayo works just as well.
7. BBQ Beef Sandwiches
This one couldn’t get any easier. Or any tastier. It’s just three ingredients. Serve on a soft bun with a side of carrots or green beans, and you’ll have happy campers.
Easy Family Dinners
8. Mexican Ground Beef Skillet
Make this recipe on game day, or shake up your Taco Tuesday routine. You can serve it with tortilla chips, in a bowl, or wrap it up in a burrito. It’s all in one pan, so clean-up is a breeze.
9. Mississippi Pot Roast
The hardest thing about this meal is spelling it. Mississippi Pot Roast is just five ingredients and can be made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. One of the moms on our staff says everyone in her family gobbles it up. Serve it over mashed potatoes or rice with a side of veg.
10. Chicken and Rice Bowls
Bowls are all the rage, but you don’t have to go out to enjoy a delicious one. Fill bowls with chicken and rice and let everyone customize their bowl to their liking. Put out two or three kinds of vegetables, different sauces like sriracha or teriyaki, and cheeses like goat or shredded colby jack.
11. Brinner Sandwiches
Breakfast for dinner (a.k.a. brinner) can fall flat sometimes. Try making brinner sandwiches from English muffins, egg, and turkey bacon. Or flip some mini pancakes and serve them filled with breakfast sausage patties and a dab of syrup. We didn’t say this meal is healthy, but it is delicious!
12. Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas
If you love the taste of enchiladas but not the labor, this dish is right up your alley. Definitely wait to add the corn tortillas until right before serving, or they’ll get soggy. Or leave out the shells and serve it with tortilla chips instead.
13. Lasagna Soup
It’s ooey and gooey and all in one pot. This recipe includes ground beef, sausage, spinach, and three types of cheese! Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients. This recipe is a piece of cake!
Not-as-Easy Family Dinners (But Still Not Difficult)
14. “Even Kids Will Eat These” Stuffed Peppers
My kids love red bell peppers. I could take ’em or leave ’em, but if it means getting an extra vegetable on the plate, I’ll tough it out. These stuffed peppers are their favorite. Use foil “bumpers” to keep them from falling over in the baking dish.
15. Cheesy Turkey Meatball Skillet
Yummy and healthy, your kids will gobble up these meatballs faster than you can say “It’s turkey.” Don’t be intimidated by the task of making your own meatballs. It’s easy and cheaper.
16. Salmon Bowls
If your kids enjoy salmon, you’ll want to put this one on repeat. Grill some salmon and use packaged sticky rice. Add everything you’d want in a sushi roll or bowl: edamame, cucumber, green onions, avocado, spicy mayo, soy sauce. You can’t go wrong!
17. Coconut Chicken Curry
I always claimed not to like curry, and then one day, my husband said, “Are you sure?” He made chicken curry, and now we have it once a month. The kids inhale it. Serve it over rice, and you’ve got yourself an international comfort food everyone will request over and over again.
18. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
This one comes from iMOM creator Susan Merrill’s Sunday Supper series. The dumplings are a little more involved, but this meal is perfect for a family dinner around the table.
19. Muffin Tin Turkey Meatloaf
Meatloaf had a bad wrap when I was a kid, and I can’t figure out why. Maybe it’s because it has the word “loaf” in the name. If your kids are anti-loafers, this muffin tin-shaped turkey meatloaf will get them to change their tunes. They’re healthy, packed with protein, and pair perfectly with a green veg and fingerling potatoes.
20. Change Your Life Chicken
My own kids ask for this regularly. Why is it called Change Your Life Chicken? Because it’s so delicious, and cleanup is ridiculously easy. The star of the show is the crispy skin on the chicken thighs, but your kids will love the green beans and carrots just as much, I promise.
Share your favorite easy family dinner. We’d love to try it!
