21+ Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners for Busy Weeknights
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On the hunt for quick and easy family dinner recipes you’ll actually want to eat too? We have some delicious ideas for you.
As a parent, I know how challenging it can be to find meals that are easy to prepare, healthy and loved by kids. And how frustrating it is to spend all this time and money on food, only to have them screw up their face and say “yuck.”
Which is why I’ve put together a list of tried-and-true, kid-friendly dinner recipes my kids love. They’re delicious, year round recipes for busy weeknights, weekend get togethers, and even simple meals you can make on vacation.
You’ll find everything from comforting pasta dishes, and ham and cheese sliders to one pot meals like pineapple chicken stir fry and instant pot chili. These meals are nutritious, delicious, and sure to satisfy your hungry crew.
Fast and Easy Family Dinner Ideas for Busy Parents
1. Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Mini Chicken Pot Pies are the ultimate comfort food.
They’re made with easy ingredients including tender rotisserie chicken, creamy chicken soup, frozen mixed veggies and a flaky pre-made biscuit crust, making them a go-to choice for busy weeknights.
Get the recipe: Mini Chicken Pot Pies
2. Quick Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad is a meal I make for all sorts of occasions because my kids devour it every time. Busy weeknights, summer and spring meals, picnics, BBQs, camping and even on vacation.
If you make it with store bought Italian dressing it’s even quicker to prep, although I’ll often take a few extra minutes to make my own dressing.
Pasta salad recipes are the best and easiest meals to make for kids.
Get the recipe: Italian Pasta Salad
3. Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry
Add this quick pineapple chicken stir fry to your family’s monthly dinner rotation.
My kids love pineapple in stir fries, as the sweet and salty flavors go so well together. Just add a colorful mix of veggies your kids will eat for a healthy meal.
We love red peppers, snow peas and carrots.
Get the recipe: Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry
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4. 15-Minute Pizza Sloppy Joes Recipe
A 15 minute meal, sign me up!
I love having a few ultra quick meals in my back pocket for when I’m tired of cooking. Pizza Sloppy Joes are this. It’s an easy dinner that combines classic pizza flavors with not one, but two layers of melty cheese.
A delicious mixture of lean ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni, sweet onion, green peppers, and pizza sauce, all topped with gooey mozzarella cheese. You can also make them ahead for meal prep or freezer meals.
Get the recipe: Pizza Sloppy Joes
⭐️ You may also like our kid-friendly Chicken Casserole Recipes
5. Orzo Salad with Feta & Chickpeas
When I’m feeling lazy and too tired to cook a big meal, this Orzo Salad is a lifesaver. Ready in under 20 minutes, and super tasty, this is the meal my family asks for ALL the time.
The chickpeas add some protein, making it a great light vegetarian dinner option too.
Get the recipe: Orzo Salad with Feta and Chickpeas
6. Tuna Fried Rice
Fried rice is something my partner Derek often makes in our houshold, to use up any leftover rice. My youngest will often eat seconds.
This tuna fried rice is a quick and easy dish made with simple ingredients of garlic, peppers, corn, and seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Get the recipe: Tuna Fried Rice
7. Cheesy Taco Pasta
Pasta is always a favorite in our household. But when you add “taco” and “pasta” into one recipe, it’s extra appealing for our kids.
This simple one-pot Cheesy Taco Pasta is so quick to prep, you can make it in under 30 minutes.
It’s loaded with taco flavors and customizable with your family’s favorite toppings like sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, black olives, sautéed fajita veggies, salsa, shredded cheese & lettuce.
Serve it up in bowls and let the whole family enjoy a fun and delicious meal.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Taco Pasta
8. Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
Continuing along the taco theme, these Rotisserie Chicken Tacos are the best. They’re stuffed with spiced shredded chicken, green chiles, cheese and baked until golden and crispy in the oven. Don’t forget the pico de gallo!
Get the recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
9. Creamy Hoagie Pasta Salad
Just like sandwiches for dinner are one of the easiest meals to make, so is this Italian Hoagie pasta salad.
Super filling, and you can make a huge bowl for your hungry crew in about 15 minutes, then just let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it.
I brought this out one night when my youngest had a friend over for dinner who was a bit of a picky eater. I didn’t know how it would go over with them, but surprisingly they loved it (well most of it. They just picked out a few things they didn’t like), and asked for seconds.
Get the recipe: Creamy Hoagie Pasta Salad
10. Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Soup
Chicken Rice Soup is so comforting. It reminds me of warm dinners for cool days, and soup delivered to me by my mom when I was feeling under the weather.
My kids will ask for it all year round, even in summer, it’s that good. Fresh veggies, chicken and a dash of lemon juice make for a warming meal.
Everything is cooked in the instant pot in under 30 minutes for a quick, healthy dinner.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Rice Soup
11. Instant Pot Chili
Instant Pots save the day when I’m looking to put food on the table quickly for my hungry, whining kids.
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best.
Enjoy a mild chili that kids will love, with all your family’s favorite toppings.
We prefer grated cheddar cheese, green onions, a dollop of sour cream and jalapenos (well the adults like these).
Get the recipe: Kid Friendly Instant Pot Chili
More family recipes to try: Easy Foil Packet Recipes for the grill, oven or campfire
12. One Pot Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Broccoli are one of those veggies my kids will more often eat then not. Which is why this Chicken Broccoli Alfredo is so handy.
Easy to make, it’s a tasty one-pot meal that’s perfect for summer dinners, or weeknight meals any month of the year.
Get the recipe: One Pot Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
13. Ham and Cheese Sliders
Hot and gooey, these easy ham and cheese sliders are perfect for game days, parties, or a quick lunch and dinner.
Made with sweet Hawaiian rolls, you can bake them in the oven or cook them in batches in the air fryer for a speedy, delicious treat.
With warm ham, melted cheese, and tasty herbs on fluffy buns, these sliders are a fun and easy-to-make crowd-pleaser.
Get the recipe: Ham & Cheese Sliders
14. Mini Chicken Banh Mi Sandwiches
Banh Mi are a delicious Vietnamese sub type sandwich, in this case with lemongrass marinated chicken, pickled carrots and daikon, crunchy cucumber and sriracha mayo in a crusty mini baguette.
Now I know what you’re thinking – my kid will never eat that. You might be surprised, my kids love Banh Mi. And after our 3 month Vietnam trip, we miss them alot!
To make it even more kid friendly, leave the toppings out in bowls and let them put whatever they like inside. That way everyone is happy.
Get the recipe: Mini Chicken Banh Mi Sandwiches
15. Gnocchi Bake
Gnocchi are a fairly new discovery in hour household. My youngest daughter loves them so much, she’ll often fry some up for her lunches.
But this Gnocchi Bake takes it up another level. Pan fried gnocchi, tomato sauce & kid friendly veggies are topped with gooey, melty cheese for a meal that’s kid (and parent) approved.
If you’re looking for something a little different than a pasta bake, this is a great option.
Get the recipe: Gnocchi Bake
16. Taco Bake
I love that this Taco Bake recipe has a secret ingredient layer; cheesy Fritos. My kids think this is just the best…chips for dinner. But not to worry there’s other good stuff in there.
Taco Bakes are fun family casseroles, the whole family will devour in minutes.
Get the recipe: Taco Bake
17. Easy Baked Chicken Fingers
Easy Baked Chicken Fingers are what fast food nuggets aspire to be.
We all need an easy chicken recipe in our back pocket for those busy weeknights. And these panko, parmesan cheese & herb crusted chicken fingers are just that recipe.
Just add a side salad or french fries for a full meal.
Get the recipe: Easy Baked Chicken Fingers
18. Salmon Kabobs in the Oven
Growing up on the west coast of Canada, salmon was always a yearly treat. Especially in the summertime over the BBQ.
While these delicious gluten-free Salmon Kabobs are made in the oven, they would also work well over the grill.
Super versatile, just thread the skewers with veggies your kids will eat. We really like using pineapple & salmon too.
Get the recipe: Salmon Kabobs
19. Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
OMG! Cheesy Tater Tots and ground beef piled with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles, are drizzled in a special sauce, all piled into one delicious Big Mac flavoured casserole.
A new, healthier take on a nostalgic favourite. For the pickier eaters, let them top their casserole with veggies they prefer.
Get the recipe: Big Mac Casserole with Tater Tots
20. Quick and Easy Naan Bread Pizzas
Naan Bread Pizzas are our go-to when we need a quick, filling & budget friendly meal. Simple ingredients; tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni (or whatever you like) on a tasty, chewy bread that takes about 10-15 minutes to cook.
They’re fun for parties too, as everyone can just use their preferred toppings for their individual pizza.
Get the recipe: Naan Bread Pizzas
21. Pasta and Peas with Bacon
Last minute weeknight meal, here we come.
Pasta and peas with bacon is the ultimate weeknight recipe when you’ve forgotten to hit the grocery store (whoops), and need something on the table quick.
We usually add a bit of olive oil, or just use the tasty goodness of a little of the bacon fat to flavour the pasta, along with the pepper and grated parmesan cheese.
Get the recipe: Pasta With Peas and Bacon
22. Grilled Pork Chops
These Grilled Pork Chops combine a savory & sweet marinade made with soy sauce with a secret ingredient (pineapple).
A fun recipe to cook over an outdoor grill or over an indoor cast iron grill.
Choose a few sides to go with it for a complete meal. Grilled asparagus, wild rice, salads, and baked beans are great side options.
Get the recipe: Grilled Pork Chops
23. Chicken Fajitas Quesadillas
These Chicken Fajita Quesadillas blend the smoky flavor of fajitas with the cheesy goodness of quesadillas, making for a fun, family-friendly meal ready in about 30 minutes.
Instead of slicing the chicken into strips, cut it into bite-size pieces that stay put inside the tortillas.
Sandwich the chicken fajita filling between two layers of shredded cheese, fold over the tortillas, and cook until crispy and golden brown for a delicious, easy-to-eat dinner.
Get the recipe: Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
Final Thoughts: Easy Family Dinner Recipes
These 21 kid-approved dinner ideas are perfect for busy weeks. From tacos and stir fries to naan pizzas and gnocchi bakes, each recipe is simple to prepare, delicious, and sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
These comforting classics and creative new dishes will save you time in the kitchen and make dinner stress-free. Incorporate these meals into your weekly meal prep routine so you’ll have more time to spend with family.
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