37 Family Dinner Ideas You’ll Make on Repeat

By:
On:
In: Cooking, Food & Beverage
With: 0 Comments
37 Family Dinner Ideas You’ll Make on Repeat

Chicken and cabbage stir-fry, spinach-artichoke pasta, hands-off black bean soup, and more go-to recipes to keep your busy family well fed.

Baked rigatoni with mozzarella pepperoni sliced black olives and sliced pepperoncini on a sheet tray with a serving spoon.

Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams

The good news about “family-friendly” dinners? They can be whatever you want them to be. Loaded sweet potato wedges eaten straight from the sheet pan? Absolutely. A dose of nostalgia by way of movie-night sloppy Joes, updated with a fiery kick of gochujang? No question about it. These are dinners for cautious eaters and adventurous ones alike—some familiar, some a little unexpected, and all worth bringing to the table.

Whether tonight calls for a cozy soup (that you can set and forget in your Instant Pot) or easy fish tacos (we have a hunch they’ll become part of your regular weeknight dinner rotation), we’ve got plenty of ideas to keep dinner interesting all year long.

  • Plate of three fish tacos on a lime green table.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson

    1/37

    Easy Fish Tacos With Spicy Sauce

    Set tortillas, flaky cod or halibut, spicy lime sauce, and toppings out family-style and let everyone assemble their own piled-high tacos. It’s a simple weeknight family dinner that doubles as a choose-your-own-adventure activity.

  • Bowl of white chicken chili topped with Fritos cilantro jalapeño avocado and sour cream.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua

    2/37

    Cozy and Quick White Chicken Chili

    Packed with ground chicken, white beans, and canned green chiles, this fast-cooking stew only gets better over time, so make a big batch. We promise, you won’t mind eating it two days in a row.

  • Cottage Cheese Lasagna on a white plate on a light blue background

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht

    3/37

    Cottage Cheese Lasagna

    High-protein cottage cheese replaces often-pricier ricotta in this thrifty-ish spin on a familiar family favorite. More shocking: mozzarella is out too, in favor of tangy super-melter Fontina.

  • Baked rigatoni with mozzarella pepperoni sliced black olives and sliced pepperoncini on a sheet tray with a serving spoon.

    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams

    4/37

    Sheet-Pan Pepperoni Pasta

    If your family loves pepperoni pizza, they’ll love this baked pasta, which hits all the saucy, spicy, cheesy notes with no takeout required. Roasting the sauce on a sheet pan concentrates its flavor before everything gets a blanket of cheese.

  • A blue bowl with salmon rice and avocado

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht

    5/37

    Spicy Salmon Roll Bowl

    All the appeal of a spicy salmon roll, reassembled as a family-friendly bowl. Pickled cucumber and spicy mayo accompany crackly, broiled salmon cubes for a dinner that’s as fun to eat as it is easy to customize.

  • Closeup of a gochujang sloppy joe on a bun with ridged potato chips and pickles behind it

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie

    6/37

    Gochujang Sloppy Joes

    Smoky-sweet Korean gochujang lends a hum of heat to this riff on a childhood favorite. Soft buns and a stack of napkins do the rest.

  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup in a blue bowl with a piece of puff pastry on top

    Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness

    7/37

    Chicken Pot Pie Soup

    Think chicken pot pie, but in cozy soup form. Complete with crackly, buttery shards of puff pastry you can tear and share, this family meal practically demands a crowd around the table.

  • Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, and Prop Styling by Christina Allen

    8/37

    Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos

    This shareable skillet is packed with the flavors of a family-favorite appetizer, with roasted poblanos, red onions, and jalapeños smothered in cheesy sauce.

  • Barbecue mushroom pizza in a cast iron skillet on a green striped tablecloth.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca

    9/37

    BBQ Mushroom Pizza

    Store-bought pizza dough makes this family-friendly dinner a snap, even on busy weeknights. This California Pizza Kitchen-inspired recipe is smoky-sweet thanks to barbecue sauce, Gouda cheese, and frizzled mushrooms.

  • Platter of chicken on white tablecloth.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua

    10/37

    Zhug-Marinated Chicken Thighs

    Store-bought zhug, a Yemeni-spiced cilantro sauce, and your broiler are the shortcuts to juicy, charred, baked chicken without a grill. It’s an easy, low-fuss dinner that delivers big flavor.

  • Sheet pan of sweet potato and kimchi nachos

    Photography by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen

    11/37

    Beefy Cheesy Sweet Potatoes With Kimchi

    Somewhere between nachos and loaded potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes get topped with spiced ground beef and briny kimchi for a main dish that’s complete enough to enjoy straight off the sheet pan.

  • A turkey burger on a plate stacked on a bun with tzatziki mint romaine and sliced red onion with more fixings all around.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness

    12/37

    Falafel-Spiced Turkey Burgers

    Genuinely juicy, supremely crispy, flavored like falafel, and browned in a skillet for ultimate ease. Serve them with your favorite burger toppings for an easy family dinner.

  • Casserole dish of baked ziti on gray marble surface.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman

    13/37

    BA’s Best Baked Ziti

    Sometimes you just want to cook an old faithful—the kind of dinner you know the whole family will love. That’s when you reach for this rich, cheesy, ever-reliable baked ziti.

  • Black Bean and Cheese Rellenos Stuffed Chiles on a plate full of tomato sauce

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro

    14/37

    Stuffed Poblanos With Beans and Greens

    These vibrant (and vegetarian) kale-and-black-bean-stuffed peppers are a repeat-worthy, one-dish dinner full of hearty flavor. Stirring a dollop of sour cream into the tomato sauce gives it rich texture.

  • Sheet Pan Shwarmaish Chicken on a blue tray that is place on a blue background

    Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Alex Massillion, Food Styling by Thu Buser

    15/37

    Sheet-Pan Shawarma-Spiced Chicken

    Everyone loves a customizable dinner, and this shawarma-spiced chicken is made for it. Set out warm pitas and all your favorite fixings, like sliced tomatoes and cucumber spears, and let everyone build their perfect plate.

  • A pile of shrimp scampi on a platter with torn bread on the side for sopping.

    Laura Murray

    16/37

    Shrimp Scampi

    Shrimp cooked in garlicky, lemony butter is bound to be delicious. Serve it with crusty bread or toss it with pasta for a cozy weeknight meal the whole family will love.

  • Crispy tofu cubes coated in creamy peanut sauce served over white rice with cilantro and lime wedges.

    Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht

    17/37

    Crispy Tofu With Peanut Sauce

    Golden-edged tofu meets a bold, spicy satay-inspired peanut sauce in this quick, satisfying dish. Pile it over rice or serve with naan for scooping.

  • Creamy pumpkin pasta topped with Parmesan and red pepper flakes in a white bowl on a redstriped tablecloth.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness

    18/37

    Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

    Canned pumpkin is good for way more than sweets. Here, lemon, Parmesan, and chile flakes turn it into a creamy, savory sauce that comes together while the pasta boils.

  • Dal Palak recipe

    Photograph by Julian Cousins, Food styling by Adriana Paschen

    19/37

    Dal Palak

    Spinach-packed dal is a lifesaver on nights when you’re strapped for time but craving something deeply comforting. Serve it with rice or flatbread for a quick vegetarian meal.

  • Chicken meatballs with green beans served on a bed of white rice and topped with sesame seeds and sliced scallions.

    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams

    20/37

    Chicken Meatballs With Sesame Green Beans

    Tender soy-glazed chicken meatballs and crisp sesame green beans make a balanced family dinner that needs little else than a pot of rice.

  • Ravioli and mushroom skillet topped with breadcrumbs with some removed and placed on a side plate

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni

    21/37

    Ravioli and Mushroom Skillet

    Transform two favorite store-bought ingredients—cheese ravioli and crispy fried onions—into a rich and luscious skillet dinner with a crispy, savory top.

  • Sliced grilled chicken thighs with corn cherry tomatoes basil and lemon wedges over pearl couscous on a green tablecloth.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro

    22/37

    Easy-to-Love Chicken Thighs and Couscous

    This sunny, dressed-for-summer family dinner relies on a pantry-friendly chicken marinade. All you need: sugar, vinegar, salt, and a few spices. Add couscous and dinner is done.

  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal and Plant

    Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson

    23/37

    Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops

    Make these succulent pork chops when it’s 6:26 p.m. on a Monday and you haven’t figured out what’s for dinner. The sweet-and-savory sauce makes this quick weeknight meal feel planned ahead.

  • Cheesy chickpea broccoli skillet with one serving scooped out onto a side plate and a hunk of bread on the side.

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams

    24/37

    Almost Alfredo Broccoli and Chickpeas

    Canned chickpeas and frozen broccoli keep this one-skillet dinner fast and thrifty, while cream cheese delivers on the faux pasta Alfredo front.

  • Ginger Fried Rice in a skillet

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley

    25/37

    Ginger Fried Rice

    Leftover rice meets plenty of fresh ginger, soy sauce, and eggs in this satisfying 20-minute dinner. The key is starting with cold, cooked rice, which crisps up beautifully in a hot skillet.

  • Corkscrew pasta in a sauce of cherry tomatoes feta cheese and Calabrian chiles in a baking dish garnished with torn basil.

    Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie

    26/37

    Baked Tomato Feta Pasta

    Cherry tomatoes burst around a block of feta in the oven, forming a tangy, creamy pasta sauce. Calabrian chile paste brings a welcome kick that cuts through the richness.

  • A blend of ground beef diced potatoes and poblano chiles in a bowl topped with chopped cilantro.

    Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou

    27/37

    Mexican Picadillo

    This hearty catch-all skillet dinner tastes just as good in egg burritos the next morning, or make and freeze it up to three months ahead.

  • Image may contain Food Meat Seafood and Food Presentation

    Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, and Prop Styling by Emma Ringness

    28/37

    Grilled Salmon With Dill Chimichurri

    Upgrade grilled salmon with a punchy, vibrant dill chimichurri. It’s quick, fresh, and feels fancy enough to make you feel like you have your life together.

  • Photograph by Isa Zapata

    29/37

    Spring Orzotto

    Much faster to make than risotto, this lemony, bright orzotto gets its herby savoriness from a pantry savior: store-bought jarred pesto.

  • SpinachArtichokeDip Pasta in a cast iron skillet

    Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Sean Dooley, prop styling by Gerri Williams

    30/37

    Spinach-Artichoke-Dip Pasta

    Your favorite party dip, now in pasta form. Frozen spinach and jarred artichokes keep things convenient, while plenty of bubbling cheese makes this skillet dinner every bit as comforting as the original.

  • Basil and ground chicken on white rice in a white bowl

    Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi

    31/37

    Basil Chicken Stir-Fry

    So tired you’re considering takeout? Try this simple, speedy stir-fry instead—it comes together in 25 minutes but tastes restaurant-quality.

  • Gnocchi on a sheet tray with pieces of Italian sausage broccoli rabe red onions parmigiana and lemon wedges.

    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca

    32/37

    Sheet-Pan Gnocchi With Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

    Store-bought gnocchi bakes up crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside, the perfect complement to browned spicy sausage and a sprinkle of finely grated Parmesan.

  • Baked Buffalo chicken mac and cheese in a casserole dish topped with sliced celery

    Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi

    33/37

    Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    Give mac and cheese the hot wing treatment, because sometimes one comfort food just isn’t enough. It’s creamy, tangy, and just spicy enough to keep you coming back for another forkful.

  • A bowl of silky black bean soup topped with sour cream corn chips cilantro and pickled red onions.

    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens

    34/37

    Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

    Let your Instant Pot handle this warm, spicy, protein-packed, family-friendly dinner idea. Top it with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of pickled onions, and whatever else floats your fancy.

  • Ground chicken seared cabbage julienned scallions and a vinegary sambal oelek sauce in a shallow bowl with serving spoons.

    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran

    35/37

    Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry

    Chicken and cabbage may sound pretty basic, but this stir-fry is anything but. Sambal oelek and fish sauce give it plenty of spicy, salty flavor, making it a nutritious family dinner that packs a punch.

  • Two hands assembling a spicy chicken lettuce wrap with ground chicken cilantro mint and lime wedges.

    Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

    36/37

    Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Crisp bibb lettuce leaves make the perfect cups for this spicy larb-inspired chicken, which you can dress up with fresh herbs and fried shallots. It’s a fun, hands-on family dinner that gets everyone involved.

  • Seared tofu cubes roasted sweet potatoes and chopped Honeycrisp apples on a bed of kale and roasted salted sunflower...

    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Christine Keely

    37/37

    Green Goddess Harvest Salad

    This is the kind of salad that can hold its own as a family dinner, packed with roasted sweet potato and tofu, crisp red apple, and a bright, herby green goddess dressing.

Phoebe Fry is a Brooklyn-based food writer, cook, and illustrator. She’s worked in kitchens in Ireland, Italy, and NYC, and she currently writes The Dish on Substack. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Wine Enthusiast, and more. You’ll most often find her haunting the cookbook section of her local … Read More

Read More

Leave a Reply