25+ Healthy Dinner Ideas For Family

Roasting your veggies instead of steaming them adds depth, and a splash of vinegar or a dollop of yogurt can brighten up any dish. Also—don’t be afraid to remix leftovers into something new. Yesterday’s roasted veggies can become today’s quesadilla filling, grain bowl base, or soup add-in. Lately, I’ve been craving something that feels both comforting and fresh, a dish that bridges the gap between hearty meals and light, nourishing bites. This BBQ ranch chicken salad with avocado has become my go-to, especially on days when I need a little extra warmth and crunch to brighten the moment.

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The dish is creamy, packed with protein, and enjoyable for even the pickiest of eaters. I like to double the recipe when I make the casserole to keep an extra one in the freezer for an easy weeknight meal. When I make these dinners, even my pickiest eater comes back for seconds, and that’s always a big win in my book.

Almost Alfredo Broccoli and Chickpeas

One-skillet meals are a lifesaver when you have  hungry mouths to feed and not a lot of time. This lasagna dish is so easy and flavorful, and it’s sure to fill the whole family up. Though the recipe is simple, there are quite a few items on the ingredient list, so be sure to give it a glance before you go grocery shopping. These kabobs are the kid-friendly dinner version of the classic sandwich.

Deconstructed Pear Pork Chops

You’ll need to leave enough time for marinating the beef, but once ready these skewered tacos take only 15 minutes to grill. This Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting, budget-friendly dinner made with tender chicken, flavorful rice, and a creamy sauce with celery and mushrooms. It takes just 10 minutes to prep, bakes hands-off, and reheats beautifully for leftovers. I try to make foods that are not only kid friendly, but are also easy to reheat since my husband works long hours and often eats later than our children.

Country Captain Chicken

For more oomph, add slices of pan-fried tofu, cauliflower or broccoli. Sarah DiGregorio’s recipe for barbecue pulled pork is ridiculously easy and needs just a handful of ingredients. If you don’t have a can of Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper, you can substitute reviews of unimeal ginger ale, beer, coffee or a combination. Adasi is a Persian dish of simply seasoned lentils that’s often eaten for breakfast in Iran, but you really can enjoy it all day long.

• Easy, cheesy, and impossible to mess up, this baked pasta is a shoo-in for your weeknight repertoire.
• Ground beef keeps it budget-friendly, melty cheese keeps it comforting, and the sautéed peppers and onions make it feel like more than just another sandwich night.
• Marinade sliced chicken breasts in a flavourful mix of coriander, cumin, crushed garlic, lime juice and olive oil.
• Make a hearty tomato sauce with sausage meat and layer with wilted spinach, ravioli and a mixture of grated cheddar and mozzarella.
• Hand-breaded, fried shrimp is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
• This highly-rated paella swaps out the seafood for a mix of chicken breasts and sliced chorizo.

This baked spaghetti is one of our favorite ways to cook spaghetti for a family dinner. Ground beef, pasta, marinara sauce and seasonings are topped with cheese and then baked until hot and bubbly. Serve this easy pasta bake with a salad and a side of garlic bread. It wouldn’t be a list of weeknight dinners for kids if it wasn’t full of mashups! Turn plain chicken breasts into a pizza packed with flavor and easy for little hands to hold.

Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo

“This was so good! It fell off the bone and had such a great flavor! My husband said it was his new favorite recipe for a roast,” says reviewer Caitlinw. Taco seasoning + chicken broth + chicken gives you a flavorful filling for tacos, burritos, and more. “This was very flavorful,” says reviewer Christina. “We used this to make lettuce ‘tacos,’ and topped them with red onion, tomatoes, shredded Cheddar, and a bit of sour cream. The whole family loved this … definite keeper.” I’ve saved some of the best kid-friendly dinner recipes for last!

Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops

Here’s another clean-out-the-veggie-drawer recipe, from Mark Bittman. It calls for one full pound of kale, but feel free to use a mixture of dark, leafy greens like escarole, chard, broccoli rabe or bok choy. Fresh herbs can get pricey and can be tough to use up before they go bad, so use half a teaspoon of dried thyme and a teaspoon of rosemary in their place if you like. Paneer is a delightful chewy cheese that is the anchor of this spice-and-greens-rich meal from Kay Chun.

Easy Family Dinner Ideas

A crispy breadcrumb coating and melty cheese make this easy chicken Parmesan a kid favorite. Serve it with pasta and roasted broccoli for an easy, family-friendly meal. You can’t go wrong with chicken nuggets for kids (or grown-ups!).

Loaded with ground beef, beans, bacon, corn, and tomatoes, a single bowl has everything your family will need to feel satisfied and keep cozy. Cheesy broccoli in any form is our ultimate comfort food, and this broccoli cheddar spaghetti squash does not disappoint. Creamy spaghetti squash and broccoli are topped with cheese and broiled until browned and bubbling for a satisfying dinner that hits every note.

Chicken Fajita Casserole from Jar of Lemons

Served over rice instead of noodles (because that’s what was in the pantry), it’s a budget-happy meal that somehow feels like a treat. Simplify weeknight dinnertime by transforming leftover slow-cooked chicken into an easy, cheesy casserole. Instead of deep-frying, the fish fillets in this quick-and-easy five-ingredient recipe are coated with a flavorful seasoning blend and baked. Several varieties of flaky white fish can be used for https://extension.usu.edu/nutrition/research/mindful-eating these tacos. When you go to the market to purchase fish, the best strategy is to be flexible and choose the variety that looks freshest that day. This inside-out spinach ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food.

Crispy Baked Ravioli with Red Pepper & Mushroom Bolognese

This family-friendly honey chicken comes together in under 30 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner. Use garlic, soy sauce, lemon and ginger to create a flavourful sauce and serve with fresh veggies and fluffy brown or white rice. Skip the dough and stuff all of your favorite pizza toppings into spaghetti squash boats for a fun and healthy dinner that’ll please the whole family. We love the combination of mushrooms, bell peppers, pepperoni and mozzarella, but feel free to mix it up with your favorite pizza ingredients. You could throw in a bit of chopped cooked broccoli, for example, or add some olives or chopped artichoke hearts. And of course, feel free to omit the pepperoni to make the dish vegetarian.

Break 6 no-boil lasagna noodles into rough pieces and nestle them into the sauce mixture in the skillet. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the noodles and sauce. Sprinkle 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.