Food and Recipes Dinner Our Best Family-Friendly Dinners To Try In 2024 These easy family dinners are kid-and Mama-approved. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 1, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: 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. 50 Easy Dinner Ideas To Save Even The Busiest Weeknights 01 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 02 of 77 Taco Tater Tot Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox When a casserole comes out of the oven topped with tater tots, the whole family will be ready to dig in immediately. Get The Recipe 03 of 77 Lemon Chicken Pasta Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Make restaurant-quality pasta at home in just 35 minutes with this easy recipe. It'll be a weeknight winner that you family will request again and again. Get The Recipe 04 of 77 Meatball Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This dump and bake casserole uses convenient ingredients like frozen meatballs and jarred marinara sauce to make prep a breeze. Get The Recipe 05 of 77 Million Dollar Chicken Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Since the name implies this chicken is worth a million dollars, you know there's no shortage of flavor in this dish. Get The Recipe 06 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 07 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 08 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 09 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 10 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 11 of 77 Cheeseburger Pasta Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox This one-dish pasta dinner packs more flavor than your family will believe. Get The Recipe 12 of 77 Crispy Chicken With Sweet Potato Fries And Green Beans Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist:Ruth Blackburn 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. Get The Recipe 13 of 77 Cheesy Skillet-Baked Pork Chops Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There's nothing better than a meal that cooks in one skillet, especially when budget-friendly, kid-approved pork chops are the star. This cheesy skillet supper is pretty enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. Get The Recipe 14 of 77 Ravioli Lasagna Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Shortcuts to the rescue! You're just five ingredients and 30 minutes away from serving up this pasta dinner. Get The Recipe 15 of 77 French Onion Soup Casserole Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Georgia-grown Vidalia onions are ideal for French onion soup, and this casserole version will be an ultimate family favorite. Get The Recipe 16 of 77 Extra Easy Lasagna Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. Get The Recipe 17 of 77 Instant Pot Chili Mac Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel 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. Get The Recipe 18 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 19 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 20 of 77 Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Chicken and dumplings is one of the most famous and comforting dishes to ever come out of the South. Get The Recipe 21 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 22 of 77 Crispy Breaded Chicken Breasts Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Don't pull those frozen chicken nuggets out tonight. This easy dinner is one the kids will love just as much. Get The Recipe 23 of 77 Beef Calzones This easy, homemade calzone recipe will be a weekly request at your house after your kids get a taste. Get The Recipe 24 of 77 Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Louisville's classic Hot Brown Sandwich gets big-batch treatment with this hearty casserole recipe. Get The Recipe 25 of 77 Skillet Enchiladas Suizas Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox If the kids are craving Mexican, don't spend money eating out. Make a delicious enchilada dish right in your skillet. Get The Recipe 26 of 77 Greek Baked Ziti Greg Dupree 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. Get The Recipe 27 of 77 Chicken Pot Pie Casserole Rob Culpepper; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Assistant Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Chicken pot pie is a Southern classic that will never get old, and this casserole recipe makes it easier than ever. Get The Recipe 28 of 77 Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley The dijon-buttermilk sauce is truly the star of this easy and company-worthy dinner. Get The Recipe 29 of 77 Beef Stew Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. Get The Recipe 30 of 77 Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Is there anything better than a 30-minute dinner that's made in your sheet pan? No, there's really not. Get The Recipe 31 of 77 Turkey with Shallot-Mustard Sauce and Roasted Potatoes Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke The turkey cooks in the slow cooker for ultimate hands-off ease for this dinner that would impress company, too. Get The Recipe 32 of 77 Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin Get a healthy meal on the table for the family in no time with this quick, easy dinner. Get The Recipe 33 of 77 Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton Pot roast is a classic dinner that every family member will agree on, and the slow cooker makes for the easiest prep. Get The Recipe 34 of 77 Shepherd's Pie With Sweet Potato Mash Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Although Shepherd's Pie is a traditional recipe from over the pond, it has all the comfort of a classic Southern casserole. Get The Recipe 35 of 77 Sheet Pan Nachos Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mindi Shapiro; Food Stylist: Torie Cox It doesn't get more kid-friendly than nachos, and you'll only have to clean up one pan after this fun dinner. Get The Recipe 36 of 77 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Recipe Greg DuPree We put everyone's favorite pasta dish in a casserole for a kid-approved meal. Get The Recipe 37 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 38 of 77 Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Forget takeout—these teriyaki bowls are an Asian-inspired (and healthy!) meal that the kids will love. Get The Recipe 39 of 77 Chicken Fried Chicken Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. Get The Recipe 40 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 41 of 77 Weeknight Bolognese Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely 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. Get The Recipe 42 of 77 Country Captain Chicken Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This Lowcountry favorite is packed with flavor from various spices like curry powder, paprika, and nutmeg. Get The Recipe 43 of 77 Supreme Pizza Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Making homemade pizzas is a fun way to take family pizza night to the next level. You can top these pizzas with whichever protein and veggies are in your refrigerator at the time! Get The Recipe 44 of 77 Burgoo Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This Kentucky-born stew is perfect for feeding a crowd and freezing leftovers for later. Get The Recipe 45 of 77 Martina McBride's Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup Courtesy Oxmoor House 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. Get The Recipe 46 of 77 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Southern Living 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. Get The Recipe 47 of 77 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer 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. Get The Recipe 48 of 77 Baked Ziti with Sausage Southern Living Easy, cheesy, and impossible to mess up, this baked pasta is a shoo-in for your weeknight repertoire. Get The Recipe 49 of 77 Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. Get The Recipe 50 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 51 of 77 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos 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. Get The Recipe 52 of 77 Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos 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. Get The Recipe 53 of 77 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. Get The Recipe 54 of 77 Smothered Pork Chops With Rice Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Food Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl 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. Get The Recipe 55 of 77 Easy Taco Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Cleanup following Taco Tuesday has never been easier than now thanks to this hearty casserole. Get The Recipe 56 of 77 Macaroni Pie Antonis Achilleos Sliceable yet creamy macaroni and cheese? We made it possible. Get The Recipe 57 of 77 Julie Yoste's Mississippi Roast Alison Miksch The Mississippi Roast is one of the most popular recipes on Pinterest, so if you haven't tried it, this is the year. Get The Recipe 58 of 77 Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox This rich, creamy soup comes together in your Dutch oven from start to finish, so you have less to clean up after dinnertime. Get The Recipe 59 of 77 Pizza Casserole Greg DuPree From the name alone, you know your kids are going to be huge fans of this recipe. This hearty supper tops delivery every time. Get The Recipe 60 of 77 Chicken Tamale Pie Antonis Achilleos A corn muffin crust and your trusty skillet will make this your new favorite weeknight dinner. Get The Recipe 61 of 77 Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Although this pasta is paired with a dreamy cream sauce, it remains a light and airy feel. Get The Recipe 62 of 77 Beefy Skillet Lasagna Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Enjoy the flavors of lasagna with less prep and less fuss that traditional lasagna. Get The Recipe 63 of 77 Ground Beef Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero 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. Get The Recipe 64 of 77 Cowboy Casserole Micah A. Leal 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. Get The Recipe 65 of 77 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer 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. Get The Recipe 66 of 77 Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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). Get The Recipe 67 of 77 Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos This herby, healthy sheet pan dinner has so much depth of flavor. Get The Recipe 68 of 77 Chicken-And-Rice Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox This one-pot meal flavored with plenty of spices along with onion, carrots, and bell peppers takes the classic chicken-and-rice number to the next level. This easy dish is weeknight friendly and company worth. Get The Recipe 69 of 77 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living 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. Get The Recipe 70 of 77 Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Hannah Zimmerman With only 20 minutes of hands-on time, this roast is ridiculously easy and even more delicious. Get The Recipe 71 of 77 Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL Put dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with this hearty dish that only requires one pan to keep the mess at bay. Get The Recipe 72 of 77 Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero This stir fry is the ideal weeknight throw together in a hurry dinner and is packed with nutrient dense broccoli and peppers. Get The Recipe 73 of 77 Soulful Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell 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. Get The Recipe 74 of 77 One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Satisfy your Tex-Mex craving with cast-iron skillet dish full of just the right amount of smokey flavors from chili powder and cumin. Get The Recipe 75 of 77 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner Winner winner chicken dinner when you're serving this citrusy, fragrant, and flavorful dish. Get The Recipe 76 of 77 One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp with Orzo Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Get your seafood fix with minimal effort when it comes to this 30 minute dinner. It's nothing shy of a five-star rating. Get The Recipe 77 of 77 Smothered Enchiladas Southern Living Mix up your casserole routine with cheesy, melty enchiladas. The kids will ask for seconds, and you can enjoy a margarita on the side. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit