Food and Recipes Dinner 46 Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas For Busy Weeknights—And Busier Parents A fresh batch of dinner recipes that everyone will love By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 29, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox We all deal with the weeknight supper scaries every now and then. It's when you need something quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing—but you're drawing a blank and the clock is ticking. Pleasing all of the kids, plus the grown-ups, is no simple feat. With that challenge in mind, we've rounded up a collection of kid-friendly recipes that the whole family will love. With hearty options like comforting casseroles and sheet pan suppers, as well as family fun-oriented mains like meatball sliders and cheesy calzones, you're set with more than enough quick and easy dinner ideas for kids to last you all month long and then some. Read on for 50 dinner recipes for kids that even the pickiest eaters will go crazy for. 20 Five-Ingredient Chicken Recipes For Effortless Dinners 01 of 46 Lemon Chicken Pasta Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Crispy chicken cutlets get a flavor boost from ranch dressing mix. Serve them solo, or over your favorite pasta shape for a kid-approved meal. Get The Recipe 02 of 46 Skillet Enchiladas Suizas Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Enchiladas may seem like too much work on a weeknight, but this recipe requires no filling or rolling. All of the ingredients are cooked in one skillet. Set out a topping bar with avocado, cilantro, radishes, cheese, and jalapeños, and let everyone top this chicken enchilada casserole how they choose. Get The Recipe 03 of 46 Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks Antonis Achilleos Simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and rosemary, there’s little hands-on time needed for this easy chicken dinner. Roasting the drumsticks on a wire rack creates a crispy skin. Serve with a side salad for an easy complete meal. Get The Recipe 04 of 46 Easy Taco Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Switch up taco night with this cozy casserole. While the meat, beans, tortillas, and cheese bake together in one dish, there’s time to set up a topping bar. With lettuce, pico de gallo, and onion, each family member gets what they want. Get The Recipe 05 of 46 Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole Alison Miksch What’s not to love in this creamy casserole that has all the family favorites? Ranch, chicken, and bacon star in this pasta dinner that bakes up bubbly and golden in 20 minutes. This dish reheats well for leftovers the next day. Get The Recipe 06 of 46 Stovetop Macaroni And Cheese MORGAN HUNT GLAZE; FOOD STYLIST: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY When the kids are begging for boxed mac and cheese, whip this up instead and show them how good (and fast!) homemade can be, Get The Recipe 07 of 46 Tortellini Pasta Salad Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Pasta salad shouldn't be reserved for cookouts and picnics. It can make a fantastic weeknight dinner, especially when loaded up with ingredients like salami, mini mozzarella balls, and fresh veggies. Get The Recipe 08 of 46 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Will Dickey Serve this comforting (and make-ahead) noodles and beef dish with salad and garlic bread for a new family favorite. Get The Recipe 09 of 46 Sloppy Joe Casserole with Dinner Rolls Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck The favorite sloppy meal just got a makeover, and you can eat this version with a fork. Mix in mustard and pickle relish to the filling, and top with cheese and rolls. This will be your go-to way to make sloppy joes. Get The Recipe 10 of 46 Fettuccine Alfredo Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Skip the jarred Alfredo sauce and whip up this easy homemade version. It only takes 30 minutes for the entire meal to hit the table. Get The Recipe 11 of 46 Burrito Bowls Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Keep Taco Tuesday on its toes by making these burrito bowls instead. This recipe is full of customizable ingredients, so every child gets exactly what he or she likes. Get The Recipe 12 of 46 Ravioli Lasagna Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Lasagna on a weeknight? This spin makes it possible in under 30 minutes. Everything you love about lasagna comes together without the labor, using refrigerated cheese ravioli, jarred marinara, sausage, and cheese. Get The Recipe 13 of 46 Salmon Burgers with Creamy Tartar Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis These burgers will make even skeptical diners rethink salmon. Capers, dill, and lemon give these patties plenty of brightness. Topped with homemade tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato, they’re a fresh take on weeknight eating. Get The Recipe 14 of 46 Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This easy slow cooker recipe is the only one you need for Taco Tuesday. Start this in the morning, and you’ll be ready to top your tacos by dinnertime. Get The Recipe 15 of 46 Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Casseroles are the ultimate easy weeknight dinner. Rotisserie chicken, fresh broccoli, and whole-grain pasta make this bake lighter than some casseroles. But pimiento cheese means this recipe doesn’t skimp on taste. Get The Recipe 16 of 46 Cowboy Casserole Micah A. Leal There’s a lot to like in this casserole that rounds up so many comforting ingredients, like ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and chiles. Cheese and sour cream add creaminess. Tater tots create an incredibly crispy topping. Get The Recipe 17 of 46 King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese Becky Luigart-Stayner This isn't your everyday macaroni and cheese—it's so much better. Rotisserie chicken and canned soup turn this casserole into a quick, comforting, and welcome weeknight meal. Get The Recipe 18 of 46 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Say hello to your new favorite chicken casserole. This chicken and spaghetti dish is loaded with vegetables. Use tongs to neatly twirl the pasta for pretty weeknight servings. Get The Recipe 19 of 46 BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes Greg DuPree A top-your-own potato bar makes dinnertime a little more fun for the kiddos. Vegetables, corn chips, cheese, slaw, and sauce let everyone create unique combinations. Get The Recipe 20 of 46 Hot Honey Chicken Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Pan-fried chicken gets a sweet and sticky glaze so good it will have everyone licking their fingers and plates. Get The Recipe 21 of 46 Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This good-for-the-soul recipe will have you reminiscing of mom. Save time and effort the rest of the week by making a large pot and freezing the rest in individual freezer bags. Get The Recipe 22 of 46 Southwest Chicken Cutlet Rice Bowl Greg DuPree Season the chicken cutlets with the Southwest dry rub and then refrigerate overnight. For dinner the next day, they’ll cook up quickly. Add microwaveable rice, chiles, corn, and seasonings for a balanced and flavorful meal. Get The Recipe 23 of 46 Slow Cooker Beef Stew Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This slow cooker stew is ready in 6 to 8 hours, perfect for simmering all day long until dinnertime. Leftovers freeze like a dream, too. Get The Recipe 24 of 46 Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox 20-minute pantry pasta has never tasted so good. Not a fan of spinach? Swap out blanched green peas, snap peas, broccoli, or your favorite vegetable. Get The Recipe 25 of 46 Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This quick dish starts with your preferred ravioli from the refrigerated section. Switch up the flavor by swapping ground chicken or turkey for the beef and using Swiss chard in place of the spinach. Get The Recipe 26 of 46 Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox Like a loaded baked potato, but in soup form. This recipe feeds a crowd, freezes well, and comes together in a Dutch oven. Get The Recipe 27 of 46 Mini Meatloaves Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Say goodbye to dry, tough meatloaf. These loaves' small size facilitates faster, more even baking. For even easier clean up, place paper liners in the muffin pan prior to baking. Get The Recipe 28 of 46 One-Pan Ranch Chicken And Vegetables Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Forget pounding the chicken and throwing together a sauce with this simple sheet-pan recipe. After you try it, you'll want to keep ranch seasoning mix stocked in your pantry year-round. Get The Recipe 29 of 46 Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Hector Manuel Sanchez What kid will turn down a meatball slider? Cooks will be happy too, because they come together easily in a slow cooker. Get The Recipe 30 of 46 Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox If this classic Southern dish hasn't made an appearance on your Sunday supper table, we highly recommend it. This recipe uses buttermilk to give the dumplings a light texture. The flour from kneading the dough helps thicken the broth. Get The Recipe 31 of 46 Ham and Noodle Casserole Jen Causey You won't meet a more crowd-pleasing casserole than this one, made with egg noodles, chopped ham, and a mix of springy vegetables. Chive-and-onion cream cheese is the secret ingredient that boosts the flavor of this dish. Get The Recipe 32 of 46 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree This is the best old-fashioned recipe that you might not have ever heard of. It's hard to go wrong with a delicious pot full of chicken and rice. Get The Recipe 33 of 46 Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Hector Sanchez Macaroni and cheese is always a hit, and this creamy, cheesy version is no exception. Instead of baking in the oven, this recipe cooks in the slow cooker so it’s ready to serve after a long day. Get The Recipe 34 of 46 Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos May we suggest pairing this perfect tomato soup with the aforementioned bacon-laden grilled cheese recipe? It's the perfect weeknight duo. Get The Recipe 35 of 46 Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox A tangy Dijon-buttermilk pan sauce helps keep these skillet pork chops from drying out. Served on a bed of egg noodles, this comforting meal will be a weeknight game changer. Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce 36 of 46 Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Greg DuPree Consider this recipe a Mama-approved makeover of a quality jarred pasta sauce and box of pasta. Even better, this recipe comes in hot in under 30 minutes. Get The Recipe 37 of 46 Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin A quick meal that’s healthy and delicious? Sign us up! Tangy glazed salmon and vegetables cook together on a sheet pan. Serve with brown rice to soak up the molasses-soy sauce. Get The Recipes 38 of 46 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Brittany Conerly; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Treat the family to a classic dish reinvented in a user-friendly skillet. A puff pastry topping means you’ll spend less time making this dinner so you can relax—or tackle homework—before the meal. Get The Recipe 39 of 46 Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer These ingredients hit the trifecta of flavor. A sandwich filled with roasted turkey, hot pepper jelly, and brie will be the leftovers you crave. Get The Recipe 40 of 46 Chicken Parmesan Pizza Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett These quick pizzas are short on time, but they deliver on flavor thanks to a garlic bread crust. Fried chicken strips and an Italian cheese blend make these easy to put together on busy evenings. Serve with a tossed salad for an easy side. Get The Recipe 41 of 46 Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Beth Dreiling Hontzas Add in your favorite pizza toppings to this spaghetti dish for a fun dinner that’s a real family pleaser. You can make this ahead and freeze it for a week when your schedule is full. Just thaw overnight, and let stand at room temperature before baking. Get The Recipe 42 of 46 Chicken Tamale Pie Antonis Achilleos Corn muffins are the base for this one-skillet pie. Spoon spicy chicken, corn, and vegetables over the base, top with cheese, and broil till golden and bubbly. Get The Recipe 43 of 46 One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Comforting chicken and rice gets a kick from a honey-chile sauce, and it will make you rethink your usual recipe. This meal cooks in one skillet, and chicken thighs make it budget-friendly. If you have leftovers, you can repurpose this meal into fried rice later in the week. Get The Recipe 44 of 46 Ground Beef Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero When dinner calls for a hearty soup, this vegetable-beef recipe is your answer. Fill it with fresh vegetables like green beans, spinach, and zucchini, ground beef, and a tomato broth. Add gnocchi during the last few minutes of cooking, and top with Parmesan cheese. Get The Recipe 45 of 46 Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox This dish looks like a special occasion meal, but it takes minutes to prepare using frozen foods and pantry staples. With pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and store-bought pesto, you can have this pasta dinner ready in no time. Reserved pasta cooking water is the key to the creamy sauce. Get The Recipe 46 of 46 Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler Iain Bagwell When you need a filling, satisfying weeknight meal, this cobbler is the recipe to have on hand. Fill it with cooked ham and whatever frozen vegetables you have available. A refrigerated pie crust makes this dish the rival of any pot pie recipe. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit