If you’re wondering what to make the family for dinner tonight, you’ll find something in this list of 50 quick family dinners! Options for beef, pork, chicken, casseroles, pasta, and more.
I grew up in a family of five children. I know what you’re thinking based on the title of this post – how did your mom even find time to make dinner, much less come up with anything “quick” that “everyone will love?”
Let me tell you a little story. It’s not so much a story I guess, as it is a secret. We survived off Schwan’s.
I would say a good 50% of our meals came from the Schwan’s man and his little truck. I moved all over as a child, and in my teenage years we ended up in Louisville, Kentucky.
I’m the oldest and my four brothers range from 4 – 10 years younger than me . . . yet we share something in common.
We loved the Schwan’s man and his big yellow refrigerated truck.
It’s hard to explain the excitement when we’d see the truck pull up in front of the house. Schwan’s meant frozen popsicles, readymade waffles, cordon bleu stuffed chicken breasts, salisbury steak, and veggie lasagna (which wasn’t my favorite for dinner).
If my mom was feeling really generous we got the drumstick ice cream cones. That meant it was party time!
I have to cut my mom some slack though. That was before the internet, so she couldn’t look up delicious and quick dinner recipes . . . this was way before sheet pan cooking was a thing that people knew about.
Years later we have the internet, and we have resources. Hats off to the moms who did it in the good old days!
As an ode to my mom and all the parents/family members/awesome people who cook dinner for themselves and others on a regular basis, I put together a list of 50 quick family dinners.
I’m hoping some of these come in handy when you need some ideas in a pinch.
There are a lot of recipe ideas here, from chicken to pork to beef to pasta and more. I can’t guarantee that everyone will like all of them, but I can guarantee that there are dinner recipes here for everyone.
Your family like something on this list. If your pickiest eaters don’t like a few of these recipes, I’ll be shocked.
Take a peek at the list below – let me know which are your favorites. Also, are there any tried and true quick dinner recipes that your family swears by? Tell me in the comments.
Now scroll down and prepare to get hungry!
Quick Family Dinners
Get 50 quick and easy family dinner recipes that your family is going to love! Includes options for chicken, beef, pork, pasta, and more. There's a little something for everyone here, including picky eaters!
Quick Poultry Dinner Recipes
Instant Pot Enchilada Casserole
This easy Instant Pot enchilada casserole is perfectly layered and feeds a family. Use shredded chicken or beef. This is one of those recipes that everyone will ask for again and again!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Tater Tot Casserole
This easy tater tot casserole recipe will become a favorite family dinner. It only has four ingredients - ANYONE can make it!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Easy Chicken Taco Pizza
Refrigerated pizza crust and pre-cooked chicken make this black bean & chicken taco pizza easy as can be. Add your favorite taco toppings, and don’t forget the crushed Doritos for unexpected crunch and bold flavor.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Cornbread BBQ Chicken Pot Pie
This spectacular cornbread topped BBQ chicken pot pie is comfort food at its finest! A hearty BBQ chicken filling is topped with cheesy cornbread, turning this dish into a taste of summer.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Easy Fajita Chicken Bake Recipe
This quick and easy dinner is perfect for busy week nights! It only takes a few ingredients and a couple of steps to make the easy fajita chicken bake recipe.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Turkey Enchilada Casserole
This delicious enchilada casserole makes a perfect meal for a family. It's tasty with a bit of Mexican flair - and the calorie count is just right!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Chicken Milano
This recipe for Chicken Milano is restaurant quality, seriously get in my belly good. If your family loves a good traditional Italian meal you will love this dish.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Mexican Tortilla Casserole
Make a dinner that wows with this taco bake casserole! It's so easy and your family will ask for it again and again. Such a quick family dinner . . you won't believe how easy it is. Customize with the protein of your choice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ground Turkey Casserole
Try this easy and delicious turkey casserole recipe, with a buttery biscuit crust and savory BBQ flavor. The family will ask for it again and again!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Baked Ranch Chicken Tenders and Veggies
No one will ever believe that these crisp chicken fingers are completely baked and cooked on ONE PAN with veggies. If you like quick family dinners that picky eaters are sure to love, this is one of them.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Instant Pot Chili Recipe
This healthy three bean and ground lean meat chili recipe is low calorie and low points if you follow the Weight Watchers diet. But no one will know . . . because it's filling and delicious. Make in the pressure cooker or crockpot!
Yield: about 1 1/3 cups per serving
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
This tomato topped chicken and stuffing casserole only takes ten minutes to prepare. It's creamy and delicious - the whole family will love it!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Casserole
You'll love this chicken and broccoli casserole - and so will the whole family. Prep takes ten minutes. It's cheesy, golden, and filling!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
One Pot Chicken Risotto
This chicken risotto only uses one pan and is ready in 30 minutes! It's creamy, delicious, and the whole family will ask for it again and again.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Asian Chicken and Rice Bake
This delicious Asian inspired chicken and rice bake takes less than 10 minutes to prepare! It's so filling . . . your family will love it.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Six Cheese Chicken Pasta Bake
This is such a delicious pasta dish with a twist! Once you get tired of making spaghetti on the regular, try this quick family dinner - you'll throw everything in a pan and bake. The results are cheesy and delicious.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken & Potatoes
Oven roasted honey garlic chicken & potatoes is a sheet pan dinner that cooks in one pan. Chicken breasts marinate in a sweet mixture of honey, garlic, and Dijon mustard, then get baked on one sheet with seasoned and roasted diced potatoes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Chilli Chicken
If you're a huge fan of Indo Chinese food, this chilli chicken recipe is going to be one of your favorites! It's perfectly spicy and really easy to make.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Healthy Chicken Stir Fry
There's nothing better than a delicious stir fry recipe for dinner - this one is my favorite! So healthy and fresh with lots of veggies.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Cheesy Chicken Burrito Bowl
No need to visit the local Mexican restaurant - make a delicious burrito bowl recipe in your own home. So yummy and so filling!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Chicken Lo Mein with Snow Peas
Make this delicious chicken lo mein recipe in about 15 minutes! This tasty Asian dish will make the whole family happy. So easy!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Chicken and Broccoli Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
You're going to love this delicious Italian inspired recipe. This chicken and broccoli pasta conceals the broccoli quite well with a sundried tomato cream sauce. Spice it up with garlic, basic, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bowls
You don’t have to wash a bunch of dirty dishes after you are done because your bowl is the squash itself. How cool is that? You can also pull it out of the squash if you need to conceal the fact that it's veggies from your picky eaters.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Skillet Chicken & Veggies with Garlic Sauce
Crispy chicken with your favorite vegetables in a simple creamy garlic pan sauce. On the table in 45 minutes, and everyone will be really happy.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
Teriyaki chicken casserole is full of savory chicken, rice and vegetables. The teriyaki sauce gives it outstanding flavor. This delicious meal is one your family will love!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Garlic-Ranch Chicken Pizza
An easy homemade pizza crust smothered in garlic ranch sauce and topped with grilled chicken, bacon, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Kids love this recipe, and you can shortcut it even more by buying premade crust.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Chicken Sausage Pesto Pasta with Brussels Sprouts
Family doesn't like sprouts? I dare them to try this recipe! The combination of chicken sausage with pesto and the pasta makes this a tasty dish that will cause even the most ardent brussels sprout haters to change their minds.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Ground Turkey Stir-Fry with Green Beans & Kale
Need a healthy 20-minute meal tonight? This ground turkey stir-fry with green beans and kale is packed with vegetables and nutrients. The veggies fade nicely into the background for those who aren't as enthusiastic about them!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Lemon Chicken and Potatoes in Foil
The most amazingly moist and tender chicken breasts cooked in foil packets – so easy and packed with tons of flavor! If your family likes chicken and potatoes, this is going to be a favorite dish.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Recipe
Sheet pan chicken fajitas are a snap to make and loaded with fresh veggies and flavor! Colorful bell peppers, red onions and chicken tenders simply tossed together with olive oil and spices. If your family loves Mexican themed recipes, they'll enjoy this.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Chicken Black Bean Casserole
Learn how to make this easy chicken black bean casserole recipe in minutes! It's very adaptable & sure to be your next family favorite. If your family prefers another protein, it's easy to substitute.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Instant Pot Turkey Spinach Lasagna
This healthy turkey spinach Instant Pot lasagna is an easy pressure cooker ground turkey recipe your family will love for dinner. It's a great way to sneak veggies into your family dinner.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Quick Seafood Dinner Recipes
Lightened Up Tuna Pasta
This lightened up tuna pasta recipe is creamy and delicious without the guilt! Plus it uses one skillet so clean up is a breeze.
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
One Pot Pad Thai
Forget the takeout with this easy to make and full of flavor one pot pad thai. Tender rice noodles stir-fried with eggs, shrimp, veggies, peanuts, and a wonderful tart, sweet, and salty sauce!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Quick Beef Dinner Recipes
Best Instant Pot Lasagna
Instant Pot Lasagna is warm, cheesy and delicious. Just like a traditional lasagna recipe, it is layered with your favorite ingredients.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Easy Shepherd's Pie
This classic dish is homemade comfort food at its best. It has a rich beefy base loaded with vegetables and a thick, buttery potato topping.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
A baked spaghetti casserole that’s amazingly cheesy and creamy. It’s comfort food at its best, and EASIEST! This quick family dinner is a nice alternative to plain old spaghetti.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Easy Slow Cooker Taco Pasta
Prep the ingredients for this easy slow cooker taco pasta the night before, and then start it cooking in your crock pot when you are ready. With just 10 minutes prep, this comforting pasta dish couldn’t be easier or faster to make!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Sloppy Joe Casserole
This easy Sloppy Joe casserole recipe will have your family begging for second and third helpings. It’s always a hit with family and friends, and it's the quickest family dinner you'll ever make.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Quick Pork Dinner Recipes
Best Pork Tenderloin
This is the best pork tenderloin recipe you will ever have! It is a flavor-packed easy sheet pan dinner with tender green beans, crispy roasted potatoes, and delicious glazed pork tenderloin, all cooked simply on one sheet pan.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Sausage and Spinach Pasta
If you are looking for a delicious and fresh meal that the whole family will love, try this sausage and spinach pasta recipe! It's so easy to put together.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Pepperoni Calzones
It can be expensive to fill a calzone craving on a regular basis. Get inspired by this calzone recipe with no yeast dough - it's so simple and yummy!
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Sausage Pepper Onion Pizza Hoagies
Sausage, pepper & onion pizza hoagies are an easy and delicious 30-minute meal! This is one of those quick family dinners that anyone can make, even the kids can help.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Sausage & Pepperoni Crescent Roll Casserole
This sausage and pepperoni crescent roll casserole is an easy dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes! Like a shortcut version of Deep Dish Meat Lover’s pizza, the hearty meal is a family-friendly option for your busiest weeknights.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Sheet Pan Ranch Chops and Veggies
Although the ingredients couldn’t be more simple, this sheet pan pork chops recipe is packed full of flavor thanks to the convenience of a ranch dressing packet. Also includes delicious potatoes and green beans. There's nothing to the clean up!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Pork Street Taco Recipe
The whole family comes running when they smell the tortillas being grilled and the yummy citrus kick of lime and guacamole. No one has to know that this favorite pork street taco Mexican food recipe is made from “leftovers”!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Quick Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
Pasta Con Broccoli
This tasty pasta con broccoli recipe is from one of the most famous Italian restaurants in St. Louis: Rich and Charlie's! The secret to this dish is in the perfectly creamy sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Creamy Mushroom Pasta
This lightened up mushroom pasta might have less fat and calories, but it still has all the creaminess and taste of the standard version! Vegetarian, but you can always add meat if you choose.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Are you looking for a low calorie, cauliflower rice recipe that is good for you? Try this cauliflower fried rice - loaded with veggies and flavor. No one will believe this isn't real rice!
Total Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Eggplant Linguine
Learn how to make this vegetarian linguine featuring some of your favorite veggies like eggplant and sun dried tomato. This easy family dinner disguises the eggplant . . . even picky eaters will enjoy getting their veggies.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
If you enjoyed these recipes, let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other yummy posts: