30 Easy Family Dinner Ideas

This glorious one pot chicken and rice meal really is the easy family dinner you need in your life. It’s cozy and comforting, from the garlic and herb scented rice to the tender chicken thighs. The zingy parsley lemon gremolata makes the ideal fresh counterpoint to the cozy grains. We’ve made this one pot meal dozens of times for friends and family, and it’s a hit every time (even with unadventurous eaters).

Here’s a family dinner idea that marries basic Italian flavors into a mess of garlicky, gooey goodness: Baked Rigatoni! It’s a pasta bake that’s got all the comfort of tomato sauce and cheese, but has intrigue and uniqueness in the flavors. The tomato sauce is full of garlic and a little fennel for meatiness, and it’s got lots of fresh basil for a herbaceous kick. Cover it in gooey mozzarella cheese and you’ve got a dish that’s hearty enough to please any eater.

Here's a dinner idea that always goes over well in our family…this Black Bean Chili! It’s beyond simple to make, and the flavor is outstanding. It’s got a hint of smokiness to highlight the tangy tomatoes and savory black beans. Top it with your favorite toppings, and it’s so hearty and savory, you’ll forget this meal is healthy, too.

Also try: Ultimate Vegan Chili

Need an easy family dinner? Try this luscious shrimp linguine, a wow-worthy dinner ready in 30 minutes! This is one of our favorite ways to serve shrimp, and if you’re a shrimp lover like we are, it’s a must try. Plump, succulent shrimp are bathed in a vibrant lemon butter sauce that perfectly complements the al dente linguine.

Here’s an incredible family dinner idea that’s impressive every time: these Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas! This recipe has long been a fan favorite. Tender sweet potatoes are the perfect contrast to savory black beans and tangy salsa verde. Top it off with Colby cheese, it’s the best gooey comfort food around. This one will please everyone: we guarantee it.

Also try: Vegan Enchiladas, Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas, or Chicken Enchiladas

Who wouldn’t want all the flavors of a supreme pizza wrapped up in a cozy bowl? The broth of this soup is flavored with pizza sauce, tomatoes, and a little Parmesan to make it creamy. The toppings are swimming along inside: bell peppers, garlic and mushrooms, making for a savory pop that surprises you in every bite. Serve with garlic toast, grilled cheese or simply crusty bread and it’s a meal you’ll want to make over and over…and over.

Here’s your ultimate tofu sandwich: crispy breaded tofu, tangy Russian dressing, and crunchy pickles create a flavor explosion that will have you wanting seconds after the first bite! We modeled this recipe after a crispy fish sandwich, right down to that savory creamy sauce, and it’s got all the most satisfying flavor and texture contrasts.

Looking for an easy dinner recipe for family that’s a hit every time? Try these classic Shrimp Fajitas! This Tex Mex favorite is a recipe for dinnertime success. Every time we serve this meal, it gets rave reviews from everyone around the table. The fajita veggies are seasoned to perfection, and the shrimp are juicy and buttery. Throw them in a tortilla and spritz with lime, and each bite makes you want to do a happy dance.

Also try: Epic Vegetarian Fajitas or Vegan Fajitas

Some family dinner ideas stand a head above the rest, and this is one of them. Try this cheese tortellini in creamy marinara sauce! In just 15 minutes, you’ve got a pasta skillet that’s a literal symphony flavor. The fresh basil-infused marinara sauce is perfectly complimented with pillows of tangy goat cheese. 

On the lookout for those elusive recipes that are healthy, easy and delicious? Meet a family favorite: these easy Black Bean Tacos! It stars our 5 minute black beans, a quick taco filling that’s bursting with flavor in just a few minutes. Top it with all the best taco toppings: corn, avocado, pickled onions: and a sprinkling of feta cheese. If you have time, we love it with cilantro lime sauce: but taco sauce and sour cream does the trick too! 

Need food…fast? There’s nothing better than a cheater pizza to the rescue, and this one is loads faster than delivery pizza. Try the mighty crispy Tortilla Pizza! This genius concept uses a tortilla to make the crust of the pizza pie, making for a delightful crunch for each bite. It's ideal for weeknight dinners, kid foods or even a quick appetizer.

It can be hard to find a family dinner idea that works as a meal for everyone, and here’s one we fall back on time and time again: the Loaded Baked Potato! Mix and match any variety of baked potato toppings and you’ve got a delicious dinner that works for almost any diet. There are endless ideas for customizing the meal and it lets every eater get creative.

Also try: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Here’s an easy dinner recipe for family that seems to please just about everyone: Taco Salad! This Tex-Mex salad has been impressing for decades, and it gives us all the 1990’s nostalgic vibes. Here’s why we love this concept: it’s customizable for any eater and easy to scale up for a crowd.

Also try: Vegan Taco Salad

So here’s one to file under family dinnertime basics: this Easy Rice Bowl! This 30 minute dinner features these easy black beans, a trick to make a bland can of beans taste amazing in 5 minutes. Pair it with rice and colorful veggies. The kicker? A zingy cilantro lime ranch that you’ll want to bathe in. These were so tasty and easy, we knew we had to share (we simply inhaled them).

This Healthy Wild Rice Soup is ideal for family dinner! This fan favorite soup is delectably creamy and delicious: it's packed with plant-based protein from cashews, white beans, and hearty wild rice. The flavor is out of this world! Everyone who tastes it becomes a believer. Make a big batch and freeze leftovers!

Here’s a go-to when you need a plant based dinner that’s protein-packed: this Vegan Meatballs recipe! This recipe takes under 30 minutes to make, and it’s packed with protein! Even better: the flavor is outstanding. Toss with your favorite marinara sauce, and it's a crowd-pleasing meal the whole family will enjoy!

Want to make pizza that feeds a crowd? Let’s make Sheet Pan Pizza! This style of pizza is a bit different than the standard circular variety, but it’s become an instant favorite around here. Why? It makes a big pan the equivalent of 3 medium pizzas, and it’s so easy to make! You don’t need any special equipment, and you don’t have to bother with shaping the dough.

What better to please a crowd than Sloppy Joes? These lentil-based Sloppy Joes have a zingy filling that tastes just as good as the meaty version. Put it on a toasted bun with some bread and butter pickles, and WOW! 

Of course, one of the top family dinner ideas is a great lasagna! And dang, is this one good. The tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy. It’s scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest, which takes it to over the top status. 

Many of our readers swear by this enchilada skillet recipe! It’s got enchilada sauce, tortilla strips, and a bunch of veggies and black beans, all nestled together in a cast iron skillet with just the right amount of cheese. It’s so flavorful! Use your favorite store-bought enchilada sauce or our homemade version (made in advance).

Here’s an impressive family dinner idea that’s calling your name: these irresistible Salmon Burgers! These burgers are so deliciously satisfying, we’re kicking ourselves this hasn’t been part of our repertoire of meals until now. Each bite is hearty and juicy, topped with a creamy remoulade sauce that takes it to rockstar status. 

Always a winner at family dinner is mac and cheese: but what about pesto mac and cheese? This seriously cozy comfort food is just as gooey as it looks, and adding a swirl of bright green basil pesto is a total genius move. The way the Havarti cheese melts into the creamiest sauce is truly mind blowing.

Here's a sheet pan dinner full of colorful vegetables and loaded with flavor! It's a plant-based dinner that roasts up everything on a sheet pan at once: lots of good-for-you veggies and chickpeas for plant based protein. Throw it all in the oven while you cook rice or quinoa. Top with a dollop of hummus, cashew cream, or another vegan sauce. Dinnertime win!

Meet our favorite vegetarian and vegan family dinner idea: the Falafel Burger! It's so easy to make with canned chickpeas. The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce and all the fixin’s is pretty darn epic.

Here’s a favorite family dinner idea: Salmon Tacos! These tacos are bursting with fresh, zingy flavor, pairing blackened salmon with pineapple pico and a creamy green avocado sauce. It’s an easy healthy dinner that tastes restaurant-style, but you can whip it up in about 30 minutes. Dinnertime win!

Why not harness the magic of the shrimp boil for an every day meal? This shrimp boil is an easy way to make it on a weeknight: no large pot or fire required! What results is a seafood boil full of oven-roasted goodness. The veggies have browned and caramelized goodness, salty and seasoned with the nuance of cozy Old Bay seasoning, and the shrimp are perfectly tender.

We’ve got a new solution to an easy family dinner that pleases everyone: this baked salmon and asparagus recipe! It’s simple, it’s elegant, but it tastes like a meal you’d order at a restaurant. Roasting it up on a sheet pan with lemon slices and fresh herbs adds effortless flavor that feels fresh yet refined. 

Welcome to…your new favorite healthy dinner. Well, at least it’s ours! Something about all those tasty fillings snuggled cozily into a tortilla makes a burrito irresistible. This one is packed with flavor from Spanish rice, seasoned black beans, peppers and onions, and mashed avocado.

Another great family dinner recipe: the soba noodle bowl! This one the ultimate quick weeknight meal, a filling vegetarian dinner that comes together in 20 minutes flat. It’s filled with stir fried broccoli, red pepper and onion, mix with a savory sauce with creamy peanut butter. Even better: eggs are scrambled right into the mix (like fried rice, but with noodles!).

Last up: a stunning family dinner recipe for when you have time to prep: Shepherd's Pie! Imagine: a creamy gravy filled with tender vegetables, lentils and scented with fennel and sage. Then a fluffy layer of Yukon gold potatoes, topped with fresh rosemary. It’s layered together in a baking dish and then baked until golden. It always gets rave reviews!