Kid-Friendly Weeknight Dinner Recipes
Let’s be honest—weeknights at my house are chaotic.
Between school pickups, toddler meltdowns, after school activities and homework – making dinner becomes a struggle. The kids want dinner to be done immediately as soon as we get home. And it has to be something that I know they will eat on days like this.
Making some elaborate meal is just not in the books for these busy hectic nights. It need to be something simple, quick and kid-friendly.
I like meals that I can throw together in about 30 minutes that I know my kids will enjoy. Fighting with your kids to try new things is the last thing I want to do after a full day.
What do they say? “Fed is best” – right?
I’m always hunting for quick easy meals for kids, cheap meals for family, and picky eater recipes that won’t result in anyone (me included) crying at the table. If it’s a toddler friendly dinner that also wins over my big kid and doesn’t destroy my kitchen or my budget? Total mom win.
There are a lot of kid friendly meals in this post that even your picky kids will eat! Whether you’re looking for cheap dinners for a family, easy toddler meals, or just easy dinner ideas for family that won’t break the bank or your spirit, you’re in the right place.
Also see: 21 Easy Dinner Ideas You Can Make In 20 Minutes or Less!
Easy School Night Meals
This recipe for baked chili cheese dogs is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! When you bake chili dogs in the oven, magic happens—they taste warm, fresh, and extra delicious. Your family will love customizing their chili cheese dogs with their own favorite toppings, and you’ll love how easy it was to put together this kid-friendly dinner.
This chicken recipe is so easy to make and it’s packed with flavor! The shredded Italian cheese gives it a delicious cheesy taste, while the cornflakes add a nice crunch. You won’t believe how good this dish is until you try it for yourself. This Baked Ranch Chicken is sure to be a hit with your family and friends!
Crock Pot Spaghetti is so easy to make and your family is going to love it! The meat sauce is slow-cooked all day before adding the spaghetti.
Enjoy a fun pizza night any night of the week with this easy homemade air fryer bagel pizza recipe. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a simple snack, these mini pizzas are sure to delight the whole family.
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with our crock pot garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe. Slow-cooked to perfection, tender chicken is shredded in a flavorful garlic parmesan sauce, creating a mouthwatering dish that will leave you craving for more. Convenient, versatile, and family-friendly, this easy meal is sure to impress with its rich flavors and minimal effort.
There’s a new sandwich in town, and its name is pizza grilled cheese. This delectable creation takes all of the best pizza flavors—the cheesy goodness, the delicious sauce, and the crispy crust—and puts them between two slices of bread for an easy-to-eat meal that will have you coming back for more.
This Sheet Pan Quesadillas recipe is the best! It has the delicious quesadilla taste the whole family loves, made in baked form right in the oven. It’s an easy-to-make family dinner!
This Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich is the perfect mashup of two classic comfort foods. It’s made with flavorful taco meat, melty cheddar, lettuce, and tomato sandwiched between two perfectly golden and buttery slices of bread.
Texas Toast Pizzas: These mini pizzas are cooked on frozen garlic toast, making it so easy, with tons of flavor! Now, everyone can make their own pizza on pizza night and have fun with their favorite toppings!
Chicken topped with a fresh marinara sauce topped with fresh mozzarella cheese and baked on Hawaiian sweet rolls and slathered with garlic butter.
If you love Olive Garden's Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells but wish you could recreate the famed stuffed shell recipe in the comfort of your own home (just like my Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup), you're in for a treat! Giant pasta shells stuffed with three kinds of cheese, on top of rich marinara and doused in creamy alfredo sauce — delicious!
Homemade Pizza Pockets inspired by the Italian Calzone Pizza, which is a pizza folded over and baked with a pizza filling.
This hearty casserole is loaded with beef, cheese, and noodles. This Chili Mac Casserole is a family favorite and a recipe you will love.
Ground beef burrito skillet has all of the flavors of a ground beef burrito in an easy, one-skillet dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
This Goulash Recipe is an American classic made with simple ingredients like ground beef, tomatoes, macaroni noodles, and gooey cheddar cheese. It’s an easy, comforting, one-pot recipe loved by the whole family!
This easy dinner recipe for Bubble Up Pizza Casserole only needs 6 ingredients! The biscuits ‘bubble up’ while baking to make a perfectly fluffy, soft, and pizza flavored filled casserole with two types of cheese, pizza sauce, and pepperoni.
Meatball Subs are a favorite recipe, perfect for a crowd and easy to make! Tender juicy homemade meatballs (or frozen in a pinch) are simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce are placed in a roll and topped with cheese. The sandwiches are broiled until golden and the cheese is bubbly for the perfect bite!
Delicious and crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe that is healthier and easy to make! Try these Air Fried Chicken Tenders recipes for a quick and satisfying meal. These Air Fryer Chicken Strips are perfect for busy weeknights or as a game-day snack!
This Honey Chicken is tender chicken tossed in a skillet with butter, honey, garlic, fresh lemon juice, spices, and soy sauce. This Honey Lemon Chicken is a quick and easy 15-minute chicken dish.
This recipe for Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta features delicious smoked sausage, tender rigatoni noodles, and a savory cheese sauce. It’s done in 30 minutes in one pan so you can get dinner on the table in no time!
Sloppy Joe tater tot casserole is both quick and easy and kid-friendly. With all the flavors you love in a Sloppy Joe and the fun of tater tots!
Homemade Parmesan meatballs are flavorful, smothered in sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella. Bake until bubbly and serve over pasta, in a sandwich, or with breadsticks
This homemade Sloppy Joes recipe makes the classic family-favorite meal with a sweet and savory sauce to serve over toasted hamburger buns. Whip up some hearty and messy sandwiches for an easy and delicious dinner.
Want more easy dinner recipes? Check these out!
- 10 Simple Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes
- 10 Easy Meals To Make With Ground Beef
- 25 Chicken and Rice Recipes Your Kids Will Love
- 12 Freezable Casseroles For An Easy Make Ahead Dinner
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