46 Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas For Busy Weeknights—And Busier Parents

A fresh batch of dinner recipes that everyone will love

By

Kaitlyn Yarborough

Updated on July 29, 2024

Southern Living Hot Honey Chicken on a plate to serve with green beans — 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

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Lemon Chicken Pasta

Southern Living Lemon Chicken Pasta in a bowl ready to serve — 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.

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Skillet Enchiladas Suizas

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.

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Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks

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.

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Easy Taco Casserole

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.

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Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole

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.

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Stovetop Macaroni And Cheese

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,

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Tortellini Pasta Salad

Southern Living Tortellini Pasta Salad in a bowl to serve — 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.

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

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.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole with Dinner Rolls

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.

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Fettuccine Alfredo

Southern Living Fettuccine Alfredo in a bowl ready to serve — 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.

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Burrito Bowls

Burrito Bowls Recipe — 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.

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Ravioli Lasagna

Ravioli Lasagna Recipe — 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.

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Salmon Burgers with Creamy Tartar Sauce

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.

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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

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.

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Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

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.

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Cowboy Casserole

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.

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King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

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.

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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Southern Living Chicken Spaghetti Casserole in the dish to serve — 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.

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BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

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.

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Hot Honey Chicken

Southern Living Hot Honey Chicken on a plate to serve with green beans — 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.

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Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

Southern Living Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup in a bowl to serve — 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.

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Southwest Chicken Cutlet Rice Bowl

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.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

classic slow-cooker beef stew - Southern Living — 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.

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Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta

Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta in bowl — 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.

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Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese

Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli — 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.

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Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon

Creamy Cheddar-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.

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Mini Meatloaves

Southern Living Mini Meatloaves served over mashed sweet potatoes and buttery peas. — 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.

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One-Pan Ranch Chicken And Vegetables

Sheet-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.

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Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

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.

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Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

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.

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Ham and Noodle Casserole

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.

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Chicken Bog

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.

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Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Uncle Jackâs 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.

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Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese

Roasted Tomato-Cheddar Soup — 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.

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Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce

Fontina-Stuffed Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes — 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.

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

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.

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Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

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.

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

Southern Living Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry in the dish with a serving out beside it — 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.

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Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

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.

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Chicken Parmesan Pizza

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.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

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.

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Chicken Tamale Pie

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.

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One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice

One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken — 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.

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Ground Beef Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi

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.

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Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas

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.

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Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler

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.

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