23 Easy Dinners for Busy Nights & Hungry Families
Finding a dinner that the whole family likes can be challenging! These recipes are crowd-pleasers that are quick, easy, and always satisfying. Made with simple ingredients and without tons of prep time, you’ll find yourself coming back to these again and again.
Easy Turkey Sliders
These turkey burger sliders are made with a simple mix of ground turkey and a few pantry staples that result in a delicious, nutritious, and super easy dinner that’s always a big hit. Grab your favorite slider buns and burger toppings and fire up the grill. Top them with lettuce, onion, cheese, and pickles and serve with french fries, coleslaw, or an easy salad.
Get the Recipe: Easy Turkey Sliders.
Cheesy Ground Turkey Taco Skillet
You won’t believe how quickly this taco skillet comes together. With a nutritious combination of protein and fiber thanks to the ground turkey, beans, corn, and cheese this is one satisfying dish and it’s delicious scooped up with mini bell peppers and tortilla chips. Let everyone add their own toppings like sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Turkey Taco Skillet.
Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry
Thinly sliced steak is cooked to perfection and bites of crisp and tender broccoli are coated in a deliciously glossy sauce that is sweet, savory, and balanced that brings everything together. This beef and broccoli is made with simple ingredients and can be prepped in just 15 minutes, which is why we love it on busy weeknights, and given all of the rave reviews on my original steak stir-fry, I know your family will, too!
Get the Recipe: Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry.
Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Love the flavors of chicken Parmesan but not all the work to make it happen? This cheater version skips the breading steps and chunks of chicken are cooked in a tomato sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs for the classic breading flavor and crunch. Serve over pasta for a family favorite weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Parm Pasta.
Dumpling Soup
Save your money and skip the takeout because you can make this delicious and easy dumpling soup at home in just 15 minutes. Frozen dumplings cook in a garlic and ginger broth and spinach wilts in the last few minutes of cooking for a light, but satisfying soup. Top with chili crisp oil and sesame oil for more flavor.
Get the Recipe: Dumpling Soup.
Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Looking for a quick and healthy dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor? This easy ground turkey stir-fry recipe is it! This easy dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes and is packed with protein, loaded with broccoli, and gets major flavor from a sweet and savory stir-fry sauce that’s made with pantry staples.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Stir Fry.
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
If my kids had to pick an all-time favorite meal, this is it. Our homemade spaghetti with meat sauce features a slow-simmered, rich tomato meat sauce made with perfectly browned ground beef, Italian sausage, a balanced tomato sauce, and traditional Italian seasonings. Serve with al dente spaghetti, a salad, and garlic bread.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.
Taco Salad
If you love a classic taco salad, you will always be happy to see this recipe on the menu. It’s quick, easy, and always hits the spot. Ground beef cooks super fast, making it a great weeknight option. Put out all of the salad components and let everyone make their own salad.
Get the Recipe: Easy Taco Salad.
Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry
This 20-minute stir fry makes a great weeknight dinner. The sweet and savory chunks of chicken taste just as good as the dish from your local Chinese restaurant. Serve it over rice or with stir-fried veggies for a take-out fake-out dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry.
Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
This 30-minute meal is perfect for a busy weeknight. With savory sausage, tender broccoli, and yummy orecchiette pasta rounds, this five-ingredient dish delivers a complete meal from one pan and always gets rave reviews.
Get the Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli.
Easy Udon Noodles
Save your time and money on a busy weeknight. These easy udon noodles taste even better than takeout! Made with snow peas, broccoli, and peppers, this pan-fried noodle dish is loaded with veggies and flavor. Naturally vegetarian, you could add some protein like chicken, shrimp, or tofu if desired.
Get the Recipe: Easy Udon Noodles.
Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This ground beef stir fry is delicious, but it’s also nutritious! This meal has protein, produce, carbs (energy), and flavor! This easy meal comes together in just 20 minutes by utilizing some quick kitchen shortcuts and can also be prepped ahead if that’s your style.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.
Naan Pizzas
These easy mini naan pizzas are perfect for nights when you don’t feel like cooking as they take just a few minutes to prep. Put out toppings and let everyone make their own.
Get the Recipe: Naan Pizzas.
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadilla
The whole family will love these cheesy beef quesadillas! It’s comforting, delicious, easy, and ready in just 20 minutes. The ground beef is cooked and then it’s layered with two layers of cheese for the ultimate layered gooey cheese quesadilla. Serve with fresh toppings.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadilla.
Dinner-Worthy Snack Board
Who says you can’t have a mini charcuterie board for dinner? This snack board has such a delicious assortment of deli meats, cheese, fresh fruit, and veggies. It has all of the variety we look for in a meal, with minimal prep.
Get the Recipe: Dinner Worthy Snack Board.
Bean and Cheese Burritos
Bean and cheese burritos are always a good idea for weeknight dinners. These are so easy to wrap up for a meatless meal that is filling, budget-friendly, and best of all, delicious. Put out some fresh toppings or add them inside so your family can dress a simple bean burrito up if desired.
Get the Recipe: Bean and Cheese Burrito.
Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak
This buffalo chicken cheesesteak recipe is easy to make, delicious, and packed with flavor. It has a mouthwatering combination of tender sliced chicken, sautéed peppers and onions, gooey cheese, and spicy buffalo sauce. Top with melty white American cheese for a dinner you’ll want on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak.
Shrimp Fajitas
Not only is this meal nutritious and delicious, but it’s also totally easy to make, making it a great option for weeknight dinners. Shrimp is seasoned with a homemade fajita seasoning blend and cooks with bell peppers, onions, and garlic for maximum flavor. Put out a bunch of fresh toppings like lettuce, pico de Gallo, and sour cream, and let everyone build their own fajita.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shrimp Fajitas.
Bacon Blue Cheeseburger with Roasted Garlic Aioli
This amazing burger has seven, yes you read that correctly, seven layers of delicious flavor that you are going to love. Blue cheese, ground beef, roasted garlic aioli AND bacon jam? This is a burger that is sure to please!
Get the Recipe: Bacon Blue Cheeseburgers.
Mexican Picadillo
Ground beef, potatoes, tomato sauce, and chiles all come together for a quick, flavorful, and inexpensive dinner that your family will love. Serve it as a main dish over rice, or use it to make nachos or tacos.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Picadillos.
Cheesy Boursin Pasta
This is the best cheesy pasta and it’s made with just a few ingredients. Creamy Boursin cheese is the base of this simple sauce and has the smoothest creamy texture. Simply cook the pasta, and whip up the sauce with some sliced garlic, Boursin, and pasta water. Serve with a simple green salad and breadsticks for an utterly delicious meal.
Get the Recipe: Boursin Cheese Pasta.
Mama’s Mini Meatloaves
Try a batch of saucy mini meatloaves with ground turkey the next time you need comfort food. Bake them in a muffin tin, and serve one or two per person, depending on their appetite. These are perfect with mashed potatoes and peas on the side.
Get the Recipe: Mama’s Mini Meatloaves.
Ground Turkey Tacos
Taco night is here, let’s make something fresh and new! These ground turkey tacos are the perfect combo of bright and fresh flavors and simple ingredients, making them a delicious (and easy!) option for busy weeknights. Ground turkey is seasoned with a mix of spices and simmered with salsa to add another layer of flavor for juicy and delicious taco meat every time.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Tacos.
