23 Easy All-Purpose Family Dinners That Won't Stress You Out
From one parent to another.
Figuring out dinner every night can be tough.
And that's especially true for parents: We're always on the hunt for fast, filling, budget-friendly recipes that actually taste good. Even better when those meals are customizable — so you can quickly swap a few things to win over any (shall we say) more ~selective~ palates at your table. Here are several favorites!
Customize these as you see fit — and ditch the cilantro if your kids (or you) don't like it. To save even more time, start with rotisserie chicken.
Recipe: Easy Chicken & Avocado Burritos
2. Instant Pot Chili Mac 'n' Cheese

Everything cooks right in the Instant Pot — making this a true drop-and-go dinner.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chili Mac 'n' Cheese
3. 10-Minute Baked Tostadas

Tostada shells are super easy to make: just brush corn tortillas with olive oil and pop them in the oven for a few minutes until crispy. Then have everyone add their own favorite toppings: beans, cheese, tomatoes, you name it.
Recipe: 10-Minute Oven Baked Tostadas
All your favorite pizza flavors — just with a bit more protein. (And a side of garlic bread!)
Recipe: Oven-Baked Pizza Chicken
5. Lighter Broccoli Chicken Casserole

This version skips the canned soup in favor of a creamy — but still simple — homemade sauce.
6. Loaded Quesadillas

Dress these up or down depending on who's eating. For easy extra protein, swap sour cream for Greek yogurt.
Recipe: Loaded Quesadillas
7. Sheet Pan Sliders

A sheet of Hawaiian rolls as the base means you customize these however you want — maybe dressing half for kids and half for parents, depending on who likes what.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Sliders
With temperatures dropping, this comforting soup is one of the best ways to upgrade grocery store tortellini.
Recipe: Crock Pot Tortellini Soup
9. Sheet Pan Taco Flatbread

Can't decide between tacos or pizza? That's where this comes in.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Taco Flatbread
10. Crock Pot Meatloaf With Carrots & Potatoes

This recipe cooks for a full eight hours — so it's the perfect thing to leave on all day while you're out running errands or at work.
11. Vegetarian Enchilada Bake

Quinoa can be tricky for pickier palates. But this high-protein recipe — where its buried underneath lots of familiar southwestern-style flavors (plus cheese!) — is a great starter.
Recipe: Vegetarian Enchilada Bake
12. Mini Turkey Sliders

Quick tip: An easy way to keep slider size consistent is to use a cookie cutter ring to shape the patties.
Recipe: Mini Turkey Sliders
13. Shortcut Chicken Parmesan

Some nights you want might to make a complex Italian-style dinner entirely from scratch — and other nights you just want to feed hungry mouths ASAP. This recipe is for the latter.
Recipe: Quickest Chicken Parmesan
14. Garlic Butter Steak and Lemon Green Beans

Slicing the steak into strips beforehand means everything cooks through in a flash. To round this out, serve with baked or mashed potatoes.
This makes enough for four people — and clocks in at less than $2 per serving.
16. Southwestern Veggie-Packed Tater Tot Casserole

Serious question: Who doesn't love tots? This casserole — with lots of veggies packed into the sauce and the ability to dress the top up or down — is the tastiest way to turn them into dinner.
17. Chicken Sausage, Roasted Potatoes & Corn

Another easily customizable one: You can do spicy Italian sausage for the adults, and chicken or turkey sausage (or even hot dogs) for kids.
18. Slow Cooker Turkey Chili With Cornbread Dumplings

Slow cooker chili is great. Slow cooker chili with drop-and-go cornbread dumplings on top is even better.
19. Foil Packet Steak & Potato Bites

Make these in the oven or grill — and know that the foil wrapper makes cleanup way easier.
Recipe: Foil Packet Steak & Potato Bites
20. Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls

I've made this — and its chicken counterpart — many times for my family, and it's always an easy, all-purpose hit.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls
21. Chicken & Vegetable Ramen

Just modify the meat and/or veggies depending on what everyone likes. Either way, it will still come together in one pan — and in less than 30 minutes.
Recipe: Chicken & Vegetable Ramen
This freezes well, so feel free to make a double batch and save the rest for later in the season.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Casserole
23. Build-Your-Own French Bread Pizzas

When in doubt? Pizza night! 🍕