Four dinner images: chicken pasta, pork chop, fajitas, and cornbread casserole.

16 Easy Family Dinners Everyone Will Enjoy

Busy evenings can make it tough to get everyone around the table, but these easy family dinners can help things feel a little more relaxed. With simple ingredients and quick prep, you can make meals that everyone actually wants to eat.

It’s all about keeping things low-stress while still serving something tasty and comforting. A few reliable go-to dishes can turn weeknights into moments you actually look forward to.

1. Ground Beef Fajitas

Ground beef fajitas with peppers and onions in a skillet, with tortillas and toppings.
Photo Credit: Maple + Mango

Ground beef fajitas cook up fast with plenty of smoky flavor and veggies. It’s a one-pan recipe that keeps cleanup simple while delivering a dinner everyone will enjoy.

Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Fajitas

2. Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp and Sausage

Cajun shrimp and sausage with green beans, zucchini, and red bell peppers.
Photo Credit: Budget Delicious

This Cajun shrimp and sausage sheet pan meal is ready and on the table in about 30 minutes. Everything roasts together for a satisfying dinner with almost no cleanup.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp and Sausage

3. Chicken Stir Fry

Chicken stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, and green beans in a skillet.
Photo Credit: Mae’s Menu

This chicken stir fry is the perfect fix when you need something fast, filling, and flavorful. With frozen veggies and pantry staples, it comes together quickly with almost no prep.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Stir Fry

4. Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

Two images: cornbread casserole with ground beef, beans, and corn, topped with sour cream.
Photo Credit: Practically Homemade

Layers of seasoned beef and cornbread come together in this cowboy cornbread casserole for a meal that feels homey and hearty. It bakes up golden on top and keeps its rich flavor in every bite.

Get the Recipe: Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

5. Sausage Rapini Pasta

Penne pasta with sausage, rapini, peas, and potatoes in a white pot.
Photo Credit: My Chef’s Apron

This pasta combines spicy sausage, broccoli rabe, peas, and potatoes in olive oil for a crowd pleasing dish. It’s easy enough for weeknights and feels like you put much more effort into making it than you did.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Rapini Pasta

6. Puerto Rican Picadillo

Ground beef picadillo with rice, olives, avocado, lime, and basil.
Photo Credit: A Latin Flair

This Puerto Rican Picadillo delivers bold flavor in under 30 minutes using ground beef, peppers, and classic Latin spices. It’s a quick, one-pan meal that works for any busy night.

Get the Recipe: Puerto Rican Picadillo

7. Bratwurst Sheet Pan Dinner

Sheet pan dinner with bratwurst, potatoes, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers.
Photo Credit: Beeyond Cereal

Juicy bratwurst, potatoes, and roasted veggies share the same pan for a meal that’s simple but packed with flavor. It’s hearty, hands-off cooking at its best.

Get the Recipe: Bratwurst Sheet Pan Dinner

8. Shrimp Scampi

Angel hair pasta with shrimp scampi and parsley on a white plate.
Photo Credit: Mae’s Menu

This shrimp scampi brings together garlic and lemon for a light yet rich sauce that clings perfectly to the shrimp. It’s simple, fast, and always crowd-pleasing.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi

9. Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Three glazed chicken thighs garnished with sesame seeds and green onions on a white plate.
Photo Credit: Greedy Girl Gourmet

Sweet and savory teriyaki sauce coats these baked chicken thighs, creating a meal that’s both simple and comforting. Serve them with rice for an easy weeknight dinner.

Get the Recipe: Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

10. Ground Turkey Chili

Ground turkey chili with chickpeas, avocado, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
Photo Credit: Foodess

This ground turkey chili is thick, flavorful, and packed with beans and spices that warm you up fast. It’s a simple one-pot meal that tastes even better the next day.

Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Chili

11. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

Penne pasta with sliced chicken breast, parmesan cheese, and herbs in a skillet.
Photo Credit: Recipes From A Pantry

Creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta blends tender chicken with a sauce made of cream and Parmesan cheese. It’s rich, comforting, and it’s ready in just over half an hour.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

12. Pork Chops

Two images: pork chops with mashed potatoes on white plates.
Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon

These oven-baked pork chops stay juicy and flavorful thanks to a simple mix of pantry spices. They make an easy weeknight dinner that everyone at the table will enjoy.

Get the Recipe: Pork Chops

13. Short Rib Rigatoni

Rigatoni pasta with short rib ragu, parmesan cheese, and basil in a white pot.
Photo Credit: Simple And Fraiche

Slow-braised short ribs simmer in a tomato sauce until tender, then get tossed with rigatoni for the ultimate comfort meal. It’ll be a new family favorite in your house.

Get the Recipe: Short Rib Rigatoni

14. Tuna Casserole

Creamy tuna casserole with shell pasta, peas, carrots, and breadcrumb topping.
Photo Credit: Nibble and Dine

This stovetop tuna casserole keeps things easy while still delivering creamy comfort. It skips canned soup but still feels classic and ready in about 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Tuna Casserole

15. Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Baked chicken drumsticks with sweet potatoes and a side salad.
Photo Credit: My Chef’s Apron

These baked chicken drumsticks roast alongside potatoes, apples, and onions for an all-in-one dinner. With just 15 minutes of prep, the oven takes care of the rest.

Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Drumsticks

16. Curry Fried Rice with Shrimp

Two images: curry fried rice with shrimp, peas, and carrots.
Photo Credit: Spoons Of Flavor

This curry fried rice with shrimp cooks fast, tastes rich, and fills you up without much effort. Thanks to the curry powder and veggies, every bite feels hearty and perfectly balanced.

Get the Recipe: Curry Fried Rice with Shrimp

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