Dinnertime is hard: especially when you’re trying to make meals for family! There are always 101 opinions, diets, and preferences to please. Plus, it’s difficult to maintain inspiration day in and day out. As parents of two active children, we know! So here’s a list of our top family dinner ideas! Each dinner recipe below is a meal that’s been tested by a real family (us!) and is easy to make at home. From lasagna to pizza soup to fajitas to one pan chicken and rice, we’ve got the recipes you need for your table. Also see our post about 23 Fun & Healthy Dinner Ideas for Kids!
And now…family dinner ideas to make meal time fun!
More tips for cooking for family
We hope you’ve enjoyed these easy dinner recipes for family! But when it comes to putting meals on the table, it’s even trickier when you’ve got a family in tow. Outside of family dinner ideas, here are a few things we’ve learned about cooking for family from our 4 year old: Also try: Ultimate Vegan Chili Also try: Vegan Enchiladas, Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas, or Chicken Enchiladas Also try: Epic Vegetarian Fajitas or Vegan Fajitas Also try: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Also try: Vegan Taco Salad
Start with veggie snacks. While you’re cooking dinner, one way to avoid hungry kiddos is to start with some veggie appetizers. Put out a plate of carrot sticks, sliced peppers, and snap peas, and the kids will have no options but to go for the veggies! (You could even set out some easy ranch dip too.) Work together. If possible, work with your spouse or partner on dinner and corralling the family. It’s easier with 2 people working together! We generally cook together as a couple. Don’t sweat it if it doesn’t go over the first time. One thing we’ve learned about cooking for kids is to not define dislikes. It takes 7 times of introducing a new flavor for it to stick. Our son Larson’s tastes change daily — so when we try some family dinner recipes a second time, he loves them even if he didn’t like them the first! Find healthy ways to end the meal. If our kiddo doesn’t eat enough during the meal, sometimes we bring out Peanut Butter Dip and apple slices as a healthy post-meal snack that seems like a treat (but it’s full of healthy ingredients!).
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8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds) 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder Freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the rice
4 cloves garlic, minced 1 small white or yellow onion, minced 1 ½ cups white rice 3 cups chicken broth 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon dried dill
For the gremolata
⅓ cup finely chopped Italian parsley, (about 1/2 bunch) 1 tablespoon lemon zest (1 large lemon) 1/2 small garlic clove, minced 1 pinch kosher salt 1 grind black pepper
