Easy Family Dinner With Chicken or Beef
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75 Easy Family Dinner Ideas for a Busy Weeknight
Gather 'round—and you'll find a favorite new dish!
Hector Sanchez
If you're tired of cooking last minute every weeknight, these easy family meals are here to save the day! We know that coming up with easy dinner ideas for every night of the week can sometimes leave you stuck in a rut. But don't fret! This list includes great recipes for everyone in your crew—whether it's a new chicken dinner, a quick pasta recipe, or even a vegetarian option.
Here, you'll find tons of quick 30-minute meals, Instant Pot recipes, and sheet pan suppers that make cleanup easy. Looking for something big enough to feed your hungry crowd of kids? Look no further than The Pioneer Woman's best casserole dishes —like her green chile enchilada casserole or the chicken spaghetti. You'll also find some new twists on childhood classics, like a sloppy joe casserole that's both fun and messy to eat! Along with these comfort food recipes, we've made sure to include some healthy dishes that even a cowboy would approve of. Check out the air fryer pork chops, taco salad, or one of the tasty salmon recipes ahead. So skip the takeout and opt for one of these for hearty meals—your family will thank you!
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Air Fryer Pork Chops
Juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and healthier than your typical fried pork chop—this recipe puts the air fryer to good use. It's perfect when served with potatoes and a salad for a complete family dinner.
Get the recipe.
SHOP AIR FRYERS
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Hamburger Soup
A big pot of this soup will put a smile on anyone's face—it's hearty, satisfying, and a great way to sneak extra veggies into your kids' meal.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Stuffed Acorn Squash
This cozy dinner comes with its own edible bowl! You can even eat the skin of the squash once it's roasted. Now that will make cleanup easy.
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Chicken Spaghetti
This is one of Ree Drummond's go-to recipes—and we can see why! It's simple, hearty, and perfect for pleasing just about anyone in the family (even Ladd!).
Get Ree's recipe.
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Pretzel-Crusted Chicken with Broccoli
Instead of breadcrumbs, these pan-fried chicken cutlets are coated in crushed pretzels for a fun twist. It's crunchy, salty, and even better when served with honey-mustard sauce.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Fettuccine Alfredo
We're not skimping on the good stuff with the pasta recipe—it's loaded with butter, cream, and parmesan cheese. Best of all? It only takes 30 minutes to make!
Get Ree's recipe.
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Pollo Asado Tacos
Get ready for Taco Tuesday with these tangy marinated chicken tacos! To turn it into a DIY family meal: put all the toppings in small bowls and let everyone help themselves!
Get Ree's recipe.
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Sloppy Joe Casserole
If you were a fan of sloppy joes as a kid, you'll love making this casserole version for your family tonight. It's a little less sloppy but just as fun to eat.
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Instant Pot Lentil Soup
You don't need to soak the lentils or even sauté the veggies before making this easy vegetarian soup. Everything is thrown together in an Instant Pot for an instant weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe.
SHOP INSTANT POTS
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Instant Pot Ribs
Ree loves cooking with Dr Pepper—especially when it comes to fall-off-the-bone ribs. "When it's cooked down, it's just a perfect mix of flavors," she says.
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Skillet Lasagna
This new way of making lasagna is super simple: You can even take the skillet straight from the oven to the table.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Barbecue Chicken Salad
Just as the name implies, this recipe is part salad and part barbecue chicken so it's healthy and delicious.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Parmesan Fish Sticks with Glazed Carrots
These are not the frozen fish sticks you remember as a kid—they're better! The flaky fish is covered in crispy mixture of breadcrumbs and parmesan and served with glossy sweet carrots.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Breakfast-for-Dinner Sandwiches
Who else loves breakfast for dinner?! The egg sandwich is a fun way to shake up your weekly meal and it's even served with breakfast potatoes!
Get Ree's recipe.
SHOP DINNER PLATES
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Chicken Fried Steak
You can't have chicken fried steak without gravy and this gravy is so good! You'll want to pour it over everything—mashed potatoes included!
Get Ree's recipe.
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Beef-and-Bean Chili
This chili recipe is loaded with ground beef, beans, and tons of spices. The only thing that could make it heartier is the toppings—choose from grated cheese, sour cream, or even crumbled bacon.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Ginger Meatballs with Sesame Broccoli
There's no lacking in flavor when it comes to these ground beef meatballs. They're made with fresh ginger, spicy red pepper flakes, and delicious hoisin sauce. Serve them up over any kind of rice you like best—white rice, brown rice, or even wild rice.
Get Ree's recipe.
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Foil-Packet Shrimp Pasta
Looking for the easiest cleanup ever? Try serving this pasta dish straight out of the foil packet!
Get Ree's recipe.
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Sausage and Peppers Pizza
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Greek Salad with Chicken
This dinner is crisp, refreshing, and perfect for when you want a lighter dinner. Of course, you can always pair it with some pita bread for more heft.
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Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Preserves
This impressive-looking pork dinner is perfect for busy weeknights. It comes together in just 20 minutes!
Get Ree's recipe.
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Taco Salad
Tacos are an easy family meal, so it's only natural that this taco salad will be a hit too.
Get the recipe.
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Baked Spinach Ravioli with Pesto Cream Sauce
Transform a package of frozen spinach ravioli by tossing it with an amazing pesto cream sauce.
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Peppercorn-Crusted Steak with Creamed Spinach
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Lemon-Thyme Sheet-Pan Chicken and Potatoes
You can't beat chicken and potatoes for dinner, especially when you can make everything on one sheet pan!
Get the recipe.
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BBQ Meatball Subs
Your kids will be thrilled to hear you're making meatball subs. They'll be even more excited that they're barbecue-flavored!
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Spaghetti and Meatballs
You just can't beat a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs with homemade sauce. Try Ree's recipe this week!
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Pork Marsala with Mushrooms
This pork chop Marsala takes only 30 minutes to make! Pair it with egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Get the recipe.
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Soy-Ginger Beef Kebabs with Rice
Make these beef kebabs either outside on the grill or with a grill pan indoors. They're packed with flavor and taste delicious over rice.
Get the recipe.
SHOP SKEWERS
Erin Cavoto Erin Cavoto is the Editorial Assistant at ThePioneerWoman.com, covering food, holidays, home decor, and more.
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