If your weeknights feel like a constant scramble to get something on the table, this list is for you.
These easy dinner recipes are made for busy families, picky eaters, and anyone who just wants a simple, satisfying meal without a lot of fuss.
From cheesy casseroles and quick skillet dinners to budget-friendly comfort food, every recipe in this roundup is designed to be kid-approved and weeknight-friendly.
Inside this collection of 50 dinner ideas, you’ll find quick weeknight meals, cheap family dinners, and easy recipes that come together with simple ingredients.
Whether you’re planning your weekly menu, looking for last-minute school night dinner ideas, or just need a few new go-to meals, these easy family dinners will help you get something delicious on the table fast.
Perfect for busy nights, tight budgets, and households with picky eaters, these recipes keep dinner simple, hearty, and stress-free.
50 Cheap Family Dinner Ideas for Picky Eaters
Fried Tacos are an easy ground beef dinner recipe using flour tortillas filled with taco beef and shredded cheese before frying.
Crescent Roll Pizza is an easy weeknight dinner recipe using a can of Pillsbury crescent dough topped with pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and diced green peppers.
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty pasta recipe loaded with bacon, ground beef, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, tomato sauce, bbq sauce, shredded cheese and chopped green onions.
Cheeseburger Subs are an easy family friendly dinner recipe loaded with ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese on a bun spread with a special mayo sauce.
Pizza Subs are an easy weeknight dinner recipe using 9 inch sub rolls loaded with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and green peppers and then baked until perfectly toasted.
Texas Toast Sloppy Joes are an easy ground beef dinner recipe made with frozen Texas toast garlic bread slices and loaded with sloppy joe ground beef and shredded cheese.
French Onion Pork Chops are an easy baked pork chop recipe loaded with sour cream, onion soup mix, provolone cheese and crispy fried onions.
Taco Mac and Cheese is an easy pasta recipe loaded with ground beef, taco seasoning and Rotel diced tomatoes and tossed in a creamy cheese sauce.
Turkey Meatloaf Muffins are an easy ground turkey dinner recipe perfect for weeknights.
Texas Chicken Spaghetti is a hearty baked pasta recipe loaded with shredded chicken, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, diced green peppers, sliced mushrooms and shredded cheese.
Roast Beef Sliders are an easy dinner or party snack made with dinner rolls and loaded with deli shaved roast beef, mayo, horseradish, mozzarella, cheddar and crispy fried onions.
Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole is an easy ground beef dinner recipe loaded with shredded hashbrown potatoes, cream of mushroom soup and shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
Big Mac Sliders are an easy weeknight dinner recipe made with ground beef, onion, pickles, mayo, Thousand Island dressing, cheddar cheese and shredded lettuce all piled on to dinner rolls topped with sesame seeds.
Texas Toast Pizza is an easy weeknight dinner recipe using frozen Texas toast garlic bread and topped with pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices and green peppers.
Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets are a kid friendly lunch or dinner recipe using Pillsbury crescent rolls, American cheese slices and chopped ham slices.
One Pot Spaghetti is an easy stove top dinner spaghetti recipe loaded with ground beef, marinara, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese.
Tortellini Alfredo is a simple and delicious pasta recipe with cheese tortellini all tossed in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce.
Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket are the perfect party snack or kid friendly dinner using cocktail sausages, Pillsbury crescent dough and everything bagel seasoning.
Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is an easy slow cooker dinner recipe made with frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, spaghetti and spices.
Sloppy Joe Tacos are hearty ground beef tacos with sloppy joe sauce and baked with cheese.
Mini Chicken Pot Pies are an easy dinner recipe using precooked chicken, frozen mixed vegetables, cream of chicken soup and Pillsbury refrigerated biscuits.
Air Fryer Hot Dogs are a simple and delish lunch or dinner dish the whole family will love.
Hamburger Helper Lasagna is an easy ground beef dinner recipe using pasta that looks like mini lasagna noodles, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, beef broth, shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders are small baked sandwiches loaded with chopped deli turkey, ranch dressing, crispy bacon and cheddar cheese.
Chicken Philly Sliders are delicious mini sandwiches on brioche dinner rolls loaded with shredded chicken, green bell peppers, onions and Provolone cheese.
Spaghetti Alfredo is rich and creamy pasta recipe made with butter, minced garlic, heavy cream, Italian seasoning and shredded parmesan cheese.
Dorito Taco Pie is an easy ground beef dinner recipe using a store bought deep dish pie crust loaded with crumbled Doritos nacho chips, beef taco meat, ranch dressing, salsa and shredded cheese.
Grilled Cheese Sliders are tasty mini sandwiches that are perfect as a party snack or even as a meal with a side of soup, fries or salad.
Crack Chicken Spaghetti is a delicious baked pasta recipe with a creamy sauce and loaded with shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, ranch dressing mix and shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
Alfredo Meatballs are an easy ground chicken meatball recipe loaded with Italian seasoned bread crumbs, garlic powder and parmesan cheese and tossed in a rich and creamy alfredo sauce.
Pizza Baked Spaghetti is a hearty spaghetti recipe loaded with Italian sausage, pepperoni, green bell peppers, pizza sauce, marinara and mozzarella cheese.
Cheeseburger Gnocchi is a hearty ground beef dinner recipe loaded with potato gnocchi, Rotel, chopped green onions and shredded cheese with a creamy sauce made from cheddar soup and milk.
Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips is an easy dinner recipe loaded with egg noodles, canned tuna, peas, diced onions, cream of mushroom soup and shredded cheddar cheese with a crushed potato chip topping.
Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan is a delicious parmesan breaded chicken breast recipe topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese.
Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo is an easy one dish meal made with cavatappi pasta, jarred alfredo sauce, condensed cream of bacon soup, chicken broth, chopped rotisserie chicken and mozzarella cheese.
Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole is an easy dinner recipe with ziti noodles, chicken stock, pasta sauce, Italian seasoning and turkey meatballs all cooked together in one dish and then topped with mozzarella cheese.
Cheesy Ranch Ground Beef and Rice Casserole is a hearty dinner recipe loaded with ground beef, instant rice, bacon, cheddar soup, milk, ranch dressing mix, chopped green onions and shredded cheese.
Pierogi Casserole is a hearty dinner recipe loaded with crumbled Italian sausage, onions, three cheese pierogies, cream cheese, Alfredo sauce, shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
Homemade Tuna Helper is a delicious twist on boxed tuna helper loaded with egg noodles, green peas, corn, cream cheese, parmesan cheese and tuna all in a creamy sauce.
One Pot Mac and Cheese is a creamy and delicious pasta dish made with milk, cavatappi noodles, condensed cheddar soup, shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and crushed Ritz crackers.
Chicken and Bacon Rotini Alfredo is a rich and flavourful pasta recipe with a creamy garlic parmesan sauce loaded with shredded rotisserie chicken and crispy bacon pieces.
Pizza Pot Pie is a simple and delicious dinner recipe using Pillsbury crescent roll dough for the crust and filled with mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, Italian sausage, onions, green peppers and pepperoni.
Pizza Tortellini is a hearty pasta dish loaded with Italian sausage meat, cheese tortellini, diced onions, green peppers, pepperoni, pizza sauce, pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Chopped Cheeseburger Casserole is an easy dish loaded with ground beef, diced onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard, sesame seeds, cheddar cheese and hamburger buns.
Pizza Enchiladas are a fun, family-friendly dinner recipe perfect for weeknights.
Rolled flour tortillas are filled with ground beef, pepperoni, green peppers, onions and ricotta and baked with pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni and bacon on top.
Taco Pizza with Crescent Rolls is a family friendly ground beef dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
This tasty pizza starts of with a Pillsbury crescent roll crust and is topped with a ground beef and cream cheese taco mixture, shredded nacho cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and mini Doritos nacho chips.
Cheesy Queso Ground Beef and Rice is an easy one pot dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
This hearty dish is loaded with ground beef, minute rice, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, store bought salsa con queso and shredded nacho cheese.
Air Fryer Sloppy Joe Dogs are a fun and easy recipe perfect for lunches or weeknight dinners.
These tasty hot dogs are loaded with a homemade ground beef sloppy joe mixture and shredded cheese and air fried until perfectly toasted.
Dino Nugget Chicken Parm Cups are a fun and easy muffin tin dinner the whole family will love.
Hamburger buns are spread with garlic butter, baked in muffin tins and stuffed with creamy alfredo spaghetti and topped with dino nuggets, marinara and mozzarella.
Chicken Alfredo Tacos are a fun and easy dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
Cheesy Blasted Stand N Stuff taco shells are stuffed with creamy linguine alfredo loaded with grilled chicken chunks, Rotel and mozzarella cheese.
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Hi! My name is Erin and I have been here since 2016 sharing simple family friendly recipes that can be prepared by any home cook. Get ready to whip up delicious meals in no time!