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The Best Family Dinner Ideas For Tonight

kid friendly dinner ideas for tonight

Hunting for dinner ideas? Whether you find yourself in the kitchen at 6:00 p.m wondering “what should I make for dinner tonight” OR your family can never agree on one meal, dinner can be one of the most hectic parts of the day. As a working mom of 3 kids, I get it.

With picky eaters and food allergies, making one meal for everyone in my house seemed impossible for so long! Learning how to meal plan and prep helped me get a handle on the dinner fiasco. A few years ago I started sharing my meal plans with the world and I’ve been able to help thousands of other families do the same.

https://youtu.be/zzLDElLCODI

So goodbye to living as a short order cook in your own home, and hello to fresh, simple meals that everyone can agree on. Grab your free meal plan here.

image: bottom portion has four different dinner photos ranging from pizza to chicken nuggets. Image text reads: Family Dinner Ideas for Tonight

When it comes to finding dinner ideas that work for the whole family it’s important to incorporate at least one item everyone will enjoy, whether it’s the entree or side dish.

I like making self serve meals like tacos, loaded potato, and burgers bars since they include a variety of healthy options and everyone can build their own plate with the ingredients they love most.

Now for the real reason, you’re here, recipes you can cook for dinner tonight!

What to Cook for Dinner Tonight

When you’re wondering what to make… I’ve got everything from chicken dinner ideas to beef, to tacos and so much more!

Quick Lemon Chicken

three sliced chicken breasts in a shallow bowl

Take your simple pan-seared chicken up a notch with this quick lemon chicken marinade. It’s full of flavor and a total crowd-pleaser

Make this Recipe

Chicken Spaghetti Squash

spaghetti squash with chicken

This is a great switch from my usual spaghetti squash with Bolognese sauce. Cook the spaghetti squash beforehand to cut down on kitchen time.

Make this Recipe

Healthy Chicken Nuggets

serving platter of chicken nuggets and ketchup

Chicken nuggets are the one food I’ve never seen a child turn away and this healthy baked version is perfect for both kids and adults.

Need gluten-free chicken nuggets? I’ve got you covered there too!

Make this Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

buffalo chicken quesadillas

Made with my easy slow cooker buffalo chicken the hardest part is choosing whether you want to serve your quesadillas with Ranch or Blue cheese dressing. Maybe both?

Make this Recipe

Healthy Teriyaki Chicken

large blow of teriyaki chicken

The healthier, baked version of everyone’s favorite Asian take-out.

Make this Recipe

If you’re looking for more chicken dinner ideas – check out my latest ebook – Chicken. It’s what’s for Dinnner!

Make Chicken Exciting to Eat Again!

If you’re tired of dry tasteless chicken for dinner, the recipes inside Chicken. It’s What’s for Dinner are exactly what you need!

You’ll enjoy mouth-watering juicy chicken, epic marinades to add flavor and simple family meals that will get devoured.

chicken ebook displayed on an ipad and phone screen
Buy the eBook

Recipes Using Ground Beef

The possibilities are endless when it comes to dinner ideas using ground beef!

Quick tip – If you’re planning to make a few of these recipes this week, then you can prep a few pounds of ground beef in the slow cooker to save you time in the kitchen each night.

image: collage of three different dinner recipe photos all made with beef

Cheesy Beef Goulash Recipe

looking down on a skillet full of beef goulash with melted cheese on top

One of the only recipes I can expect no complaints, only clean plates. This recipe is so easy, my teenager can even cook it on her own!

Make this Recipe

Beef Bolognese 

Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe - Kid friendly and absolutely the best

This simple pasta and meat sauce recipe is the ultimate quick and easy dinner idea for kids!

Make this Recipe

Taco Pizza Recipe

taco pizza!

Grab those leftovers from taco night and get ready to make the best pizza you’ve ever had. Yep, we’re talking about taco pizza! This recipe will leave everyone wishing for more leftovers.

Make this Recipe

Instant Pot Chili Mac 

The Instant Pot does all the work in this quick and easy chili mac dinner recipe! Grab some ground beef, a bag of pasta, and a few cans, and dinner will be on the table in no time.

Make this Recipe

Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes

When it’s already 5pm and you need something…FAST, try one of these quick and easy dinner ideas!

Easy Homemade Nachos

Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery, use some of the meat for these nachos and the rest to make chicken salad for lunches.

Make this Recipe

Spiralized Zucchini and Tomatoes

Healthier noodles, made with Zucchini paired with tomatoes and a delicious blend of spices.

Make this Recipe

Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe

Spaghetti Carbonara

Comfort food in all its simplicity! And that homemade homemade Carbonara Sauce is everything you ever hoped for in a pasta.

Make this Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Sliders stuffed with shredded chicken in a tangy, smoky sauce, melted cheese, and homemade Ranch dressing.

Make this Recipe

Meatless Dinner Ideas

We’ve all had that feeling where you go to make dinner and realize you’re either out of meat OR everything is frozen. While I do have a safe (quick!) defrost method for chicken, sometimes you just have to go meatless, so here are a few quick and easy meals to get you started. 

Creamy Spinach Tortellini

large bowl of spinach tortellini

This recipe is my secret weapon on busy weeknights. You can have dinner on the table within 20 minutes of getting home from after-school activities with this meatless meal.

Make this Recipe

Homemade Shakshuka

large skillet of shakshuka

I grew up on this recipe in Spain, and it’s still. family favorite with me and my kids. This dish is made with classic red sauce and eggs and could not be more delish!

Make this Recipe

Meatless Meatballs

meatless meatballs in a skillet

Spaghetti doesn’t have to be boring, simply because you’re out of ground beef. Grab some oats and beans and make these epic “meat”balls to top your noodles tonight.

Make this Recipe

Easy Parmesan Risotto

This simple Parmesan & Peas Risotto Recipe is one for the ages! It’s creamy, delicious and the perfect meal to make when you need to whip up dinner using items in your pantry.

Make this Recipe

How to Plan Healthy Family Meals Every Night of the Week

With busy lives and kids, enjoying a meal with your family hinges on two important factors:

1. A meal plan prepared in advance
2. Recipes your family will actually enjoy and eat

And lucky for you- I’ve got BOTH!

Meal planning goes a little differently for everyone, but the most effective method for me is to set aside time at the beginning of the week to plan 5-6 days worth of meals, leaving the other days open for leftovers or family plans.

If you’re on the lookout for a completed meal plan with shopping lists and prep guides, you’ll find it in our family meal plans.

Classic Weekly Meal Plan

Eat delicious real food family meals with a simple plan. Recipes, meal prep, and done-for-you shopping list inside.

Download a sample today!

six printed pages of recipes, a meal prep guide and a shopping list
I Want It!

So who’s ready for some hassle-free meals? I say we start with these Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas you can totally make for dinner tonight.

Print

Easy Dinner Ideas for Tonight | EPIC Chicken Quesadillas

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

Quick & Easy dinner ideas for tonight that your whole family will love. Use what you already have on hand with these easy recipes, starting with classic beef tacos, for an epic taco night! 

  • Author: Laura Fuentes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 12 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Cuisine: Tacos

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • ¾ cup buffalo sauce
  • 8 8-inch flour tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
  • Butter, for grilling
  • Blue cheese or Ranch dressing, for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken breasts into the dish of a slow cooker. Pour the buffalo sauce over the chicken, and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours.
  2. Once the chicken is cooked through, shred the meat with two forks and toss to coat with the sauce.
  3. Place the tortillas on a flat surface. Top 4 tortillas with the chicken, Cheddar cheese, and blue cheese. Assemble the quesadillas.
  4. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. One at a time, place the quesadillas into the skillet and grill for 3 minutes or until the cheese begins to melt. Flip and grill for another 3 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. Remove from the skillet and repeat with remaining quesadillas.
  5. Slice and serve Ranch or Blue cheese dressing.

Equipment

Best Grain-Free Meals on the Planet

Buy Now →

Non-Stick Pan

Buy Now →

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
  • Calories: 655
  • Sugar: 1.3g
  • Sodium: 1775.1mg
  • Fat: 27.1g
  • Saturated Fat: 11.8g
  • Trans Fat: 0.3g
  • Carbohydrates: 56g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 45.1g
  • Cholesterol: 134.1mg

Keywords: dinner ideas, family dinner ideas, dinner ideas for kids, what should I make for dinner tonight, dinner recipes

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @LauraSFuentes on Instagram and hashtag it #momables

More Family Dinner Ideas

I’m all about cooking with what you have on hand, so if you’re looking for something starting a specific ingredient, I have you covered in the posts below. Be sure to click over for the recipe you need today or pin the posts to save for the next time you are standing in front of the fridge trying to come up with a dinner idea for tonight.

Chicken Dinner ideas – Quick, easy and delicious meals using chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks or even the whole bird!

Dinner Ideas with Ground Beef – Wondering what to make with that pound of ground beef you have thawing the fridge? Here’s a collection of family favorite recipes to try.

Shrimp Dinner Ideas – 10 amazing kid-friendly recipes made with shrimp. Plus, a few tips for cooking shrimp so they come out perfect every single time.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laurie Rasor

    November 24, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    Thanks for these dinner ideas. Have A Good Day

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Joanna Jones-Heron

    October 01, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    I made the American Goulash dinner idea and my family LOVED it. thanks for the suggestions, this post is now my go-to for family-friendly recipe ideas.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Camber

    September 25, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    The quesadillas are a great idea and I can’t wait to try the American Goulash!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Jillian Leslie

    September 24, 2019 at 2:59 pm

    This is so easy and absolutely delicious! Thanks, Laura!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Easiest Healthy Kid-Friendly Recipes | MOMables says:
    August 12, 2020 at 9:20 am

    […] What do you think? Are you ready to introduce healthy kid-friendly recipes into your rotation of family dinner ideas? […]

    Reply

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