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Quick Dinner Ideas for Kids & Adults

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If you’re wondering what to make for dinner -again- you’re not alone. Many of us have stood in front of the refrigerator staring into an abyss wondering what is a quick dinner idea the kids will actually eat?

First, check out this quick video with some visuals -think of them as the photos in a restaurant menu.

Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas

If any of those recipes jumped out, hurray! Options. As a mom to 3 kids, I often wonder what I can make that the kids will eat and that I’ll actually want to eat. 

Because frozen chicken nuggets are not adult food -unless they are my epic chicken tenders but I digress. 

Let’s talk about making super-fast dinners with ingredients that you might have on hand.

15 Minutes or Less

Bell Pepper Pizzas

Bell Pepper Pizza: A fun way to make grain-free pizzas and use up extra veggies in the fridge. Plus, this is a keto-friendly pizza recipe that the whole family can enjoy together.
15 minutes

Make this recipe

Pineapple Shrimp Tacos

Quick & easy indoor shrimp tacos!

10 minutes

Make this recipe

Quick BLT Salad

Everyone’s favorite sandwich, deconstructed into a filling salad recipe.

10 minutes

Make this recipe

Buffalo Chickpea Lettuce Cups

A fast meatless meal that the whole family can enjoy.

15 minutes

Make this recipe

Authentic New Orleans Muffuletta

This step-by-step recipe will show you how to make a delicious New Orleans Muffuletta Sandwich at home!
10 minutes

Make this recipe

Baked nachos

When you’re craving tacos but you have no time, these baked nachos are for you!

8 minutes

Make this recipe
large bowl of caprese salad

Caprese Salad with Avocado

This Chicken Caprese Salad is another filling salad you can serve for a quick weeknight meal!
5 minutes

Make this recipe

Spanish Air Fryer Salmon

Make this Spanish air fryer salmon recipe and have a healthy and delicious meal ready in no time.

13 minutes

Make this recipe

Air Fryer Falafels

This air fryer falafel recipe makes it a healthy option that pairs great with your Mediterranean-inspired meals.

15 minutes

Make this recipe

30 Minutes or Less

You don’t have to spend an hour in the kitchen to pull off a satisfying and healthy meal. Many quick and easy dinner ideas start with basic ingredients, like pasta or chicken, and then we grab a few others and boom, dinner in less than 30!

large skillet of creamy chicken pasta

Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta

The flavor of this Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta proves that simple recipes can taste amazing! Enjoy this easy chicken dish.

20 minutes

Make this recipe

Turkey Burgers

Everything you need to know to make your healthy turkey burger come out juicy and full of flavor every time -bun optional.

20 minutes

Make this recipe
healthy jambalaya with cauliflower rice

Healthy Jambalaya

This healthy jambalaya is made with cauliflower rice, veggies, chicken, and sausage for the ultimate feel-good comfort food!
20 minutes

Make this recipe
Shakshuka: An easy recipe to change up breakfast in the morning or to have breakfast for dinner!

Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a simple meal that yields delicious results. Serve it with rice, roasted potatoes, or warm, crusty bread- you won’t regret anything. 

30 minutes

Make this recipe

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

If you love the classic crispy, au-gratin crusted chicken then you’re going to fall for this baked, cheesy pasta version with a golden, brown crust. Make this a 30-minute meal by using precooked or leftover chicken and storebought or homemade alfredo sauce. 

Make this recipe
two lettuce cups with Asian honey chicken

Healthy Honey Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Love Asian inspired dishes but want a healthier version than take-out? These Honey Chicken Recipe served in lettuce cups is one you’ll love!

20 minutes

Make this recipe
large bowl of chicken pot pie pasta

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta Recipe

A quick and easy comfort food recipe that comes together in one skillet! 

25 minutes

Make this recipe
Jamaican Pork and Pineapple Stir Fry recipe that is super easy to make and yet, it's exciting to eat!

Pork & Pineapple Stir-Fry

A little sweet, a little spicy, this Jamaican-inspired dinner is budget-friendly and a fast mid-week meal option.
25 minutes

Make this recipe
bowl of squash hash with chorizo and two fried eggs

Butternut Squash & Chorizo Hash

The perfect breakfast-for-dinner option that will fill you up!
20 minutes


Make this recipe
two large bowls of chicken vegetable teriyaki

Chicken & Broccoli Teriyaki

Enjoy the flavors of take-out at home, in less time than it would take you to pick it up.
30 minutes

Make this recipe
instant pot chili mac

Instant Pot Chili Mac

Delicious and hearty, this Instant Pot Chili Mac recipe is a perfect quick and easy mid-week meal!

23 minutes

Make this recipe
large bowl of spinach tortellini with large skillet of the same in the background of image

Creamy Spinach Tortellini in a Skillet

Spinach, tomato, and tortellini with cream sauce, this easy skillet meal is mega-delicious and comes together super fast!

20 minutes

Make this recipe
greek pizza recipe

Greek Pizza Recipe

Greek pizza is perfectly cheesy, crispy and has all the Mediterranean flavors you love.

20 minutes

Make this recipe
large dish of salsa verde chicken pasta with a fork-full pulled up

Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta

Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta is a one-skillet meal with a smoky kick from salsa verde. It’s cheesy, delicious, and a family favorite!

25 minutes

Make this recipe
Cheesy Taco Skillet: Bring taco night to a new dimension with this one pot cheesy taco skillet to be served family style at the dinner table.

Skillet Beef Tacos

When you run out of tortillas but still want tacos, these skillet beef tacos are the perfect solution and involve minimal cleanup! Serve it family-style with tortilla chips or over a bed of lettuce for an epic taco salad.  

20 minutes

Make this recipe

Chopped Panzanella Salad

An epic chopped salad with croutons loaded with fresh veggies, protein, and a delicious Dijon dressing.

20 minutes

Make this recipe
large sheet pan of shrimp fajitas

Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

You know them, you love them, and I’m about to show you how to make restaurant-style shrimp fajitas the easy way at home!

20 minutes

Make this recipe
large pot of taco soup with one small bowl of soup to one side

Easy Taco Soup Recipe

Easy taco soup in 30 minutes, and it’s loaded with all our favorite taco flavors and toppings!

30 minutes

Make this recipe
bowtie pasta in a skillet with shrimp and grape tomatoes

Shrimp Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

Whether you use homemade pesto or storebought, this simple pasta is easy to pull off and quickly goes from stove to table.

20 minutes

Make this recipe
overhead view of white bowl filled with chicken fried cauliflower rice

Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice

A delicious, low-carb meal you can whip up in a flash.
25 minutes

Make this recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup

Tender chicken and veggies in a taco-seasoned broth and finished off with sour cream and avocado.

28 minutes

Make this recipe
side view of white plate full of sun dried tomato pasta and chicken strips

Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

Creamy, sun-dried tomato chicken pasta made in one skillet for a delicious, quick, and EASY weeknight dinner.
30 minutes

Make this recipe

Baked Tacos

Hands down the easiest taco night EVER!

22 minutes

Make this recipe

Thai Pasta Salad with Chicken and Peanut Dressing

If you love a good pasta salad full of fresh ingredients and homemade dressing, this Thai Chicken Salad is going to blow you away.
30 minutes

Make this recipe
overhead view of chicken chili in a bowl topped with avocado cubes. Half an avocado next to bowl

Red Chicken Chili Recipe

This Paleo Chicken Chili recipe is bean-free and full of delicious flavors. Hands down a keeper!

30 minutes

Make this recipe
salmon bowls with spicy mayo on top

Avocado Salmon Bowls with Spicy Mayo

These avocado salmon bowls drizzled with spicy mayo are everything you love about eating out but made healthy at home.

30 minutes

Make this recipe
sausage and peppers on a sheet pan

Baked Sausage & Peppers

Make this easy sheet pan recipe for a quick weeknight dinner that’s both healthy and delicious. 

30 minutes

Make this recipe

Bell Pepper Nachos

Low carb and delish these bell pepper nachos are everything you want from the classic appetizer without the guilt!

30 minutes

Make this recipe
maple miso salmon on a plate with purple cabbage and rice

Maple Miso Glazed Salmon

A delicious and simple recipe that will get you to eat more salmon! Tastes gourmet, easy to make at home.

30 minutes

Make this recipe
chicken topped with avocado and cilantro on a sheet pan

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Juicy Cilantro Lime Avocado Chicken is a fresh and simple recipe you’ll be making on repeat with the BEST marinade ever!

30 minutes

 

Make this recipe
closeup of salmon pesto pasta with tomatoes

Quick Salmon Pesto Pasta

Everyone in the family is going to love the flavor of this easy pasta recipe.

25 minutes

Make this recipe
salmon baked in foil with herbs

Baked Salmon in Foil

A simple recipe that yields perfectly tender, flaky salmon coated with delicious garlic-herb sauce. 

20 minutes

Make this recipe
large bowl of shrimp and avocado salad

Avocado and Shrimp Salad

Light, refreshing, and a super quick-to-make meal is what you get with this salad!

16 minutes

Make this recipe

No-Bake Lasagna

All the flavors and ingredients of lasagna but deconstructed into an easy and EPIC dinner. Instead of layering and baking the noodles in the oven, you layer them directly on the plate, topping them with sauce, cheese, and other delicious lasagna toppings. 
25 minutes

Make this recipe

What is the easiest thing to make for dinner?

These are all realistic ideas for a fast dinner, but the quickest and easiest meal is one that is pre-prepped. 

It’s a concept I talk about often, and for a good reason, by pre-chopping ingredients and doing recipe steps ahead of time, you can make incredible meals in less than 30 minutes, even on the busiest of nights! 

And if you are just getting started and feeling overwhelmed by trying new recipes or prepping ahead, my dinner meal plans can help you simplify the “what’s for dinner tonight” with family-friendly recipes that can be cooked fast with minimal prep-ahead.

Inside the weekly plan, you’ll find a meal-prep guide to help you save time when it comes to making dinner. I mean, why not chop two onions instead of one and save the second for another meal? It’s as simple as that and my job is to remind you to do that.

Check out how you can conquer mealtimes by downloading a sample family-weekly meal plan.

How Meal Prep Saves Time

While pre-chopping veggies and taking care of small tasks seem insignificant, these steps can go a long way to save you big time on a busy weeknight. 

Here’s a quick summary on how to meal plan and prep for the week: 

  1. Create a menu for the week
    Start at 2 to 3 recipes to try and move up from there. It’s better to start small than not at all!
  2. Gather ingredients 
    And write down the ones you need. Tip: eliminate waste and try to create a menu of ingredients you already have available.
  3. Grocery shop
    The list makes this much easier and more cost-effective.
  4. Break it down 
    Break each recipe down into small tasks such as boiling pasta, cooking rice, cleaning, chopping, and marinating your meats. These are all things that can easily be done days ahead and refrigerated for when ready to use.
  5. Assemble
    Optional, but cooking 1 to 2 recipes like soups, chilis, or casseroles entirely ahead of time is a game-changer.

More Easy Dinner Ideas

Once you’ve cooked through these recipes, here are some more quick and easy meals to keep your family excited about dinner each night. 

  • Chicken Dinner Ideas
  • Shrimp Dinner Ideas
  • Recipes with Ground Beef
  • Family Dinner Ideas
  • Healthy Meals for Kids 

Want to try a people-please recipe tonight? The skillet beef tacos below are fast to make -even if you decide like right now to pull frozen beef out of the freezer. Let’s do it!

Print

Quick Dinner Ideas for the Whole Family + Easy Skillet Tacos

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Pin Recipe

Quick dinner ideas for kids adults will want to eat that you can make in less than 30 minutes with minimal prep. Like these easy beef tacos that come together in a skillet! 

  • Author: Paula Rollo
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Dinner

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 2 bell peppers, any color, diced
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 1 ½ cups fresh salsa
  • 3 cups baby spinach, pre-washed and coarsely chopped
  • 1 ½ cup shredded Cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • ½ cup sliced black olives
  • Avocado, sour cream, and additional salsa for serving
  • Shredded romaine lettuce
  • Corn Tortilla chips for serving, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until it begins to soften. Add the meat, diced bell peppers, and taco seasoning. Continue to cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, for about 5-7 minutes until it’s cooked through.
  2. Add fresh salsa and spinach, stir to combine, and heat through. Turn off heat, sprinkle shredded cheese and black olives over meat mixture. Cover, and gather remaining garnishing ingredients.
  3. Create a bed of shredded Romaine lettuce on a plate, scoop a serving of the mixture, top with desired toppings, and serve.

Equipment

Large Skillet

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the taco tuesday cookbook

The Taco Tuesday Cookbook

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 418
  • Sugar: 9.5g
  • Sodium: 929.5mg
  • Fat: 25.3g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 21.4g
  • Fiber: 9g
  • Protein: 28.4g
  • Cholesterol: 84.2mg

Keywords: quick dinner ideas, 30 minute dinner ideas, easy dinners, quick family meals

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Tag @MOMables on Instagram and hashtag it #momables

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