Weeknight Dinner Inspo: 15 Recipe Ideas Your Whole Family Will Love
These 15 weeknight recipe ideas are easy to make, taste delicious, and are sure to satisfy even the pickiest of kids and husbands!
Do you ever feel like you have recipes on repeat over and over again? Sometimes, I get tired of the same old meals every week. But my family is pretty picky, so I want to make foods they’ll eat.
I homeschool my kids, work from home, and try to keep my home neat and tidy. (Not always successfully.) So, while I love making Pinterest-worthy recipes, they don’t always fit into my schedule.
Here are 15 recipe ideas for meals that are perfect for busy weeknights. These easy weeknight recipes are yummy and easy to make, plus, they’re all kid-approved. As a bonus, you don’t even need a recipe!

How to Make a Kid-Friendly Meal
When it comes to cooking meals kids will eat, simple is best. As a good rule of thumb, I like for my meals to include a protein, a vegetable, and a starch. That’s the way my granny cooked, and it’s always been my pattern.
Start with the protein–chicken, pork, or beef. Fresh vegetables are great, but Canned vegetables are just as good. They are quick and easy to make, and as good for you as the fresh ones.
The starch part is most kids’ favorite–and mine, too, if I’m honest! This can be pasta salad, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or even fries.
It’s okay if kids like the carbs best, as long as they try a little of the other food groups, too.
Easy Dinner Ideas
Every home cook needs some meals up her sleeve that don’t require any recipes. You know the ones that you can make without a measuring cup or cookbook.
These meals don’t have to be fancy. Just food that fills their bellies and nourishes their bodies! Here are a few of my go-to recipe ideas when I’m short on time.
These easy meals don’t require recipes. You only need to cook from the heart!

1. Breakfast for Dinner
- Ingredients: Eggs, toast, bacon/sausage, or pancakes/waffles.
- Method: Scramble or fry eggs, toast some bread, and cook your choice of protein. Serve with fruit or a smoothie for balance.

2. Pasta Toss
- Ingredients: Pasta, olive oil or butter, garlic, veggies, and grated cheese.
- Method: Cook pasta, sauté garlic and veggies in olive oil or butter, and toss everything together with cheese on top. Add cooked chicken or beans for extra protein.

3. Sheet Pan Dinner
- Ingredients: Chicken breasts or thighs, veggies (like carrots, broccoli, and potatoes), olive oil, and seasoning.
- Method: Toss everything with olive oil and seasonings, spread on a baking sheet, and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 25-30 minutes.

4. Quesadillas
- Ingredients: Tortillas, cheese, and any leftover meat or veggies.
- Method: Layer cheese and fillings on a tortilla, top with another tortilla, and cook in a skillet until golden. Slice into wedges and serve with salsa or sour cream.

5. Stir-Fry
- Ingredients: Pre-cut stir-fry veggies, protein (like chicken, shrimp, or tofu), soy sauce, and rice or noodles.
- Method: Sauté protein, add veggies, stir in soy sauce, and serve over rice or noodles.

6. Loaded Baked Potatoes
- Ingredients: Large potatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, and toppings like bacon bits, green onions, or leftover chili.
- Method: Microwave or bake potatoes, then load with toppings.

7. Taco Night
- Ingredients: Taco shells or tortillas, ground beef or chicken, taco seasoning, and toppings (cheese, lettuce, salsa, etc.).
- Method: Brown meat with taco seasoning, assemble tacos, and let everyone customize their own.

8. Grilled Cheese and Soup
- Ingredients: Bread, cheese, butter, and canned soup (like tomato or chicken noodle).
- Method: Make grilled cheese sandwiches while heating soup on the stove.

9. Bowl Meals
- Ingredients: Rice or quinoa, protein (leftovers work great), veggies, and a sauce like teriyaki, ranch, or sriracha mayo.
- Method: Layer everything in a bowl and drizzle with sauce.

10. Pizza Night
- Ingredients: Store-bought pizza dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Method: Assemble pizzas and bake according to dough instructions. Use naan or tortillas for a faster option.

11. Fettuccine Alfredo
- Ingredients: Fettuccine, butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, and optional chicken or broccoli.
- Method: Cook pasta, toss with melted butter, cream, and Parmesan. Add cooked chicken or steamed broccoli if desired.

12. Tortellini
- Ingredients: Store-bought tortellini, marinara or Alfredo sauce, and Parmesan.
- Method: Cook tortellini according to package instructions, mix with sauce, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

13. Pot Roast with Vegetables
- Ingredients: Chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, onions, and broth.
- Method: Toss everything in a slow cooker in the morning with seasoning and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

14. Caesar Salad
- Ingredients: Romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing.
- Method: Toss everything together and serve as a side or add grilled chicken for a full meal.

15. Cheesy Hash with Eggs
- Ingredients: Frozen hash browns, shredded cheese, eggs, and seasoning.
- Method: Cook hash browns in a skillet, sprinkle with cheese, and top with fried or scrambled eggs.

Weeknight Dinners Made Easy
The truth is, we often think that food has to be fancy. We want it to meet some sort of crazy standards set by people we don’t know.
But food is food. Giving our families meals that nourish their bodies is good enough. I’ve spent hours preparing meals from Pinterest recipes that looked amazing and used every ingredient under the sun.
My family didn’t eat them. In the end, that’s a waste! Preparing simple meals might seem lazy, but if my family cleans their plates, it’s a win!
I’d love to know what is your go-to meal when you’re short on time and money. Share your easy recipe ideas in the comments!