33 Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipes You Can Make in Under an Hour (2024)

The 15 Best Side Dishes for Salmon

Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw

There’s breaded chicken and then there’s this breaded chicken. Here, chicken cutlets get extra flavor thanks to unsweetened shredded coconut, but instead of dredging each piece in flour and egg, mayonnaise gets the job done. Round out the meal with a zesty coleslaw amped up with a touch of mango chutney and sambal oelek. If your kids don’t like spice, simply skip the sambal.

Summer Nachos

For a lighter take on nachos that’s perfect for summer, give this vegetarian recipe a whirl. Here, tortilla chips are topped with paprika-spiked corn for pops of smoky sweetness, tender bits of sautéed zucchini, and a creamy avocado-yogurt topping you’ll want to smear on everything. Serve these nachos family-style so everyone can dig in.

Linguine With Cherry Tomato Sauce

Pasta with tomato sauce never disappoints, and this version combines plenty of summery tomatoes with crispy pancetta. Since you'll start by rendering cubes of salty pancetta and use the same pan to cook the tomatoes, the fat infuses every bite of the sauce. Once you plate the cooked pasta, a generous shower of Parmesan and basil completes the dish.

Smoky Sheet Pan Salmon and Potatoes

Sunny oranges pull double duty in this recipe, first as orange zest joins a dressing of olive oil, smoked paprika, and dried oregano to season both the potatoes and salmon, and then as orange slices get tossed with creamy avocado, cilantro, and lime to make a bright, chunky salsa. Ready in just 40 minutes, this simple dinner works in any season.

Ginger and Honey-Soy Salmon en Papillote

Sure, this salmon sounds fancy, but if your little ones are fish fans they’re bound to like this recipe. The rich salmon filets are cooked inside of a parchment paper packet alongside strips of bell pepper and ginger in a sweet soy-sesame-garlic sauce. When the food is ready, simply open each packet and enjoy with a side of noodles or rice.

Crispy Peanut Tofu With Sugar Snap Peas And Peppers

This vegetarian meal proves that tofu is a star. You’ll start by crisping tofu cubes up in a pan and tossing them in a spicy peanut sauce made with peanut butter, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and Sriracha. Sautéed sugar snap peas and bell peppers round out the dish, which is best served over rice or rice noodles. If you’re little ones can’t handle spice, skip the Sriracha.

Almond-Crusted Chicken With Arugula Salad

Almond flour takes the place of panko on these crispy chicken cutlets, while sesame seeds add a pop of flavor and crunch. Serve the chicken with a lemony arugula and Brussels sprouts salad and you’re good to go. For a more kid-friendly take, cut the cutlets into strips and serve with ketchup.

Sheet Pan Pierogies With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Shallots, and Mustard Dressing

There’s nothing not to love about this recipe, which comes together in a single sheet pan. Frozen pierogies cut down on prep time, while fresh shallots and Brussels sprouts roast alongside the dumplings. A tasty mustard dressing ties everything together, but feel free to serve it on the side if that works better for your crew.

Sheet Pan Salmon With Potatoes and Broccolini

Another sheet pan dinner for the win! This one features roasted potatoes, salmon, and broccolini all topped with a light yet flavorful lemon juice and Dijon mustard dressing. When shopping for salmon, look for filets that all have the same thickness. This will help ensure that they cook evenly.

Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers

Burgers never fail, and these turkey burgers manage to be juicy, tasty, and packed with vegetables. That’s because each patty is made up of grated zucchini and plenty of seasoned turkey meat. Top the finished burgers with sliced tomatoes, Bibb lettuce, mayonnaise, honey mustard, and pickles, and dinner is ready.

Spring Minestrone

While some soups need to simmer for hours, this one is ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish. Here, lemon, basil, crisp green beans, and silky Swiss chard are joined by some toothsome ditalini pasta, leeks, and celery for a comforting meal. Opt for high-quality store-bought broth for this dish, or make your own.

Smoky-Sweet Steak Supper

This 25-minute dinner combines a brown sugar-and-paprika rubbed steak with a fresh green salad. If your kids don’t love the idea of an anchovy-spiked vinaigrette dressing the salad, simply skip the anchovy paste or go with a simple olive oil and lemon juice dressing instead.

Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos

Stock a bottle of salsa verde in the pantry for nights when you’re craving tacos. This dish pairs the store-bought condiment with simmered chicken thighs. For more flavor, top each taco with chopped onion, plenty of fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, and creamy avocado slices. If you have sour cream in the fridge, add a dollop of that, too.

Vegetarian Tacos With Sweet Potatoes and Corn

Introduce your little ones to tacos with this vegetarian recipe. For this 20-minute dinner, flour tortillas are filled with a zesty vegetable-and-tofu mixture that includes corn and sweet potato cubes. Season the filling to your liking with chili powder and freshly ground black pepper, and be sure to garnish the tacos with shredded cheese, salsa, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Artichoke-Chard Pasta and Cheese

While this dish is an elevated take on mac and cheese, it still hits all of those familiar flavor notes. Inside, you’ll find savory Provolone, silky chard, and tender artichoke hearts. For those who love spinach artichoke dip, this recipe will definitely be on repeat.

Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese

Another dish that’s always a hit is mac and cheese. This version, which is ready in 30 minutes, pairs fusilli pasta with a seasoned mozzarella sauce and sautéd Swiss chard. If you want your little ones to eat more greens, add this recipe to your meal rotation ASAP.

Creamy Veggie Chicken Noodle Soup

Everyone loves chicken noodle soup, and this version is creamier and heartier than your standard bowl thanks to a generous amount of cream. You’ll also find typical ingredients like chicken, noodles, and broth, as well as unexpected additions such as scallions, fresh tarragon, and haricots verts.

Mushroom and Corn Tacos

This dish is proof that you don’t need meat to have an ace taco night. In this vegetarian recipe, wild mushrooms and fresh corn kernels are joined by an array of spices, including chile powder and ground cumin, to create a delectable taco filling. Homemade blender salsa adds even more flavor.

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

If you're tired of buttered noodles, give this hearty pasta dinner a try. It's packed with spaghetti (obviously), Asiago cheese, and shredded rotisserie chicken, which is an easy addition that just so happens to be a good source of protein. Since this savory casserole is reminiscent of traditional fettuccine alfredo, your little ones will (most likely) gobble it up.

Chicken-Pesto Flatbread Sandwiches

Rotisserie chicken strikes again in these flatbread sandwiches, which are also stuffed with mozzarella, baby arugula, and pesto. And if you don't have the time to make the pesto yourself, the jarred stuff works just as well. Thanks to these shortcuts, plus some store-bought pizza dough, this meal is ready in just 40 minutes.

Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

What's better than a quick meal? A quick meal you can make on one baking sheet. This colorful meal calls for shrimp, bell peppers, and red onion, which gets a flavorful boost from some tasty taco seasoning. To serve, simply wrap the shrimp and veggies in warm tortillas, and bring out all the fixings.

Cauliflower Fried "Rice" With Ginger and Soy

If you're on a desperate quest to get your kids to eat more vegetables, try this cauliflower fried rice recipe. While it's obviously made with a healthier rice alternative, it will still taste familiar to discerning eaters thanks to the inclusion of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and other zesty flavorings like lime juice. Additional veggies, such as carrots and red onion, make this a protein-rich meal, as do the scrambled eggs, which are often the highlight of a typical fried rice recipe. If your family isn't big on spice, just go easy on (or omit) the sambal oelek.

Crispy Chicken Cutlets

There's no denying that this 40-minute meal is a major step up from chicken fingers, while still being familiar enough that everyone will like it. Here, chicken breasts are coated with eggs and panko breadcrumbs, which helps ensure maximum crispiness. Eat these cutlets solo, or serve them with a fresh side salad or an easy rice dish.

Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo and Crispy Oven Fries

Sure, turkey burgers in their own might not be the most exciting dinner, but here, the weeknight staple gets a little help from spices blended with the turkey meat, as well as a tangy lime mayo and thick oven-roasted fries. Top the burgers with sliced avocado to give the meal a creamy texture and a nutrient boost.

Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce

If you're not familiar with a grandma pie, think of it as a thin-crust pizza that can be made in a standard baking sheet instead of a dedicated pizza oven. This easy version is topped with a rich pink sauce, melted mozzarella, crispy coins of pepperoni, and rounds of red onion, but feel free to customize the toppings to your liking.

Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles

This stir-fry tastes exactly like takeout, which means it's (literally) a recipe for success. The "orange" part of this dish comes from orange marmalade, which adds the citrus flavor as well as a welcome bitter note to balance the sweet and salty elements. The recipe calls for veggies such as snow peas and a red bell pepper, but feel free to swap in some of your faves instead. And if you aren't a fan of rice noodles, white or brown rice will work well too.

Wild Mushroom and Spinach Stuffed Shells

Trick your kids into eating more vegetables with these stuffed shells, which are packed with ricotta as well as mushrooms, which stand in for the ground meat filling often found in some stuffed shell recipes, and sautéed spinach. The best part about this recipe is that you'll likely have plenty of leftovers, which will make your week even easier.

Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

This sheet pan meal requires next to zero cleanup and is ready in 30 minutes. It's also balanced thanks to chicken, healthy sweet potatoes, and watercress, and gets an irresistibly flavorful boost courtesy of crisp, salty bacon.

Hummus, Tomato, and Feta Pita Pizzas With Arugula Salad

Believe it or not, this 20-minute meal requires almost no cooking, save for toasting the pita bread. Hummus takes the place of tomato sauce, while halved cherry tomatoes and feta cheese make a practically perfect sweet and savory topping combo.

Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Avocado-Basil Dressing

For nights when it's too hot to turn on the oven, try this refreshing pasta salad. While you do need to boil water in order to cook the pasta, the noodles are meant to be served at room temperature with a healthy, savory dressing made with Greek yogurt, basil, vinegar, honey, and avocados. Chopped toasted almonds add a satisfying crunch, while fresh cherry tomatoes bring bursts of bright acidity. As an added bonus, whatever you don't eat for dinner makes for one delicious lunch the following day.

Venezuelan Arepas

This three-ingredient Venezuelan staple is made with precooked cornmeal, oil, salt, and water. The result is a bread-like patty that can be opened and stuffed with all manner of ingredients. Traditionally, you'll see arepas filled with reina pepiada (chicken avocado salad) or ham and cheese, though breakfast variations with scrambled eggs are popular, too.

Pasta with Bacon and Cauliflower

Pasta goes a long way in feeding a hungry family. Add in some bacon, and it's nearly irresistible. But don't worry. There are also a ton of veggies in here, thanks to the addition of cauliflower.