46 Kid-Friendly Weeknight Dinners For A Family With Picky Eaters (2024)

January 13, 2024 By Lilly

If you find dinner time to be a struggle, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve rounded up a list of quick and easy dinner ideas for a family with even the pickiest of eaters. There’s a yummy meal here for just about everyone! Everything from chicken and ground beef to simple casseroles and slow cooker meals.

All of these recipes are made with just a few cheap ingredients and require very little prep and clean up. As a busy mom with picky kids to feed, that’s basically a requirement for me on busy school nights when I’m just too tired to spend all night in the kitchen.

Add these weeknight dinner recipes to your dinner menu and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

1. Creamy Chicken Taco Soup

This easy slow cooker meal is a family favorite! Simply dump a few chicken breasts into your crockpot with taco seasoning, chicken broth, beans, tomatoes and corn. Allow it to cook until the chicken is easy to shred and then mix in the heavy cream and cheddar for a delicious and comforting meal even your picky eaters will gobble up.

2. Bubble Up Pizza Casserole

Everyone loves pizza, and this a super fun and creative way to make it with refrigerated biscuits! Simply dump everything into a large baking dish and let the oven do all the work for you.

3. Taco Mac & Cheese

This is how you make macaroni and cheese a complete meal! Mix your favorite boxed brand with taco seasoned ground beef and a can of diced tomatoes & chilies. It doesn’t get any easier than this.

4. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

This shredded bbq chicken is awesome served between toasted buns with crunchy coleslaw. It has become a regular in my house, especially when I’m feeding a crowd for dinner or anytime I want something I can make ahead of time.

5. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy

Serve this creamy shredded chicken over mashed potatoes, rice or even pasta! It’s convenient comfort food that can be customized to your liking with your favorite side of veggies.

6. Mini Chicken Pot Pies

These handheld chicken pot pies are the ultimate kid friendly dinner! Everyone loves a meal made in a muffin tin, right? A tube of refrigerated dough makes them extra lazy to make, along with frozen mixed veggies and a can of chicken.

7. Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

Rice is a staple for making a filling and delicious casserole, and I’ve made this dish effortless with frozen broccoli and a can of chicken, but it can be customized with the vegetable and protein of your choice. By the way, it has a buttery and crunchy corn flake topping!

8. Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole

This recipe has over 2 million shares on Pinterest for a reason. It’s the ultimate comfort food! Simply toss tortellini pasta with a yummy mixture of meat sauce and cream cheese, top with more cheese, and then bake until warm and gooey.

9. Easy Orange Chicken

My kids love this sweet and sticky chicken! Orange chicken has always been a treat when we go out to eat, but you can also make this heavenly dinner at home with a warm mixture of orange marmalade, bbq sauce, and soy sauce. Just toss it with your favorite brand of frozen popcorn chicken!

10. Creamy Shredded Chicken Tacos

I’ve been making shredded chicken for tacos with salsa and taco seasoning for years, and then one day had the idea of dumping in a block of cream cheese. Boy, did that turn out to be a hit with my family! Serve this creamy chicken in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings for an easy weeknight meal.

11. Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats

If you’re looking for something healthy to add to your meal plan, you can’t go wrong with these zucchini boats! I simply eat them alone as a satisfying, low carb dinner, but you could also try them with a side of garlic bread or even pasta for the kids.

12. Cheeseburger Biscuit Casserole

Craving a cheeseburger but don’t want to be outside grilling? No problem! Try this unique way of making burgers in your oven with buttery biscuits. We also like to squeeze on a little ketchup and mustard along with some fresh tomato or lettuce if we have them on hand.

13. Frozen Burrito Casserole

If you ask me, frozen burritos are usually a disappointment. Until now! Smother them with enchilada sauce and cheese and then bake until hot and tasty. Serve this quick dinner with sour cream and the fresh produce of your choice.

14. Stuffing Mix Meatloaf

Even if you’re not a meatloaf fan, you’re going to love this way of making this classic comfort food! A box of stuffing makes all the difference. It’s packed full of flavor and gives just the right texture to this ground beef mixture. Drench it in ketchup or bbq sauce and serve with a side of mashed potatoes to make the meal complete.

15. Lazy Lasagna

Lasagna is good, but is it worth the effort? This easy way of making lasagna will make busy school nights a breeze. Simply layer frozen ravioli with pasta sauce and cheese in a baking dish. You can customize the layers to your liking with ground beef, sausage, veggies, or herbs. Anything goes!

16. Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken

Grab a packet of cream cheese and mix it with your favorite brand of store-bought basil pesto. Slather that yummy mixture onto a few chicken breasts, top with mozzarella, and then bake! Serve however you’d like with fresh tomatoes and basil along with rice or a side of pasta.

17. Chicken Parmesan Sliders

This kid friendly meal is a big hit with my picky eaters! These mini sandwiches are excellent for just about any meal. They can be enjoyed as an after school snack, warm lunch, or quick and easy dinner on hectic weeknights.

18. Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets

Kids love chicken nuggets, but not every mom is thrilled about serving frozen, fried food for dinner. Here is a healthier way of making them at home. The great thing about this recipe is that canned chicken is a pantry staple, so you’ll almost always have the ingredients on hand for last minute meals.

19. Mississippi Pot Roast

A slow cooker is capable of amazing things, but especially when it comes to a good pot roast. This juicy beef roast can be served any way you’d like, but we practically inhale it on toasted hoagie rolls with melted cheese. It’s also wonderful served over mashed potatoes or rice.

20. Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole

Chicken or beef for dinner? How about ham instead! This yummy meat is often looked past when it comes to an evening meal, but it’s heavenly in this cheesy rice casserole. The great thing is, you can buy ham cubed or get thick-cut slices from the deli department to make a fast meal.

21. Crack Chicken Sandwiches

Time to break out your handy, dandy crockpot for this yummy dinner! Serve this creamy shredded chicken in sandwich bread with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and a little ranch dressing for a fantastic meal your family will go crazy for.

22. Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole

Everything you love about a cheeseburger cooked with pasta in the form of a casserole! This classic dinner is great for a large family with kids, but don’t you worry, it’s just as good leftover, so you might even get two meals out of it if you’re only feeding a few. One night of cooking, and one of night of microwaving! That’s my kind of meal.

23. Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup

This has got to be one of my best reviewed dinner recipes! Tortellini pasta mixed with a delicious cream cheese and tomato base along with flavorful ground sausage and spinach. The ultimate comfort food that is surprisingly easy to make in your slow cooker.

24. Cheesy Taco Lasagna

Tacos are a staple in my house, but if you’re looking for a unique and fun way of cooking them, try layering everything in a baking dish and serving like lasagna. You can completely customize this simple meal with the meat, cheese, and beans of your choice, and then top with your favorite taco toppings.

25. Garlic Butter Steak Bites

You don’t need a grill or any fancy culinary degrees to make juicy steak! Don’t be intimated by this cut of meat. It’s easy to cook in a cast iron skillet, and then once you load it with garlic butter, it’s like heaven served with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.

26. Chicken & Zucchini Casserole

This amazing chicken casserole is loaded with flavor thanks to a box of Stove Top Stuffing. Half of it gets tossed into the mixture, and the other half is sprinkled over top to create the crispy topping. I usually use rotisserie chicken for this recipe because it’s convenient and easy, but you could also use leftover, grilled, or baked chicken, along with any seasonal vegetable.

27. Garlic Toast Pizzas

Frozen garlic toast is an ingenious way to make pizza for dinner! This last minute dinner only requires a few ingredients and is easy enough for older kids and teens to make by themselves.

28. Meatball Sub Cupcakes

These savory cupcakes are a fun way of making handheld meatball subs for dinner! Simply cut up refrigerated sheet dough into small squares and line a mini muffin pan. Fill the dough with half cooked frozen meatballs, sauce, and cheese. Once baked, you’ve got a whimsical dinner idea your kids will love.

29. Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

Crispy tater tots layered onto the top of a delicious mixture of cheesy ground beef and veggies. Yes, please! This comfort food will have everyone happy with full bellies by the end of the night.

30. Creamy Ranch Chicken

This tasty chicken can be paired with just about anything including rice, pasta, potatoes, salad, or even eaten alone it’s so good! The combination of bacon, cream cheese, cheddar, and ranch seasoning is absolutely delightful.

31. White Chicken Enchiladas

These homemade enchiladas are a family favorite recipe, making them a popular dinner choice for just about any night of the week at my house. Serve with a side of rice, beans, and veggies to make the meal go even further.

32. Lazy Enchiladas

If you’re an enchilada fan like me, you’re going to love this cheaters way of making them! You would never guess they are made with frozen taquitos drenched in enchilada sauce and cheese. This simple and fast dinner tastes like something you’d get at a Mexican restaurant but takes less than 5 minutes to prep.

33. Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos

Simply smash a thin layer of seasoned ground beef onto small flour tortillas and then cook them on a hot griddle! These tacos are a fun replacement for traditional burgers, especially for family gatherings and backyard barbecues. Serve with your favorite burger condiments and toppings.

34. Chicken Parmesan Pasta Casserole

This kid friendly dinner is perfect for a family with ultra picky kids to feed. The pasta sauce can be seasoned to your liking to make it as mild or as flavorful as your family prefers. Toss with pasta, chicken, and cheese and then top with a crispy garlic panko topping!

35. Creamy Sausage Pasta Skillet

Ground sausage is not just for breakfast! Try it tossed with this creamy pasta and spinach for a unique dinner your family will devour. The sausage and cream sauce are made in just one pan with no pre-cooking required for the spinach, making this recipe ready and on the table in less than 30 minutes.

36. Cheesy Frito Taco Pie

You can’t go wrong with tacos especially when they are in the shape of a pie with a crescent dough crust! This creative recipe replaces tortillas with buttery dough, making it not only scrumptious, but a super fun twist on a classic meal when dinner time is starting to get boring.

37. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

This shredded buffalo chicken never disappoints! It’s packed full of flavor and just the right amount of spiciness. Serve it in hoagie rolls or in a baked potato for a simple and delicious slow cooker meal.

38. Lazy Shepherd’s Pie

I’ve made this classic comfort food loads easier by simplifying the ingredients! The beef stew mix and tomato soup give the ground beef mixture the perfect savory flavor with a touch of sweetness, and you can use the mashed potatoes of your choice including boxed, leftover, homemade, or store-bought.

39. Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas

This clever way of eating pizza is completely effortless! You’re basically just making quesadillas with pepperoni along with a little Italian seasoning and garlic. Serve with warm pizza sauce and you’ve got yourself and kid friendly dinner the entire family will enjoy.

40. Cheesy Taco Stuffed Shells

Mexican inspired ingredients with an Italian twist! How can you go wrong with taco seasoned ground beef stuffed into jumbo pasta shells smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese? Serve alone or topped with fresh tomato, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, etc.

41. Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

This oven baked chicken is topped with a fajita seasoned salsa cream cheese, sliced bell peppers, and shredded cheese. Everything gets baked in just one pan, making for an easy dinner with little clean up. Serve alone, over rice, or in flour tortillas!

42. Cheeseburger Biscuit Bombs

Bacon cheeseburger meat stuffed into refrigerated biscuits and baked with seasoned butter. Your kids are going to love this fun handheld dinner! Serve with ketchup and mustard, and then sit back and watch as everyone goes back for seconds.

43. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

No grill required here! Simply place everything onto a large baking sheet and cook these fajitas in your oven. Throw the tortillas in the oven for the last 5 minutes of baking to warm them up for this delicious family meal.

44. Slow Cooker Pot Roast

I can’t think of anything more comforting than a juicy beef pot roast, and you’d be surprised at how your slow cooker makes this recipe incredibly easy. Simply dump in a few packets of seasoning along with the veggies of your choice.

45. Sloppy Joe French Bread

This unique way of making Sloppy Joe’s into finger food has become a big hit with my family! You might even find us fighting over the last piece. The French bread gets crispy on the edges, making for the perfect companion to the gooey ground beef mixture.

46. Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats

Zucchini makes for the best healthy and low carb alternative to bread and pasta, especially when you cut them into boats and stuff them with this cheesy ground chicken. You can make the meal go a little further for the rest of the family with a side of garlic bread or buttered noodles.