7 Kid-Friendly (& Adult-Approved!) Dinners That Everyone Can Get Behind
Picky-eater approved.
Finding out what sounds good for dinner on any given weeknight can be difficult enough, let alone deciding on meals that the entire family will love. That being said, don’t give up and order takeout just yet! Whether you have different tastes you’re trying to please or a family full of picky eaters (no shame!), these 7 recipes are difficult for anyone not to love. With classic flavors and comfort food vibes, these kid-friendly (but adult-approved) dinners will make pleasing your family smooth sailing all week long. The best part? All of these dinners are quick and easy to prepare—many of them even use Test Kitchen hacks to make getting dinner on the table fast, simple, and stress-free. So put away the frozen chicken nuggets (unless you’re using them in our chicken nugget Parm casserole), and turn to these family-friendly dinners all week long.
Chicken & Rice Casserole
This chicken and rice recipe is definitely a direct flight to a quick and easy dinner destination. Hear us out! It requires minimal cleaning up, and the active cooking time is only 20 minutes. The rest of the time, you can just lounge in your living room while this whips itself up.
Get the Chicken & Rice Casserole recipe.
Sheet-Pan Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a classic easy dinner, but when we need to serve a crowd, we bring out the sheet pan. This hack makes cooking quesadillas for a crowd easier than ever. In just around an hour, you'll have a cheesy, crowd-pleasing meal that is sure to satisfy.
Get the Sheet-Pan Quesadillas recipe.
Chicken Parm Meatball Skillet
From apps (chicken Parm pinwheels) to creative takes on the classic (Buffalo chicken Parmesan and chicken Parmesan pasta), we'll take any excuse to enjoy the classic flavors in a new form. Our newest obsession? Chicken Parmesan meatball skillet. Cheesy, flavorful chicken meatballs are baked in a skillet with a homemade tomato sauce and plenty of cheese, until bubbling and delicious.
Get the Chicken Parm Meatball Skillet recipe.
Cheesy Taco Bake
If you love our taco lasagna, then get ready to meet a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation: this cheesy taco bake. Instead of using tortillas, like we do in our lasagnchiladas, we're layering seasoned ground beef, cheese, and a tomato-sour cream mixture on top of tortilla chips for added texture.
Get the Cheesy Taco Bake recipe.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
This sloppy Joe casserole is where. it’s. AT. Cozy? Check! Meaty? Check! Buttery carbs and cheese? Check and check! This hearty casserole has plenty of peppers and onions, lots of sauce, and so much flavor too. More than just delicious, this casserole is flexible, freezable, and ready to serve on a busy weeknight for dinner.
Get the Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe.
Tater Tot Chicken Pot Pie
Wondering what could possibly make a classic chicken pot pie even more delicious? Enter: tater tots! No fussing with pie crusts here—just a crunchy, seasoned potato in every bite.
Baked Spaghetti
While we could never get tired of classic spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, sometimes we're looking for the easiest possible route when it comes to making a weeknight dinner. Enter: baked spaghetti. This casserole is what comfort food is all about—cheesy, hearty, and completely versatile to whatever you have on hand.
Get the Baked Spaghetti recipe.
