56 Easy, Kid-Friendly Dinners The Whole Family Will Love

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein

Puff pastry is the ultimate time-saver (and it's virtually impossible not to like).

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, sheet pan recipe

Coterie member Maria Lichty has finally figured out a way to get kids to eat a pile of vegetables…without hiding them.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, one pot, <10 ingredients

You know the kid who doesn’t like sauce? This one’s for her. Top it with a chicken cutlet to make it more filling.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian

Totally sophisticated enough for Mom, too. (Come on, the sammy has fontina, goat cheese *and* Emmentaler.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

Swap in your kid’s favorite pasta shape and half your work is done. Serve it hot or cold.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein

Sweet and salty FTW. The kids will swear you ordered takeout, only the meal is ready to serve in less time than it takes to place and pick up an order.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe

Think your kids won’t eat salmon? Wrong: The honey-mustard glaze on this one-pan meal will have them coming back for seconds, once you get them to try a bite. (You have your ways, we're sure.)

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes

Stash it in the fridge and pour boiling water into the jar when you need dinner ready, stat.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian

You’ll love this veggie-heavy recipe just as much as the little ones (as long as you provide them with plenty of ketchup, that is).

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly

Get the kids to help you prepare this easy dish, which trades carby pizza crust for eggplant rounds.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein, <30 minutes

We love this twist on a dinner staple. Nix the chile or chorizo if spice is a deal-breaker for your kid.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein

Breakfast for dinner: exciting every time. What kid would complain about maple syrup making a dinner cameo?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, one pot

Just as comforting as the original but with a good-for-you secret. Rope them in with all those delicious toppings.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, vegetarian

Whoa, rainbows really do have magical powers (as does herb-kissed cream cheese).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, kid-friendly

All of their dinner favorites, combined in one cheesy casserole.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

PSA: Many grocery stores now sell pre-made zoodles, so you won't have to spiralize your own.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, kid-friendly, vegetarian

Serve a heaping scoop with a side of peas and dinner’s done, secret vegetables and all.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein

Everyone will go bonkers when you announce this brinner masterpiece. Go the extra mile with a side of frozen hash browns.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser

Fun fact: Quinoa is a complete protein that also happens to be gluten free. Pass the honey mustard.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser

Now this is a salad preschoolers can get behind. Make a batch on Sunday and nosh on it all week long.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

Bookmark this one for when the kids have friends over: It’s ready in a flash and leaves you with only one dirty dish.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients

Crispy chicken *without* a spitting vat of oil, right this way. Serve it with pasta, steamed veggies or Caesar salad.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian

The ultimate answer to “How do I get my kids to eat more veggies without them noticing?”

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, make ahead, one pot, crowd-pleaser

Double the recipe and stash half in the freezer for nights when you’re tempted to order in.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes

It's sort of like their favorite broccoli-cheddar soup, plus the bonus of buttery sourdough bread.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot

This stick-to-your-ribs soup costs less than $5 a serving and feeds a crowd. What are you waiting for?

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Saucy and flavorful (but not too spicy). Serve them with ranch dressing to further curb the heat.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein

When all else fails, lean on this classic that never quits (and packs a ton of protein onto your kid's plate).

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly

For those nights when you need a hearty meal that'll satisfy your whole crew—and their craving for cheese.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly

It may look like a risk, but trust us. Start with a bite of the chicken drizzled in peanut butter dressing, and your kids will be sold.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, crowd-pleaser

Hello, old friend. Whip up this timeless dish in your trusty cast iron skillet.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, make ahead, crowd-pleaser

As satisfying as lasagna, minus the fussy, fragile noodles. Did we mention it freezes like a charm?

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly

Bacon wins every time, even on Taco Tuesday. Your kids won't miss the white bread, promise.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, high protein, <10 ingredients

Seal the deal by telling everyone you're serving pie for dinner. It's like baked ziti, only a million times more exciting. You can even get the kids in on helping you line up the noodles in the pan.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Prep the white rice ahead and you're halfway to the finish line before you even begin.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

Let the whole fam know it’s hygge night. Don't forget the easy mashed potatoes.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser

They'll love these poppable gems so much that they won't even notice they're potato-free.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly

BRB, drooling. It's so decadent and delicious that the kids (and you) will want to lick their plates.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, vegetarian

Our favorite cruciferous veggie strikes again. Prepare the crust, then let them add the toppings.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients

Anything baked in a muffin tin is a guaranteed hit with the pre-K set. Send them to school with the leftovers.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

They'll be hooked at the first mention of ranch. You'll be hooked once you learn you only need seven ingredients.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, one pan, <30 minutes

Just like takeout, but faster and healthier. File this one under “ingenious.”

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly

Oh, your kid hates bell peppers? No big deal, trade them for another crisp veggie, like carrots or broccoli.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, gluten free

Yes, your kids can see the peas, but the sweet butternut squash sauce with cream cheese more than makes up for it.

• Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, high protein

Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas, sandwiches—the possibilities are endless.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

It's a breeze to prepare and the homemade sauce comes together in one pot. Best of all, you can make four servings for less than $10.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, no cook

You could use this recipe as an opportunity for a fridge clean-out, or let your kids pick and choose the fillings.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly

A clean version of a takeout favorite that’s ready in 30 minutes. Kudos to you.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, high protein

If your kids think standard beef-and-tomato chili is too intense, they'll love this dialed-down take.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, kid-friendly

Memorize this formula: pasta + canned tomatoes + cheese = happy kids. It's that easy.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly

They already dip their chicken tenders into honey mustard, so why not try this easy, low-effort meal? (If your kids are totally anti-sauce, you always can serve it on the side.)

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, low carb

Psst: This dinner staple is even easier to prepare if you use frozen cauliflower rice instead of making your own.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

Presentation is everything. They might pass on a boring bowl of soup, but they’ll gobble these minis right up.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, vegetarian, <30 minutes

We love a sneaky vegetable as much as the next person, and no one will know this sauce is full of cauliflower.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Give them permission to eat with their hands and they’ll love you even more.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, no cook, make ahead

The yogurt is just as creamy as mayonnaise but a little more nutritious. Pack these in lunches or serve them as a quick dinner.