Do you dread dinner time? If you have a family with picky eaters to feed, take out the stress of meal planning with this list of simple yet fun meals made on a budget!
Frozen pizzas and fast food are nice once in a while, but if you have a family with kids to feed, not only can that get really expensive, but who knows what kind of ingredients we are feeding them. The nice thing about preparing dinner at home is that YOU are in charge of what you put in there.
Whether you have toddlers, young kids, teenagers, or hungry husbands to feed, you’re sure to find a few simple meals here that will have them licking their plates clean!
All of these quick and easy homemade meals are versatile and fun to make with simple ingredients. You can swap for your choice of veggies, creamy based soups, pasta preferences, cheeses, spices, etc. I’ve included a nice variety of options to choose from that my family really enjoys. Everything from ground beef and chicken to cheesy pastas and tasty slow cooker meals.
These yummy dinner ideas are effortless and fast to make for busy parents, but also consider them a fun activity to do with your kids. Put those future chefs to work! Think of cooking as an exciting learning experience instead of a dreaded chore.
1. Chicken & Biscuit Cobbler
Yes, a cobbler in the form of dinner! This unique recipe is layered with melted butter, rotisserie chicken, frozen veggies, creamy soup, and cheddar bay biscuits to make a delicious casserole for the pickiest of eaters.
2. Taco Mac
Ground beef is cheap, convenient, and really hard to mess up. Brown it with a little bit of taco seasoning and toss it with a few boxes of cheesy macaroni for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner for a family of 6.
3. Tater Tot Pizza Casserole
Everyone loves pizza! Bring it up a notch in the form of a casserole with crispy frozen tater tots instead of a crust. You can load it up with all of your kids’ favorite pizza toppings.
4. Forgotten Chicken
Mix instant rice with a few cans of creamy soup, place it into the bottom of a large casserole dish, top with chicken breasts, sprinkle with flavorful onion soup mix, cover, and forget about it while it cooks to perfection in the oven!
5. Cheesy Meatball Casserole
This dump and bake dinner is quick to prepare thanks to frozen meatballs, instant rice, pasta sauce, and cheese. It’s an Italian inspired meal baked with rice instead of pasta to make a creative yet delicious meal for your hungry kids.
6. Creamy Chicken Taco Soup
What I love most about my slow cooker is the ability to make dinner ahead of time. Simply dump everything in there and let your house slowly fill with the smell of a delicious home cooked meal. This creamy soup is my go-to dinner for busy school nights!
7. Lazy Lasagna
If you’re a Pinterest fan, you’ve probably seen this popular lazy day dinner recipe floating around. It is seriously the EASIEST meal you’ll ever make. No need to even cook the frozen ravioli, just layer it in a dish with lots of pasta sauce and cheese.
8. Chicken & Stuffing Casserole
If you’re a stuffing fan, this recipe will have you going back for thirds. It’s the ultimate comfort food loaded with rotisserie chicken and lots of healthy veggies. Half of the uncooked stuffing is placed on top, resulting in the perfect combination of crispy and creamy.
9. Cheesy Beef & Potato Bake
Nothing makes my husband happier than beef and potatoes, and I’ve discovered a super easy way of preparing these two comfort foods in the form of a casserole with ground beef, frozen potatoes, your choice of creamy soup, and lots of gooey cheese.
10. Lazy Enchiladas
This is how you turn frozen taquitos into enchiladas! Simply bake them smothered in enchilada sauce. This may sound strange, but this clever way of making this classic Mexican dish will have you completely surprised.
11. Mini Chicken Pot Pies
This classic dinner recipe has been made extra easy and FUN thanks to a muffin tin and refrigerated biscuits. It’s the perfect handheld dinner for a family of 4 with young children who are fussy at dinner time.
12. Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ground sausage is packed full of flavor and makes for a hearty soup combined with cheese stuffed pasta, cream cheese, diced tomatoes, and spinach. It’s one of my best reviewed recipes! Serve it with garlic bread and you’ve got a “please make that again” recipe on your hands.
13. Cheesburger Pasta Casserole
All of the irresistible flavors of a cheeseburger combined with pasta! How can you mess that up? The tomato soup adds a touch of sweetness that pairs really well with the savory ground beef and cheese.
14. Pizza Burritos
Stuff a few large tortillas with all of your favorite pizza ingredients, brush them with garlic butter, and bake or air fry until hot, crispy, and gooey! Trust me, this is an upgrade from traditional pizza.
15. Creamy Shredded Chicken Tacos
A slow cooker always results in tender meat that just falls apart. Simply dump a few chicken breasts in there with a jar of salsa, a block of cream cheese, and a little taco seasoning to make this amazing shredded chicken for tacos, salads, or nachos.
16. Baked Tortellini With Meat Sauce
Time for supper! Your kids will be running to the dinner table when you pull this cheesy Italian casserole out of the oven. We love it served with a side of crisp green salad and garlic bread.
17. Chicken & Broccoli Baked Rice
Made with just a few pantry and freezer staples, this easy family dinner can be made last minute and on a budget! It has a buttery corn flake topping that takes it to the next level.
