Are you looking for quick and easy dinner ideas for a family with kids? I’ve rounded up a list of simple meals that are made with just a few cheap ingredients! Everything from ground beef and chicken to carb loaded comfort foods.

I think most kids are notorious picky eaters, which makes it difficult to find family meals that everyone can agree on. My daughter will tell you everything is too spicy, my husband just wants a big plate full of meat, and I usually prefer a little healthy rabbit food like a beet salad. Try putting that all together! It ain’t easy making everyone happy.

Fortunately, I’ve rounded up a few delicious recipes over the years that my entire family agrees on, plus they make for great last minute dinners, especially if you’re a lazy cook like me. These are all perfect for busy moms and dads on a budget! And who isn’t these days?

1. Lazy Lasagna

This is my all time favorite dinner for busy weeknights! It’s made with just 3 ingredients that last for a long time, so as long as you keep them in stock, you’ll always have a kid-friendly dinner ready to be made. It’s vegetarian, but you can add ground beef or sausage to the layers if you’d like, as well as any veggies you happen to have on hand like mushrooms or zucchini to make it healthy.

Lazy Lasagna Recipe & Instructions

2. Chicken & Zucchini Casserole

I’ve made this recipe countless times, and it’s always a hit with my kids. I do recommend the “StoveTop” brand of stuffing because it’s packed full of flavor, making any additional seasoning unnecessary. You could also add other soft veggies to the mix if you’d like such as squash, corn or mushrooms.

Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe & Instructions

3. The Best Meatloaf

I’ve never been much of a meatloaf fan, but this recipe is killer! The box of stuffing makes all the difference. Feel free to add anything else to the mix that you’d like such as onion, garlic or cheese.

Meatloaf Recipe & Instructions

4. Creamy Chicken Tacos

So easy to make in your slow cooker with just 3 ingredients! The chicken turns out really tender and easy to shred, making it perfect for tacos or burritos. You may want to add in some additional seasoning depending on the brand of salsa you use and your personal preference. Serve with shredded cheese, fresh tomato, avocado, cilantro, jalapeño or anything else you’d like!

Creamy Chicken Tacos Recipe & Instructions

5. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

I love sheet pan meals because they require very little cleanup and dishes with everything just cooking to perfection on a single pan. These chicken fajitas are a great oven meal served with warm flour tortillas, shredded cheese, avocado and sour cream. My picky eaters love them!

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Recipe & Instructions

6. Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast

The ultimate comfort food, especially during the cold winter months! You will be pleasantly surprised at how tender and flavorful this beef is. Cook it with potatoes and veggies to make it a complete meal, or over a heaping pile of mashed potatoes.

The Best Pot Roast Recipe & Instructions

7. Cheeseburger Casserole

If you’re looking for easy ground beef dinner recipes, this hamburger casserole is the ultimate cheese lover’s dream come true! It’s made with just a handful of cheap ingredients, and is just as good leftover for lunch or dinner the next day. Two meals in one!

Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe & Instructions

8. Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Zesty shredded chicken served on toasted buns with a store-bought packet of coleslaw. Yes, please! You can throw this chicken in your crockpot before work and come back to dinner ready to be served. This is one of my daughter’s favorite meals.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe & Instructions

9. Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken

Made with just a handful of ingredients, this is my favorite way to bake chicken! It’s naturally low carb but you can serve it with anything you’d like such as rice or pasta. I like to eat it over a heaping bed of seasoned cauliflower rice.

Pesto Baked Chicken Recipe & Instructions

10. Garlic Toast Pizzas

This is another one of those meals that is a life saver on busy weeknights when you don’t have any dinner plans. Plus, it’s easy enough for the older kids to make themselves! These are wonderful for dinner with a little salad, or even an after school snack for big appetites.

Garlic Toast Pizza Recipe & Instructions

11. Crockpot Chicken & Gravy

Serve this delicious chicken over mashed potatoes or rice, and you’ve got one of the best family friendly meals. It kind of reminds me of thanksgiving, making it one of my family’s favorite comfort meals. Serve with veggies or salad for added nutrition.

Chicken & Gravy Recipe & Instructions

12. The Best Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

This is one of my husband’s favorite meals, especially when it’s served with a hot and buttery baked potato. Who needs a grill when you’ve got a crockpot! With just 3 simple ingredients, you’ve got the most tender, fall-off-the-bone meat you’ll ever eat.

Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe & Instructions

13. Chicken Parmesan Pasta Casserole

I’ve got a few Italian food fans in my house, and this cheesy pasta casserole is loaded with everything you could want in a meal. It’s loaded with rotisserie chicken and baked with a crispy parmesan and panko crust. Serve with caesar salad and warm garlic bread!

Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe & Instructions 

14. Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats

If you love Italian food, but are trying to keep your carbs down, these zucchini boats are insanely delicious and easy to make thanks to ground chicken! I serve them with a side of Pasta-Roni or garlic bread for the kids.

Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Recipe & Instructions 

15. Lazy Shepherd’s Pie

Ok, technically this is not shepherd’s pie because it’s made with ground beef instead of lamb, but it’s essentially the same thing, plus it’s really easy to make with just 6 ingredients! You can use any mashed potatoes that you’d like such as boxed, store-bought or homemade.

Lazy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe & Instructions

16. Crockpot Shredded Buffalo Chicken

Another easy slow cooker meal! I love making chicken in my crockpot because you really can’t mess it up. It’s turns out so tender and easy to shred every time, which makes it perfect for sandwiches. If your family likes buffalo sauce, they are going to love this simple meal.

Buffalo Chicken Recipe & Instructions

17. Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole

Just a few simple and cheap ingredients to make this incredibly delicious pasta casserole with meat sauce! The cream cheese makes all the difference. This meal is incredibly filling and feeds a large family, but is just as good leftover for a few days so you can get several meals out of it.

Baked Tortellini Casserole Recipe & Instructions

18. Sloppy Joe French Bread

Another family friendly ground beef recipe! If you like sloppy joe’s, you’ve got to try making it opened face on toasted french bread. It’s so much better! The cheese gets all toasted, plus I like the smaller serving sizes so everyone gets just the right amount.

Sloppy Joe French Bread Recipe & Instructions

19. Chicken Parmesan Sliders

If you’ve got picky eaters to feed, these little sandwiches are a huge hit with kids! I like to make them for dinner whenever they have sleepovers because even their friends gobble them up.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe & Instructions

20. Creamy Sausage & Tortellini Soup

Made in your slow cooker! You won’t believe how yummy this pasta soup is with toasted garlic bread. Thanks to the sausage, it’s packed full of flavor. I load it with tomatoes and spinach to make it at least somewhat healthy.

Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe & Instructions

21. Cheesy Chicken & Bacon Sandwiches

Serve this addicting chicken on toasted hoagie rolls with lettuce and ranch dressing, and watch your family practically inhale them! If you’re watching your carbs, you could also make a salad out of it.

Cheesy Chicken Sandwich Recipe & Instructions

22. Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

A delicious creamy ground beef casserole recipe topped with crispy hash browns! How can you go wrong with that? You can fill it with any veggies you’d like, including canned, fresh or leftover.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe & Instructions

23. Pizza Quesadillas

Everyone loves a good quesadilla, and I can’t think of a better way to stuff them than with pizza ingredients! Pepperoni is a classic but you could also fill them with olives, mushrooms, fresh basil, spinach, jalapeños, and more. This simple idea is great for last minute dinners when you don’t have anything planned.

Pizza Quesadilla Recipe & Instructions