American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot.

Chicken cutlets cook quickly and are highlighted with a creamy sauce made with tomatoes, zucchini and Italian seasoning. This recipe is sure to become a new weeknight favorite the whole family will love. Serve it with whole-wheat pasta or rice to make it a meal.

Stuffed peppers are a classic family meal–and they’re fun to eat, too. Instead of roasting the sweet peppers in the oven, use an air fryer to get them crisp-tender but not soggy.

Two of our favorite comfort-food sandwiches join forces in these family-friendly dinner sandwiches. We found that softer buns make this easier to eat, and it’s all the better when wrapped takeout-style in a sheet of foil.

This one-pan pasta that combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal is garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it “Mom’s Skillet Pasta” and she called it “Devon’s Favorite Pasta.” Either way it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It’s a simple dinner the whole family will love.

Like sloppy Joes? Then you’ll love this sloppy Joe casserole recipe. This kid-friendly dinner has the classic sloppy Joe flavors kids love, while parents will like all the veggies that are packed in to make it a healthy meal.

Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit–sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.

Fiber-rich sweet potato is used as the base for the cheese sauce in this healthy, homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. The bright orange color tricks your eyes into thinking this healthy macaroni and cheese recipe is loaded with cheese, but there’s actually only about half as much cheese as compared to a traditional recipe.

Upgrade baked beans from classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a superfast hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option. Ground turkey or even sausage would work nicely in this dish. Just watch the sodium.

We love finding new ways to use our kitchen tools and appliances. These toaster-oven quesadillas with peppers and avocado are the perfect example of an unexpected toaster-oven hack we had to share.

Drizzle the quick honey-mustard pan sauce over the pork and beans in this 30-minute dinner for a comforting, healthy weeknight meal.

Fingerling potatoes are small, long, knobby spuds that are shaped like fingers. Look for them in the produce department or at farmers’ markets.

A fast dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights, this easy stir-fry recipe will quickly become a favorite. To save time, use precooked rice or cook rice a day ahead.

These crispy air-fried chicken nuggets are a quick kid-friendly dinner that parents will love too. The homemade nuggets are healthier than fast-food versions–and more flavorful, thanks to the cornflake coating. You can also cut the chicken into strips for air-fryer chicken tenders. Be sure to cook those 2 to 3 minutes longer, or until done.

This creamy tortellini and vegetable pasta is a real crowd pleaser. To make it even quicker, use frozen chopped vegetables instead of fresh. Serve with: A green salad and whole-grain baguette.

You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to make this healthy pizza. Thanks to a two-ingredient dough that combines self-rising flour and Greek yogurt, there is no need for a rise time. Just roll, top and bake, and you’ll have a delicious dinner on the table in under half an hour.

No sneaky ingredients here, just delicious comfort food. You can enjoy this super-cheesy mac and cheese in the same time it takes to cook the boxed version. Whole-wheat noodles add fiber, while sharp Cheddar adds richness. A hefty twist of black pepper balances the cheese’s salty tang.

Busy weeknights beg for something simple like this salmon sheet-pan dinner. Like the name suggests, it’s all cooked on one pan. The potatoes get a head start, followed by sweet bell peppers and finally chili-coated salmon fillets. It’s a complete meal with easy cleanup!

Take sloppy Joes to a new level with tender sweet potatoes standing in for the bun. Sweet potatoes pair perfectly with the tangy, flavorful filling of ground beef, black beans and spices. Chopped dill pickle sprinkled on top adds crunch to this quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

Instead of having a greasy, battered coating, the tofu “steaks” in our revamped Parmigiana are breaded and lightly pan-fried in just a small amount of oil then topped with part-skim mozzarella, fresh basil and your favorite marinara sauce. This Italian classic will please even those who are tofu-phobic.

10 Family Dinner Ideas

1. Best Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Who doesn’t love chicken and dumplings?

A big steaming pot of this country classic is the perfect way to end a busy day, especially when it’s chilly outside.

The dumplings for this recipe are rolled out and cut. However, you can use your favorite drop dumpling recipe if you prefer that.

Short on time? You can also use canned biscuits to make your chicken and dumplings.

The whole point of chicken and dumplings is that it’s an easy meal that is pure comfort food.

When it comes to chicken dinner ideas, you can’t go wrong with chicken and dumplings.

2. Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

Sometimes called “Poor Man’s Stew” because it’s so affordable, there is nothing poor about the flavor in this savory soup.

The potatoes, carrots, and tomato make this stew incredibly filling and the ground beef adds tons of flavor.

For prep time, all you need is about 15 minutes. You can prepare this the night before and have it in the fridge.

Then, just pull it out in the morning and pop it into the slow cooker.

To make this delicious soup lower in calories, feel free to substitute ground turkey.

3. Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

Comfort food at its finest, tuna noodle casserole isn’t served as much as it used to be.

When we were kids, there were fewer households with two working parents, so whoever was working at home had to be creative in spending the food budget.

Tuna noodle casserole is easy on the budget, but what we have forgotten is how delicious it is.

You can use mushroom soup as listed, but then maybe you can switch things up a bit and try a chicken soup or ham soup version.

You can get equally creative with the veggies. For example, use corn instead of peas, and maybe try tomato or broccoli. Serve this casserole with a sweet potato to make it a homey meal.

4. Pizza Rolls

Who said pizza rolls were just for kids?

Almost everyone loves pizza and these pizza rolls will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

These savory pizza rolls are like your favorite pepperoni pizza that’s stuffed into a fluffy dough.

The filling is marinara, pepperoni, and Mexican shredded cheese. You can also use mozzarella cheese if you prefer that.

You can use your own homemade pizza dough or buy store-bought pizza dough. Either way, these are delicious.

This is the perfect easy recipe for a family dinner or an after-school snack.

Serve these pizza rolls with marinara sauce or another tomato sauce that you make or buy.

5. Easy Clam Chowder

Chowder is thick and creamy by definition, and this easy clam chowder will please a crowd or an intimate weeknight dinner.

You can use canned clams to make this delicious chowder, and the juices in the can of clams will add an even more delightful flavor.

Pack in plenty of potatoes and bacon to make this chowder even more filling.

If you want to go lighter with this clam chowder, you can use fat-free half and half with good results.

6. Garlic Spaghetti (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)

Do you love garlic? Then we have something you’re going to love.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (garlic spaghetti) is a garlic-lovers dream dish. And the Parmesan cheese sends this dish to the moon and back with goodness.

This pasta dish has simple ingredients and it’s ready to eat in 20 minutes, start to finish.

To add more flavor to this simple traditional dish, feel free to add a bit of parsley or a dash of red pepper flakes.

Serve this garlic spaghetti with some equally buttery and delicious garlic bread.

To make this pasta dish with meat, it would be delicious with chicken breast.

Want this dish to be vegan? Simply use a vegan Parmesan cheese substitute.

7. Ravioli Lasagna

There are times when even a small change can make all the difference in the world when it comes to what our families love to eat.One great example is when you use ravioli instead of lasagna noodles to create a delicious ravioli lasagna.

The ravioli in this lasagna adds tons of extra flavor.Even better, though, is that it adds a whole new texture to a traditional casserole.You can even get creative and use any type of filled ravioli for even more easy family dinner ideas.

8. Chili Cheese Dog Pizza

OK, so this isn’t exactly an elegant dinner.However, do you want something elegant, or do you want something satisfying and tasty that your family will gobble up?

Whoever thought about combining two of our favorite meals (chili cheese dogs and pizza) was a genius.The best part is that the adults in the family will be as excited about this fun pizza as the kids are.Both homemade pizza dough or a store-bought version will work for this pizza recipe.For adults, you can even add some hot peppers to make it a little spicier.

9. Quick Turkey Ragu

Also called turkey bolognese, this dish is ready in less than an hour, has loads of flavor, and is somewhat healthier than the traditional ragu that is made with beef and pork tenderloin.

This recipe uses ground turkey and turkey bacon, so you’re serving an incredibly low-fat meal to your family.One thing that makes ragu so delicious is the red wine and fresh basil.You can make the marinara sauce from scratch, but if you don’t have time, a store-bought marinara will work just fine.You can serve this as a zucchini noodle dish if you’re feeling creative.

1o. Black Bean Burgers

If you’re doing Meatless Monday every week, how about giving hearty black bean burgers a try for a weeknight dinner?

Not every family member may embrace a day of eating no meat, but these burgers make it effortless.Best of all, you can load your burgers up with all of the normal fixings. Try grilled onions, garlic, pepper, and feta cheese for a gourmet meatless meal that’s packed full of protein.

Even if you’re not vegetarian or vegan, you may find yourself suddenly excited about Meatless Mondays when you know you’re serving these burgers.