Food and Recipes Dinner 36 Easy Dinner Recipes The Whole Family Will Love By Jorie Nicole McDonald Jorie Nicole McDonald Jorie Nicole McDonald leads editorial video efforts for Southern Living. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she creates engaging visual content for the website and various social media platforms. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 22, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett When life gets extra chaotic, it's essential to have a list of easy dinner recipes for the family, and we have you covered. Whether you're in the mood for a Tex-Mex dish, a Cajun creation, or something with Asian flair, this easy dinner round-up is sure to have something for every member of the family. Cheddar biscuits and cast-iron skillet steak make this group of cuisine ultra-Southern–just the way we like it. So, between Junior League meetings, work obligations, soccer practices, and dance recitals, these recipes are going to quickly become your weeknight secret weapons. Since the portions are suited for a crowd, that means plenty of leftovers to snack on throughout the week; it's a win-win for the whole family. Even though you may have your tried-and-true cuisine, don't be afraid to give a few new recipes a try. They may just surprise you. 01 of 36 Easy Boarding House Meatloaf Southern Living Recipe: Easy Boarding House Meatloaf This Boarding House Meatloaf recipe is fresh, filling, and oh-so easy to make. 02 of 36 Extra-Easy Lasagna Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin Recipe: Extra-Easy Lasagna Pre-cooking the noodles isn't necessary for this classic dinner recipe; it's that easy. Plus, lasagna is a surefire favorite for even the pickiest family member. 03 of 36 Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice Greg DuPree Give your local Chinese restaurant a break, and make fried rice at home. 04 of 36 Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken Southern Living Recipe: Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken Every Southerner knows the magic of a cast-iron skillet. Give pan-fried chicken a try in our favorite kitchen tool. 05 of 36 Pan-Seared Trout with Italian-Style Salsa Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Pan-Seared Trout with Italian-Style Salsa This recipe is healthy, delicious, and it only takes 20 minutes. What's not to love? 06 of 36 Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream Ralph Anderson Recipe: Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream Store-bought ravioli is embellished with flavorful cream sauce and fresh tomatoes with basil in this easy-as-pie recipe. 07 of 36 Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup Greg DuPree Recipe: Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup This hearty soup is sure to set you up with a few days of leftovers, and the recipe is incredibly simple because it's made with frozen vegetables. 08 of 36 Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak Hector Sanchez Recipe: Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak Steak is always a good idea, and this version is both easy to prepare and delicious to taste. 09 of 36 Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches Southern Living Recipe: Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches Simplicity is key with this recipe. It's the ultimate week-night dish: grilled cheese. But, this chicken version is a bit more filling. 10 of 36 Potato-Crusted Pizza Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Potato-Crusted PizzaIt's hard to say no to a 5-ingredient dish, and this one is pizza no less! Your kids are sure to love this tasty recipe. 11 of 36 Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings Iain Bagwell Recipe: Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings Southerners know chicken and dumplings will always have a special place on the table below the Mason-Dixon, and this recipe has another beloved dish: cornbread. 12 of 36 New Tuna Casserole Greg Dupree Recipe: New Tuna Casserole Nutritious and tasty, this recipe is a win-win for the whole family. Plus, Mama always taught us that a casserole is the way to go for an easy dinner recipe. 13 of 36 Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon-and-Cheddar Biscuits Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon-and-Cheddar Biscuits We can't resist a chicken pot pie, especially one complete with a cheesy biscuit topping. Yes, please! 14 of 36 Chicken-Andouille Gumbo with Roasted Potatoes Iain Bagwell Recipe: Chicken-Andouille Gumbo with Roasted Potatoes This go-to recipe is perfect for feeding your entire family. It has all the Cajun flavor without hardly any effort. 15 of 36 King Ranch Chicken Southern Living Recipe: King Ranch Chicken This Tex-Mex dish is a Southern staple; don't attempt a family dinner without it. 16 of 36 Sheet Pan Nachos with Chorizo and Refried Beans Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos with Chorizo and Refried Beans These nachos come fully-loaded, so have a napkin on standby once you dig in. 17 of 36 Cowboy Casserole Micah A. Leal Recipe: Cowboy Casserole The layer of crunchy tater tots that line the top of this casserole is its claim to fame. Don't forget to drizzle some shredded cheese on top during the last 20 minutes in the oven. 18 of 36 Pizza Casserole Greg DuPree Recipe: Pizza Casserole Packed with toppings galore, this casserole rivals a slice of traditional pizza any day of the week. 19 of 36 Greek Pork Chops with Squash and Potatoes Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Greek Pork Chops with Squash and Potatoes Cleaning up is easy with this one-sheet meal, packed with hearty potatoes and light vegetables. 20 of 36 Smoky Grilled BLTs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Make this classic even better by grilling the bacon and tomatoes outside for an added smoky flavor. 21 of 36 Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Drumsticks with Squash Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox With one sheet, you can do it all. Place the chicken on a wire rack with the squash on the pan underneath to absorb all that extra flavor. 22 of 36 Quick Chicken and Barley Stew Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Quick Chicken and Barley Stew Light on calories and hands-on time, this recipe is a shoe-in for weeknight success. 23 of 36 Chicken Tortilla Casserole Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Casserole We've turned a cold-weather favorite soup into a casserole that's the perfect combination of warmth, heartiness, and spice. 24 of 36 Black-Eyed Peas Fritter Sandwiches with Slaw Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This Southern spin on falafel uses Dijon mustard-yogurt sauce for a tangy finish. 25 of 36 Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Stephen DeVries Recipe: Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Tuck small flour tortillas into muffin pans to make the crispy shells for these bite-sized enchiladas. 26 of 36 Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs The skillet is the secret to the slightly crispy sides of this mac and cheese. 27 of 36 Quick Beef Chili Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Quick Beef Chili Your family will be delighted that this hearty meal is ready in just under an hour. 28 of 36 Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens Greg DuPree This recipe is as easy as it gets. All ingredients get dumped in one pot throughout the cooking process to create a meal that you can even portion off and freeze for your next weeknight pinch. 29 of 36 Buttermilk Chicken Tenders and Roasted Potatoes with Green Beans Greg DuPree Recipe: Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans Say goodbye to take-out fried chicken once you've tasted these chicken tenders. 30 of 36 Quesadillas Al Pastor Skyler Burt Recipe: Quesadillas Al Pastor Give simple cheese quesadillas a run for their money with this recipe that packs in pineapple, cilantro, red onion, shredded smoked pork, and Monterey Jack cheese. 31 of 36 Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Throw boneless pork shoulder roast, sweet onions, and Southern seasoning into your slow cooker in the morning, and come home to a ready-to-go meal. 32 of 36 Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice If you need a break from the same old chicken or pork recipes, try this flavorful shrimp sheet pan dinner to mix things up. 33 of 36 Easy Huevos Rancheros Bake Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Easy Huevos Rancheros Bake Breakfast for dinner is always a hit, especially when it includes this cheesy and spicy layered casserole. 34 of 36 Ranch Turkey Burgers Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Ranch brings these low-calorie burgers to the next level any day of the week. 35 of 36 Easy Shrimp Scampi with Basil Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Easy Shrimp Scampi with Basil Shrimp, butter, and basil come together to make a dish so good and so easy. 36 of 36 Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This simple salmon recipe is equally healthy and flavorful, offering a quick and balanced fix for a weeknight meal. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit