Deciding what to make for family dinner each day can be a challenge, but this list of healthy family meals includes 150 favorites—including ALL the best kid-friendly dinners! Save this giant list of family dinner recipes to make quick work of meal planning.
Healthy Family Meals
All of these family meals have veggies in the mix and many include the nutrients we all need more of: fiber, protein, complex carbs, and vitamins. They are all doable meals to create at the end of the day or to make ahead, and I’ve sorted them by main ingredient so you can easily scroll and find options to put to use in your family.
What should I make for family dinner?
I try to plan our meals on Sundays so I have a general sense of what’s coming for the week. I like to allow myself the flexibility to switch a meal around if needed (like Monday’s chicken might go to Thursday if we have a sudden change in after school plans). And I like to have at least 1-2 “theme nights” like Mexican, pizza, or pasta night to make it easier to plan meals without always feeling like I’m starting at square one.
What are healthy meals for kids?
In my mind, healthy meals for kids are meals that include a range of nutrients but that also are easy for kids to eat. I also think a healthy meal is one that is a happy one, so it’s only partly about the nutrition for me—because meal times are about so much more than just the food. They help kids learn manners, new words, and allow us the much needed time to catch up with each other.
TIP: Since you never know what of the meal the kids will eat or not eat, focusing on the together time part of this part of the day is often much saner!
Healthy Kid-Friendly Dinners
I hope that this master list of healthy family dinners, which are all chosen to be kid-friendly and toddler-friendly, helps you come up with easy recipes to make for your family. I’m a big fan of making less work for ourselves, so all of these meals are ones that you can cook and serve to everyone at the table, no short order cooking required!
Healthy Family Meals with Chicken
Easy chicken dinners are a simple way to please a crowd and offer up a meal rich in protein. These family dinners with chicken are perfect for families and can be adjusted for the youngest eaters at the table.
- Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Tacos
- Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Sweet Potato
- One Pan Pesto Chicken and Brown Rice
- Sheet Pan Garlic Ginger Chicken with Broccoli
- Ranch Chicken Wraps
- Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
- The Best Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken
- Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos with Beans
- Baked Chicken Tenders
- Baked Chicken Nuggets
- Baked Chicken Meatballs
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
TIP: Meatballs and chicken nuggets freeze really well, so they are a good one to double up to save some for later!
Healthy Family Meals with Beef
With iron and protein, beef is a great addition to a family dinner. Plus, most recipes with ground beef or shredded beef are really easy for little kids to chew and eat. Here are some favorite kid-friendly beef recipes.
- Healthy Meatballs with Hidden Veggies
- Whole Grain Mini Meatballs with Kale
- Slow Cooker Beef Burritos with Veggies
- Zucchini Burgers
- Skillet Stuffed Peppers
- Korean Beef Bowls with Carrots
- Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
- Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Skillet
- Easy Sloppy Joes
- Easy Shredded Beef
- Easy Korean Ground Beef with Rice
- Crockpot Beef Carnitas
- Meatball Sandwiches
- Creamy Beef and Shells
- Easy Pasta with Summer Squash
Healthy Vegetarian Family Dinner Recipes
With plenty of plant-based nutrition, these vegetarian recipes are ideal for busy weeknights—and for satisfying those hungry little people at your table.
- Easy Thai Green Curry with Veggies
- Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Hidden Protein
- 20 Minute Stir Fry Noodles
- Homemade Broccoli Tots
- Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
- Spinach Quesadillas
- Sweet Potato Quesadillas
- Lentil and Veggie Sloppy Joes
- 20-Minute Kale and Egg Frittata
- Vegetarian Enchiladas with Butternut Squash
- Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans
- 5-Ingredient Curry
- Broccoli Pesto Pasta
- Spinach Pesto with Peas
- Cauliflower Tots
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Butternut Squash Risotto
- Creamy Pasta with Broccoli
- Broccoli and Cheese Pizza Pockets
- One Pot Lentils and Rice
- Refried Bean Roll Ups
- Easy Teriyaki Shrimp with Rice and Veggies
- Citrus Shrimp and Noodles
- Quick Shrimp Tacos
TIP: Find my Master List of Vegetarian Meals for Kids here.
Healthy Family Meals with Fish
Packed with protein and subtle flavor, healthy fish recipes are a great option for family dinner—especially if you’re trying to reduce your meat intake.
- Wild Salmon Salad
- Easy Wild Salmon Cakes
- Easy Teriyaki Shrimp with Rice and Veggies
- Citrus Shrimp and Noodles
- Quick Shrimp Tacos
- Fish Stick Tacos
- Shrimp Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa
- Sesame Salmon
- Panko Fish Nuggets
- Oven-Baked Fish Sticks
- Easy Homemade Crab Cakes
- Shrimp Pad Thai
- Tortilla Crusted Talapia
- Lemon Butter Salmon with Pasta
- Baked Fish and Chips
Healthy Family Dinner Recipes with Pasta
Quick, easy to cook, and available in so many nutritious varieties, pasta is a pantry staple most families can’t (and shouldn’t!) live without. These recipes are some easy ones to share with the kids at the dinner table.
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese
- Avocado Pasta
- Creamy Pasta with Broccoli
- Healthy Pasta Salad
- Easy Marinara Sauce with Extra Veggies
- Spinach Pesto Pasta with Peas
- Easy Ratatouille with Pasta
- 4-Ingredient Sausage Pasta with Broccoli
- Sausage Pasta with Butternut Squash
- Spaghetti with Green Beans and Feta
- Instant Pot Minestrone
- Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli
- Lemony Broccoli Pasta
- Cold Veggie Noodle Bowls with Soy Lime Vinaigrette
- Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta
- 5-Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Pasta
- Mediterranean Pasta
TIP: A lot of these can be packed up for school lunch the next day!
Kid-Friendly Dinner with Grains
Serve up delicious whole grains to everyone at the table with these easy family recipes built around plant-based goodness.
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Shortcut Butternut Squash Risotto with Brown Rice
- Coconut Rice
- Grain Bowls with Peanut Sauce
- Carrot and Chickpea Skillet over Quinoa or Rice
- Quick and Easy Fried Rice
- Stuffed Quinoa Peppers
- Peanut Chicken Power Bowls
- Quinoa Fried Rice
- Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad
- DIY Grain Bowls
- Cheesy Rice with Veggies
- Baked Brown Rice Risotto
- Italian Lentils and Rice
- One Pan Brown Rice and Pesto Chicken
Healthy Family Dinner Recipes with Beans
Affordable, versatile, and endlessly easy to customize, making family meals around beans is a great way to serve up protein and fiber—that tastes great! These are some of our go-to family dinners with beans and legumes.
- Loaded Potato Nachos
- Veggie Chili Mac
- Big Batch Veggie Chili
- Roasted Veggie Tacos with Chickpeas
- Toddler-Friendly Black Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Channa Masala with Carrots
- Homemade Hummus Sandwiches
- Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker Black Bean Tacos
- Baked Falafel
- Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
- 30-Minute Black Bean Soup
- Butternut Squash Hummus
- Instant Pot Chicken and Bean Tacos
- Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
- Easy Taco Roll Ups with Refried Beans
- Homemade Refried Beans
- Perfect Pinto Beans
- Slow Cooker Black Beans
- Sweet Potato Hummus
Kid-Friendly Meals on a Budget
Feeding a family can cost so much more than we expect—but there are simple ways to keep the grocery budget in check if we’re a little strategic about the ingredients we buy. Here are my go-to inexpensive family dinners that your family will love too.
- 30 Minute Lentil Soup
- 30-Minute Black Bean Soup
- Sweet Potato and Cheese Quesadillas
- Vegetarian Burritos with Rice and Beans
- Homemade Refried Beans
- Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
- Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
- Easy Taco Roll Ups with Refried Beans
- Taco Stuffed Potatoes
- Mediterranean Breakfast Pitas
- Freezer Ready Mini Pizzas
- Broccoli and Cheese Pizza Pockets
- Mini Spinach and Cheese Pizza Rolls
- Easy Wild Salmon Cakes
- Healthy Pineapple Fried Rice
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese
- Creamy Pasta with Broccoli
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Homemade Hummus with Pita
- Mini Egg Muffins with Veggies and Cheese
- One Pot Lentils and Rice
- Skillet Stuffed Peppers
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
- Greek Pita Pizzas
Thanks for sharing this Master List of Healthy Family Meals , will love to try these unique recipes. Seems super delicious and amazing, my members gonna love this
Thanks for sharing the Master list of healthy family meals , will love to try this amazing stuff.
Thanks for sharing these list with us . These are so amazing
Thanks for sharing these list with us .
Thanks for sharing this healthy recipe list, will surely gonna try theses, my little will love this .
I really like the information you supply in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check here regularly.
great list of healthy food , easy to obtain and easy to make ingredients, this large list keeps children from boredom , thanks
I loved your work it is awesome thank you and keep working…
Thanks so much.
This is a great list! Is there anyway to get this in a Google sheet for sorting and daily use?
That’s a great idea! The only way I know of would be to manually make that sheet…which you are welcome to do. Or you can bookmark the post and come back to it whenever you need it!
Your recipes have been a life saver! I was having the hardest time transitioning my son from purees to whole foods and your recipes are pretty much the only thing he will eat! We especially loved the veggie/beef meatballs, pesto chicken meatballs, broccoli tots and cauliflower tots! Please make more recipes soon!
I love this list! Your website has helped me soooo much thank you!
I’m so glad!