List of simple dinner recipes to make for your picky eaters with lots of photos and lists of ingredients to complete to dinner menu for busy weeknights.

20 Easy Family Dinner Ideas For Picky Eaters

Making everyone happy with full bellies at dinner time is like trying to lick your own elbow. It’s literally a pain in the neck!

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If you’re a busy parent with kids who happen to get real fussy around dinner time, this list of fun and delicious dinner recipes is for you. Not only are these main dishes quick to prepare on hectic school nights, they are all kid approved, easy to make with few ingredients, and great leftover for a second meal the next day.

Over the years I’ve compiled a list of recipes on my dinner menu that I know won’t end up stuffed under the table somewhere. Everything from yummy casseroles and crockpot meals to chicken, ground beef, pasta, baked sandwiches, and more. Something a little different for every night of the week! Add these creative recipes to your rotation for a peaceful dinner at home that your kids won’t complain about.

List of quick and easy family dinner recipes for families with picky eaters. These kid approved meals are all fast, simple, and budget friendly to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for busy parents on hectic school nights when you're looking for something to add to your dinner menu. Everything from chicken and ground beef to casseroles, sandwiches, and slow cooker dinner ideas.

This list of kid-friendly dinner ideas is sure to have your picky eaters licking their plates clean! You won’t even have to wash the dishes.

1. Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

Believe it or not, this is an upgrade to traditional pizza! The crispy potatoes combined with the cheesy sauce and flavorful pepperoni is a combination made in heaven. Plus, there’s no need to thaw the tater tots, just layer and bake for an easy weeknight meal.

Number One on the List of Easy Dinner Ideas For Kids: Tater Tot Pizza Casserole made with frozen tater tots, sauce, cheese, and all of your favorite pizza toppings. This dump and bake meal only takes 5 minutes to prepare and then just place it in the oven to cook for a yummy school night meal your picky eaters will devour.
Full Recipe: Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

2. Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Pot pies in the form of finger food! This delicious chicken dinner is made with just 4 ingredients in muffin pan, making for a creative handheld dinner kids and adults of all ages will enjoy.

Number two on the list of simple family dinner recipes your kids will love: Mini Chicken Pot Pies. This quick and easy dinner is made with just 4 ingredients and perfect for picky toddlers, preschoolers, and kids of all ages. It's fun to make in a muffin pan to make yummy handheld food.
Full Recipe: Mini Chicken Pot Pies

3. Taco Mac & Cheese

Combing seasoned taco meat with a few boxes of macaroni and cheese is the easiest and fastest way to make comfort food for dinner. I suggest the Velveeta brand of macaroni because it extra cheesy and doesn’t require any milk or butter.

Number three on the list of easy family dinner recipes: Taco Macaroni & Cheese is a yummy kid approved dinner made with just a few budget ingredients including ground beef, boxed Mac n cheese, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. It's fast and easy to prepare on school nights.
Full Recipe: Taco Mac & Cheese

4. Chicken Cobbler

Buttery rotisserie chicken topped with veggies, creamy soup, and a box of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. This easy dinner casserole is sure to win the hearts of your entire family!

Number four on the list of kid approved dinner ideas: Chicken Cobbler is a fun and tasty way of making chicken pot pies in the form of a casserole with cheddar bay biscuits, rotisserie chicken, and frozen veggies. Ideal for a large family with kids on school nights.
Full Recipe: Chicken Cobbler

5. Cheesy Beef & Potato Casserole

Not only does a bag of frozen potatoes make this recipe cheap and easy to make with hardly any prep, it’s tasty and super versatile! Toss in any optional veggies and the seasonings of your choice to suit your family’s preferences.

Number Five on the list of picky eaters dinner recipes for busy weeknights: Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole. This yummy comfort food is cheap and simple to prepare for busy moms and dads on a budget with a pound of ground beef, frozen potatoes, cheese, and canned soup.
Full Recipe: Cheesy Beef & Potato Casserole

6. Chicken Parmesan Sliders

To make these delicious mini sandwiches, simply cook your favorite frozen chicken nuggets and use them to make buttery, baked sliders stuffed full of pasta sauce and cheese. I promise your kids won’t be complaining about this yummy idea for dinner!

Number Six on the list of fun and easy dinner ideas to make with your kids: These Chicken Parmesan Sliders are a delicious lunch or dinner that your kids will go crazy for! Simply stuff Hawaiian rolls with chicken nuggets, pasta sauce, and cheese, then bake with garlic butter.
Full Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Sliders

7. Creamy Shredded Chicken Tacos

A delicious slow cooker dinner for the pickiest of eaters! This simple yet tasty meal is a favorite of ours on busy school days because you can simply place everything into your crockpot around lunch time, and then dinner is ready whenever you’re ready to eat.

Number Seven on the list of easy kids friendly dinner recipes for picky eaters: Slow Cooker Creamy Shredded Chicken Tacos made with cream cheese, salsa, and taco seasoning. Serve this yummy chicken in flour tortillas for a simple dinner any night of the week. An idea recipe for a family with picky children.
Full Recipe: Creamy Shredded Chicken Tacos

8. Lazy Lasagna

Frozen ravioli layered in a large baking dish with lots of pasta sauce and cheese! This dump and bake meal is perfect for busy moms and dads with ultra picky kids of all ages. You can customize this fast weeknight meal with optional layers such as sausage, ground beef, or veggies.

Number eight on the list of the easiest family dinner ideas for picky kids: Lazy Lasagna is a quick and easy dump and bake meal made with frozen ravioli, pasta sauce, and lots of cheese. It's quick to prepare for busy moms with picky eaters. Customize this simple meal with optional layers such as sausage, ground beef, or veggies.
Full Recipe: Lazy Lasagna

9. Cheeseburger Casserole

A classic cheeseburger in the form of a dinner casserole! The subtly sweet tomato soup is a surprisingly delicious touch to the savory ground beef and pasta. This kid-friendly meal is cheap to make with just a handful of basic ingredients, and yet makes enough for a large family with kids.

Number nine on the list of simple dinner ideas for parents to make for kids: Cheeseburger Casserole. This yummy comfort food is made in a 9x13 baking dish with pasta shells, ground beef, tomato soup, and lots of shredded cheese. It's cheap and easy to prepare on busy school nights and delicious leftover the next day for a second meal.
Full Recipe: Cheeseburger Casserole

10. Pizza Burritos

This clever way of making pizza keeps dinner exciting! All your classic pizza ingredients stuffed into tortillas, brushed with garlic butter, and baked until crispy and gooey. They can be made in a big batch in your oven or even your air fryer for a quick weeknight dinner.

Number Ten on the list of fun and easy dinner recipe for picky eaters: Pizza Burritos are a delicious and creative way to eat pizza in the form of a buttery burrito. You can bake them in the oven or make them quickly in your air fryer for a last minute meal.
Full Recipe: Pizza Burritos

11. Forgotten Chicken

This impressive dinner is surprisingly easy to make thanks to a box of Instant rice and creamy soup. No need to even precook the rice! Just dump everything into a 9×13 baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for about an hour.

Number Eleven on the list of dinner ideas for your picky kids: Forgotten chicken is an easy casserole made with instant rice, chicken breasts, creamy soup, and Lipton onion soup mix. It's budget friendly, fast to prepare, and kid approved for families with picky eaters.
Full Recipe: Forgotten Chicken

12. Cheesy Meatball Rice Casserole

This unique way of preparing dinner with frozen meatballs is loaded with cheesy rice and lots of sauce, making for a yummy meal even your pickiest of kids will enjoy. No need to even precook the rice or meatballs! Just dump and bake.

Number Twelve on the list of cheap and easy dinner casseroles for a family with picky eaters to feed: Cheesy Meatball & Rice Casserole is a dump and bake meal made with budget ingredients. This fun and simple way of preparing frozen meatballs is a big hit with kids and adults of all ages.
Full Recipe: Cheesy Meatball Casserole

13. Lazy Enchiladas

For a fast last minute meal, try making enchiladas with frozen taquitos! This clever dinner is versatile, delicious, and super easy to prepare in a baking dish. The refried beans are optional but add protein and fiber for your growing kids.

Number Thirteen on the list of fast and easy dinner recipes to make: Lazy Enchiladas are a clever way of making dinner with frozen enchiladas! Simply smother them in enchilada sauce and cheese to make this simple yet tasty meal for your family. My picky eaters love them
Full Recipe: Lazy Enchiladas

14. Creamy Chicken Taco Soup

This is my family’s favorite make-ahead dinner! That’s the beauty of a crockpot. Simply dump everything except for the cheese and cream into your slow cooker in the morning, and then you don’t have to stress about spending all night in the kitchen prepping and cooking dinner.

Number 14 on the list of simple meals to make on busy weeknights for picky eaters: This Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup is a family favorite dinner, and perfect for busy parents on a budget. It's easy to make ahead of time in your crockpot with chicken breasts, canned beans and corn, heavy cream, and cheddar cheese.
Full Recipe: Creamy Chicken Taco Soup

15. Chicken Stuffing & Zucchini Casserole

The box of stuffing in this tasty casserole adds a world of flavor, crunch, and just plain deliciousness. It reminds me of a Thanksgiving dinner that can be enjoyed any time of the year. Include any of the veggies of your choice! The great thing about zucchini is that it doesn’t have to be precooked.

Number fifteen on the list of super easy dinners to make for picky kids: Chicken Stuffing Zucchini Casserole. This yummy kid friendly meal is simple to prepare with just 6 ingredients including rotisserie chicken, a box of stuffing, zucchini, soup, butter, and sour cream. It's healthy comfort food your family will devour.
Full Recipe: Chicken Stuffing & Zucchini Casserole

16. Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup

Grab yourself a bag of fresh or frozen tortellini to make this amazing slow cooker meal! The ground sausage combined with the cream cheese makes for hearty comfort food that’s effortless to prepare on busy school nights.

Number Sixteen on the list of yummy kid friendly dinner recipes to make: Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup is one of the best reviewed recipes for dinner that's simple to make in a slow cooker with fresh or frozen tortellini, ground sausage, cream cheese, and just a few other basic ingredients. Even your picky eaters will get a belly full of this easy pasta dinner.
Full Recipe: Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup

17. Crockpot Chicken & Gravy 

Once again, our slow cooker comes to the rescue for a simple make-ahead dinner! This creamy shredded chicken is incredible with mashed potatoes or rice. Serve with a side of your favorite veggies to complete the meal.

Number Seventeen of the list of easy family dinners for picky eaters: Your kids are going to love this Crockpot Shredded Chicken and Gravy! It's made with just a few chicken breasts, gravy mix, soup, and sour cream. Make it in your crockpot for a simple make ahead dinner on hectic weeknights.
Full Recipe: Shredded Chicken & Gravy

18. Meatball Cupcakes

Everybody loves finger food, especially when it’s in the shape of a whimsical cupcake. This fun and creative muffin tin recipe only requires four basic ingredients plus a few hungry kids to devour them.

Number Eighteen on the list of fun and easy family meals to make for picky kids: These Meatball Cupcakes are a unique and savory muffin tin recipe made with just 4 ingredients! Pillsbury sheet dough, frozen meatballs, pizza sauce, and cheese. This creative dinner creates whimsical handheld finger food for an easy dinner or snack that kids will adore.
Full Recipe: Meatball Cupcakes

19. Creamy Tortellini & Meat Sauce

This pasta casserole is super filling, picky eater approved, and great leftover! It’s the perfect Italian inspired meal for a large family with kids. We usually get two meals out of it which means a night off from cooking for this busy mom.

Number Nineteen on the list of dinner ideas to make for a family with kids: This Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Meat Sauce is perfect for large families and super simple to make for a casual dinner at home. It's also really good leftover so you might even get two meals out of it! The cream cheese really takes it over the top.
Full Recipe: Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

20. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

This budget dinner is quick to prepare, delicious, and approved by picky eaters of all ages. The buttery corn flakes really take it over the top! Use your choice of rice, chicken, and veggies for a versatile and easy, cheesy oven baked casserole.

Number Twenty on the list of budget meals to make for a family with kids: Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole made with canned chicken, frozen broccoli, and instant rice for a quick and cheap meal to make for your little ones. You can use white or brown rice along with the chicken and veggies of your choice. It's versatile for picky eaters of all ages.
Full Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
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