50+ Family-Friendly Recipes to Solve the “What’s for Dinner?” Dilemma

A one-pot wonder with ground beef and cheddar cheese that channels all the Hamburger Helper vibes.

Spaghetti and meatballs is Italian American comfort food at its very best. When it comes to the meatballs, skip the fussy frying and bake them instead for equally satisfying results.

Learn the basics of Alfredo sauce and how to use it for making chicken fettuccini Alfredo any night of the week.

Everything you love about classic layered lasagna, only way easier.

This one-pot weeknight dinner will remind you of Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup, and it’s so much better.

This quick and easy ragù made with ground beef, crushed tomatoes, garlic, and spices, is sure to become a weeknight favorite.

No comfort food satisfies quite like homemade mac and cheese, with its tender noodles tucked into a rich and creamy sauce that’s baked until the cheese is golden, melted, and gooey.

It gives hearty, comforting Italian-American vibes. This dish takes the relative ease of baked ziti and merges it with the flavors of a classic lasagna, making it a hearty, comforting pasta casserole that pleases both kids and adults.

Between the tender noodles, super creamy sauce, and flaky tuna, this is sure to be an instant hit.

Everything you love about spaghetti and meatballs made so much easier in this one-pot, no-chop dinner.

Tightly covering the baking dish in aluminum foil forces the pasta to steam-cook in the marinara sauce, which eliminates the need to pre-boil the noodles. It's a weeknight recipe win!

A step-by-step guide to making a simple beef and cheese lasagna. There are just three components that make a lasagna great: the pasta, the cheese, and the sauce. Since this recipe starts with a jar of marinara for ease, make sure it’s one that tastes great.

This stovetop macaroni and cheese is the recipe I grew up on. It’s got a creamy sauce, perfectly chewy pasta, and plenty of cheese. A no-roux method for faster (and tastier!) macaroni and cheese on the stovetop, made with just 5 ingredients.

Never cook your chili and macaroni & cheese separately again. Learn how to make one-pot chili mac in your Dutch oven.

A faster version of the beloved Italian classic.

In a ranking of comfort foods, chicken pot pie casserole is at the top of the list. It doesn’t get much cozier than a bowl filled with hearty bites of tender chicken and vegetables baked in a creamy sauce and topped with golden, buttery biscuits.

A recipe for weeknight-friendly chicken meatballs baked in marinara sauce and topped with lots of melted cheese.

This cozy classic has everything you love and cooks in just 30 minutes.

For the best-ever chicken sliders, mix shredded chicken with mayo, sour cream, and scallions. Melty cheese and buttery rolls take things to the next level.

Want restaurant-style chicken nachos at home? This is your go-to recipe!

This zingy, peppery blend brightens up these chicken meatballs that are finished in a savory but not-too-rich creamy sauce that gives cozy chicken pot pie vibes.

These crispy, cheesy chicken tenders are served with a homemade buttermilk ranch.

Make a cozy chicken pot pie with just 4 store-bought ingredients and one dish.

This hearty fried chicken sandwich is so much better than takeout.

This retro chicken and broccoli casserole is ultra-comforting.

This extra cozy one-pan chicken recipe has major creamed spinach vibes.

This Italian American pasta dish tosses al dente rigatoni and cubes of juicy chicken breast with a creamy tomato sauce.

Chicken soup with vegetables and herbs is pure cold weather comfort food, and this version takes it up a notch with a luxe, creamy broth.

All the signature elements come together in this copycat Chipotle chicken burrito bowl: juicy chicken, cilantro-lime rice, and zesty corn salsa.

It will be love at first crunch. Between the satisfying crunch of the taco shell and the spiced browned ground beef, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleasing combination.

While there are an endless variety of chili recipes to choose from, this classic beef and bean chili recipe is tried-and-true.

The best family dinners are a little sloppy. Serve these classic Sloppy Joes with shoestring fries and broccoli salad.

Marinara and cheese set this recipe apart from traditional meatloaf.

Sautéed beef and onions, gooey cheese, and the perfect dipping sauce make these the most delicious easy weeknight meal for kids.

Inspired by the iconic French onion soup, this skillet dinner has it all — caramelized onions, juicy meatballs, and gooey, browned Gruyère cheese.

These Taco Bell-inspired tacos feature a double taco shell stuffed with a beef-and-bean filling.

A chopped cheese rivals a classic cheeseburger. It’s stuffed with seasoned and browned ground beef patties that have been chopped into small pieces and topped with melted American cheese. This beefy, cheesy mixture is then placed on a roll with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and condiments.

A casserole with the flavors of a classic Sloppy Joe but with none of the messy eating. A great vegetable side is perfect alongside this cheesy casserole, like broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus, but a simple side salad also does the trick.

This comforting dish of ground beef, potatoes, and veggies comes together in a single skillet and is endlessly customizable.

This ultra-comforting casserole is packed with lots of melty cheddar and topped with a crispy layer of tater tots.

In this comforting 30-minute recipe, seasoned ground beef gets shaped into steak-like patties, browned, and then braised in a rich onion and mushroom gravy.

Taste the magic of Japanese curry mix. Serve this homey curry over steamed white rice, over chewy udon noodles, or long ramen noodles.

This recipe is everything you love about classic ground beef tacos baked into an easy casserole, then topped with lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheddar.

Similar to Salisbury steak, this recipe shapes ground beef into steak-like patties blanketed in rich mushroom gravy.

An easy, cheesy crowd-pleasing casserole made with savory ground beef and baked with tender rigatoni noodles.

Skip delivery for this thin and crispy sheet-pan pizza.

Plump gnocchi are baked in an easy Alfredo sauce that’s loaded with Parmesan cheese.

This oven-roasted tomato soup is topped with homemade croutons and cheese, then broiled until the bread is extra crispy and the cheese is melted.

All the best parts of spinach dip on a crispy crusted pizza pie.

Perfect for chilly weather, this vegetarian soup has a creamy tomato-based broth loaded with tender tortellini and spinach.

Use a sheet pan and a few store-bought shortcuts to make a large-format cheesy quesadilla to feed the whole table.

This comforting soup uses canned corn to deliver a sweet-and-savory taste in a pinch.

Here is the perfect ratio of melty cheese to crispy bread — with the primary flavors and ingredients of a spinach-artichoke dip.

A recipe for creamy broccoli-cheddar risotto that's both family-friendly and fit for a weeknight.

With a smoky flavor and subtle heat, this cozy recipe will make you think it has the richness of meat even though (spoiler) it's totally vegan.

This recipe is everything you love about classic ground beef tacos baked into an easy casserole, then topped with lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheddar.