30 Quick Dinner Ideas That You Will Love (and Your Kids Will Actually Eat!)

This pasta bake is extra creamy and rich, thanks to a combination of whole and evaporated milk. If you have a broccoli-hater in your house, this might just be the recipe that inspires them to try a bite.

Cheeseburgers are a familiar and beloved food for kids, so putting those flavors into a cheesy, pasta-filled casserole is nothing short of ingenious.

Orzo is such a great one-pot pasta contender: As you stir it, it releases its starch and makes the whole dish creamy (kind of like risotto!). Serve it with some chicken sausage or a can of rinsed and drained white beans if you need to bulk it up a bit more.

The most popular nights in my house are taco night and pasta night — and this one-pot wonder combines both for the ultimate win. The recipe calls for ground beef, but you can use ground chicken or turkey, or plant-based ground meat too.

This vegetarian one-pot pasta is a great way to put that can of pumpkin purée in your pantry to good use. It's creamy and slightly sweet, and will be a total hit.

This homemade take on the canned favorite is a lot easier to make than you'd think. Make sure to buy the "O" pasta shape (anelli) to really seal the deal.

Orzo strikes again! This time with a flavorful lemon-feta sauce and the most delicious chicken meatballs.

There's a time and a place for boxed mac and cheese, but when you want a homemade version with only a bit more effort, this is the recipe for you. (Psst: The magic ingredient here that brings it all together is cream cheese!)

This flavorful noodle recipe is super flexible: Swap out the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey if that's what your family prefers, and leave out the chili-garlic sauce for any spice-averse folks at your table.

This soup recipe comes together quickly, thanks to frozen dumplings and whatever broth you have on hand. Toss in some baby spinach and shredded carrots at the last minute for a little veggie power!

These cold noodles are supremely satisfying to eat. If you want to bulk them up a bit, add some edamame or a soft-boiled egg!

If you ever thought that cheese tortellini was not cheesy enough, then this recipe is for you. Keep a bag of tortellini in your freezer at all times and you'll never be too far from this crowd-pleasing meal.

Baked ziti is comfort food at its finest — pasta and tomato sauce, under a blanket of melted cheese. It's even better when you don't have to boil the ziti beforehand!

When in doubt, add teriyaki sauce. That's our motto, and it works (almost) every time — especially when it comes to salmon, which has a richness that really complements the sweet-salty sauce.

When you're craving enchiladas but want something a little different, this casserole is just the ticket. Instead of filling and rolling tortillas, you top this dish with sliced sweet potatoes, which get soft and caramelized in the oven.

I might be taking some liberties here, but I believe quiche totally counts as dinner. Pair it with a simple green salad and you've got a fun meal that you can brand as "brunch for supper."

Trust in the combination of mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder for this super-simple chicken recipe that everyone will be begging you to make on a weekly basis. Pair it with buttered pasta or simple roasted broccoli (or both!) and you're set.

We love a sheet pan meal for its ease — plus, it's fun to bring the whole sheet pan (once it's cooled down to a safe temperature) to the table and let everyone scoop what they want on their plates. This recipe calls for smoked sausage like kielbasa, but you can use whatever you have on hand.

There's nothing quite like a Caprese salad in the summertime, when fresh tomatoes are at their best. For the rest of the year, you can't go wrong with this protein-packed preparation that comes together in one pan.

If you leave out the optional breadcrumb topping, this pasta recipe clocks in at five ingredients — and each ingredient is really pulling its weight here. This flavorful spin on buttered pasta is so much greater than the sum of its parts.

Pesto pasta is a comforting favorite — no matter the time of year. If you've got fresh basil and want to make your own pesto, go for it. Otherwise, a store-bought version will work just as well here.

My son is absolutely obsessed with this zucchini butter pasta. Grating zucchini and cooking it down in butter is definitely the best way to enjoy the ubiquitous summer vegetable. If your child doesn't love herbs, you can keep the basil to the side.

Based on the popular recipe for Marry Me Chicken, these flavor-packed chickpeas are creamy and comforting — and begging for some crusty sourdough bread for dipping.

This pantry-friendly recipe is sure to be a winner. Set out lettuce, tomato slices, pickles, and your family's favorite condiments, and let everyone choose their own toppings.

Just like the burgers above, this chili recipe is so fun because everyone can customize their bowls with their preferred toppings (sour cream, shredded cheese, and diced avocado are all great options). Plus, the slow cooker does all the work for you!

You don't even have to boil water for this recipe — simply toss the gnocchi on a sheet pan with some veggies, and you've got dinner. I always keep a package of shelf-stable gnocchi in my pantry for this very reason!

This recipe is a favorite in my house. The soup is satisfying and creamy, thanks to silken tofu, but the cheesy macaroni topping is what really takes it over the top for us.

Stuffed peppers are always a win, but the process of making them can be tedious. That's why this skillet meal — which packs in all the flavors you love from the dish — is such a great option for busy weeknights.

When you're in need of a dinner winner, you can never go wrong with pasta — especially one that's tossed in lemon butter and packed with cherry tomatoes and zucchini.

This recipe gives the pizza treatment — flavorful tomato sauce, gooey cheese — to beans. Just add garlic bread, and you've got dinner.