10 Quick Dinners to Help You Eat Well as a Family

Cauliflower rice is a staple in our house, especially because my husband has diabetes and has to watch his carb and sugar intake. We've found this makes a great substitute for regular rice and is a great way to sneak the dreaded vegetables in for your kiddos. 

Some of our favorite recipes with cauliflower rice are:

Keto Mexican Skillet from That Low Carb Life

Cheesy Cauliflower Rice from The Lazy Dish (Pair this with baked chicken legs and a vegetable.)

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Rice from The Lazy Dish

Tacos are an easy and versatile dinner that you can whip up in a flash and make all kinds of variations like ground beef, chicken, lentil, and fish. Some ideas are;

Easy Ground Beef Tacos from Spend with Pennies

Chicken Enchilada Tacos from The Lazy Dish

Lentil Tacos from Taste of Home

Fish Tacos from Spend with Pennies

Casseroles are another quick and easy meal. These are great because they usually have everything in them-carbs, protein, and vegetables. You can always add hot vegetables or a salad on the side if the casserole recipe doesn't contain vegetables. Some of our favorite casseroles are:

Tuna Noodle Casserole

1 bag of egg noodles

2 cans of tuna in water

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup

1 cup of sour cream

Black pepper

Frozen peas and carrots

1 lb Velveeta or 16 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Potato chips

Instructions:

Cook noodles according to package directions, and drain.

While the noodles are cooking, cut the Velveeta into cubes, drain the tuna, and cook the peas and carrots.

Add cream of mushroom soup and sour cream, and bring to medium heat.

Mix in noodles, peas, carrots, tuna, and black pepper to taste.

Layer half of the noodle mixture into a 9x13 pan.

Top with Velveeta cubes or 2 cups shredded cheddar.

Put the rest of the noodle mixture on top.

Crush the potato chips and sprinkle them on top.

Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for forty minutes.

Chicken Noodle Casserole from The Lazy Dish (Recipe #4)

Lazy Chicken Parmesan Baked Spaghetti from The Lazy Dish

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole from The Lazy Dish

Quiche is easy to make and doesn't take long to bake. The best part is that there are variations, so you can customize to your family's liking. Here are some quiche recipes to try.

Easy Quiche from Spend with Pennies

Crustless Quiche from Taste of Home

20 of Our Best Quiche Recipes and Ideas from Taste of Home

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/simonapilolla

Sandwiches are another quick weeknight meal. And they don't have to be boring or the same old, same old, like tuna or lunch meat. Sandwiches can be hot or cold, spicy or mild, and everything in between. Add some fruit and a salad on the side for a complete meal. Some ideas to try are;

Crockpot Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches from The Lazy Dish

Turkey Sloppy Joes from Spend with Pennies

Pizza Sliders by Spend with Pennies

Monte Cristo Sandwich from Spend with Pennies (I used to love getting these at the old chain restaurant Bennigan's)

French Dip Sandwich from Spend with Pennies

Photo credit: GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages

Pasta is one of my favorite easy dinners to make in all variations, spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine Alfredo, rigatoni and vodka sauce…if it's pasta, I'll eat it.

However, since my husband has diabetes, traditional pasta is not good for him. After searching for a substitute, I started buying Barilla Protein Plus Pasta, which is made from lentils and chickpeas, and we love it. It has the consistency and texture of regular pasta but isn't as heavy. Eating a bowl of protein pasta won't make you feel like you have a stone in your stomach. Some of our favorite pasta dishes are:

Spaghetti and meatballs

Fettuccine Alfredo (I use a copycat Olive Garden recipe for my Alfredo sauce.)

Penne and Vodka sauce (I like Bertolli Vodka Sauce)

Keto Lasagna from That Low Carb Life

Rigatoni Arrabbiata from Spend with Pennies

Chicken Spaghetti from Spend with Pennies

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Maskot

Soup is another easy dinner to whip together on a weeknight. Soups can be broth-based or creamy, mild or spicy, with meat or without. The possibilities are endless. Here are some ideas to try. Add a side of crusty bread or rolls and a salad to round out the meal.

Easy Creamy Chicken Taco Soup from The Lazy Dish

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup from Taste of Home

Potsticker Soup from Taste of Home

20 Minute Broccoli Cheese Soup from Spend with Pennies

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup from Spend with Pennies

Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup from The Lazy Dish

Who doesn't love breakfast for dinner? I can eat pancakes, French toast, or omelettes any time of day. You can easily make breakfast for dinner to suit each family member's tastes. You can also throw an egg casserole together in a jiff and have dinner on the table in thirty to forty minutes. Here are some ideas for having your sunrise breakfast at night.

Eggs, toast, hash browns, and fruit

Omelettes and Toast

Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole from Spend with Pennies

Sheet Pan Breakfast Bake from That Low Carb Life

Breakfast Pizza from Spend with Pennies

Easy Baked Eggs from Spend with Pennies

Fun Drinks to Go with Breakfast

Strawberry Banana Smoothie from Spend with Pennies

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew from Spend with Pennies

Cold Brew from Spend with Pennies

Pasta salad seems more like a summer dish, but it is good any time of year. It usually has a minimal number of ingredients, is easy to throw together, and can be made ahead so dinner is ready when you get home. Who doesn't love that?

Tuna Pasta Salad

1 box shell macaroni

2 cans of tuna in water

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

Mayonnaise

Instructions:

Cook shells according to package directions, drain, and flush with cold water. Let drain for 15 minutes.

While the pasta drains, chop the celery and onion and drain the tuna.

Throw shells, celery, onion, and tuna into a large bowl.

Add mayonnaise until moistened to your liking

Chill for 3 hours or overnight.

Notes: You can also add spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, and dry mustard (if preferred). Garnish with bell pepper strips and cherry tomatoes if you like.

In the article below, you can find recipes for Midwestern tomato and bacon pasta salad, taco pasta salad, and chicken Ceasar pasta salad.

Suddenly Invited to a Potluck? Here are 3 Cheap, Last-Minute Pasta Salads

Sesame Noodle Ginger Salad from Spend with Pennies

Rueben Pasta Salad from Spend with Pennies

Favorite Spaghetti Salad from Spend with Pennies

Using your crockpot or Instapot is an excellent way to get supper on the table quickly. With a crockpot, you can just throw the ingredients in, set it, and forget it, and dinner is ready when you get home. The Instapot cooks meals quickly and with little fuss, but needs some monitoring. Here are some great recipes for both your crockpot and instant pot.

Crockpot Meals

Salsa Chicken

4 Chicken Leg Quarters

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

1 jar Salsa

1 (16 oz) box of spaghetti

Instructions:

Spray a 6-quart crockpot and put the chicken leg quarters in the bottom.

Pour the jars of spaghetti sauce and salsa on top.

Cook on LOW for 8 hours.

Cook spaghetti and serve with chicken. Add a vegetable or salad on the side.

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings from Spend with Pennies

Crockpot Mac and Cheese from Spend with Pennies

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli from Spend with Pennies

Slow Cooker Short Ribs by Spend with Pennies

Crockpot Sausage and Peppers from That Low Carb Life

Easy Meatball Pot Roast from The Lazy Dish

Easy Crockpot Chicken and Gravy from The Lazy Dish

Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Ezequiel Garrido

Here are some ideas for sides to go with these delicious meals.

Crispy Parmesan Carrots from The Lazy Dish

Butter Swim Parmesan Roasted Potatoes from The Lazy Dish

Air Fryer Cheesy Tortilla Garlic Bread from The Lazy Dish

Oven-Roasted Potatoes from Spend with Pennies

30 Minute Dinner Rolls from Spend with Pennies

Grilled Vegetables from Spend with Pennies

Baked Zucchini from Spend with Pennies

You can get a quick supper on the table in so many ways—from frozen cauliflower rice bowls to easy breakfast-for-dinner ideas to simple crockpot meals. Getting dinner on the table couldn't be easier. Look through this list and see what appeals to you and makes your meal planning life easier.