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Here are 107 Easy Dinner Recipes for Family. Most of these recipes are quick, but for the options that take a bit longer, they require simple cooking methods! So you don’t need to worry about following a complicated recipe.
Hi friends, is dinner time a struggle? Trust me I KNOW the struggle! Most days I struggle with what to make for the dinner table.
So I thought it would be great to have some of my favorite easy recipes in one place for a quick reference when I do not know what to make.
These are easy dinner recipes for the whole family whether for busy weeknights or for weekends. Most of these recipes are 30-minute meals. For those that require more time, they require minimal effort, and the outcome is definitely worth it.
Also, these family-friendly recipes are so approachable, requiring pantry staple ingredients (at least for those in the United States). There are no strange or hard-to-find ingredients here!
Planning meals week after week could be such a task. If you need more help with dinner planning, also check out these tips for weekly meal planning and these menu ideas.
Okay, back to today’s post, which is a powerhouse of uncomplicated dinner recipes that are way better than ordering takeout!
These Easy Dinner Recipes for Family range from chicken recipes to fish recipes to beef recipes and vegan recipes! There is something for everyone, regardless of what your dietary preferences are and for even the pickiest eaters.
So bookmark this page to refer to whenever you need quick and easy dinner ideas. I know I will be visiting this post often. It is a good one!
Also, I have updated this page and I will be updating this page often when I add more favorite recipes to my repertoire of easy dinner recipes for family. So be sure to check back for updates.
This Easy Chicken Stir Fry is ready in about 20 minutes. Juicy perfectly seared chunks of garlicky chicken with tasty crispy vegetables. It is perfect with rice! This is the quick fancy balanced weeknight dinner to make. Enjoy, friends!
3. Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
5 from 1 vote
These Baked Chicken Leg Quarters are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and tasty to the bone. The awesome seasoning blend makes the chicken skin taste so good, garlicky, herby like something you will get at a fancy restaurant.
This Chicken Avocado Salad is on repeat in my home. It is kid-approved, fresh with juicy chunks of chicken and a well-rounded meal. I mostly serve it as a complete meal but it will make a great appetizer, side dish or party salad. So pretty on the table and most importantly, so delicious!
Coconut Curry Chicken is the quick and easy dinner recipe to make when you need to put dinner on the table but you are in a hurry. It is so hearty with the creamy coconutty sauce and crisp vegetables. Serve over hot-fluffy rice!
Elevate your chicken drumsticks by making them with this creamy sauce. Chicken Drumsticks in Creamy Sauce is ready in 30 minutes and goes with rice, pasta, and vegetables. Dinner time just got better!
This spinach stew is made by sauteeing onions then adding in tomatoes to cook and finally some chopped spinach. It is quick, easy and delicious. With only 30 minutes of cooking time, this is the perfect meal for busy weeknights! To make this vegan, use mushrooms in place of chicken and shrimp.
This Pan Seared Tilapia is a great way to cook tilapia fillets to taste really good! Trust me, you will want to double this recipe. I tested the recipe using 1 pound of fillets but my family of 2 adults and 3 kids finished 2 pounds at one go! The fish is out-of-this-world good!
We love salmon in my home. This Cajun Salmon is so good because it is ridiculously easy to make with cajun seasoning. Serve with any vegetable or carb-y side you like.
West African famous meal Jollof Rice made with Shrimp is comfort food at its best! Flavorful shrimp with aromatic rice adorned with vibrant fresh veggies. This Jollof Rice with Shrimp all happens in one pot, it is made with pantry staples and requires very little prep time!
This Lemon Butter Tilapia recipe takes tilapia to the next level. First the fish is pan seared to golden perfection then drenched in a garlicky lemony buttery insanely good lemon butter sauce. The perfect meal to enjoy with a wide array of side dishes.
Luscious glistening African Peanut Stew! Travel to West Africa by making this hearty stew. It will give new meaning to your boiled rice. It will make you cry happy tears. It is one recipe you will want to make over and over again. Enjoy!
Easy Beef Stir Fry that happens in 30 minutes. Once you marinate your beef, you are good to go! I used bell peppers in this recipe but feel free to use any veggies you like alongside the beef. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!
Pan-seared ribeye Steaks are some of the tastiest things I have ever eaten! Incredibly flavorful meat that only needs a little seasoning to shine. You will feel like you are dining at a 5-star restaurant when you try this. It's elegant enough for special occasions like date night or Valentine's Day and easy enough to make on weeknights or Sunday Supper. Serve with some sautรฉed vegetables or your favorite side dish, and you have a magnificent meal!
See Recipe Video Above. African Beef Stew is quite different from American Beef Stew. The main ingredient is tomato so you may as well call it a tomato stew. My method of making African Beef Stew includes cooking the tomatoes with a tasty blend of spices then adding the oil at the end. The taste is out of this world!
Lasagna with homemade bechamel sauce combines layers of pasta, rich bolognese sauce, and creamy bechamel for a comforting and hearty meal. This dish symbolizes abundance and unity, perfect for family gatherings.
The secret is in the combination of spices used! This yields a really flavorful Lentil Stew that makes a nutritious vegetarian or vegan dinner. Enjoy as is or pair with some crusty bread, cornbread or rice. This is one yumminess you'll need to make over and over again.
I love 30 minute meals like this healthy insanely delish and vegan mushroom fried rice! It comes together in no time especially if you precook the rice before and save in the fridge. You won’t miss the meat in this one!
This medley of vegetables is an easy delicious way to get lots of veggies into your body. The veggies taste great due to the epic spice blend I use. Enjoy your mixed vegetables with cabbage as is or enjoy with a starchy side of choice. So scrumptious!
This Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta is family-friendly, loaded with flavor and so easy to make. When you make a recipe your whole family loves, then you know it is one for the books. Just add a green salad and you have a complete dinner!
This Salmon and Broccoli Sheet Pan dinner is the easiest ever! The salmon is seasoned with an easy seasoning that takes the fish to the next level. The broccoli gets slightly crispy around the edges and takes on a bit of sweetness in the oven. Serve this Salmon and Broccoli as is for an easy dinner recipe or add some roasted potatoes if you like.
This Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger is loaded with flavor from the spices used. You can make really tasty burger at home on the stovetop or on the grill!
What do you do when you have to put dinner on the table but you don't have much time? You make One Pan Chicken and Potatoes and Veggies! Only 10 minutes of hands-on time seasoning the ingredients, then you let the oven do ALL the work. You'll be rewarded with a tasty, balanced, satisfying meal you are bound to make over and over again!
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a family favorite and is ready in 30 minutes. Use shredded rotisserie chicken or easily cook some chicken breasts from scratch following the directions in the recipe. You'll love how easy this recipe comes together yet it tastes like something you'd get from a high end restaurant.
Easy Chicken Spaghetti – spaghetti tossed in a white sauce with chicken. It is so tasty and ready in 20 minutes! This is an easy dinner recipe the whole family will love!
This Spaghetti Stir Fry is loaded with tasty chicken, scrambled eggs, crisp veggies. It is garlicky, a complete balanced meal which is ready in 30 minutes!
This baked chicken and rice casserole is made in one pan with very few ingredients. An easy cheesy dinner the whole family will love! All you need to do is combine all ingredients in an oven-safe bowl and bake for an easy one-pan chicken and rice dish. Enjoy!
This one pot creamy macaroni and chicken is literally the easiest dinner ever. Only 30 minutes and you have a wholesome meal right before you. Hope you enjoy!
This spaghetti omelette is the kind of breakfast I dream of having every morning. Loaded with all the nutrients, fresh, filling and insanely delicious! I grew up eating this spaghetti omelette occasionally from cafeterias in Cameroon. It was always such a special treat! And it is even better when made at home because you can customize to add other veggies/proteins you like. Some may refer to this as a spaghetti frittata. It is quite close to a frittata. Enjoy this African Breakfast Recipe!
Chicken and Potatoes: a meal that requires only a few minutes of hands-on time yet tastes so gourmet. The perfect dinner for weekdays or weekends. Enjoy!
With a combination of seafood and chicken, this fried rice is meaty, tasty, highly flavorful, and makes a standalone meal or side dish. Add this Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice recipe to your recipe repertoire. It is ready in under 30 minutes and makes a quick weeknight dinner or an elegant dinner.
How to make the most incredible Beef Stew Without Wine, without flour, and without tomato paste. This wholesome beef stew is so tasty, it will quickly become your favorite way to make Beef Stew. Serve as is or with some crusty bread to mop the stew.
How to make soft juicy Lemon Butter Salmon. This Salmon recipe is ridiculously easy, ready in 30 minutes, and quite possibly the best salmon you will ever have!
Succulent rich garlicky herby chicken marinated with an insanely good mayonnaise marinade. You'll want to put this Mayonnaise Chicken on your weekly dinner rotation. So good!
Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs with an incredible marinade that makes the chicken super juicy! Can be made on the stove or on the grill. Enjoy these grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs with a salad, in a wrap, some rice or any side you like!
Grilled Whole Red Snapper is incredibly tasty! Ready in 25 minutes and made in the oven, this is a no-fuss whole fish recipe that anyone can make. It is incredibly flavorful with the combination of herbs used. An easy dinner recipe for the whole family!
Rich Seafood Gumbo made with shrimp, crabs, sausage and chicken and so tasty with bold flavors. Serve with boiled rice, crusty French bread or grits. This Seafood Gumbo is a Creole dish that should be on your list of “special meals to make for my family”. It is that special.
The best flavor-packed Baked Chicken Drumsticks you will ever make! Great for an easy dinner as you only need 10 mins of prep time. Serve it with a vegetable and starchy side of choice and you have a complete meal!
This Beef Fried Rice is a one-pot wonder, a complete meal with tasty garlicky rice, flavorful browned beef and crisp veggies. Totally approved by my whole family.
How to make incredibly tasty Pan Grilled Salmon. The dry rub that goes on the fish adds lots of flavor to an already tasty fish. Serve this with a favorite vegetable side dish for a complete meal.
This is Pilau: a fragrant one-pot rice meal. The rice is cooked in a fragrant broth loaded with spices. The aroma is out of this world! Pilau is a popular Kenyan dish conspicuously present at Kenyan parties! It is also popular in other East African countries. Get your spices, some long grain rice and let’s make this East African delight!
If you want a stew recipe that is loaded with flavor, hard to stop eating and pairs well with rice, pasta, crusty bread, plantains, potatoes, yams, etc, you're welcome! This African Chicken Stew is so flavorful and perfect for festive days or weekends. This tomato stew is about to become your new favorite stew!
Layers of soft sweet plantains, tasty meat sauce, and gooey cheese. A combination that is totally to die for! You will want to make to make this Plantain Lasagna again and again.
These Lemon Pepper Turkey Wings are juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, lemony, garlicky, and the perfect dinner whether for everyday dinner or for the holidays! They are easy to prep and so flavorful!
These Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops are the tastiest pork chops you'll ever have! They are ready in 25 minutes from start to finish and perfect for weeknights, Sunday dinners, or the holidays.
The deliciousness of this Marry Me Chicken will leave you craving for seconds and thirds. Ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for weeknights or for entertaining. And as the name suggests, this meal could really get you a marriage proposal.
This Steak Fried Rice is filled with tender bits of steak, aromatic rice, eggs, and crisp veggies. The perfect 30-minute dinner and also a great way to clean out the fridge!
Nigerian Beef Stew is a vibrant tomato beef stew made with bell peppers, tomatoes, and aromatics. Serve with a side of rice, sweet fried plantains, and coleslaw for a true Nigerian dining experience. This recipe makes a big pot of stew so feel free to scale the recipe if you want a smaller quantity.
If you are looking for a duck recipe that yields really tasty duck without any added sugar, make this Herb Roasted Duck. It is garlicky, herby, and flavorful to the bone. The perfect main dish for holiday gatherings and special dinners. See blog post above for step-by-step photos and lots of tips.
Thin sea bass fillets are well seasoned and pan-seared to create a quick tasty meal. May this Pan Seared Sea Bass become a regular on your dinner table. You could replace sea bass with any other fish with firm flesh.
Flavor-packed, tender, and juicy are some words to describe these Pan Seared Chicken Tenders. They are ready in 15 minutes. Isn't this what dinner dreams are made of?
The tastiest Baked Dry Rub Ribs you will ever have! Made with a simple dry rub, these pork ribs are easy enough to make for weeknights and fancy enough to make for the holidays or special occasions.
These Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings; all the flavors of Jerk Chicken on Chicken Wings. So perfect for outdoor grilling or can be made in the oven under broil. Spicy, smoky, so good!
These Chicken Meatballs are baked but taste fried. They are paired with a savory-sweet herby tomato sauce and served with spaghetti. You can serve these chicken meatballs with any side you like.
Plantain pancakes made with ultra sweet plantains need no added sugar because the sweetness from the plantains is enough! They are slightly sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and amazing plantain flavor. These pancakes are perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacking or breakfast-for dinner.
Herb Roasted Chicken with garlic and herbs. You could use dry or fresh herbs for this recipe. I used dried herbs for a quicker prep time. The combination of herbs and garlic makes this whole roasted chicken so flavorful! It is a must-try especially if you love easy dinner recipes.
My mother’s recipe for Savory French Toast. This Savory French Toast is made without milk. It is a very easy french toast recipe with minimal ingredients yet so tasty! Enjoy!
These oven grilled chicken wings are epic in every way. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and super tasty with big bold flavors! Enjoy these oven grilled chicken wings on their own (seriously) or pair with your favorite side. My favorite side is some fried plantains and some pepper sauce or spicy/herby mayo. Enjoyment at its peak!
This Poulet Yassa also called Chicken Yassa is chicken cooked in caramelized onions – one of West Africa’s favorite dishes! Perfect with boiled rice for dinner.
How to make absolutely tasty Potato Frittata with creamy potatoes and well-seasoned eggs. The perfect breakfast, brunch lunch or dinner! This frittata can be made ahead too which makes it ideal for entertaining.
These savory hand-held African style meat pies are EPIC! Believe me when I say you’ve never had meat pies like these before. The pie crust is perfectly flaky and the filling is perfectly meaty. Add a slice of hardboiled egg into each pie to take it up a notch. Insanely delicious!
This Pan Fried Teriyaki Salmon is coated in a tasty sweet and salty sauce. Serve with hot fluffy rice and your favorite vegetable side dish for a satisfying dinner. Ready in 17 minutes!
Poulet DG (Directeur Gรฉnรฉral) is French for chicken CEO. That’s because the dish was mostly served to high-ranking officials in Cameroon. It is a one-pot dish that combines chicken and plantains in a flavourful tomato sauce. It is so flavourful and a total party in the mouth.
85. Fried Potatoes and Eggs (Breakfast For Dinner)
Fried Potatoes and Eggs Breakfast Recipe (+VIDEO)
5 from 1 vote
Fried potatoes and eggs breakfast recipe consists of African style french fries and omelette. It is so filling that you could equally make it for dinner. It is one of my favorite breakfasts ever! Watch the video to see how I make this! Feeds two hungry people or could stretch to four smaller servings.
This Pan Seared Shrimp has amazing flavor! Just season some shrimp and sear in a hot skillet and you will have an amazing meal ready in under 15 minutes from start to finish!
This cabbage is stewed together with other vegetables and served with the most delicious potatoes. The potatoes are boiled then baked for better texture and taste. I learned how to make the epic potatoes from my aunt in Cameroon.
This fish sandwich made with crispy beer battered fillets is a fish lover’s dream come true. It is ready in under 30 minutes! My family had this for dinner and everyone enjoyed it! Hope you enjoy this easy fish sandwich recipe.
With some garlic, lemon juice, and fresh herbs, this Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb is ridiculously tasty. Serve with mashed potatoes or your favorite side dish for an elegant dinner, perfect for gatherings.
Lettuce Salad with fresh crisp vegetables and a light lemon vinaigrette. The perfect healthy salad for the whole family, for potlucks, summer parties and entertaining. Serve with some grilled fish or chicken on the side and you have the perfect healthy dinner!
Here is how to make phenomenal Nigerian Jollof Rice complete with tasty fried chicken on the side. It is the African rice and chicken meal you will want to make over and over again. Watch the video to see me walk you through the process.
98. Scrambled Eggs With Vegetables (Breakfast for Dinner)
Scrambled Eggs With Vegetables
5 from 2 votes
These Scrambled Eggs With Vegetables pack a ton of nutrients and are versatile enough to be eaten for breakfast lunch or dinner. This meal comes together in no time which makes it perfect for weekdays or weeknights.
Tasty shrimp in a garlicky white wine sauce makes the perfect appetizer served alongside some crusty bread for mopping the sauce! This Shrimp In White Sauce is irresistibly good! Perfect for making when you have company or when you just want something insanely delicious!
How To Make Pap (Fermented Corn Porridge) From Scratch
5 from 1 vote
How to make pap, a corn porridge typically eaten in Cameroon and Nigeria. Instead of using whole corn as is traditionally used, I use corn flour in this recipe and the results are epic. It is authentic, slightly tangy and so comforting. I love having this for breakfast or a quick dinner. Divine!
It doesn't take much to make insanely good chicken wings at home and this Garlic Butter Wings proves that! With only a few ingredients you'll be rewarded with well-seasoned wings all made in the comfort of your own kitchen. You don't even need extra dipping sauce because you could dip the chicken into that glorious garlic butter sauce.
This plantain frittata is the ultimate plantain and egg breakfast recipe. The sweetness of the plantains pairs so well with the savoriness of the eggs and other ingredients. You’ll want to make this over and over again!
Dark meat lovers unite! You'll love the flavors and juiciness of these roasted turkey thighs. It's hard to mess these up as they stay juicy even after cooking for a while. Only 10 minutes of prep time is required for this holiday or everyday dinner!
Quick and easy Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry that is loaded with flavor and quite easy to make! Serve over rice or noodles for a satisfying dinner. This stir fry cooks in about the same time as needed to cook rice. So get some rice going on one burner and let's make some stir fry!
These Baked Turkey Drumsticks are a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey! They are so flavorful with the combination of herbs and spices used. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetable side dish for a satisfying meal.
Here is an Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe you can make, even if you are new to making pizza at home. The crust is crisp on the outside and hollow in the middle. The roasted tomato pizza sauce you'll spread on top is fragrant and, next-level delicious. And, of course, there is gooey cheese. Skip ordering and make this for your next pizza night!
Also, friends, here are my favorite tools that help make dinner time a breeze for me! These are affiliate links, which means if you purchase any of these tools through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Cast Iron Skillet. I use my cast iron skillet all the time! It is great for searing fish, chicken, or meat, and it can easily go from stovetop to oven. Every home cook needs a cast iron skillet!
Dried Spices. Dried Spices and herbs make life so much easier, and I use them all the time! With a good spice collection, you get great-tasting food without always having to prep fresh spices and herbs.
Cast Iron Braiser. I use my cast iron braiser all the time! It is a great pot for making one-pot meals and can also easily go from stovetop to oven.
Cooking for yourself and your family is one of the most productive and important things you can do in life. Because nourishing your body right is necessary.
Therefore, investing in making dinner time easier should be a priority. These easy dinner recipes for family are recipes I enjoy making for my family.
I really hope this post makes dinner time quicker and easier for you, no matter how busy your life is.
If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave them below. I love hearing from you!
Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.
Thank you for all these findings and am really feeling the taste for am from that area you mention back home. Achu, fufu corn , njam njama , plantains, cornchaff, jeloff etc are all my favourites.. You are just best , you have the touch and do what i know.
I will request you to inform me on a good research what powder or a substance that is organic or can be joint together to make our stews a bit thicker for accompaning rice, fufu and other carbos, just to make sure there is no water running side by side the oil after final cooking.
Thanks for your great stuff its teaching and enriching.
Hi Francis, I am so glad the recipes have been useful. You do not need to add any substance to thicken stews. Just blend lots of tomatoes and onions together then fry the mixture in oil until the tomatoes no longer taste sour. Then you can add spices like garlic, ginger, herbs, etc. Add very little water to your stew so it isn’t watery. You can use the search button on the right side of the blog to search for my stew recipes. Hope this helps.
Hello precious thank you ๐ for these amazing meals/menu.can I have a link to your meals monthly planner please?
You are so welcome, Aggi.
Excellent recipes so glad I found this. Stuff I’ve eaten but thought I could never make
Thank you, Sonya!
Hi Precious,
Thank you for all these findings and am really feeling the taste for am from that area you mention back home. Achu, fufu corn , njam njama , plantains, cornchaff, jeloff etc are all my favourites.. You are just best , you have the touch and do what i know.
I will request you to inform me on a good research what powder or a substance that is organic or can be joint together to make our stews a bit thicker for accompaning rice, fufu and other carbos, just to make sure there is no water running side by side the oil after final cooking.
Thanks for your great stuff its teaching and enriching.
Best Regards
Francis A Vitung.
Hi Francis, I am so glad the recipes have been useful. You do not need to add any substance to thicken stews. Just blend lots of tomatoes and onions together then fry the mixture in oil until the tomatoes no longer taste sour. Then you can add spices like garlic, ginger, herbs, etc. Add very little water to your stew so it isn’t watery. You can use the search button on the right side of the blog to search for my stew recipes. Hope this helps.
Hie do you have any recipe books for sale dear
Not yet, dear.