There’s nothing I love more than dinner time correct. When dinner doesn’t take long to cook, the kitchen isn’t ruined and the kids will actually eat it. But that doesn’t always happen, and honestly I think it’s because I need more family dinners that include seven ingredients or less.
We’ve all been so obsessed with Instagram feeds of fancy dinners, fancy recipes, and a million different ways to make cauliflower that it can be hard to whip up a simple dinner for the family. I mean a complete dinner—not a main-dish recipe that requires you to pull out more jars for veggies or macaroni and cheese. But the recipes listed here are perfect for families. Each recipe calls for seven ingredients or less (we’re not counting salt, garlic powder, cooking olive oil, etc.), and they’re also complete meals. Like, not just a chicken recipe with nothing to mix it into. These recipes are also very budget-friendly and easy enough to whip up quickly on a weeknight, even if you’re stressing out about soccer practice.
So, get out your meal planning calendar and start jotting down some notes. Luckily, a trip to the grocery store is all you need.
Pan Tomato Soup
Tomato soup has never been so luxurious—and easy. This easy sheet pan tomato soup recipe from The Cozy Kitchen has you toasting the ingredients in the oven and then mixing them together to create an incredibly creamy and flavorful soup. For picky eaters, don’t decorate – keep it simple. You can even top it with some goldfish crackers.
Garlic Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Do kids like cheese noodles? Then make this One Pot Garlic Chicken Parmesan Pasta from a spicy perspective. You can add whatever seasonings suit your family, but this is a super simple dish with fewer than seven ingredients—and you don’t have to come up with any side dishes.
BBQ Chicken Nachos
I mean, how happy will your family be when you serve nachos for dinner? A Classic Twist’s Grilled Shredded Chicken Nachos can be seasoned however you want, but the original recipe has less than seven ingredients to make a super delicious nacho that’s going to be a crowd pleaser taste.
Zuppa Tuscan Soup
Do you want warmth? Do you want to have a good time? Do you want to relax? Then you want this zuppa toscana soup from Gimme Some Oven. This is a copycat version of an Olive Garden favorite that should definitely become a weeknight dinner staple.
Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole
Chicken and rice is a classic for a reason—it’s easy, delicious, and cheap. You can add different seasonings or vegetables for your family to liven up this Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole from Inside Bru Crew Life, but the basic recipe is simple and super healthy and delicious.
Pan Gnocchi
If you ask me, gnocchi don’t get enough praise, and this sheet pan gnocchi with Italian sausage from It’s a Wonderful Life in Suburbia is perfect. Puts in the oven so you can make it without ruining your whole oven.
Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Wraps
One-hand dinners are always a hit, and this recipe for damn delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Wraps is so easy. Using store-bought Caesar dressing and wraps, you can make them as filling or light as you like by adding croutons and lettuce, or even a few other family-favorite toppings.
Fried Udon Noodles with Black Pepper
I’m sure a pinch of Yum Brands’ black pepper stir-fried udon will be a frequent occurrence at your house. It’s so delicious, has the perfect sauce on the noodles, and tons of veggies – you can definitely make this into a complete dinner with almost no effort required.
Ranch Chicken Tzatziki with Garlic Parmesan Zucchini
Most of the ingredients in this Ranch Chicken Tzatziki Sauce from Half Baked Harvest are meat herbs, but feel free to grab a packet of ranch if you prefer. Add this recipe for Garlic Parmesan Zucchini for a dinner that’s on the table quickly and is still packed with flavor.
Burger Macaroni Soup
I love a good, hearty, rib-sticking soup, and that’s exactly what my mom makes in Time Out . Super budget-friendly, this recipe includes all the kid-safe veggies like corn and plenty of elbow noodles for those who like to eat it on the side of ground beef.
Instant Pot Pork Chops with Potatoes and Carrots
Talk about a hearty dinner – this Instant Pot Pork Chops with Carrots and Potatoes dish is all done in one pot and is so, so delicious. You’ll have a delicious, comforting meal that doesn’t require any extra cooking.
Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet
White beans are a great source of protein, and they also soak up any flavor you add to your dish—they’re so versatile. So if you’re looking for something easy, cheap, and delicious, try this Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet from Budget Bytes. The inclusion of sausage also adds to the protein content of this dish, so it’s a great choice to enjoy on a sports night.
Shrimp Pasta
Shrimp and shrimp is a super fancy-sounding dinner that’s actually easier to make than you think—and pretty cheap. Lemon plays a big role in this recipe from Averie Cooks, so don’t skip it. If you have picky kids, serve them a perfect bowl of buttery noodles. Extra shrimp for you!
Don’t you love having dinner that doesn’t require you to clean out your fridge and make room for more ingredients?
