What’s for dinner? I have 50 Easy, Healthy Family Meals to get you out of the dinnertime rut, and bringing dinnertime joy back to the table for everyone. No need to make separate meals for kids and adults. Dinnertime is about sharing the same meal together. After all, you are not a short order cook!
Being a parent is hard. So why does dinner have to be hard too? Today, I’m focusing on ways to help not only simplify your dinner time routine but get you out of the “what’s for dinner” rut! My recipe round-up of 50+ Easy Healthy Family Meals is sure to be your new go-to. My hope, is that you will save (or pin) this list of family meals and start cooking down the entire list.
Most dinners are perfect for a family of 4. However, some might make more or a little less. Either way–I know you are going to love this time saving guide to give you a wide variety of ideas for dinner.
Jump to:
- FAQS
- Healthy Beef Dinner Ideas
- Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
- Loaded Taco Skillet (One-Pot-30 Minutes!) | Wholesome Made Easy
- Skillet Picadillo
- One Pot Supreme Pizza Pasta Skillet
- Southwest Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
- Chili Pasta
- Greek Bowl with Meatballs
- Italian Meatloaf
- Zucchini Bolognese
- Chunky Beef Chili with 3 Beans
- Instant Pot Meatloaf with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
- Healthy Chicken Dinner Ideas
- Chicken Milanese Recipe
- Pizza Chicken Roulades – Emily Bites
- Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer
- Chicken Florentine Pasta
- Stir-Fried Chicken with Pineapple and Peppers | Wok Wednesdays
- Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta – cheesy ranch perfection
- One-Pot Healthy Turkey Skillet | Produce For Kids
- One Pot Ground Chicken Fajita Pasta
- One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken
- Greek Chicken Kabobs
- Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomatoes
- Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin with Mushroom Gravy
- Tuscan Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Vegetables – The Kitchen Prep Blog
- Chicken Wonton Stir Fry Recipe
- Turkey and Black Bean Chili
- Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chicken Enchilada Skillet – Iowa Girl Eats
- Skillet Turkey-Bacon Shepherds Pie
- Easy Mexican Spaghetti Bake Recipe | Julie Blanner
- Healthy Pork Dinner Ideas
- Slow Cooker Steakhouse Pork Tenderloin Dinner
- Gluten Free Egg Roll In A Bowl
- Instant Pot Salsa Pork Chops (Video) – Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Roasted Chili Lime Pork Tenderloin
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Peppers
- Sheet Pan Harvest Pork Chop Dinner
- Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin with Carrots and Pearl Onions
- Polish Feast: Roasted Pork, Potato Dumplings, Sauerkraut, and Red Cabbage
- One Pot Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
- Pork Ragu
- Healthy Seafood Dinner Ideas
- Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli
- Grilled Lemon Garlic Red Snapper
- Salmon Croquettes Recipe
- Air Fryer Fish Sticks (Easy Homemade Fish Sticks) | Valerie’s Kitchen
- Shrimp and Sweet Pepper Stir-Fry
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon
- Mahi-Mahi Fish Tacos with Mango and Avocado Salsa
- BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowls (Gluten Free) – Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Easy Teriyaki Salmon
- Baked Cod Recipe
- Shrimp Stir Fry with Ramen Noodles
- Baked Cajun Mahi Mahi Dinner
- Healthy Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
- Vegetarian Fajitas
- Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup
- Sheet Pan Cauliflower Gnocchi & Vegetables – Meals, Heels & Cocktails
- Kale Carrot and Broccoli Stir-Fry
- Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta with Parmesan, Lemon and Garlic
- Healthy One-Pot Enchilada Pasta – Vegetarian + Gluten-Free
- One Pot Creamy Vegetable Linguine
- Lime Couscous with Veggies
- Spaghetti Squash Skillet “Lasagna” – Meals, Heels & Cocktails
- Lighter Spaghetti Carbonara
- Easy Bean and Cauliflower Rice Enchiladas | Vegan Gluten Free
- Lentil Stew
FAQS
Here are a few of my frequently asked questions when it comes to cooking healthy family meals.
Cooking healthy for your family can be easier if you set yourself up for success. Here are a few of my tips and tricks on how to start cooking healthy for your family.
1. Meal Plan– This sounds like a no brainer, but it really is the way to start cooking healthier. If you have a plan in place for the week you are less likely to steer away from it, and more likely to actually stick to the plan.
2. Whole Foods – These are foods with a single-item ingredient list like carrots, broccoli, chicken, salmon… See below because I go into this in more detail.
3. Meal Prep – Circling back to number 1… if take time to meal prep like chopping vegetables, marinating meat in the beginning of the week you will set yourself up for success.
4. Healthy Swaps – This is a somewhat easier one for some and not so easy for others. Instead of fried chicken try an oven baked chicken that resembles the crispness of that fried chicken you love so much. Think outside of the box. Try little swaps to start with.
5. Flavor – Don’t skimp on flavor. Healthy food does not have to taste bland or bad! Add some homemade cajun or blackening seasoning on fish or veggies. You will be surprised by how much flavor it has and it’s still healthy for you!
I am not a nutritionist by any stretch of the imagination, but I do know a thing or two about foods. Here are a few of my go-to tips for eating cleaner as a family.
-Cook your own meals – Try staying away from eating out and eat in more. During these current times it’s a little easier; however, when you eat out you don’t know the quality of food nor what is really in it. Thinking you are eating healthy, but in all actuality that fried chicken salad has over 1,000 calories in it!
–Eat Whole Foods – Think of whole foods (not like the Supermarket) as stuff that either has a heart beat or grown. So essentially meat, vegetables, and fruits. They are not packaged–fresh and full of so much nutrients.
–Avoid Packaged Foods – This is a biggie and one that is so hard to do in this day in age. Don’t get me wrong my family eats their fair share of packaged foods. However, when I can afford it both time and money I will make the recipe by scratch vs grabbing a package that is pre-made. Packaged foods tend to have tons of extra ingredients that we don’t typically need (i.e., preservatives, chemicals and other stuff that you can’t understand on the label).
– Read the labels – Yes, this is really a thing! Read the labels. If you can’t pronounce it then you probably shouldn’t put it in your body. At least that’s my motto.
Healthy Beef Dinner Ideas
If you are looking for Healthy Beef Dinner Ideas I have over a dozen for you. From my family favorite of Skillet Picadillo to my kids most requested dinner of Instant Pot Mongolian Beef. Or give my Instant Pot Meatloaf with Garlic Mashed Potatoes you cook both the potatoes and meat together! You are sure to find something to please your palate.
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
Loaded Taco Skillet (One-Pot-30 Minutes!) | Wholesome Made Easy
Skillet Picadillo
One Pot Supreme Pizza Pasta Skillet
Southwest Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Chili Pasta
Greek Bowl with Meatballs
Italian Meatloaf
Zucchini Bolognese
Chunky Beef Chili with 3 Beans
Instant Pot Meatloaf with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
Healthy Chicken Dinner Ideas
If you are looking for Healthy Chicken Dinner Ideas I have over a dozen for you. From my Chicken Milanese Recipe, air fryer chicken strips, or even my grilled lemon chicken recipe. Don’t forget to try my Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin with Mushroom Gravy. It’s one of my most popular here on Katie’s Cucina! You’ll find plenty of healthy family-friendly chicken dinner ideas.
Chicken Milanese Recipe
Pizza Chicken Roulades – Emily Bites
Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer
Chicken Florentine Pasta
Stir-Fried Chicken with Pineapple and Peppers | Wok Wednesdays
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta – cheesy ranch perfection
One-Pot Healthy Turkey Skillet | Produce For Kids
One Pot Ground Chicken Fajita Pasta
One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken
Greek Chicken Kabobs
Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomatoes
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin with Mushroom Gravy
Tuscan Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Vegetables – The Kitchen Prep Blog
Chicken Wonton Stir Fry Recipe
Turkey and Black Bean Chili
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chicken Enchilada Skillet – Iowa Girl Eats
Skillet Turkey-Bacon Shepherds Pie
Easy Mexican Spaghetti Bake Recipe | Julie Blanner
Healthy Pork Dinner Ideas
If you are looking for Healthy Pork Dinner Ideas I have over a dozen for you. From one of my most popular and reader favorites of Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin with Carrots and Pearl Onions to my Polish Feast: Roasted Pork, Potato Dumplings, Sauerkraut, and Red Cabbage. You are sure to find something delicious.
Slow Cooker Steakhouse Pork Tenderloin Dinner
Gluten Free Egg Roll In A Bowl
Instant Pot Salsa Pork Chops (Video) – Kalyn’s Kitchen
Roasted Chili Lime Pork Tenderloin
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Peppers
Sheet Pan Harvest Pork Chop Dinner
Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin with Carrots and Pearl Onions
Polish Feast: Roasted Pork, Potato Dumplings, Sauerkraut, and Red Cabbage
One Pot Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
Pork Ragu
Healthy Seafood Dinner Ideas
If you are looking for Healthy Seafood Dinner Ideas I have over a dozen for you. My family loves seafood and I love that we can enjoy a healthy yet delicious dinner. Some of our favorite dinners is my Lemon Butter Garlic Salmon with Broccoli, Grilled Lemon Garlic Red Snapper, or my One Pot Shrimp Scampi Zoodles. You are sure to find a healthy family-friendly seafood dinner recipe.
Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli
Grilled Lemon Garlic Red Snapper
Salmon Croquettes Recipe
Air Fryer Fish Sticks (Easy Homemade Fish Sticks) | Valerie’s Kitchen
Shrimp and Sweet Pepper Stir-Fry
Pistachio Crusted Salmon
Mahi-Mahi Fish Tacos with Mango and Avocado Salsa
BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowls (Gluten Free) – Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Easy Teriyaki Salmon
Baked Cod Recipe
Shrimp Stir Fry with Ramen Noodles
Baked Cajun Mahi Mahi Dinner
Healthy Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
If you are trying to cut out your meat consumption, try more plant-based meals, or maybe it’s just the way you and your family typically eat you’ll love some of these Healthy Plant Based Dinner Ideas.
For a fun twist on taco night I invite you to try my easy skillet Vegetarian Fajitas. For a home takeout spin on stir-fry give my Kale Carrot and Broccoli Stir-Fry a try. Or try my copycat Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup or my One Pot Creamy Vegetable Linguine.
Vegetarian Fajitas
Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup
Sheet Pan Cauliflower Gnocchi & Vegetables – Meals, Heels & Cocktails
Kale Carrot and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta with Parmesan, Lemon and Garlic
Healthy One-Pot Enchilada Pasta – Vegetarian + Gluten-Free
One Pot Creamy Vegetable Linguine
Lime Couscous with Veggies
Spaghetti Squash Skillet “Lasagna” – Meals, Heels & Cocktails
Lighter Spaghetti Carbonara
Easy Bean and Cauliflower Rice Enchiladas | Vegan Gluten Free
Lentil Stew
I hope you find this recipe round up of over 50+ healthy dinner ideas for family as useful as I do. Whenever, I’m stumped at menu planning, I’ll take a look at this list and figure out what to make my family of 4.
Robin {Mom Foodie}
What a fantastic collection… now I’m hungry.
Katie
Thanks Robin!
Christine from Cook the Story
So many great recipes to try, I don’t know where to start!
Paula - bell'alimento
How awesome is this! You’re making it really easy to find healthy family friendly meals!