These 37 family meal ideas for beginner cooks are made with busy families in mind. The recipes are simple to make so that dinner can be made in served without any unnecessary hassle.
Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet
Make dinner a breeze with the Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. This recipe combines ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms for a flavorful and satisfying meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Simplify your mealtime with the Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Roast flavorful sausage and a variety of vegetables on a single sheet pan for an easy and delicious dinner. It’s a time-saving dish with minimal cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Cabbage and Sausage
Whip up a quick and satisfying dinner with Cabbage and Sausage. In under 30 minutes, you can enjoy this one-pan dish that combines the flavors of cabbage and sausage for a delightful meal.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Make this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad, an easily prepared dish. It’s a perfect addition to your weekly meal rotation, offering a fun twist on traditional jalapeño poppers.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Discover the simplicity of Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole, featuring steamed frozen broccoli and cauliflower combined with a creamy cheese sauce and crispy bacon. This quick and delicious option is perfect for weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Prepare this Creamy Garlic Chicken, a one-pan dinner served over cauliflower rice. Juicy chicken breasts are cooked to perfection, then combined with a velvety white sauce for a scrumptious and effortless meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Treat your family to this Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. Ground beef, cauliflower rice, spinach, and cheddar cheese come together for a remarkably easy dish that can be made in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake
This Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake is a simple and tasty recipe. Marinated chicken thighs are baked with a creamy blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, and spinach. It’s a 30-minute dinner the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake
Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
Enjoy the flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger with this Bacon Cheeseburger Salad recipe. It’s an easy and hassle-free dish, perfect for meal prepping or as a quick and satisfying family dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Warm up with a bowl of Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. This 30-minute recipe combines Italian sausage, cream cheese, tomatoes, and cream for a flavorful soup that will keep you coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken
Give this Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken a try for a flavorful twist on classic fajitas. Chicken breasts seasoned with spices are topped with cream cheese, sweet peppers, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
This Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is a perfect option for any family dinner. Made with sour cream and mayo, it’s crisp, light, and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Create a delicious one-pan dinner with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Boneless chicken thighs are cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce made with cream, broth, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. It’s a quick and flavorful meal option.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Try this flavorful Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe. With just cabbage, bacon, and onion, you can create a delicious dish in just 25 minutes. It’s a simple and satisfying option for any meal.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup
Cozy up with a bowl of Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup. This 30-minute recipe features steamed cauliflower, broth, butter, cream, and cheese, topped with crispy bacon for a delicious combination of flavors.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Enjoy a flavorful and easy dinner with Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Juicy chicken cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce creates a delicious one-pan meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies
This Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies is an easy and delicious dinner recipe pairing dijon mustard, brown sugar, and chipotle-rubbed baked salmon with roasted potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, and thyme. It’s a perfect sheet pan recipe for a weeknight!
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies
Smothered Pork Chops
This Smothered Pork Chops recipe is a simple and classic slow cooker dish. It yields tender chops in a rich mushroom and onion gravy.
Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Chicken wings make for a quick and easy dinner. Cook them from frozen in your air fryer and serve with your favorite dipping sauces, veggies, and sides for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken
Perfect for beginner cooks, this Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken recipe takes chicken breast to the next level by stuffing it with a flavorful blend of cheese and herbs.
Get the Recipe: Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken
Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
These Cast Iron Skillet Burgers are savory patties perfectly cooked in a cast-iron skillet, served between soft buns with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steaks
Pan Seared Ribeye Steaks made easy. Use a cast iron skillet for a mouthwatering seared crust and juicy medium-rare slices. A delicious steak even new cooks can make!
Get the Recipe: Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steaks
Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs
These tender, juicy, smoked chicken thighs are perfect! Cooked in a pellet smoker, basted with BBQ sauce, and seared for crispy skin.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs
Alice Springs Chicken
Beginner cooks will love this recipe for Alice Springs Chicken. It showcases juicy chicken breasts topped with cheese, bacon, and mustard sauce.
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Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
These Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are so easy to make. Toss everything into your crock pot and let it do its magic. You’ll end up with tender, flavorful beef that’s perfect on crusty rolls with cheese.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup
For a quick and easy dinner, make a big pot of hearty Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup. Use pasta sauce and frozen meatballs to save time.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup
Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter
Flank steak is quick and easy to grill. Grill Flank Steak with Chile Butter for a sweet and spicy chili butter topping. Ready in just 20 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter
Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
Make an easy and protein-packed recipe with this Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry. Perfect for busy weeknights, ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta
This Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta is bursting with fresh citrus flavor and juiciness. Ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for new cooks!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta
Pork Fried Rice
This Pork Fried Rice recipe is inspired by Chinese takeout. It’s a quick, easy, and delicious one-pot meal, perfect for using up leftover cooked rice.
Get the Recipe: Pork Fried Rice
Ground Beef and Broccoli
Bold flavors of a sweet and spicy sauce complement tender ground beef and veggies in this Asian-inspired Ground Beef and Broccoli dish. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin is a great choice for beginner cooks. With a few ingredients and an air fryer, you’ll whip up perfectly cooked, juicy pork in no time.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops
This Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops offer a burst of sweet and savory flavors. With just a few ingredients, you can create this delicious dish.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops
Chicken Piccata
This Chicken Piccata features crispy fried thinly sliced chicken breast served with a lemon caper sauce! It looks fancy, tastes fancy, and yet it’s so simple!
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Zucchini Boat with Bacon
These quick, easy, and delicious Zucchini Boats with Bacon can be made in minimal time. Stuffed zucchini boats are perfect for a family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Boat with Bacon
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
This Tuna and Tomato Pasta is simple and satisfying. Prepared in about 25 minutes, perfect for a weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken
This Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken is a game-changer for beginner cooks. Chicken breasts smothered in a creamy ranch sauce and topped with cheese.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken