25 Quick Healthy Weeknight Dinners for Families with Picky Eaters
Easy healthy weeknight meals for families with picky eaters! These quick healthy dinner recipes are budget-friendly, kid-approved, AND simple to make.
When you’re trying to feed your family healthy meals, you can get a LOT of push-back.
They want nuggets, burgers, or mac and cheese, and you want them to have some protein and maybe even veggies. (Gasp!)
Luckily, you can actually marry their tastes with your wishes, by making healthier versions of typical kid-friendly meals.
I put together a list of quick and healthy family dinner recipes …
… so you can pull together a healthful meal that they’ll actually eat.
(Without spending all afternoon cooking!)
There’s so much variety on this list, so you’ll definitely find some new ideas to add to your meal plan.
Let’s check ‘em out!
💡 Psst: Want a whole YEAR of dinner ideas at your fingertips? Grab my One Year of Dinners Meal Plan, with 365 different easy family-friendly recipes!
Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
A healthier, super crunchy version of your fast food favorite that's not only top 8 allergy-free, but a mom-approved quick & easy kid-friendly dinner idea.
Pizza Chicken Bake
Just 3-ingredients for this easy Pizza Chicken Bake, it's a healthy dinner idea that can be made dairy-free, gluten-free, allergy-free, low-carb keto, or paleo.
Kids will love this chicken casserole recipe that can be customized with homemade marinara sauce and any pizza toppings you want.
Healthy Sloppy Joes
Saucy and filled with flavor, this homemade sloppy Joe recipe is made without ketchup or brown sugar.
Plus, it's filled with hidden veggies to make it a healthy version of the classic recipe we all know and love.
It's easy to make in just one pan, making it the perfect quick and easy meal.
Caprese Gnocchi Sheet Pan Recipe
This easy, meatless caprese gnocchi sheet pan dinner recipe is a simple and delicious way to feed a big family and dress up a vegetarian weeknight dinner with minimal effort.
Vegan Meatballs
These hearty meatless meatballs are packed with lentils, quinoa, and veggies.
Baked, eggless, made without breadcrumbs, and perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs, this easy and kid-friendly recipe is great for a spaghetti dinner, subs or sandwiches, and paired with any sauce!
Quick Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Tender, juicy chicken breasts are tossed with a homemade marinade of lime, cumin, and chili powder.
Quickly sauteed with bell peppers and onions to crisp perfection, then piled high in a warm tortilla, it tastes like restaurant food at home.
Vegetarian Hamburger Helper
This one-pot Vegan Hamburger Helper is an easy, meatless homemade swap for the classic boxed cheeseburger pasta!
Hearty, full of flavor, and ready in 20 minutes, this budget-friendly weeknight dinner recipe is healthy, packed with protein, and something both kids and adults will love.
Buffalo Chicken Casserole
If your family likes buffalo wings, or a bit of spice, they’ll love Buffalo Chicken Casserole.
It is just spicy enough and packed with bold flavors that both kids and adults alike appreciate. Use regular or cauliflower rice, depending on your preferences.
Delicious Homemade Zucchini Pizza
With shredded zucchini and three delicious cheeses mixed in to make the soft and tender dough, this fresh, homemade zucchini pizza is the perfect healthy meal for the whole family.
Easy Stovetop Chili
This healthy, easy stovetop chili recipe is hearty, warming, and insanely delicious.
Packed with flavor and perfect for the entire family, the prep work is simple, and everything cooks in one big pot on the stove in less than an hour.
Baked Turkey Meatballs with Pesto
Moist and flavorful with the fresh, bright flavor of robust basil pesto, your whole family will enjoy these tender meatballs.
They pair perfectly with your favorite pasta, vegetable side, or crusty bread.
Hidden Zucchini Pasta Sauce
This zucchini pasta sauce is a great way to add veggies to your dinner table without the kids noticing.
In addition to tomatoes and a touch of cream, it creates a beautiful pink sauce that tastes amazing.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
If you’ve been on the lookout for an easy, healthy, mostly hands-off recipe to add some spice to your weeknight dinner routine, this is for you.
These quick and simple Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas are made with fewer than 10 ingredients and just a few minutes of active prep time.
Pasta e Fagioli (aka Pasta and Beans)
Pasta e fagioli, or pasta and beans, is a quick and easy, inexpensive, nutritious and delicious meal that the entire family will enjoy.
Don’t let its simplicity fool you; this is an authentic and delicious Italian recipe!
Juicy Stovetop Turkey Burgers
These easy and juicy turkey burgers on the stove are the perfect go-to dinner.
Made without egg or breadcrumbs, they're deliciously flavored with simple seasoning, and you can whip them together in less than 30 minutes.
Grilled Honey Balsamic Chicken
Grilled honey balsamic chicken breasts are grilled juicy and glazed in a sweet and tangy marinade that your family will devour.
Serve it alongside your favorite side dishes, or in a sandwich or wrap.
Sausage Broccoli Rabe Pasta with Potatoes
Your pickiest eaters might not appreciate the green color, but adding veggies to pasta, potatoes, and sausage, is an excellent way to try to sneak in some nutrition.
Chicken Broccoli Bake
This creamy, cheesy, low carb Chicken Broccoli Bake is an easy way to make a healthy, keto meal for the whole family.
Use shredded rotisserie in this gluten free cheddar chicken broccoli casserole to make it even easier. You can even serve it with some noodles or rice for the kids.
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are super flavorful and take less than 30 minutes to make, and are a healthier, low carb swap for burgers or tacos.
Serve the meat mixture on buns, tortillas, or rice if your kids won’t be into the lettuce.
Keto Taco Pie
Ready in just 30 minutes, Keto Taco Casserole is perfect for Taco Tuesday and anytime you’re looking for a family-friendly low carb dinner.
Loaded with tons of cheese and Mexican flavors, and it’s a great meal for the whole family.
Teriyaki Ground Turkey Rice Bowls
Not only does this recipe satisfy your taste buds with its savory teriyaki sauce and sweet and subtly spiced flavors, but it aligns perfectly with a balanced eating approach that doesn’t compromise on taste.
Easy Salmon Patties
These salmon patties are made with simple ingredients, come together in under 20 minutes, and are packed with flavor.
They can be eaten on their own alongside rice or veggies, as a burger, or on a salad.
Sheet Pan Chicken and Mango Stir Fry Recipe
Simplify stir fry by making it on a sheet pan!
This sheet pan chicken and mango is packed with flavor and super easy to make on a busy weeknight. Serve over a bed of rice for a balanced meal.
You can even swap the chicken for different proteins like shrimp or tofu.
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
This easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili is a dump-and-go crockpot meal you can set and forget!
It’s a healthy three bean chili that’s also vegan, gluten-free, allergy-free, and full of plant-based protein, veggies, and bold Southwest flavors.
Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
Enjoy all the flavors of pizza, but on a chicken breast! It’s protein-packed, low carb, and filling for big eaters.
Such a fun, healthy twist on traditional pizza!
Ready to make some quick healthy weeknight meals for your family!
I hope this list of easy healthy family dinner ideas has given you lots of inspiration for healthful, simple meals to try.
Feeding your family doesn’t have to be complicated – even with picky eaters – if you find some easy dishes to add to your regular rotation.
👉 Don’t forget to grab the One Year of Dinners Meal Plan for even more family-friendly dinner ideas!
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