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31 Easy Family Meal Ideas For Busy Weeknights

ByWendy Mallins

Wondering what to cook for dinner? We've got a whole month of tasty, easy family meal ideas for you to eat your way through!

With the hustle and bustle of daily life, balancing kids and work, it can be hard to decide what to cook for dinner every night.

Luckily, we have you covered with some great ideas for tea, 31 easy family meal ideas that are sure to please everyone at the table.

From classic tea-time favourites to tasty pasta and quick curries to easy Mexican dishes. These family dinner ideas will make mealtime stress-free and delicious.

Easy Family Meal Ideas

If you're reading on your mobile or tablet, just swipe left or right to scroll through the recipes or use the little arrows to flick through. And you can just click straight through to the meal ideas and recipes on the underlined recipe titles below the pictures

  • chicken and halloumi. burger on ciabatta rolls with rocket salad and Nando's chilli jam. Bowl of peri peri wedges in the background - family meal ideas
    Our Chicken And Halloumi Burger is a delicious, easy-to-make chicken burger that the whole family will LOVE! You can air fry, grill or BBQ this easy family meal idea! Get the recipe here - Chicken And Halloumi Burger Recipe
  • southern fried chicken wrap with chips served in buckets - family meal ideas
    Southern Fried Chicken Wrap is one of our favourite tea ideas and always a hit with the kids! Especially if it comes with a side of chunky chips. Get the recipe here - Southern Fried Chicken Wrap
  • pesto pine nut salad served in a glass bowl alongside a pot of olives and some growing parsley
    For family dinner ideas that are easy to make you can’t beat pasta! Try freshly cooked pasta, pesto, toasted pine nuts and mozzarella. A quick and simple go-to pasta recipe for busy weeknights that can be served warm or cold. Get the recipe here - Pesto Pine Nut Pasta
  • turkey mince curry - turkey keema made with spinach and peas served alongside fluffy boiled rice, naan breads, Indian mint sauce and mango chutney - family meal ideas
    A quick and easy to make Turkey Mince Curry that’s super tasty and is ready in under 30 minutes! Choose a few side dishes and you’ve got a great meal for busy weeknights! One of our favourite easy family meals! Get the recipe here - Turkey Mince Curry
  • minced beef stir fry served with rice and topped with a fried egg, spring onions, coriander, sesame seed and chopped green chilli
    Try our tasty sticky minced beef stir fry with rice for a simple and fast weeknight meal. One of our tastiest delicious family dinner ideas! Incredibly easy to prepare, and you’ll savour every last mouthful! Get the recipe here - Minced Beef Stir Fry
  • fish finger tacos - taco boats stuffed with salad, fish fingers and salsa on a wooden serving platter with watermelon and nachos to the side - family meal ideas
    If your kids love tacos then you’ve just got to try our fish finger taco recipe. A quick and easy meal idea that can be ready in less than 20 minutes! A delicious family dinner idea! Get the recipe here - Fish Finger Tacos
  • tuna pasta bolognese served in white bowls
    Our Canned Tuna Pasta recipe is made entirely from store cupboard ingredients and ready to eat in just 15 minutes! Quick and easy family recipes are perfect for an easy weeknight meal. Get the recipe here - Canned Tuna Pasta
  • cooked firecrackers chicken sauce in a skillet, scattered with chopped coriander and served alongside Tilda microwave egg fried rice
    One of our favourite family meal ideas! Mmmm we just can’t get enough of this delicious Firecracker Chicken recipe! Perfect for Friday night ‘fake-away’ and super easy to make too! Get the recipe here - Firecracker Chicken
  • halloumi fajitas with salad, sour cream and candied jalapeños. Panful of halloumi and peppers on the table along with different fajita toppings - family meal ideas
    Need vegetarian family meal ideas? Everyone just LOVES our quick and easy halloumi fajitas. Soft flour tortillas stuffed with delicious seasoned halloumi and vegetables with our favourite fajita toppings. A super easy home cooked meal! Get the recipe here - Halloumi Fajitas
  • Air fryer Nando's chicken recipe marinated chicken sliced on a wooden board - family meal ideas
    Craving that Nando’s chicken vibe at home? Well… you can cook up a delicious air fryer Nando’s fakeaway at home in no time at all! This is one of our most popular family meals! Get the recipe here - Nando’s Chicken In The Air Fryer
  • cooked burger in air fryer basket
    The best bit about air fryer burgers is that you can enjoy a burger fresh from the grill, even when it’s pouring with rain outside! A top choice when it comes to family meal ideas! Get the recipe here - Air Fryer Burgers
  • spicy beef taco bowl with rice, taco mince, spicy beans, shredded cheese, grilled peppers and nacho crisps
    One of our go-to family meal ideas - Serve up our easy taco bowl recipe for weeknight dinner. It’s easy to make, easy to prep ahead and is a total riot of colours and flavours. Plus all those veggies count towards your 5-a-day! Get the recipe here - Taco Bowl
  • vegetable curry in a black pan served alongside naan bread, mango chutney and Indian mint sauce
    This is one of the quickest, easiest vegetable curry recipes! It’s one of our easiest family meal ideas and best of all it’s a low cost recipe, so great if you’re wanting to spend less but still eat well! Get the recipe here - Mixed Vegetable Curry
  • hotdog pasta served in colourful bowls and sprinkled with cheese - family meal ideas
    Easy family meal ideas don’t come easier than this! Cook up our one-pan hot dog pasta – flavourful smoky tomato sauce and packed with veggies. Always a big hit with the kids! Get the recipe here - Hot Dog Pasta
  • chicken and chorizo jambalaya served with cheesy nachos and coleslaw - family meal ideas
    A hearty and flavourful dish, chicken and chorizo jambalaya is on of our go-to family meal ideas, a total favourite. And you can serve with salads for summer or baked beans for cold days. Get the recipe here - Chicken And Chorizo Jambalaya
  • vegetarian fajitas - pan full of spicy veggies and black beans being spooned onto a soft tortilla with grated cheese, avocado and sour cream - family meal ideas
    It’s easy to whip up a batch of our vegetarian fajitas with black beans for a speedy, weeknight family dinner, and they’re packed with protein and fibre. Get the recipe here - Vegetarian Fajitas
  • beef stir fry with baby corn, broccoli and spring onions in a bowl alongside a bowl of boiled rice scattered with chopped coriander - family meal idea
    One of our favourite family meal ideas - a quick and easy beef stir fry recipe with broccoli and baby corn in a rich and delicious hoisin sauce. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Get the recipe here - Beef Stir Fry
  • dirty rice family meal ideas served with side of cheesy nachos
    Our easy Dirty Rice recipe is one of our top picks for quick, filling and delicious family meal ideas. Ready in just 20 minutes this is great for busy days when you just want dinner ready fast! Get the recipe here - Dirty Rice
  • homemade family meal ideas - quick chilli con carne with baked beans - chilli is in an enamel skillet pan and is scattered with chopped coriander
    Looking for a super quick chilli con carne recipe? Our easy chilli recipe takes just 30 minutes from start to finish making it perfect for weeknight dinner. Tasty, flavourful and just a super simple family meal. Get the recipe here - Chilli Con Carne With Baked Beans
  • peri peri chicken wraps served with McCain chipotle chips and salad in a silver bucket. Bowl of corn cobs alongside - family meal idea
    Not only are our peri peri chicken wraps on of our favourite quick family meal ideas, they’re also simple to make, they taste amazing. Whenever I cook these peri peri wraps, the kids love them and I’m guaranteed empty plates. Get the recipe here - Peri Peri Chicken Wraps
  • Super easy Spicy Chicken Noodles recipe.A go-to for a low cost tea idea with just a handful of ingredients and ready in only 30 minutes! Get the recipe here - Spicy Chicken Noodles
  • family meal ideas - creamy chicken and chorizo pasta scattered with chopped flat leaf parsley
    Our creamy chicken and chorizo pasta recipe is packed with delicious Italian ingredients and cooked in a tomato based sauce, just finished with thick, double cream and Parmesan cheese for that final, ‘get in my belly’ comfort food touch! Perfect easy family dinner! Get the recipe here - Creamy Chicken And Chorizo Pasta
  • sausage stir fry served alongside some Tilda microwave rice
    For a quick and easy family dinner idea try out our Sausage Stir Fry recipe. Packed with fresh veggies and tasty sausages all sizzled up in a delicious sticky hoisin sauce. Get the wok out and get cooking! Get the recipe here - Sausage Stir Fry
  • family meal ides - air fryer salmon with noodles and side dish of steamed broccoli and baby corn
    If you’ve been looking for a really easy way to cook delicious salmon fillets in the air fryer then this is definitely for you! Served with stir fried noodles, this is one of our favourite family meal ideas! Get the recipe here - Air Fryer Salmon Fillets
  • family meal idea cheese and tomato pasta bake fresh from the grill
    Our Tomato Pasta Bake is a delicious hearty dish that is perfect an easy tea idea. It’s super simple to prepare and can be on the table in just 20 minutes. Get the recipe here - Tomato Pasta Bake
  • air fryer chicken fajitas on a wooden board with nachos, salsa and sour cream
    How to make the BEST air fryer chicken fajitas – tender juicy chicken and vegetables stuffed into soft flour tortillas, with all your favourite toppings! Get the recipe for an easy family meal idea here - Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
  • chilli nachos loaded with beef mince chilli, cheese, avocado, salsa and spicy mayonnaise
    For a super easy family dinner that the kids will go MAD for, you really need to cook up a tray of our legendary chilli nachos recipe. Get the recipe here - Chilli Nachos
  • air fryer pizza bagels served on a white plate with vegetable crudités and fruit plate with melon and strawberries - bottle of orange juice with a black and white striped plastic straw to the side.
    Pizza Bagels are a fantastic, quick and easy tea-time treat for the kids too. I usually just add a side of veggie sticks and a fruit plate. Get the recipe here - Air Fryer Pizza Bagels
  • easy italian pasta salad with red onions, mozzarella, black olives, baby plum tomatoes, chargrilled peppers and salami - family meal ideas
    A really easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe. Totally loaded with mouthwatering flavours, there’s only 10 minutes of cooking needed to throw this family meal ideas together, making it perfect for eating on hot days or making ahead and keeping in the fridge. Get the recipe here - Italian Pasta Salad
  • air fryer tandoori chicken served with turmeric rice, lime wedges, spicy indian salad, mango chutney and indian mint sauce
    Making tandoori chicken in the air fryer is a total breeze. Serve it up with spicy chips, turmeric rice and Indian salad. On of our favourite easy family meals. Get the recipe here - Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken
  • easy family meal ideas - homemade puff pastry pizzas topped with sun dried tomatoes, chopped ham, cheese and olives on a serving platter with fresh salad, cucumbers , tomatoes and herbs
    Super easy puff pastry pizza recipe that’s on of our top quick and easy family meal ideas – just top with your favourite pizza toppings, bake and eat! Get the recipe here - Puff Pastry Pizza

And if you're looking for a delicious dessert to follow dinner, check out our dessert Pinterest board here.

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Wendy is the creator of Daisies & Pie, a UK food blog sharing easy meals and home lifestyle tips since 2012