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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Quick and Easy Family Dinners

    Modified: May 7, 2025 · Published: Jun 5, 2020 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    A collage of savoury dinner recipes for families.

    Browse our collection of quick and easy family dinners... from delicious burgers to simple pastas, classic lasagne to meatballs, fried rice to pies and more!

    A collage of savoury dinner recipes for families.

     

    Quick & Easy Family Dinners

    Whether you're after a fast midweek meal or a lazy weekend slow cooked dinner, our simple family dinners are just what you need!

    Creamy Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken

    Pop it into the slow cooker in the morning and have the most delicious family dinner ready by the end of the day! Serve it with mashed potato or pasta for a yummy midweek dinner.

    Creamy Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe
    Creamy Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and parmesan cheese is the ultimate winter comfort food. Serve with pasta for a simple meal the whole family will love. 
    5 from 77 votes
    Creamy Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and parmesan cheese is the ultimate winter comfort food. Serve with pasta for a simple meal the whole family will love. #creamy #tuscan #slowcooker #crockpot #chicken #dinner #family #recipe #meal 

    Mexican Lasagne

    Quick, easy, tasty… and most importantly, EVERYONE LOVES IT!!!! This Mexican lasagne is ALLLL of those things and so much more!

    Mexican Lasagne with Tortillas Recipe
    Classic lasagne gets a Mexican makeover with this irresistible tortilla lasagne! Using tortillas instead of pasta sheets, it features hearty layers of seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, tomatoes and cheese, all baked together until bubbly and golden.
    5 from 15 votes
    A layered Mexican lasagne made with tortillas and taco beef mince.

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Burgers

    This is one of my hubby's recipes... and it's absolutely delicious!! Pop the pork into the slow cooker and leave it for a few hours to become super yum, and then whip up a slaw or salad just before serving. Too easy!

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    The most delicious sweet and juicy fall-apart slow cooker pulled pork recipe that's perfect for burgers, tacos and salads. 
    5 from 35 votes
    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Burger

    Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies

    These Creamy Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies topped with crispy puff pastry are easy to make and taste delicious… a classic winter dinner.

    Chicken and Leek Pies with Bacon Recipe
    These irresistible chicken and leek pies are classic family comfort food! Encased in flaky puff pastry and packed with a creamy chicken, leek and bacon filling; they make an easy and comforting dinner that everyone will love.
    5 from 13 votes
    A chicken and leek pie cut open on a plate.

    Muffin Tray Chunky Meat Pies (freezer friendly!)

    Nothing beats a homemade pie - and these individual chunky beef ones are the BEST! Serve with vegetables or salad for a classic family dinner (and freeze any leftovers!).

    Chunky Beef Party Pies (Mini Meat Pies) Recipe
    An Aussie icon, these delicious meat party pies are a must-have at any gathering! Featuring a rich, chunky beef and gravy filling encased in golden, flaky pastry.
    5 from 4 votes
    A beef party pie cut in half.

    Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

    Hearty, creamy and delicious! And best of all, any leftovers from this family-friendly meal can be popped into the freezer and reheated for a quick and easy meal.

    Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe
    A family favourite beef stroganoff recipe, filled with tender beef in a creamy mushroom sauce served with pasta.
    5 from 26 votes
    A bowl of creamy beef and mushroom stroganoff, served over egg noodles.

    Pumpkin & Spinach Lasagne

    Layers of creamy pumpkin, spinach, tomato and lasagne sheets make the most delicious meat-free dinner!

    Pumpkin & Spinach Lasagne Recipe
    Pumpkin & Spinach Vegetarian Lasagne is a healthy and delicious family dinner made with layers of creamy pumpkin and ricotta, spinach, lasagne sheets and tomato sauce.
    5 from 18 votes
    This vegetarian Pumpkin & Spinach Lasagne is the perfect midweek meal... the yummy layers of pumpkin, spinach, ricotta, lasagne sheets and tomato sauce make it an easy and healthier alternative to a traditional lasagne.

    Tuna Pasta Casserole

    A creamy pasta with lots of veggies and the most delicious crunchy top made from breadcrumbs and melted cheese. YUM!!!

    Tuna Pasta Bake Recipe
    My classic creamy Tuna Pasta Bake is a family favourite! It's a budget-friendly midweek dinner that's packed full of vegetables and can be made ahead of time and frozen. 
    5 from 14 votes
    My classic creamy Tuna Pasta Casserole is a family favourite! It's a budget-friendly midweek dinner that's packed full of vegetables and can be made ahead of time and frozen. 

    Oven Baked Chicken Parma Balls

    Simple chicken meatballs topped with tomato sauce and cheese... a favourite family dinner! Serve with mashed potato or pasta for a yummy midweek meal.

    Oven Baked Chicken Parma Balls Recipe
    These Oven Baked Chicken Parma Meatballs with an Italian tomato sauce and melted cheese are a family favourite! Kid-friendly, easy and delicious!!
    5 from 38 votes
    These Oven Baked Chicken Parma Meatballs with an Italian tomato sauce and melted cheese are a family favourite! Kid-friendly, easy and delicious!!

    Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

    You can never go wrong with a creamy pasta. So good! Add in some chicken for protein, pesto for the crazy-delicious factor, baby spinach and tomatoes for freshness, and you’ve got a pasta dish made in heaven.

    One Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe
    This delicious One Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta is the perfect midweek meal. Family-friendly, quick, easy and on the table in just 30 minutes.
    5 from 18 votes
    A bowl of creamy pesto pasta with chicken, tomatoes and spinach.

    Classic Zucchini Slice

    My all-time favourite zucchini slice is the perfect midweek dinner - and with just 10 minutes prep time, it couldn't be easier.

    Zucchini Slice Recipe
    Our quick and easy Zucchini Slice recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare and is a classic family favourite. This freezer-friendly recipe is perfect for lunch boxes or an easy family dinner.
    5 from 22 votes
    A half-eaten piece of zucchini impossible pie on a blue and white plate.

    Oven Baked Thai Chicken Meatballs

    This is one of the most popular meals in our house! Serve the meatballs in lettuce cups with sweet chilli dipping sauce... super fast, super fresh and super YUM!

    Oven Baked Thai Chicken Meatballs Recipe
    Healthy oven baked Thai chicken meatballs that are tender, juicy and packed full of flavour!
    5 from 40 votes
    A bowl of chicken meatballs covered in sauce and sesame seeds.

    Noodle & Beef Chow Mein

    A good old classic fave! This easy family dinner is the perfect way to smuggle in some extra veggies.

    Noodle & Beef Chow Mein Recipe
    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. 
    5 from 43 votes
    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. #chow #mein #beef #noodles #family #dinner #recipe #thermomix #conventional #healthy #cabbage #vegetable

    6 Ingredient Egg & Bacon Pie

    A 30 minute dinner with just 6 ingredients! This is one of the most popular recipe on my website (and it's no surprise why!).

    Traditional Egg and Bacon Pie with Puff Pastry Recipe
    You are going to love this traditional egg and bacon pie with puff pastry crust! A creamy, savoury egg filling is dotted with pieces of smoky bacon and tasty cheese and encased in a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust.
    5 from 59 votes
    A piece of egg and bacon pie with chutney in the background.

    Easy Cheesy Beef Lasagne

    Total cheesy deliciousness. This is the ultimate in easy family dinners!

    Easy Beef Lasagne Recipe
    A quick and easy beef lasagne that's extra cheesy and ready to eat in just 1 hour! With no need to make a bechamel sauce, it is the perfect midweek family dinner!
    5 from 109 votes
    a baking dish of lasagne, with a tea towel wrapped around it, with a serving being lifted out

    4 Ingredient Egg & Bacon Carbonara

    This creamy carbonara is made from eggs, bacon, pasta and parmesan cheese. That. Is. It!! Too simple, right!?

    Fettuccine Carbonara Recipe
    Made with eggs, bacon, pasta and parmesan, this 4-ingredient fettuccine carbonara is ready in less than half an hour.
    5 from 20 votes

    Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne

    Pop this baby on in the morning and come home to a delicious winter warmer.

    Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne Recipe
    A healthy and family-friendly Mexican Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne recipe made with beef, beans and tomato and served with rice, corn chips, sour cream and spring onions.
    5 from 17 votes
    A bowl of rice rice, slow cooker chilli con carne, sour cream and corn chips.

    Do you have any more family dinner recipes to add to the list?

    WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

    More Quick And Easy Dinner Recipes

    • A collage of dinner recipes made using beef mince.
      Beef Mince Recipes
    • An overhead shot of a bowl of cheesy taco pasta.
      Taco Pasta
    • A bowl of colourful salad with red onion, pasta, cherry tomatoes. chicken, bacon and cheese.
      Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
    • A cheesy topped vol au vent filled with creamy mushroom, leek and chicken.
      Chicken And Mushroom Vol Au Vent

    Comments

    1. Ellen Taylor says

      August 19, 2017 at 1:40 am

      Hey Lucy,
      Thanks for saving my time. Some recipes really looks yummy and hope also take less times to prepare.

      Reply
    2. Marge Amery says

      August 17, 2017 at 3:09 pm

      hi, I am trying to buy the quick mid week recipe book but cannot find the link for it. Can you help please. I absolutely love your other books.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Lucy Mathieson says

        August 18, 2017 at 4:51 am

        Hi Marge, our dinners ebooks (there's 2) are only available in Thermomix versions (not conventional). If you're after the Thermomix ones, here's the links:
        - https://bakeplaysmile.com/product/month-thermomix-dinners/
        - https://bakeplaysmile.com/product/thermomix-family-dinners-desserts/
        🙂

        Reply
    3. Marge Amery says

      August 08, 2017 at 9:21 am

      Your cook books are the best thing since sliced bread. I have bought 5 of them now and just about to buy the family meal one. I use them all the time. thank you for making my life at home, after working all day, so much easier and tastier.

      Reply
      • Lucy Mathieson says

        August 08, 2017 at 4:53 pm

        Oh Marge you've made my day!!! Thank you so much! xx

        Reply

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    I’m Lucy! A mum, a wife, a food blogger and a lover of all things to do with food! I love creating delicious, no-fuss Thermomix and conventional recipes the whole family will love. Classic baking favourites, lunch box snacks, quick and easy family dinners and more!

    More about me →

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