Ten Easy Family Dinners We Make Again and Again

Let’s face it – in the chaos of daily life, having a handful of reliable dinner winners is like finding gold. Between sports practices, homework battles, and those nights when your brain is too fried to even think about meal planning, these tried-and-true recipes become your kitchen superheroes.

We put our heads together to share our families’ top picks – the meals that never get eye-rolls from our kids and that we can practically cook with our eyes closed. These ten recipes have saved us from the dreaded “what’s for dinner?” panic more times than we can count, and we’re pretty sure they’ll do the same for you.

Our Ten Go-To Dinners

1. Spinach Ravioli
   Costco’s spinach ravioli is a freezer staple for us. The herb and parm topping packets included make it so easy. Just boil the ravioli, add the toppings, and you’re done. We sometimes add a red, white, or garlic butter sauce to it for a little extra flavor (but usually we just eat it as is!)

Added protein option: For some added protein we’ll add some italian sausage, but my kids prefer it without.

2. Chili
   Especially in the colder months, chili is a regular in our rotation. We make it both with and without meat with a mix of black, pinto, and cannellini beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a variety of seasonings. It’s perfect with a slice of crusty bread and makes great leftovers.
   
   If you’re looking for the perfect chili recipe, I’ll be honest – I just add four cans of drained beans, one can of fire roasted tomatoes, chicken stock to cover, a packet of chili seasoning. If we’re doing the meat I brown that first in the pan. Let it all simmer and bring the flavors together. It’s even better reheated the second day!

3. Hawaiian Chicken
   This dish, found on the Trader Joe’s Five Items or Less Instagram, has become a quick favorite. Chicken breast, barbecue sauce, spicy honey, and pineapple chunks cook together in the crockpot and are served over rice.
   
4. Cheater Korean Beef Bowl
   A quick and easy dinner, this meal is inspired by bulgogi. We use ground beef or turkey, cook it with soy sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, and sesame oil, then serve it over rice with green onions. It’s a crowd-pleaser in our house.

Here’s the original Korean beef bowl recipe that inspired this dinner!

5. Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken
   This is a frozen meal we swear by. The sauce caramelizes beautifully in a pan, making it taste like a restaurant dish. We always double up on the orange chicken because everyone loves it so much. No recipe! Just buy the frozen orange chicken and cook per the directions on the package.
   
   We serve with some combination of the following: green beans or broccoli, jasmine rice (also available frozen!) and pot stickers (yep, also frozen.)
   

6. Ranch Chicken
   A staple in our home, this three-ingredient meal never gets old. Chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, and powdered ranch seasoning cook together in the crockpot. We usually serve it over rice or pasta—delicious!

Try the Crock Pot Ranch Chicken Recipe for Yourself!

7. Quiche
   This easy-to-make dish features a store-bought frozen crust filled with a mixture of eggs, cheese, and broccoli. It’s a quick dinner that everyone loves, and we often serve it with roasted potatoes.
   
8. Barbecue Beef Enchiladas
   This tasty dish combines the rich flavors of barbecue sauce with the comfort of enchiladas. We use ground beef or sometimes turkey, mix it with taco seasoning and barbecue sauce, and roll it up in tortillas. Top it all with more barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese, then bake to perfection. It’s always a hit.

Here’s the original barbecue beef enchilada recipe!

9. Steak with Broccoli and Kale Salad
   This meal is a summer favorite. We grill steaks and serve them with Trader Joe’s broccoli and kale salad kit. It’s simple, yet satisfying, and hits the spot when we’re in the mood for some red meat.

10. Italian Sausage with Marinara
    Italian sausage with RAO’s marinara is a simple yet delicious meal. Sometimes, we skip the pasta and just enjoy the sausage and sauce for a low-carb option. When we do want pasta, we love Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi as a side.

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