5 Quick Dinners the Whole Family Will Love

So easy but so delicious.

By
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. She runs Nosh with Micah, her personal blog.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published June 09, 2025
Micah Siva
A bowl of pasta with broccoli and a green Simply Recipes tag

Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

As of late, my toddler's adventurous eating has decided to be… a little less adventurous. He's learning the laws of gravity as he throws every single thing I make onto the floor and into the mouth of our hungry family dog. We try to intercept, to catch, and to avoid these tantrums, but at nearly two, I’ve heard it's simply a rite of passage.

While I can’t force him to eat, I can make things that he might like. So much of this week is focused on the age-old question: how do I get my kid to eat?

Instead of making him his own, special “kid-friendly” meals, I try to get him to eat what we are having, planning our weekly meals around foods I’m pretty sure he won’t flat-out refuse. That means broccoli, anything that resembles a nugget, and meat shaped into a ball.

  • Garlic Tahini Chicken

    Overhead view of Garlic-Tahini chicken breast cutlets on a green serving tray with lemon slices

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    To know me is to know that if it contains tahini, I’m eating it. Tahini (sesame paste) is so incredibly versatile, used in marinades, salad dressings, and even baked goods. Save the extra marinade to use as a sauce or salad dressing to go with your chicken.

  • 5-Ingredient Cheesy Corn Bake

    Corn casserole

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    If you are going to a summer potluck, bring this dish! With just five ingredients, this cheesy, creamy corn casserole makes an excellent side dish. Leave out the bacon or substitute a plant-based alternative for a vegetarian side dish. I’m going to serve this with some simple grilled vegetables—think of it as a corn mac and cheese!

  • Broccoli Pasta

    Closeup overhead shot of a bowl of rigatoni pasta with broccoli and parmesan cheese

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    Broccoli is always a winner at our table, and this recipe is roughly equal parts broccoli and pasta plus a little garlic and parmesan, all things my toddler will eat. I’ll add a spoonful of pesto to my dish and serve it with some grilled salmon.

  • Burger Salad

    Bowl of Burger Salad at a Table Setting With Another Bowl of Salad in the Background, a Mason Jar of Sauce, and Table Napkins

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    My son loves ball-shaped meat, so I’m adapting this burger salad to be made with beef meatballs and serving it with a medley of his favorite burger toppings and some croutons. To save time, I bought "special sauce” from the grocery store.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below

  • Smashed Bean and Cheese Quesadillas

    Three slices of a quesadilla on a plate along with lime slices at a table setting with a small plate of cilantro and a drinking glass

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    Recipe developer Sara Haas says, "I buy whole pinto beans because I like to season them myself. You could shave off a few seconds of prep time if you use refried beans in their place. Just be aware that many varieties of refried beans can be heavily salted, so you’ll need to adjust your seasoning accordingly."

Explore More: