5 Easy Hacks to Make Mealtime Less Stressful

I get it.

You have a lot on your plate as a mother you are wearing many different hats.

If you have a busy family and you are juggling after school sports and clubs, and your own mom schedule (working out, running errands, and work).

By the end of the day you are exhausted but you still want to make sure that your child has a meal that is fulfilling and that will be loved.

So here are some tips to make this much easier:

• Pick one day out of the week to meal prep (you can just prep for the following day or a couple of days. You do not have to stress to meal prep for the whole week.)
• Keep it simple. Don’t stress over one meal that have over 10 ingredients and so on. (You want cheap, simple and healthy meals.)
• Make a list of meals that all of your family loves.
• If you have picky eaters instead of cooking 2 totally different meals, just cook one main dinner but customize it for your picky eaters. For example, if you will be having Creamy Chicken Alfredo and your picky eater dislikes the sauce just put some aside for your child without the sauce.
• Keep staple ingredients on hand (things that can be used each week like tortilla wraps and pasta sauce.

This list below are simple kid friendly dinner ideas that can be customized to your liking.

What are some easy side dishes for kid friendly dinner ideas?

To complete the kid friendly meals, make sure to include sides that are healthy and fulfilling.

If the entree is like a corndog make sure to include healthier sides like carrots or brocolli.

Easy Dinner Side Dishes:

• Carrots
• Cup of fruit
• Broccoli
• Rice or Colliflower Rice
• Mac and Cheese
• Garlic Bread
• Fries
• Soup
• Salad

There are so many sides that can be added to complete easy dinner ideas for kids. Check out more kid friendly side dishes here.

17 Easy Dinner Ideas for Kids

1. Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Spaghetti is a classic and a win win because it is not only for adults but kids love it too.

Simply cook pasta, warm up your favorite marinara sauce, and add in cooked ground beef or turkey.

To make it easier you can cook the pasta in the microwave. I do each time and there is no difference.

As the pasta is cooking, I am cooking the grounded beef. I like to add chopped onions and peppers. However, if your child does not like that you can skip that step.

This is served well with a nice side salad and garlic bread.

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2. Garlic Bread Pizza

If your kids love pizza but you don’t want to order takeout, garlic bread pizza is a quick and fun solution.

Use frozen garlic bread as the base, then add:

• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni or cooked sausage

Bake for about 10 minutes and dinner is ready.

If you want a full step-by-step version, check out my Garlic Bread Pizza recipe that shows exactly how to make it.

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3. Homemade Chicken Tenders

Kids love chicken tenders, and making them at home is surprisingly easy.

Simply coat chicken strips in:

• Flour
• Egg
• Breadcrumbs

Then bake or air fry until crispy.

Serve with dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or ketchup for an easy kid-approved dinner.

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4. BBQ Chicken Wings

BBQ wings make a great dinner option when you want something flavorful but simple.

Toss chicken wings in:

• BBQ sauce
• Garlic powder
• A little salt and pepper

Bake until crispy and serve with celery sticks or fries.

Kids love getting messy with wings, which makes this a fun dinner night.

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5. Chicken Fajitas

Chicken fajitas are one of those easy dinner ideas for kids that also works well for the whole family.

Cook sliced chicken breast with:

• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Fajita seasoning

Serve everything with warm tortillas so kids can build their own fajitas.

I have been eyeing this recipe for months but didn’t get up the nerve to try chicken on a taco shell/tortilla.

Guess what?

It is now my go to recipe, and it fills me up and surprisingly helps me to balance my weight.

For my chicken fajita I like to add shredded fiesta cheese, hot sauce and queso blanco sauce.

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6. Taco Night

Tacos are one of the most customizable dinners you can make.

Prepare seasoned ground beef or chicken and set out toppings like:

• Shredded cheese
• Lettuce
• Sour cream
• Salsa

Kids love assembling their own tacos, which makes dinner feel interactive and fun.

For picky eaters, you can remove the shell and just make a taco bowl.

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7. Beef Pot Roast

Pot roast is the perfect comfort meal and it’s incredibly easy if you use a slow cooker.

Add to your crockpot:

• Beef roast
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Onion
• Beef broth

Let it cook all day and dinner will be ready when you are.

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8. Breakfast for Dinner

Sometimes the easiest dinner idea is breakfast food.

Kids love when breakfast shows up at dinnertime. Try:

• Scrambled eggs
• Pancakes or waffles
• Sausage or bacon
• Fruit on the side

It’s quick, inexpensive, and always a hit.

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9. Corn Dog Dinner

Corn dogs are one of those nostalgic meals kids get excited about.

Pair corn dogs with:

• Oven baked fries
• Steamed veggies
• Fruit

This simple combo makes a complete kid-friendly dinner.

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10. Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Chicken salad is a great way to use leftover chicken.

Mix together:

• Shredded chicken
• Mayo
• Celery
• Salt and pepper

Serve it on bread or rolls with chips or veggie sticks.

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11. Mini Sliders

Mini burgers or sliders are perfect for little hands.

Use small buns and add:

• Ground beef patties
• Cheese
• Pickles or ketchup

Serve with baked potato wedges or fruit.

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12. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Grilled cheese sandwiches are one of the ultimate comfort foods.

Pair crispy grilled cheese with a bowl of tomato soup for a warm and cozy dinner kids love.

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13. Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Creamy pasta is another easy dinner idea for kids.

Cook fettuccine or penne pasta and toss it with:

• Alfredo sauce
• Grilled chicken
• Parmesan cheese

Serve with garlic bread or steamed broccoli.

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14. Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies

Sheet pan dinners make cleanup easy.

Place on a baking sheet:

• Chicken breast or thighs
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Olive oil and seasoning

Bake everything together for a simple family dinner.

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15. Baked Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic kid favorite.

You can make it even better by baking it with extra cheese on top until it’s golden and bubbly.

Add chicken or ground beef if you want to turn it into a more filling meal.

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16. Quesadillas

Quesadillas are one of the fastest dinners you can make.

Fill tortillas with:

• Cheese
• Chicken or steak
• Beans or veggies

Cook them in a skillet until the cheese melts.

Cut into triangles and serve with salsa or sour cream.

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17. Easy Fried Rice

Fried rice is a great way to use leftover rice and veggies.

Cook rice in a pan with:

• Scrambled eggs
• Soy sauce
• Frozen vegetables
• Chicken or shrimp

This quick dinner is flavorful and filling.

If you are looking for more kid friendly meals that the whole family loves check out my ‘Family Meals Made Easy’ system.

Final Thoughts

Dinner time does not have to be complicated. Just keep a few staple items on hand that you will used time and time again like tortilla shells, pasta noodles, pasta sauce and so on.

See those items are the foundation to so many kid friendly meals like the tortilla shells can make tacos and chicken fajitas.

The point is to keep it simple, cheap and healthy-ish.

Make sure to save this post to your favorite Pinterest dinner board for an easy reference.