Don’t you love it when you make dinner and look around the table to see happy faces and everyone eating their food without a fuss? Let’s face it, a meal that pleases everyone’s palette makes the night much more enjoyable than cooking multiple meals or arguing over finishing food and ending the evening in frustration.
The trick to bringing out big appetites and even bigger smiles is to make fun and delicious meals that the whole family will love. If you’re looking for a few new ideas to help make dinner time a more enjoyable event for everyone, these four family-friendly dinner ideas are exactly what you need.
1. Not Your Average Baked Potato
If you’ve got an especially hungry bunch that is in need of a hearty, delicious meal after a long day of work, school or sports, it’s time to put these Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes on the dinner menu. Not only is a baked sweet potato filled with nutrients, but topping it off with protein-packed ground turkey and savory spices kicks the deliciousness up a notch. As an added bonus, this meal is a gluten-free option, too!
2. Mini but Mighty (Versatile and Delicious)
In order to introduce your little ones to a variety of foods, you have to get a little creative. These Mini Chicken Pot Pies are not only creative but delicious, too. Plus they are warm, filling, and sure to be just as loved by the adults around the table. Best of all, they open up a world of meat and veggie versatility.
Is someone not a chicken fan? No problem. Use ground beef, instead. Does one child prefer peas to corn — or broccoli to peas? Easy. You have the creative license to customize each of these little pieces of pot pie perfection to fit the different tastes of all of the picky eaters are around your dinner table.
3. Make it a Family Affair
Another family meal that is sure to be loved by all and get the whole gang in on the fun is making Individual Mini Pizzas. Start with English muffins and then gather a variety of everyone’s favorite pizza toppings. Simply set out sauces, cheese, veggies, meats and more!
Then each person can make as few or as many little pizzas as they want using only their favorite toppings. Pop them in the oven and you’ll have a no-fuss dinner on the table in no time at all!
4. Last but Certainly Not Least
If you’re looking for a new and unique way to wow your family beyond basic beef dinner ideas, consider taking a step outside of the box and preparing a delicious dinner of oxtail. One quick search of the internet will bring up a variety of oxtail dinner recipes ranging from fall-off-the-bone braised one-pot oxtail to Jamaican oxtail made with a variety of spices that will make everyone’s mouth water.
If you’re not sure where to purchase oxtail, Instacart has you covered. Check out the company’s easy-to-use meat delivery service and have the perfect cuts of meat delivered to your front door in no time at all!
Dinner time should be a time to bond and spend quality time with your family. These four fun and unique dinner ideas are sure to be a hit with everyone at your table and make dinner time enjoyable for all.