Having a half pound or pound of ground beef on hand is such an easy way to get easy family dinners going for your family. And while you probably have some staple recipes you turn to, these are my go-tos that are perfect for families with little kids. These hamburger meat recipes are made with any percentage of ground beef that you have (I usually buy 90% or 95% lean) and come together so quickly. You can adjust the spices or seasonings for your family according to your own preferences. Each of these is an iron-rich recipe for kids, has ample protein, and can be made ahead of time as an easy toddler dinner. And serve them with simple sides to round out the meals, such as Roasted Broccoli, Carrot Fries, Mashed Potatoes with Broccoli, or Cinnamon Apples.
Healthy Meatballs
With three kinds of veggies and the texture and flavor your kids expect, this dinner ideas for kids is a perfect family dinner option. And since the baked meatballs taste so good, the kids will be happy when you tuck one onto their plates! They’re total comfort food and are great as leftovers. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Mini Meatballs
With classic Italian flavor, greens in the mix, and an easy cooking method, these Mini Meatballs are a super delicious family meal component to share with babies on up to adults. They are great with pasta, in sandwiches, or eaten on their own. I love to simmer them in a pan or pot of marinara sauce for extra flavor. Serve with pasta, noodles, or even top with melty cheese.
Zucchini Burgers
Here’s a new take on burger night—add some veggies and cheese (we usually use cheddar) right into the mix for extra flavor, nutrition, and easy eating. These Zucchini Burgers are so darn good!
Cheesy Stuffed Meat Buns
I’m always on the hunt for make-ahead toddler dinner options that the rest of the family enjoys too and these Cheesy Meat Buns are a big favorite with my people! These meat rolls are basically a cheese burger with the filling tucked into the bun…which means they are super easy to eat and they store and reheat beautifully in the oven.
Easy Stuffed Pepper Skillet
With the classic flavors of classic Stuffed Peppers, but much less work, this one pan dinner for families cooks up in just 20 minutes for a healthy family dinner option. And it has the added kid-friendly benefit of being served deconstructed to let the kids clearly see what’s in their bowls—including those bell peppers.
Ground Beef Pasta
I am always searching for easy weeknight dinner ideas that everyone at my table enjoys—and that don’t take me forever to actually pull together. This pasta recipe, which is essentially shortcut Bolognese tomato sauce, is one of our favorites and I love how versatile it is. I used elbow pasta here, but spaghetti would also work.
Pasta with Summer Squash and Beef
With just a few ingredients and a super simple method, you can serve up this fresh pasta dinner to everyone at the table. This is a great option for kids who prefer their pasta less saucy—and to still have a meal that’s satisfying to your adult taste buds!
Slow Cooker Beef Burritos
With lots of vegetables right in the mix and a simple slow cooker method, this ground beef recipe is an easy family dinner for the little kids and the parents at the table! And, you can simply add the ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning and the burritos are ready to roll come dinnertime.
Taco Buffet
Serve up an easy Taco Buffet without any cooking or involved prep work and have an easy family dinner on the table in minutes. This taco bar is one of my very favorite family meals and it’s so easy to customize with cheddar cheese and classic taco toppings.
Pizza Bites
Wrapping up pizza toppings inside the dough is such a fun take on pizza—and it’s a much more convenient way to offer pizza to littles. These little bites are super versatile and comforting, and store so well.
Best Tips for Success
Use lean ground beef or drain off any excess fat before proceeding with a recipe or serving as desired. Trade in ground turkey or chicken if you prefer. Season according to the recipe or to taste. Add easy sides to round out the meal. You can add cooked ground beef to my Cheeseburger Pasta, Veggie Chili, Minestrone Soup, or even my Sheet Pan Nachos casserole. My family also loves the Skillet Lasagna in my cookbook Dinnertime SOS, classic meatloaf, and this Salisbury Steak recipe.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!
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Easy Weeknight Family Dinners
4-Ingredient Sausage Pasta (with Broccoli)
This post was first published February 2023.
