Plan around the calendar
Put simple meals on activity nights and save recipes with more prep for evenings when someone actually has time to cook.
Family weeknights
Family dinner ideas for busy weeks
Good family dinners need to fit real evenings: school, work, sport, different appetites and the occasional night when nobody wants to cook. Start with practical recipes, then shape the week around your household.
Make the week easier
Keep one easy fallback
A very quick dinner in the plan gives you somewhere to move when the week changes unexpectedly.
Let leftovers do work
Planning leftovers on purpose can reduce both cooking nights and the number of separate ingredients you need to buy.
Practical family dinner recipes
These recipes serve at least four in their source version and take no more than an hour in total. Household portion scaling is available inside each recipe and in the planner.
228 matching recipes in the reviewed catalogue · showing 24
Guava-Glazed Roast Chicken Drumsticks
0 min · Caribbean-inspired
Recipe by Chef Dwight Smith
Chickpea and Tuna Salad
10 min · Italian
Recipe by GialloZafferano
Tuna Melt
10 min · Australian
Recipe by Myfoodbook
Asian Beef Bowls
12 min · Asian
Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
12 min · Western
Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
10 Minute Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
13 min · Italian
Recipe by Simple Home Edit
Pasta with ricotta cheese and basil
13 min · Italian
Recipe by GialloZafferano
15-minute chicken, broccoli and cashew stir-fry
15 min · Asian
Recipe by Coles Recipes
15-minute chicken pasta
15 min · European
Recipe by BBC Good Food
Baked Fish with Lemon Cream Sauce
15 min · Western
Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
Cauliflower Steaks with Herbed Scramble
15 min · Australian
Recipe by Myfoodbook
Easy Baked Scallops Recipe
15 min · French
Recipe by Cafe Delites
Juicy Turkey Burgers
15 min · American
Recipe by The Stay at Home Chef
One Pan Mongolian Beef Noodles with Broccoli
15 min · Asian
Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
Ricotta, Leek and Corn Fritters with Zucchini Noodles
15 min · Australian
Recipe by Myfoodbook
Chicken Piccata
16 min · Italian
Recipe by GialloZafferano
Cacio e Pepe Pasta
17 min · Italian
Recipe by Myfoodbook
Pasta with salmon & peas
17 min · European
Recipe by BBC Good Food
Aglio e Olio (Garlic Oil Spaghetti)
18 min · Italian
Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
20-minute Ravioli with Simple Sauce
20 min · Italian
Recipe by Myfoodbook
20-minute Vietnamese minced pork noodles
20 min · Vietnamese-inspired
Recipe by Women’s Weekly Food
Baked Bean Nachos
20 min · Australian
Recipe by Myfoodbook
Broccoli pesto pasta
20 min · Italian
Recipe by BBC Good Food
Easy As Pan Fried Australian Flathead with Lemon Yoghurt and salad
20 min · Australian
Recipe by Myfoodbook