“What’s for dinner?” The struggle is real! In light of the ongoing and never-ending global pandemic – here is a list of 20 easy weeknight family dinner ideas. Because we all need one less thing to stress about!

Speghetti

Effortless, fast, and always a family favourite! Whether you spice it up or keep it simple, the versatility of speghetti makes weeknight supper a breeze.

Crock Pot Roast Beef

Everybody has a slow cooker in their pantry! Right?! In our house, we use this trusty small appliance at least once a week. Try a set it and forget it approach to dinner this week! Toss a roast beast in the slow cooker with a packet of onion soup mix – along with some potatoes and carrots – and dinner is pretty well done.

Breakfast for Supper

The “most important meal of the day” – for supper! Why not?! Pick your poison – pancakes, french toast, eggs & bacon, fritatta – any of these traditionally breakfast foods would be awesome for dinner.

Fish & Chips

Fresh or frozen, simple or fancy – fish & chips are a family friendly meal idea that’s perfect for a busy weeknight!

Chicken Caesar Salad

Craving something a little less heavy and filling? Whip up a yummy chicken caesar salad with either breaded chicken fingers or ready-to-go rotisserie chicken.

Lasagna

Pressed for time? Pop a frozen already prepared lasagna in the microwave for about twenty minutes. Dinner is served! Got a little more time to prep? Create an epic lasagna from scratch! *Little tip* Mix a can of condensed mushroom soup in with the meat sauce mixture for some added creaminess!

Tacos

Not just for Tuesdays! Tacos – along with fajitas, quesadillas, and burritos – are always a hit with the whole family!

Stir Fry

Great dish for using up produce before they expire! Pick your protein – or go meatless – and saute a bunch of delish veggies. Add a homemade or bottled sauce and you’re good to go! Eat on it’s own or serve over rice or noodles.

Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes

This combo is a personal favourite of my tiny tribe! We’ll whip up a batch of porcupine meatballs with a creamy tomato sauce and serve them with some garlic mashed potatoes. The best part is adding some of the meatball sauce to the potatoes! Yummo!

Sweet & Sour Chicken over Rice

Use whatever cut of poultry the fam likes best. A simple sweet & sour sauce is super easy to put together. Check out this one! Serve over rice with some veggies if you wish! A dish like this can be done in the slow cooker or instant pot and kept warm until you’re ready to eat.

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

So comforting on a cold Winter day! Try this little trick to take your grilled cheese to another level! Mix olive oil and a clove of freshly pressed garlic. Use this mixture instead of or in addition to butter for the bread. Play around with the cheese you use and even add some veggies to the sandwich!

Goulash

Another pasta dish, but why not?! Goulash is another dish that can be customized and tweaked every time you make it. Below is the recipe for the goulash that my mom used to make me – with a little bit of a twist!

Check out my recipe for Goulash!

Burgers

Any season is barbecue season! If the weather permits – fire up the grill! Cooking burgers outside in Winter is such a treat in some parts of Canada. When we’re able to access the grill, we’ll often cook up some chops or chicken in advance, to enjoy later in the week!

Crisp Coated Chicken

Such a simple – yet tasty – weeknight dinner idea! There are so many ways to bread your chicken – or any other meat! The simplest are the ready-to-use shake n’ bake type of mixes. But one can easily whip up a coating mixture with bread crumbs and spices. Try crushed corn flakes too!

Pizza & Wings

A typical Saturday night supper in our house, but suitable any day of the week. We’re opting to cook supper at home more than eating out these days (daughter needs braces!)! So a box or two of frozen wings and a Delissio pizza in the oven and supper is good to go!

Sloppy Joes

Got some meat leftover from a previous meal? Repurpose it! Beef, pork, or chicken make a terrific batch of sloppy joes. No leftovers?! No worries! Start from scratch with some ground beef or pork for a tasty – albeit messy – weeknight dinner!

Pad Thai

This dish is another family favourite – at least in my household! Got my daughter hooked on Pad Thai a couple of years ago, so we tried making it at home! Using a premade sauce makes the process really simple. Be sure to make a big batch because this dish tastes even better the next day!

Hearty Soup or Stew

The perfect meal to enjoy after a Winter hike or outdoor skate! So many recipes for any and every taste and occasion! Take a look at this post for a little inspo!

Mac n’ Cheese

I know, I know, yet another pasta dish! But so delicious! Macaroni and cheese isn’t just for the kids. Adults enjoy this classic pasta dish just as much as their littles – maybe with a few changes though! Play around with the noodles, add protein to the dish, and try a different cheese for a change. Bake to ooey gooey perfection!

To top off this list of 20 easy weeknight family dinner ideas!

Leftovers

Let’s not let food go to waste. One night a week, just have leftovers! Food waste is a personal pet peeve and something that is completely avoidable if you plan and prepare accordingly.

Got any go-to weeknight meal ideas your family raves about? Feel free to share them in the comments. We can all use some fresh ideas for what the hell to cook for supper!