35+ Healthy, Affordable Dinner Ideas for Families With Kids

Cooking dinner for the whole family is never a simple task, but add in young children and it becomes even trickier to pull off. Luckily, there are a number of family-friendly recipes that go beyond the usual chicken fingers and veggie sticks — and make it so that when your family sits down to the dinner table, everyone has a nutritious meal to enjoy. 

These dinner ideas for families focus on approachable ingredients and health-conscious tweaks, and because they’re all also wallet-friendly, they’ll fit right into your family’s budget. 

Did you know that we offer free Thrive Market memberships to families in financial need, including EBT cardholders? Through our Thrive Gives program, every annual membership sponsors a free membership for a family. Learn more here. 

Healthy, Affordable Dinner Ideas for Families 

Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps With Smashed Cucumber Salad & Jasmine Rice 

This dinner recipe is quick and kid-friendly, but still loaded with protein and veggies. It’s also broken down into steps to encourage little ones to help out in the kitchen, whether it’s by peeling carrots (for older kids) or just tearing off lettuce leaves for the wraps. 

Baked Cornflake-Crusted Fish (or Portobello Mushroom) Sticks With a Sweet Kale Salad

Fish sticks are an affordable staple in many households, but this homemade version makes them less processed — and even offers a meat-free alternative using mushrooms in place of fish. 

Deliciously Ella’s Super Veggies with Lemony Butter Bean Mash

Have a refrigerator drawer full of wilting veggies that you’re not sure what to do with? This nourishing recipe shows you how to serve them over a creamy butter bean mash that can be eaten with pita or crusty bread (similarly to hummus). 

Kiano Moju’s Jollof Rice Risotto With Seared Suya Spice Prawns 

Cookbook author Kiano Moju’s flavorful take on risotto uses the spices typically found in African jollof rice, plus a side of prawns cooked in peanut-forward suya spice. 

Vegan, Gluten-Free Buffalo Truffle Mac and Cheese

Whether your family has dairy allergies or adheres to a vegan diet, this dairy- and gluten-free mac and cheese offers cheesy goodness in a way that fits into many eating styles. 

Deliciously Ella’s Roasted Squash Pasta With Crispy Paprika Crumbs 

With butternut squash as a hidden veggie and tofu for added protein, this family-friendly pasta brings all the nutritious dinner essentials together in one pot. 

Charity Morgan’s Nacho Average Vegan Nachos

Game day? Family game night? These plant-based nachos are the perfect way to ensure the whole family looks forward to gathering around the dinner table — no matter the occasion. 

Deliciously Ella’s Creamy Ginger & Tofu Noodle Soup

Warm, hearty, and totally plant-based, this noodle soup is the ideal dinner recipe when you’re craving a cozy homemade meal. 

Gluten-Free Wild Shrimp and Fennel Risotto 

If you’re cooking for older kids (or slightly more elevated palates), this gluten-free risotto with wild-caught shrimp is a great way to expand their flavor horizons at dinnertime. 

Quick, Kid-Friendly Samosas (Three Ways) 

Instead of ordering Indian takeout, try making this easy, kid-friendly recipe for samosas three ways. Enlist little hands to help shape the samosas, then use these stuffing suggestions or feel free to stuff them with whatever veggies and proteins you have on hand. 

Oven-Baked Chickpea Falafel

Instead of the deep fryer, this falafel recipe uses the oven to achieve a perfect crunchy crust. Add them to sandwiches, salads, grain bowls, or on their own with a side of roasted veggies and tzatziki sauce. 

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Spicy Fennel Slaw

Use a rotisserie chicken or leftover roast chicken to make the barbecue-flavored topping for these throw-’em-together sandwiches. 

Indian Spiced Chicken Grain Bowl

A grain bowl is always an easy choice for a healthy meal with all the essential components. This one uses Indian spices for big flavor, and it becomes even easier when you pre-prep the rice and veggies at the beginning of the week. 

Salmon Pasta with Roasted Squash and Garlic Tomato Sauce 

Greek yogurt is the secret ingredient in this rich, creamy tomato sauce, which becomes even tastier when tossed with pasta and topped with flaked salmon. 

Creamy, Gluten-Free One-Pot Pasta

Chickpea pasta offers a bit more protein than your usual noodles in this meat-free, gluten-free, one-pot pasta dinner. 

From My Bowl’s Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Coconut milk replaces the heavy cream in this vegan version of the classic comfort food. 

Plant-Based Pierogies

Pierogies are fun to make with the whole family, and with this vegan version, you can accommodate dietary restrictions without sacrificing the signature fluffy, creamy potato stuffing. 

Low-Waste Fried Rice

When you have miscellaneous veggies that you don’t want to toss, reduce your food waste by using them in this simple, kid-friendly fried rice recipe.

Chef Alan Delgado’s Fire Roasted Fideo

This updated take on sopa de fideo is affordable, customizable, and tastes even better as leftovers. 

Thai-Style Beef Lettuce Wraps

Packed with protein and loaded with veggies, these handheld lettuce wraps are fun to make (and eat) with the family. 

Lemon Chicken with Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Marinate the chicken ahead of time to make this homestyle dinner even easier to prep. 

Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Wings 

For picky eaters who don’t want to eat their veggies, these cauliflower “wings” are the perfect compromise. Serve them with rice or a salad for a full meal. 

Mushroom, Spinach, and Chickpea Veggie Burger

While many veggie burgers are made with filler ingredients, this one is loaded with mostly one thing: veggies! Wholesome oats add a bit of heft, and garbanzo beans add some protein to every bite. 

Blackened Canned Fish Tacos

Using canned salmon or tuna makes these fish tacos even easier (and a whole lot more affordable). 

Paleo Pizza Recipe

If you have family members who can’t eat gluten, this paleo pizza is the perfect alternative to delivery. 

Spatchcock Chicken With Shallots, Lemon and Herbs

This dish is fairly simple to prepare, but will quickly become the centerpiece of any family dinner. 

Pamela Salzman’s Weeknight Arroz Con Pollo

Arroz con pollo, a Latin American chicken and rice dish, makes a great dinner for a large group. This one uses simple, easy ingredients that are still loaded with flavor. 

Chicken Milanese With Arugula Salad

With chicken instead of the traditional veal and a blend of coconut and almond flours to make the breading gluten-free, this recipe for chicken milanese makes classic Italian fare that’s fit for the whole family. 

Pamela Salzman’s Herbed Sweet and Spicy Salmon

You can’t top this salmon recipe if you’re searching for a dinner that looks — and tastes — impressive, but requires very little effort (and just one sheet pan to make).

Simple Roast Chicken With Garlicky Gravy

It’s always a good idea to have a simple roast chicken recipe in your family’s arsenal. This one uses organic bone broth and ghee instead of butter for a gravy that’s light, yet still incredibly flavorful. 

Miso Sheet Pan Chicken

When you’re pressed for time but still want a comforting meal, this sheet pan chicken with savory miso makes cleanup a breeze — and gets dinner on the table with just 10 minutes of prep. 

Homemade Lasagna

Love lasagna? Whether you like it loaded with ground beef or layered with veggies, this recipe will show you how to master this endlessly customizable dinner classic. 

Low FODMAP Turkey Meatballs With Pappardelle Zoodles

If you’ve got food allergies in the family, this recipe uses low FODMAP ingredients like ground turkey, EVOO, almond flour, and fresh herbs to create an allergen-free version of spaghetti and meatballs. 

Creamy Alfredo Vegan Pizza

Alfredo sauce may not seem like a vegan option, but this dairy-free, gluten-free pizza recipe makes it friendly enough for all kinds of eaters. 

Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs

You won’t miss the dairy, grain, or sugar in this Whole30 Approved® recipe for sweet and sticky baby back ribs. To make dinner even easier, use an Instant Pot so they’re ready in just a few minutes. 

Sous-Vide Salmon

Did you know that you can sous-vide salmon? Now you do — and once you taste this hands-free, slow-and-low version, you’ll wonder why you made it any other way. 

More affordable, family-friendly cooking tips: 

Yes, You Can Eat Healthily on a Budget—Here’s How
#Thrivein5: Quick, Easy, Affordable Recipes for All Day
Healthy Meals on a Budget: Tips, Tricks, and 66 Recipes