School has been especially stressful this year. Here are some fun dinners the whole family will look forward to all day.
A 7-Day Meal Plan of Kid-Friendly Dinners
Updated on Jan. 12, 2022
1/6
Sunday: Chicken Ranch Mac & Cheese
Total Time
80 mins
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Prep once and feed the family twice when you double this chicken mac and cheese and freeze half of it. I created it for the people I love most, using ingredients they love most. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 586 calories, 37g fat (15g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 889mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein.
2/6
Monday: Cheeseburger Soup
Total Time
55 mins
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
A local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup but wouldn’t share its recipe with me. So I developed my own, modifying a recipe for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American treat turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 354 calories, 20g fat (11g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 1012mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 14g protein.
3/6
Tuesday: PB&J French Toast
Total Time
15 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandpa made an awesome breakfast for us grandkids: French toast that started on the griddle as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.—Lindsey Folsom, Dorsey, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich (calculated without confectioners' sugar): 370 calories, 19g fat (7g saturated fat), 109mg cholesterol, 416mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein.
4/6
Wednesday: Waffle-Iron Pizzas
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These little pizza pockets are a fun mashup using the waffle iron. Try your favorite toppings or even breakfast fillings like ham and eggs on this waffle pizza. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Nutrition Facts:
1 pizza (calculated without sauce): 461 calories, 21g fat (8g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 1650mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 19g protein.
5/6
Friday: Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was looking for ways to spice up traditional chicken nuggets and came up with this recipe. The chips add a crunchy texture and flavor, while the meat is tender on the inside. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 308 calories, 17g fat (1g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 690mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 28g protein.
6/6
Saturday: Fair-Favorite Corn Dogs
Total Time
20 mins
Servings
10 corn dogs
From the Recipe Creator:
Bring the county fair home to your kitchen with these summer-ready corn dogs. A tip for dipping: Pour the batter in a tall Mason jar and dunk your dogs to create an even coating all around. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 corn dog: 352 calories, 23g fat (7g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 682mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein.
