Choose one of these family-friendly recipes, assemble the ingredients (and your helpers) and get to work. You won't just be creating a meal. You'll be making a memory.
Chicken taco pizzas
Get the whole family involved in the preparation of these delicious chicken taco pizzas. The big kids can chop up an assortment of toppings and the little ones will love topping their crusts to their hearts' delight.
Make your own calzones
Not sure how to please the entire crew? Try a "make your own calzone" night. Even the pickiest of eaters will love this DIY dinner recipe. Bring the kids to the market and let them choose their own toppings like mozzarella cheese, sausage crumbles, colorful peppers, chicken and more. Use prepared dough and let everyone roll out their disk of dough, fill with goodies, seal and bake.
Quinoa crusted chicken
Assembly lines aren't only helpful in a factory. They're also a great way to give each member of the family their own dinner duty. To make this breaded chicken recipe, one helper can handle flour dredging, another can dip the cutlets in egg wash and a third can coat the pieces with the quinoa mixture.
Easy meatball subs
Mmm. Meatballs. Let the kids get hands-on in the preparation of these mouthwatering meatball subs (with careful attention to hand washing before and after).
Fish sticks
Forget the frozen fish sticks and try this recipe for pecan-crusted tilapia sticks instead. They're healthier than the sodium-packed fish sticks that come in a box and so much more fun to make. Assign three family members to the flour, egg wash and breadcrumb dipping stations.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are the perfect choice for those busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table now. The kids can chop up toppings, smash up avocados for guacamole and customize their quesadillas just the way they like them.
Italian chopped salad
Think your kids won't eat salad? They just might surprise you. This chopped salad recipe includes irresistible ingredients like chicken breast chunks, salami, olives, mushrooms, mozzarella and more. Enlist the whole family's help in setting out the ingredients and let the kids take a trip through the build-your-own salad bar.
Sloppy Joes
You know it's going to be a good night when sloppy Joes are on the menu. Budding chefs can help with the chopping and sauteeing of this mouthwatering meal. Go for the original or try this lighter "sloppy Jane" recipe.
Kabobs
Meat kabobs, veggie kabobs and dessert kabobs make family dinner a little more fun. Have the kids help with chopping ingredients and threading them onto the sticks. Those skewers can be sharp, so use adult supervision with the little ones.
Tostada bowls
Have an older child ready to cook on the stovetop? Put him in charge of stirring a pot of beans. Others can chop up veggies and other toppings. You or your spouse can fry up these black bean tostada bowls, or go the easy route and buy pre-made tostada bowls or shells.
More family dinner inspiration:
Tonight's dinner: Hamburger sliders
Perfect herb pot roast recipe
Easy dinner ideas for busy families