30-Minute Dinners for Big Families

Read Time: 20 mins

30-Minute Dinners for Big Families1/43 Beef Skillet Supper 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sometimes I’ll make extra of this comforting, noodle-y supper to guarantee leftovers. It’s a great take-along dish for work or school. Trim calories from the entree by substituting ground turkey for the beef and low-fat cheese for the full-fat cheddar. —Tabitha Allen, Cypress, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 368 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 90mg cholesterol, 548mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein. 2/43 Meatball Pizza

Add a tossed salad and you have a delicious dinner

18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I always keep meatballs and pizza crusts in the freezer to make this specialty on the spur of the moment. Add a tossed salad and you have a delicious dinner. —Mary Humeniuk-Smith, Perry Hall, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 320 calories, 16g fat (8g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 754mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 17g protein. 3/43 Tangy Turkey Tostadas 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From

Have them any night of the week

the Recipe Creator: I’m a health fitness specialist and personal trainer, so I know how important it is to make smart food choices to fuel my day. These fast and filling tostadas are packed with lean protein, fiber and a good dose of veggies. Have them any night of the week. —Julie Huntington, Memphis, Tennessee Nutrition Facts: 2 tostadas: 356 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 739mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 25g protein. 4/43 Haystack Meal 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Haystack Supper Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2

casseroles (6 servings each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Served as the main dish at our family reunion buffet, this flavorful layered taco-style dish was a true crowd-pleaser. Folks were pleasantly surprised to find a rice layer, and everyone enjoys the creamy cheese sauce. —Jill Steiner, Hancock, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 888 calories, 55g fat (24g saturated fat), 164mg cholesterol, 1746mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 41g protein. 5/43 Fiesta Turkey Tortilla Soup 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved GRACE NATOLI SHELDON FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe

Mom made a ring with chicken and broccoli one night

From the Recipe Creator: I’m always thankful when I can pull such a delicious soup together in under 30 minutes. —Amy McFadden, Chelsea, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups (calculated without additional salsa): 203 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 1264mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 20g protein. 6/43 Pizza Ring 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pizza Ring Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Mom made a ring with chicken and broccoli one night. I said I’d rather have pizza. That’s how this

recipe was born!

recipe was born! —Tricia Richardson, Springdale, Arkansas Nutrition Facts: 2 pieces with 2 tablespoons pizza sauce: 214 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 593mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 10g protein. 7/43 Pulled Pork Pasta 101 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Pulled Pork Pasta Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’m the proud mother of wonderful and active children. Simple, delicious and quick meals like this BBQ pork skillet are perfect for us to enjoy together after school activities, especially if

I have leftover pulled pork

I have leftover pulled pork. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups: 428 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 903mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 4g fiber), 20g protein. 8/43 Italian Joes on Texas Toast 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is toasty-good for a weeknight on the go. If you double the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, meat and wine, you’ll have enough sauce to freeze. —Ashley Armstrong, Kingsland, Georgia Nutrition Facts: 1 open-faced sandwich: 353 calories,

Make it meatless by omitting the chicken and tossing in more edamame

19g fat (7g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 626mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein. 9/43 Gingered Spaghetti Salad 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Jim Wieland For Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We love this chilled chicken salad brimming with colorful veggies. Make it meatless by omitting the chicken and tossing in more edamame. —Cindy Heinbaugh, Aurora, Colorado Nutrition Facts: 1-3/4 cups: 355 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 7g fiber), 26g protein. 10/43 Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

A good friend made us this rich, comforting soup after the birth of our son

110 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 12 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A good friend made us this rich, comforting soup after the birth of our son. It was such a help to have dinner taken care of until I was back on my feet. This yummy dish is so simple to fix that now I give a pot of it (along with the recipe) to other new mothers. —Joanna Sargent, Sandy, Utah Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 218 calories,

It’s a satisfying meal that feels upscale, but will fit just about any budget

9g fat (4g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 980mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 15g protein. 11/43 Bistro Mac & Cheese 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Bistro Mac & Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like to serve this mac & cheese with a salad and crusty bread. It’s a satisfying meal that feels upscale, but will fit just about any budget. And because the Gorgonzola is so mild in this dish, even the kiddos will go for it. —Charlotte Giltner, Mesa, Arizona

Hay and Straw

Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 468 calories, 22g fat (14g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 649mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein. 12/43 Herbed Artichoke Cheese Tortellini 26 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Dan Roberts For Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This flavor-packed meatless recipe features tomatoes, black olives and artichoke hearts tossed with tender cheese tortellini. —Karen Anzelc, Peoria, Arizona Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups: 474 calories, 28g fat (7g saturated fat), 29mg cholesterol, 975mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 3g fiber), 11g protein. 13/43 Hay and Straw

min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 410 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 783mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 23g protein. 14/43 Sausage and Spinach Tortellini Soup 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved ALEJANDRO MONFORT FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 40 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband’s grandmother made this soup with her own homemade sausage and tortellini. We don’t make those ingredients these days, but we’re so happy to have the passed-down

recipe­—this version is almost as good as hers

recipe­—this version is almost as good as hers. It’s also an excellent way to get the kids to eat spinach! —Joyce Lulewicz, Brunswick, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 1-3/4 cups: 354 calories, 19g fat (8g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 1360mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein. 15/43 Chimichurri Steak 11 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Steak gets a flavor kick from chimichurri. This piquant, all-purpose herb sauce is so versatile, it complements most any grilled meat, poultry or fish. —Laureen Pittman,

—Susan Scully, Mason,

Riverside, California Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked steak with 3 tablespoons sauce: 336 calories, 26g fat (7g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 462mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 22g protein. 16/43 Texas Tacos 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I created this recipe by combining a bunch of taco ingredients that my kids like. Once it’s ready, I often keep the beef mixture warm in a slow cooker so the kids can quickly fill taco shells after an afternoon of rigorous soccer practice. —Susan Scully, Mason,

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat

Ohio Nutrition Facts: 2 tacos: 294 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 420mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat. 17/43 Rosemary Garlic Shrimp 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Rosemary Garlic Shrimp Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Delicate shrimp take on fabulous flavor when simmered in a chicken broth mixed with garlic and ripe olives. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 110 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 139mg cholesterol, 473mg

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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