44 Quick-Prep Meals for Big Families

Read Time: 19 mins

44 Quick-Prep Meals for Big Families2/44 Buffalo Sloppy Joes 28 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Buffalo Sloppy Joes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Lean ground turkey makes this a lighter sloppy joe than the standard ground beef version. A hefty splash of hot sauce and optional blue cheese provide an authentic Buffalo-style flavor. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 279 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 475mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2

A chicken club pizza topped with lettuce, tomatoes and dressing?

starch. 3/44 Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza 15 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A chicken club pizza topped with lettuce, tomatoes and dressing? You’re in for a treat! Vegetables give the cheesy crust a cool crunch. —Debbie Reid, Clearwater, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 444 calories, 25g fat (13g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 939mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein. 4/44 Grilled Chicken Ranch Burgers 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Chicken

Ranch Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is one of the most fantastic, flavorful burgers I’ve ever made. Ranch is a favorite in dips and dressings, and believe me, it doesn’t disappoint in these burgers, either! —Kari Shifflett, Lake Mills, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 1 burger: 371 calories, 19g fat (5g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 498mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein. 5/44 6/44 Broccoli Beef Braids 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 loaves

(4 servings each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

(4 servings each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Each slice of this fast-to-fix golden bread is like a hot sandwich packed with beef, broccoli and mozzarella. —Penny Lapp, North Royalton, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 2 pieces : 396 calories, 23g fat (6g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 644mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein. 7/44 Pressure-Cooker Chicken Chop Suey 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’re in for a busy evening, here’s a wonderful way to ensure you can still

have a healthful supper

have a healthful supper. It’s tasty, traditional—and easy, too. —Melody Littlewood, Royal City, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 182 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 709mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch. 8/44 Heavenly Crab Cakes 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Heavenly Crab Cakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I switched to a low-fat diet, I thought I’d never be able to eat crab cakes again. But then I found

this recipe

this recipe. Now I can enjoy these little patties of paradise—without any guilt! —Laura Letobar, Livonia, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 150 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 108mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 11g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 lean meat, 1 starch. 9/44 Wasabi Beef Fajitas 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Beef fajitas get an eastern spin with gingerroot, sesame oil and wasabi, a type of Japanese horseradish. You can find it in the Asian section at your supermarket. —Taste of

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1/2 fat

Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1 fajita: 287 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 507mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1/2 fat. 10/44 Flavorful Grilled Pork Tenderloin 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Folks can find me grilling, no matter the weather. This moist pork tenderloin has loads of flavor thanks to its special spice blend, and it doesn’t get much easier to make. My wife especially likes that she doesn’t

have to do the cooking!

have to do the cooking! —Steve Ehrhart, Villa Park, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked pork: 135 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 416mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat. 11/44 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

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. 12/44 Garlic Lime Salmon 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This moist and tender fish is lightly seasoned, so leftovers work well in other recipes. —Gail Uchwat, Sand Springs, Oklahoma Nutrition Facts: Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (4 ounces) equals 380 calories, 30 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 67 mg cholesterol, 68

mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 23 g protein

mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 23 g protein. 13/44 Huli Huli Chicken 156 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Huli Huli Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I lived in Hawaii, I got this recipe for chicken marinated in a ginger-soy sauce from a friend. Huli means “turn” in Hawaiian and refers to turning the meat on the grill. —Sharon Boling, San Diego, California Nutrition Facts: 2 chicken thighs: 391 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 151mg cholesterol, 651mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (14g

sugars, 0 fiber), 43g protein

sugars, 0 fiber), 43g protein. 14/44 Sloppy Joe Pizza 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 22 min Servings 2 pizzas (8 pieces each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If your kids like sloppy joes, they’ll love this pizza. I came up with the six-ingredient recipe that’s easy to assemble. —Brenda Rohlman, Kingman, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 218 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 482mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein. 15/44 Homemade Corn Dogs 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Corn Dogs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total

Both kids and grown-ups will love this hearty corn dog batter

Time 25 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Prepare corn dogs at home just like you’d get at the fair. Both kids and grown-ups will love this hearty corn dog batter. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana Nutrition Facts: 1 corn dog: 316 calories, 23g fat (7g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 588mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 8g protein. 16/44 Chili Beef Noodle Skillet 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A friend gave me this recipe. My husband likes

the hearty blend of beef, onion and tomatoes

the hearty blend of beef, onion and tomatoes. I like it because I can get it to the table so quickly. —Deborah Elliott, Ridge Spring, South Carolina Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 344 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 90mg cholesterol, 351mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 27g protein. 17/44 Crescent Roll Hot Dogs 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Crescent Roll Hot Dogs Recipe photo by Leticia Almeida for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Not only do my grandchildren love these cheese-filled hot dogs, they enjoy helping

put the meal together, too

put the meal together, too. It’s the perfect solution when you need a last-minute lunch. —Lyletta Searle, Morgan, Utah Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 325 calories, 25g fat (10g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 797mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 11g protein. 18/44 Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Instant Pot chicken and broccoli is a simple riff on a classic Chinese chicken dish that proves you can savor the takeout

taste you crave while still eating right

taste you crave while still eating right. —Connie Krupp, Racine, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 241 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 798mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. 19/44 Shrimp Fried Rice 14 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This delectable shrimp fried rice is filled with color and taste that makes it vanish fast. Our family of four can’t get enough of it. Bacon adds crispness and a

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⭐ Expert Tips

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

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

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✅ 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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