10 Family-Style Dinners for Easy Weeknight Cooking

Meals served family-style encourage conversation and second helpings. These recipes make extra leftovers and are ideal for weeknight evenings with loved ones.

Jumbo Meatballs and Spaghetti

A white plate with spaghetti topped with a jumbo meatball. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

Treat your family and friends to a delicious and fun dinner with my recipe for Jumbo Meatballs and Spaghetti! Kids love a plate of spaghetti and tomato sauce with one giant meatball perched on top. Grate over some Parmesan cheese and let the feast begin.

Bowl of penne pasta mixed with arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, and grated cheese on a marble surface.

Learn more and get the recipe: Homemade Jumbo Meatballs and Spaghetti

Easy Baked Ziti

A spoonful of baked ziti. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

This Easy Baked Ziti pasta with its rich tomato-meat sauce and gooey cheese will make you feel like an expert in the kitchen. It’s super comforting American-Italian food that all ages love. It’s easy to make and is even better the second day!

Learn more and get the recipe: Easy Baked Ziti

Southern Meatloaf

Sliced glazed meatloaf topped with herbs on a wooden cutting board. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

One of the most iconic of all American dinners is the meatloaf. It’s easy to mix up and happily bakes in the oven while you take care of other things. My Southern Meatloaf recipe, topped with a tangy brown sugar and ketchup topping, is a true family-pleasing dish that’s ready for the oven in just 20 minutes!

Learn more and get the recipe: Southern Meatloaf

Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

A serving of chicken pot pie casserole on a white plate. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

This easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is comfort food made for busy days. With a few smart shortcuts like cooked chicken and refrigerated biscuits, you can have this in the oven in about 15 minutes. It turns out creamy, luscious, and golden on top, with all the familiar flavors of a classic pot pie and minimal work. When you need supper to be comforting and uncomplicated, this recipe always comes through.

Learn more and get the recipe: Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Easy Baked Spaghetti with Cheese

A spatula holding a serving of baked spaghetti. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

This easy, oh so cheesy Easy Baked Spaghetti with Cheese contains layers of bubbly cheese, hearty meat sauce, and perfectly cooked spaghetti. It’s a great, kid-friendly weeknight dinner for busy families.

Learn more and get the recipe: Easy Baked Spaghetti with Cheese

Instant Pot Beef Stew

A serving of beef stew over rice in a white bowl with a pressure cooker in the background. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

Your family will love this easy Instant Pot Beef Stew! It’s a hearty recipe made with stew beef, potatoes, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes that can be on the table in under 30 minutes when you use a pressure cooker.

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Learn more and get the recipe: Instant Pot Beef Stew

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta

A bowl of penne pasta with arugula, tomatoes, and grated cheese on top. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

This easy BLT Pasta takes everything you love about a classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich and turns it into a fantastic weeknight dinner. Crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, tender penne, and a lightly creamy finish come together quickly, which is exactly what a tired cook needs at the end of a long day.

Learn more and get the recipe: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta

Baked Catfish with Herbs

Baked catfish with lemon slices on a white serving plate. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

Follow this quick and easy recipe for fresh Baked Catfish fillets topped with herbs, butter, and lemon. A perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will love, ready in under 30 minutes!

Learn more and get the recipe: Baked Catfish with Herbs

Italian Sausage Alfredo

A skillet of creamy pasta with mushrooms and parsley, next to a red-striped towel and empty plates with forks. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

This Italian Sausage Alfredo is a creamy, cheesy combination of linguine with sausage and mushrooms that’s great for either family dinners or special occasions!

Learn more and get the recipe: Italian Sausage Alfredo

Red Beans and Rice

A bowl of white rice topped with sausage, beans, and tomato stew, with fresh thyme on the side. — Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking

When I need something warm, filling, and full of flavor, I reach for this quick Red Beans and Rice recipe. It’s rich with tradition and comes together quickly thanks to a few smart shortcuts.

Learn more and get the recipe: Red Beans and Rice

My Southern Table Cookbook

If you like these recipes, you’ll love my cookbook! It’s 348 pages filled with 246 recipes, each with a full-color photo. Visit Lana’s Cooking for more information.