29 Last Minute Dinners For Your Picky Eater Husband (or whole family!)
From simple dump casseroles, one pot chicken, pasta, ground beef 5 ingredient recipes and easy crockpot dump meals, he will LOVE these simple meals.
If he’s a ‘meat and ‘taters’ kind of guy, there are lots of yummy comfort food ideas to make in a hurry as well!
Updated on January 19, 2025
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Truth be told, I tend to have quite a few picky eaters at my table – at at the end of a long day, the LAST thing I want to do is cook something that’s involved and time-consuming…
And then have them turn their nose up at it – sheesh!
That’s why I’ve been keeping this running list of fast last minute dinners that are all picky-eater approved AND budget-friendly.
Some recipes are a bit “fancier” that are better suited for a nice dinner for just the two of you.
But most are pretty darn easy and can feed the family.
Last Minute Dinners
One-Pan Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice is a cheesy, easy dinner loaded with simple ingredients like chicken, rice, and broccoli. This dish is perfect for a busy weeknight when things are hectic and the eaters are picky.
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this Oven Fried Chicken is so delicious and does not require any deep-frying!
This easy Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe will have your family begging for second and third helpings.
One Pan Chicken and Potatoes recipe is a simple, easy and delicious dinner idea that can be thrown together in minutes. Just toss chicken thighs, potatoes and carrots in the baking dish with seasoning & bake!
Turkey enchiladas are a delicious and easy-to-make Mexican dish that is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a fun family dinner. To make turkey enchiladas, you will need ground turkey, tortillas, enchilada sauce, cheese, and any other toppings of your choice.
This 30-minute Lemon Pepper Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a favorite with everyone. Classic, creamy fettuccini Alfredo with butter, garlic, and plenty of parmesan. Then topped with crispy lemon pepper cajun chicken. Every twirl of pasta melts in your mouth and the chicken adds a nice buttery, spiciness to every bite. It’s delicious.
One of my family’s favorite quick meal – one that even my pickiest eater approves of!
Grilled cheese sandwiches are kicked up a notch with the addition of pepperoni slices, mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce, creating pizza grilled cheese sandwiches.
Simple cornflake-crusted chicken baked up on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious. A double coat of crumbs is the secret. But the sauce…well it’s even more special. Sweet honey with the perfect combination of spices and sea salt. A delicious weeknight dinner to serve up to family and friends.
This recipe for Pollo Loco is inspired by my FAVORITE dish at just about any Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to. It’s essentially Mexican Chicken and Rice covered with white queso also known as heaven on earth and your about thirty minutes away from having it on your plate!
Big Mac Sloppy Joes are delicious ground beef sandwiches loaded with onions, pickles, cheddar cheese and shredded lettuce.
Ham & Cheese Instant Pot Pasta is so creamy, cheesy, and delicious! One of our favorite Instant Pot recipes for a quick family pleasing dinner!
You won’t find many recipes that are easier than these baked chicken tacos. You can get as creative as you’d like with the filling choices, and they only take a few minutes to assemble. That means you can make a giant batch of crispy, cheesy tacos and refrigerate or freeze for later.
It doesn’t get easier than this one pan meal! Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice is a whole meal with with the best sweet, savory, and spicy flavors all rolled into one.
Fast and easy – these French Dip Tortilla Roll Ups have all the flavors of a French Dip Sandwich, but rolled up into a tortilla instead! These are perfect for those weeknight dinners when you need to get something tasty on the table quickly.
Baked Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops is one of those everyone-should-know-how-to-make recipes and somehow still rivals a restaurant-quality meal. It’s easy, juicy and delicious and comes together quickly. In fact, it’s hard to mess up!
Chicken Pot Pie made easy! We love this Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie with pre-made biscuits, it’s a delicious fast way to get dinner on the table.
These chicken alfredo lasagna roll ups are perfect for a delicious dinner that is ready in less than 30 minutes! With a creamy ricotta and chicken filling, and topped with alfredo sauce and cheese!
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is a tasty and simple casserole that can be ready in just 30 minutes. Combining buffalo chicken dip and cheesy pasta in one pan creates a meal that everyone will devour in minutes.
One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta is a hearty and classic dish made with chicken, bell pepper, and pasta soaked in a creamy fajita sauce. It is the perfect family weeknight meal.
This delicious Alfredo pasta with steak is a rich and comforting dish loaded with cream cheese and parmesan. Served with juicy steak on top, this easy meal will redefine your weeknight pasta dinners without compromising on flavor.
The easiest pasta dish you will ever make with just 5 ingredients in 15 min, loaded with Parmesan and crisp bacon goodness!
Got a picky eater husband and need some easy and FRUGAL meals to make? Below are some low-budget random meal ideas to try for dinner if you want something different that even the picky eaters will eat!
