Are you looking for meal ideas for teens? Look no further! I’ve rounded up a few of our favorite family dinner recipes. From classic comfort food to healthier options, there’s something for everyone.
Let’s start with a classic favorite:
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
This comforting dish is sure to be a hit with everyone. All you need is some cheese, butter, and your favorite tomato soup. Simply toast the cheese between two slices of bread and dip it in the soup for a warm, savory meal.
Ingredients:
- 4 slices of white sandwich bread
- 4 slices of cheese (Swiss, Cheddar, or Mozzarella)
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 1 (10.5 ounces) can of tomato soup
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, in the skillet. Place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread.
- Top with the remaining slices of bread, buttered side up.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese, is melted and the bread is golden brown. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Heat the tomato soup in a small pot over medium heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. Enjoy!
Chicken Fajitas are another quick and easy dinner that your teens will love. Simply marinate some chicken and sauté with peppers and onions. Serve with warm tortillas, cheese, sour cream, and salsa for a customizable meal that everyone can enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 8-10 (6-inch) flour tortillas
- Optional toppings: guacamole, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, lettuce, and cilantro
Instructions:
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion and peppers and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the chicken strips and cook until cooked through about 5 minutes.
- Add the lime juice and stir to combine.
- Serve the chicken fajita mixture in warm tortillas with desired toppings. Enjoy!
For a fun twist on dinner, try a Baked Potato Bar!
Place some baked potatoes in a serving dish and provide an array of toppings like cheese, bacon, sour cream, and vegetables. Everyone can customize their own potato and enjoy a unique meal.
Ingredients:
- Potatoes (as many as needed)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
- Bacon bits
- Chopped green onions
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chopped chives
- Salsa
- Butter
- Broccoli
- Chili
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Wash potatoes and pat dry.
- Pierce each potato several times with a fork.
- Rub potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place potatoes on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 45-60 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove potatoes from the oven and let cool.
- Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides.
- Place potato shells on a baking sheet and return to the oven for 10 minutes to crisp.
- Place all desired toppings in separate bowls and arrange them on a serving platter.
- Place potato shells on a separate platter.
- Serve and enjoy
Quesadillas are another easy meal that can be customized to everyone’s taste. You can use whatever ingredients you have on hand to create delicious, cheesy quesadillas.
Ingredients:
- 8-10 flour tortillas
- 4 cups grated cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a combination)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/2 cup black beans (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Any other desired fillings (e.g. cooked ground beef, cooked chicken, etc.)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, corn, black beans, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Spread 1/2 cup of the grated cheese over half of each tortilla. Add desired fillings. Top with remaining cheese. Fold the tortilla in half.
- Place quesadillas on a baking sheet or in a large baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and quesadillas are golden brown.
- Serve quesadillas with sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole. Enjoy!
Ground Beef Tacos
Taco night is always a hit! Serve up hard or soft shells with a variety of toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 3/4 cup of salsa
- 8-10 flour tortillas
- Shredded cheese, optional
- Sour cream, optional
- Guacamole, optional
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add in the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is cooked through and the vegetables are softened about 8 minutes.
- Add in the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.
- Add in the salsa and stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Warm the tortillas.
- To assemble the tacos, spoon the beef mixture onto each tortilla and top with cheese, sour cream, and guac
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a classic dinner that’s sure to be a hit. Simply brown some ground beef with onions, peppers, and your favorite sloppy joe sauce. Serve on buns and enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 (8-ounce) can of tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, and mustard. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the mixture is thickened about 15 minutes.
- Serve the Sloppy Joe mixture on hamburger buns. Enjoy!
Homemade Pizza Night
Pizza night is always a crowd-pleaser. Let everyone customize their own pizza with their favorite toppings. This is a great way to get your family to eat their vegetables!
Ingredients:
- 1 package of pizza dough
- 1 jar of pizza sauce
- 1 package of shredded mozzarella cheese
- Assorted topping of your choice (pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, etc.)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet.
- Spread the pizza sauce on the dough, leaving about an inch of dough around the edges of the crust.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the pizza sauce.
- Add desired toppings.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.
- Slice and enjoy!
Veggie Burritos
Veggie Burritos are another great way to sneak in some nutrition. Simply sauté some vegetables and wrap in warm tortillas with some cheese and beans.
Ingredients:
- 1 (15-ounce) can of black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the black beans, corn, rice, bell pepper, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and salt.
- Spoon the mixture onto each of the tortillas, and top with cheese.
- Roll up the tortillas, and place them in a lightly greased baking dish.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes, or until the burritos are heated through and the cheese is melted.
- Serve with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Enjoy!
Baked Ziti
For a heartier meal, try Baked Ziti. Layer cooked ziti with cheese, meat, and tomato sauce and bake until bubbly. This is a great dinner for feeding a hungry crowd.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound uncooked ziti pasta
- 1 (26-ounce) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) container of ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- In the prepared baking dish, layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture, 1/2 of the spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 of the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Stuffed Peppers: A great way to get your family to eat their vegetables.
Finally, Stuffed Peppers are a great way to get your family to eat their vegetables. Simply stuff bell peppers with your favorite ingredients and bake until tender.
Ingredients:
- 4 large bell peppers
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup uncooked long-grain rice
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can of diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers, remove the seeds and membranes, and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onion, and rice until the beef is browned and the onion is tender.
- Add the diced tomatoes, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Spoon the mixture into the bell peppers and top with the shredded cheese.
- Place the stuffed peppers in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender.
These are just a few of the family meal ideas that your teens will love. With a little creativity and some simple ingredients, you can whip up delicious meals that everyone can enjoy. Bon appétit!
