20 Family-Friendly Dinners to Make All Summer Long

Since Summer is all about basking in the sunshine, handheld meals are all the more appealing. Kids and adults alike will love chowin' down on these cheesy taquitos, which can be adapted to include your favorite protein and veggies.

Get the recipe: cheesy chicken taquitos

Chilled pasta salad, swimming with juicy tomatoes and crispy bacon, practically begs to be eaten next to the pool. You can add extra greens for the lettuce lovers or serve as is for the pickier eaters.

Get the recipe: BLT pasta salad

This blissfully creamy pasta combines the freshness of caprese salad with the gooey comfort of mac and cheese. It gets its texture from both goat cheese and mozzarella, while tart tomatoes cut through the richness.

Get the recipe: caprese mac and cheese

Classic chicken salad gets a summery update with barbecue sauce, corn, cheddar cheese, and bacon bits. These sliders are perfect served poolside — with a cold beer for you and lemonade for the little ones.

Get the recipe: barbecue chicken salad sliders

This Summertime crostata means you can eat chicken pot pie without feeling like hibernating by a fireplace. Squash, green beans, and corn give the old-school dish a seasonal spin, while the crust is just too darn cute not to love.

Get the recipe: summer chicken pot pie crostata

Summer squash, zucchini, and bell peppers show that quesadillas aren't limited to just tortillas and cheese. Plus, kids will love eating these with their hands after a day of playing outside!

Get the recipe: grilled vegetable and cheese quesadillas

Kid-friendly cheeseburgers are lightened up with lean chicken, feta cheese, and pesto mayonnaise.

Get the recipe: chicken burgers with feta and sun-dried tomato

Whichever side of the pineapple pizza debate you're on, you have to admit that this easy grilled cheese is truly inventive. Salty ham, juicy pineapple, and melty Swiss cheese make a perfect marriage between crispy, buttery bread.

Get the recipe: Hawaiian pizza grilled cheese

These wraps provide just the kind of heartiness you need after long days of swimming and sporting, and the sweet potato fries in the middle guarantee approval from anyone in the family.

Get the recipe: healthy chicken gyros with feta tzatziki and sweet potato fries

If you're craving cheeseburgers but don't feel like firing up the grill, this casserole is a fabulous option. Best part: the one-pan dish is done in 30 minutes, and the pasta cooks inside of the sauce.

Get the recipe: one-pot cheeseburger casserole

Because sometimes, you just need crispy, handheld goodness.

Get the recipe: honey mustard chicken tenders

Red peppers? Spinach? Carrots? Whatever veggies you have in the fridge, you can clean them out quick with this lo mein, complete with a sweet and salty sauce.

Get the recipe: 15-minute lo mein

Cool down with this refreshing pasta salad, bursting with cherry tomatoes, tender chicken, and fresh sprigs of basil and mint.

Get the recipe: chicken orzo salad

Fries might not be the most virtuous family dinner, but when they're made of sweet potatoes, baked, and topped with good-for-you foods like tomatoes and chickpeas, you can't feel guilty about it.

Get the recipe: loaded Mediterranean street cart fries

This meal is meant for days when you only have the patience for a sandwich, but you have the groceries for something a little more special. Enter this grilled cheese, spruced up with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

Get the recipe: mozzarella and tomato panini

If you've been searching for a kid-friendly way to make seasonal zucchini, look no further than these easy zucchini boats, stuffed with ground sausage, mozzarella, and marinara sauce.

Get the recipe: stuffed zucchini boats

Whole-grain pasta, juicy chicken breast, and fresh tomatoes and cheese make a lean, mean, 30-minute dream team.

Get the recipe: caprese chicken pasta

No shade intended toward Taco Tuesdau, but . . . sometimes it can feel a little tired. Thankfully, this cheesy casserole is here to reawaken your family's love for tacos. Use store-bought crust to cut down on prep time, and top it with your list of essential taco ingredients.

Get the recipe: taco casserole

Enjoy Summer corn in its prime in this rich, bacony soup. The secret to this flavorful chowder is to add both sweet and creamed corn and bacon, of course.

Get the recipe: corn chowder with bacon

When all you need is beef, buns, a handful of condiments, staple seasonings, and 15 minutes of prep, it's hard to say no to a meal as wonderfully messy as sloppy joes.

Get the recipe: slow cooker sloppy joes