17 Ways To Turn “Ew, Gross!” Into “More, Please!” At Family Dinner

Family dinners can sometimes feel like a battlefield, with dinner meals being the enemy. Fear not, because these 17 dinner recipes will have even the pickiest eaters begging for seconds. It’s about making mealtime fun and foolproof, so no more “Ew, gross!”—just happy faces all around the table. Let’s just say, even those that are new to their taste will get a standing ovation from them.

A fork with pizza pasta salad in a bowl.
Pizza Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Grilled Steaks With Cowboy Butter

A grilled steak with cowboy butter on a white plate.
Grilled Steaks With Cowboy Butter. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Sometimes, all it takes to upgrade a meal is the right condiment. Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter is proof that a simple butter can transform your steak into a request for seconds. It’s this enjoyable marriage that rekindles excitement and anticipation for steak night, ensuring lively conversation and eager diners gathered around your table.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks With Cowboy Butter

California Eggs Benedict

Eggs benedict with ham and avocado on an English muffin served on a black plate.
California Eggs Benedict. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Transforming breakfast into dinner can introduce a delicious change of pace, and this California Eggs Benedict is the ideal candidate to turn this concept into a reality. It combines fresh, vibrant flavors with the classic comfort of poached eggs. Suddenly, breakfast for dinner goes from a last-minute meal idea to a family dinner highlight.
Get the Recipe: California Eggs Benedict

Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef

A plate of cooked ground beef mixed with diced vegetables and garnished with lime wedges and chopped herbs. A red striped cloth is placed beside the plate.
Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Introduce your family to a flavor fiesta with Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef. This isn’t just another beef dish; it’s a vibrant and delicious meal that shifts any dinner from normal to extraordinary. Embrace the change and watch as this new addition turns each meal into an occasion, eagerly anticipated and enjoyed by all at the table.
Get the Recipe: Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef

Copycat Cole’s French Dip Sandwich

A roast beef sandwich with melted cheese on a hoagie roll, accompanied by crinkle-cut fries and a bowl of brown dipping sauce on the side.
Copycat Cole’s French Dip Sandwich. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Who knew turning a classic deli favorite into a homemade feast could change the dinner game? Making Copycat Cole’s French Dip Sandwich at home means every bite is filled with juicy meat and delicious flavors, making everyone at the table reach for another. It’s a surefire way to swap any dinner dismays for eager requests for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Cole’s French Dip Sandwich

Cucumber Salad With Feta

Cucumber and Feta salad in a black bowl.
Cucumber Salad With Feta. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Refreshing and light, Cucumber Salad with Feta is the perfect side dish to turn any meal into something special. The crisp cucumber paired with the tangy feta cheese ensures that this dish will be a hit. It’s the perfect way to demonstrate that salads not only deserve a place at the dinner table but can also stand as a flavorful centerpiece.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad With Feta

Korean Galbi Ribs

Two Korean galbi ribs on a black slate plate with red chopsticks placed beside them.
Korean Galbi Ribs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Have you ever thought ribs were just for BBQs and summer picnics? Think again because Korean Galbi Ribs bring a whole new level of excitement to family dinners. This dish transforms your dining experience with its unique blend of spices and tender meat, ensuring there won’t be leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Korean Galbi Ribs

Chinese Chicken Salad

A bowl of Chinese chicken salad with shredded chicken, snap peas, carrots, and peppers, accompanied by a bottle of dressing on the side.
Chinese Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

If salad is usually met with a sigh, then Chinese Chicken Salad is about to change the game. This dish is a far cry from your average salad, combining textures and flavors in a way that’s anything but ordinary. This approach is your ace in the hole for transforming the most staunch salad skeptics into salad enthusiasts.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad

Cottage Cheese Toast With Blueberries

A plate of cottage cheese toast with blueberries, next to a honey dipper.
Cottage Cheese Toast With Blueberries. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Breakfast toast gets a makeover with Cottage Cheese Toast with Blueberries. This simple dish turns the first meal of the day into a fruity, creamy treat that’s hard to resist at any time. It’s proof that starting with something simple can pave the way to achieving remarkable outcomes, showing that the idea that simplicity often breeds extraordinary success.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Toast With Blueberries

Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche

Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche served on a pie dish.
Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

If you’ve been on the fence about quiche, Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche will make you a believer. It’s the perfect mixture of creamy ricotta and fresh asparagus, baked together in a way that’ll make everyone ask for more. Who knew turning greens into a creamy, dreamy pie could cause such a dinner revolution?
Get the Recipe: Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche

Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup

A closeup of Jason's Deli Irish Potato Soup.`
Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

When you think of comfort in a bowl, Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup should come to mind. This recipe brings the cozy, heartwarming flavors of the deli right into your home, ensuring everyone’s bellies are happy and full. Forget the skepticism over soup for dinner; this is how you win them over.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup

Leftover Steak Quesadilla

A hand holding wedges of a quesadilla.
Leftover Steak Quesadilla. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Turning last evening’s steak into today’s Leftover Steak Quesadilla is a cooking brilliance; it’s an innovative way of giving previously-enjoyed ingredients a second life, creating an entirely fresh experience. This dish embodies the art of resourceful cooking, ensuring that every morsel is utilized to its fullest potential and becomes a waste-free meal preparation.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Steak Quesadilla

Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

A white rectangular plate with several meatballs covered in tomato sauce, garnished with chopped basil.
Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Ever thought meatballs could be a conversation starter? With Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs, you’re not just getting a meal; you’re getting a story. These aren’t your average meatballs, and they’re sure to turn any initial nose-wrinkles into nods of appreciation. With its easy preparation and burst of flavors, this will be a hit in any family gathering.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

Wild Rice Salad

Wild rice salad served on a white rectangular plate.
Wild Rice Salad. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Who said salads had to be boring? Wild Rice Salad throws that idea out the window with its mix of textures and flavors that make every forkful exciting. It’s the perfect way to add a fresh twist to your dinner lineup, guaranteeing no more groans when you mention salad. This will guarantee that even the pickiest eaters will love this one.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Salad

Leftover Steak Soft Tacos

Top-down shot of two Leftover Steak Soft Tacos on a slate board.
Leftover Steak Soft Tacos. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Never let a good steak go to waste. Leftover Steak Soft Tacos are the best way to repurpose that dinner from last night into something extraordinary. This approach is both straightforward and ingenious, guaranteeing that each dining experience ends with a sense of anticipation for future cooking adventures.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Steak Soft Tacos

Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken

A platter of sheet pan lemon-rosemary chicken with lemon slices, herbs, and garnished with cherry tomatoes.
Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

If you’re looking for a hassle-free dinner option, Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken is your answer. This dish not only fills the kitchen with inviting aromas but also ensures a clean plate from even the pickiest eaters. The magic lies in achieving maximum taste and contentment with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken

Pizza Pasta Salad

A fork with pizza pasta salad in a bowl.
Pizza Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Think about how faces light up when you say pizza, but you serve them Pizza Pasta Salad instead. This dish merges the beloved taste of pizza with the crispness of a salad, ensuring its popularity at any family gathering. It cleverly introduces a nutritious salad while retaining all the familiar flavors that children adore.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad

Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots

A tray of cheddar bacon loaded tater tots, drizzled with Alfredo sauce, with a hand-picking one up.
Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Gone are the days when tater tots were merely a supporting act; Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots have changed their status, casting them in the lead role. Bursting with rich flavors and oozing with cheesy treat, these tots stand as evidence that a straightforward idea can be transformed into a special meal.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots

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