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Family Dinner Recipes

By Recipes: Amanda Haas
September 04, 2012
Photo: Randy Mayor
Take a look at these 46 new family dinners—from Turkey Sausage Lasagna to Caribbean-Spiced Chicken Kebabs. Everyone in your family will rave about these tasty dinner recipes.
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Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Skirt steak is packed with flavor and is a great alternative to more expensive cuts. You’ll love it in steak tacos or served on its own with this delicious herb sauce. The most important thing about preparing skirt steak is to slice it against the grain. The grain in the skirt steak is obvious−it looks like big lines running across the meat. Cut the slices perpendicular to those lines, and you’re left with very tender, flavorful meat.

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Waffle Iron Turkey Melt Panini

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Waffle Iron Turkey Melt Panini

This playful turkey melt's abundant crisp crevices and gooey interior will have the whole family wondering, "What can we waffle next?"

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Broccoli-Bacon Skillet Pizza

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Broccoli-Bacon Skillet Pizza

Microwave-in-the-bag fresh vegetables help this meal come together lickety-split. A hot cast-iron skillet helps to crisp the bottom of the crust while the surface gets golden brown under the broiler—no baking required. Slice in the skillet and remove each piece for mess-free serving.

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Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs with Polenta

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs with Polenta

Time: 30 minutes

Mix It Up: Rice may be more traditional here, but we love the contrast of creamy polenta with the sweet heat of the sauce.

Serve with Sesame Sautéed Spinach

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Pork and Mango Stir-Fry

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pork and Mango Stir-Fry

Mango and mint is an unexpected combination in this speedy weeknight stir-fry, but they compliment each other well. Slice your mango the same thickness as the pork—it’s easier to eat this way, and it looks nice too!

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Mini Turkey Meatballs with Wagon Wheel Pasta

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mini Turkey Meatball with Wagon Wheel Pasta

Put a twist on classic spaghetti and meatballs with this to-die-for dish. Turkey meatballs and fun wagon wheel pasta sprinkled with fresh Parmesan cheese is the perfect combination for any pasta lover.

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Fish Tacos with Lime Crema and Mango Salsa

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Fish Tacos with Lime Crema and Mango Salsa

The Lime Crema really makes the recipe! If you don’t have any mango on hand, pineapple makes a good substitute. Add a side of Cilantro-Lime Rice to complete your meal.

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Carrot-Ginger Soup

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Carrot-Ginger Soup

Loaded with surprising hits of curry powder, lime juice, and cilantro, this soup pairs perfectly with a panini or with a salad for dinner. It also makes a wonderful first course for a fancier meal. Make this a vegetarian option by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

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Spring Vegetable Risotto

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spring Vegetable Risotto

Risotto is comforting, substantial, and so versatile. Plus, once you learn how to stir it and add the broth, you realize it’s truly a cinch to make.

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Veggie Tostadas with Black Beans and Easy Guacamole

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Veggie Tostadas with Black Beans and Easy Guacamole

Easy to make, easy to love. Here’s another recipe that everyone in the family can customize to their own tastes.

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The Ultimate Turkey Burger

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: The Ultimate Turkey Burger

You can’t get much better than this tasty turkey burger.  Topped with crunchy apple and tangy mango chutney, you won’t stop raving about this recipe.

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Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia

Dip the fish in the eggs and then into the panko mixture. Create your own fish tacos or have the tilapia on its own with Roasted Fingerling Fries. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

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Creamy Tomato Soup

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Creamy Tomato Soup

This tomato soup is no sugary version out of a can. Top with a little cream, and serve with Parmesan Crisps to round out your meal. Make this a vegetarian option by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

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Beef and Broccoli

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Beef and Broccoli

Loaded with the flavors you crave, but packed with enough broccoli and lean flank steak to make it nutritious, this is a great meal for any night of the week. Gluten-free tamari is a delicious stand-in for the soy sauce.

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Pot Roast

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pot Roast

Serve over egg noodles, as a sandwich, or simply on its own−this pot roast is perfection!

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Caramelized Onion and Turkey Sausage Pizza

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Turkey Sausage Pizza

This pizza is a definite crowd-pleaser that is sure to satisfy everyone in the house!

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Creamy Broccoli Soup

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Creamy Broccoli Soup

This is a perfect cold-weather soup. Because it’s pureed, the creamy texture and vibrant color make it appealing to most kids, and no cream is needed. It’s an ideal make-ahead meal on a weekend when you have a little time to sit around and let it cook. Then on Monday night, all you have to do is reheat it and make some garlic bread.

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Pan-Fried Beef Tenderloin

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pan-Fried Beef Tenderloin

Allowing the steaks to come to room temperature for an hour before cooking is the secret to evenly cooked meat. Plus, it gives them time to marinate.

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Twisted Fish

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Twisted Fish

Cooking in parchment paper leaves you with food that is flavorful and tender. All you have to do is fill the pouch with your favorite fish−halibut, salmon, cod, or snapper−seasonal veggies, and seasonings, and twist the ends of the parchment. Presto! Dinner is served.

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Herbed Rack of Lamb

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Herbed Rack of Lamb

This savory rack of lamb is coated with chives, fresh parsley and mint. It is simplified enough for a weeknight meal but can still be used for special occasions.

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Lemon Chicken with Currants and Pine Nuts

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Lemon Chicken with Currants and Pine Nuts

Pine nuts and currants create the perfect tasty combination of flavor to drench atop this chicken. Serve with couscous to add even more.

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Mozzarella and Basil Pizza

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mozzarella and Basil Pizza

With a make-ahead dough and a simple sauce, this pizza is an option any night of the week. Just make the dough in the morning; then shape it an hour before you’re ready to eat. If homemade dough is not your thing, just buy the premade dough at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market and shape it as you would the scratch dough.

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Chicken Divan

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Divan

This is the ultimate comfort food. It still has all its cheesy, creamy goodness−but without any of the guilt.

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Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Chicken

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Chicken

Stuffing spinach into chicken is a genius idea when you don’t want to eat those plain green vegetables. Serve with tomatoes to finish off this delightfully healthy dish.

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Farfalle with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Farfalle with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

If you have leftover chicken, put it to use in this pasta recipe. Feel free to add any of your family's favorite ingredients.

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Couscous with Chicken and Root Vegetables

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Couscous with Chicken and Root Vegetables

This tasty dish combines chicken, an assortment of the best root vegetables, and an aromatic broth to create an amazing stew served over couscous.

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Mini Meatball Minestrone

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mini Meatball Minestrone

Don’t take this soup lightly. Packed with mini meatballs, Swiss chard, tomatoes, and chickpeas, this hearty bowl of soup will not disappoint your taste buds.

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Baked Penne with Turkey

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Baked Penne with Turkey

Try this turkey-penne bake with a glass of pinot noir and a mixed greens salad.

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Pulled Barbecue Chicken and Coleslaw Sandwiches

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pulled Barbecue Chicken and Coleslaw Sandwiches

Pulled pork is outstanding, but pulled chicken is a perfect substitute on a weeknight. Everyone will go nuts for this sandwich topped with Crunchy, Creamy Coleslaw and homemade Barbecue Sauce.

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Black Bean Soup

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Black Bean Soup

This simple soup hits the spot. For richer flavor, you could substitute chicken stock for vegetable broth.

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Turkey Sausage Lasagna

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Turkey Sausage Lasagna

Lasagna is love on a plate. The homemade sauce, the layering of noodles with cheese… it’s pretty much perfection. So how do you pull it off on a weeknight? No-boil noodles. You can make the lasagna in the morning, cover and refrigerate it, and then bake it just before dinnertime. Serve it with a crunchy romaine salad and garlic bread, and your kids might think you’re the best cook ever.

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Spring Pasta with Asparagus and Grape Tomatoes

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spring Pasta with Asparagus and Grape Tomatoes

When stuck in a rut with pasta and basic tomato sauce, turn to veggies. Sautéed in a little olive oil with lemon juice, this combination is great as a “sauce” on its own. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the flavors of spring and get some color into your family’s diet. Make it a gluten-free option by using gluten-free pasta.

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Citrus-Marinated Pork Tacos with Pickled Onions

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Citrus-Marinated Pork Tacos with Pickled Onions

This is an easy make-ahead option and ideal for a crowd. Even kids will rave about this meal!

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Honey-Lime Chicken

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Honey-Lime Chicken

This chicken tastes great with a romaine salad and a side of corn, or sliced and turned into tacos with rice and beans.

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Mom’s Brisket

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mom's Brisket

Just like mom makes it, this is the finest brisket you will ever taste. The rich, yet sweet barbecue sauce drizzled over top makes it mouth-watering. Serve with Crunchy, Creamy Coleslaw.

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Chasen's Famous Chili

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chasen's Famous Chili

Chasen’s was an Old Hollywood restaurant frequented by Elizabeth Taylor and many other stars. If you want to skip the dried-bean step, you can substitute two (15-ounce) cans of pinto beans that have been drained and rinsed. Add some cornbread and a salad for the perfect casual dinner on a cold night.

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Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza

Top your pizza with the sauce, prosciutto, onions, and cheese. This pizza is the perfect dish for a dinner party.

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Simplest Roast Chicken Ever

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Simplest Roast Chicken Ever

Salt and pepper are all you need to roast this chicken and allow it to truly live up to its name. It tastes heavenly and is incredibly easy!

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Cheesy Stuffed Shells with My Secret Tomato Sauce

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Cheesy Stuffed Shells with My Secret Tomato Sauce

What’s not to love about stuffed shells? Loaded with cheese and tomato sauce, this pasta dish is a total crowd-pleaser. To change it up, you can add a little lean ground beef or different herbs to the sauce. Also, it’s easy to double the recipe and freeze one batch.

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Chicken Enchiladas

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

These chicken enchiladas come together in no time. Serve with a salad and a batch of margaritas and you’ll have a killer combination.

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Sliders with Cheddar and Onions

Oxmoor House
View Recipes: Sliders with Cheddar and Onions

These mini burgers satiate your craving for beef without the guilt of a 1/2-pound serving. Cook the burgers in a pan or on a grill over medium-high heat. Mini hamburger buns or Parker House Rolls are perfect.

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Mexican Skillet Casserole

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mexican Skillet Casserole

Serve with corn chips for dipping, or roll this yummy mixture up in a tortilla with some chopped romaine lettuce for an amazing burrito.

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Ginger-Soy Flank Steak

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Ginger-Soy Flank Steak

If you love steak, you will love this. Fresh ginger and soy sauce combine to create a mouth-watering and flavorful steak dish!

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Salami and Mushroom Pizza

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Salami and Mushroom Pizza

A better option than straight pepperoni, this mushroom and salami combination is still very kid friendly. Pair it with a glass of red wine for the adults.

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Brined Pork Chops with Apple Compote

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Brined Pork Chops with Apple Compote

Brining your meat is certainly not necessary, but it adds so much moisture to lean cuts like pork and chicken. It’s worth it if you have the time.

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Thai Chicken Noodle Bowls

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Thai Chicken Noodle Bowls

These bowls might take a little longer to make, but they are definitely worth it. Packed with Thai chicken, rice, and veggies, adults and kids will not be able to resist this delightful dish.

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Caribbean-Spiced Chicken Kebabs

Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Caribbean-Spiced Chicken Kebabs

You can make this super spicy with hot pepper sauce or omit it altogether and enjoy the milder spices of the Caribbean that are totally kid friendly. If you use wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water first, or you’ll set them on fire. Serve with some Greek yogurt and chopped cilantro as a dipping sauce, if desired.

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