You are going to want to bookmark these Healthy Family Meals. This collection of quick and easy meals is perfect for families–even families with picky eaters! There is no excuse to not eat a home-cooked healthy meal when dinner can be ready in less than 30 minutes!
Dinner always needs to happen–even when time is short.
Whether you are a working mom, a working dad, a stay at home mom, stay at home dad, or a parent that dreads the inevitable dinner time meltdown (AKA “The Witching Hour), I have EASY, HEALTHY meals that your family is sure to love. These Wholesome 30 Minute Meals, are made with simple, pantry ingredients and don’t require any fancy cooking skills, expensive kitchen tools, or exotic ingredients.
Let’s skip the drive-thru and sit down together as a family and enjoy an easy, home-cooked meal that doesn’t require hours of work!
Healthy 30 Minute Meals for Families
- 30 Minute Meals with Chicken
- 30 Minute Meals with Beef
- 30 Minute Meals with Pork
- 30 Minute Meals with Seafood
- 30 Minute Pasta Meals
- 30 Minute Meatless Meals
30 Minute Meals with Chicken Breast
Chicken is probably the first protein people associate with an easy 30-minute meal. After all, chicken breast is one of the most purchased proteins and is so lean it cooks up in a matter of minutes. But also leftover rotisserie chicken is a quick 30-minute meal go-to.
Sweet and Sour Chicken: This easy Asian Chicken meal is perfectly sweet and a little sour for a balanced meal that is always a hit with the kids especially.
Buffalo Chicken Tacos: A 15 Minutes recipe that is guaranteed to spice up dinner!
Easy Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu: This is the EASIEST way to make Chicken Cordon Bleu–simply layer and bake. No breading, no egg wash, just simple deliciousness!
Asparagus Chicken Stir fry: An easy and healthy stir fry made with chicken and vegetables.
BBQ Chicken Burgers: This is the most flavorful chicken burger you will ever have, filled with cheese and barbecue sauce and topped with slaw. You don’t want to miss this recipe!
Orange Chicken: Bright, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, this Orange Chicken is a great way to add flavor to family meals. Have an Instant Pot? Try out Instant Pot Orange Chicken as well.
Panzanella Salad with Chicken Sausage: This salad is one of our favorites. Chicken sausage, grilled veggies, and grilled bread are tossed together in Italian dressing for one of the most flavorful, filling salads.
Jalapeno Chicken Tacos: These tacos are EVERYTHING you want! Spicy chicken is cooled down with fresh and sweet pineapple salsa.
Chicken Marsala: Who says, restaurant-quality dishes are time-consuming and hard to make? This recipe proves that theory wrong!
Chicken Quinoa Fajita Bowl: This easy fajita bowl is made with a few pantry staples and can be customized to fit a variety of palates.
Mediterranean Chicken and Rice Skillet: This one-pot chicken and rice skillet is filled with Mediterranean flavors.
Honey Lemon Chicken Skillet: Honey and lemon make a perfect thick sauce to coat perfectly cooked chicken cutlets–all in one pan!
Stir-Fried Chicken and Bok Choy: This easy stir fry comes together in just 15 minutes–it is a lifesaver on busy nights. The bonus is that it is also Paleo and Whole30 approved.
Skillet Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes: This easy skillet is fresh and balanced. It is a perfect meal suited to families or dieters.
Instant Pot Chicken Breasts: This recipe becomes a staple for anyone that gives it a try. The secret ingredient will knock your socks off!
Mexican Chicken Skillet: This is one of our all-time favorites. Sweet potatoes, black beans, and chicken are sauteed with taco seasonings and served with cheese.
Homemade Chicken Tenders: My kids’ absolute favorite meal! These chicken tenders are baked to perfection and just as crispy as if they were fried.
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken: My go-to for busy nights! I always have the ingredients for this simple recipe on hand and it makes a great base for chicken tacos.
30 Minute Meals with Ground Beef
Ground beef cooks up in a short amount of time and can become the base to so many easy meals, making ground beef recipes a busy weeknight’s dream come true.
Note: If you forget to thaw out your hamburger meat (I am guilty of this many times!!), check out my method for perfectly cooking frozen meat.
Homemade Hamburger Helper: This hamburger helper tastes a MILLION times better than any boxed mix, but is just as easy to make. Instant Pot Hamburger Helper is just as good as well!
Healthy Sloppy Joes: These sloppy joes taste incredible and you will never believe what I use to make them healthier and more affordable!
Beef Stroganoff: Classic beef stroganoff is lightened up but elevated in flavor. You will be blown away by just how good this Stroganoff recipe is.
Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff: The noodles and homemade sauce cook in minutes together in the Instant Pot. It is an all-in-one recipe that spells out comfort.
Perfect Taco Meat: A simple recipe for taco meat–and a variety of suggestions on how to serve it up!
30 Minute Meals with Pork
While I adore slow-cooked pork meals, like Pulled Pork and Pork Carnitas, I adore quick pork recipes that can be made with ham, pork chops, or pork tenderloin.
Monte Cristo: This ham and cheese sandwich is battered and lightly pan-fried. While a typical recipe for brunch, this take on a ham and cheese sandwich is a great way to change up dinner.
Instant Pot Pork Chops: Made with rich mushroom gravy, these pork chops cook up FAST and are absolutely delicious!
Tuscan Pork Chops: One-pot made with tender pork chops, greens, beans, and a rich broth, this meal feels elegant while being incredibly easy to make.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin: Perfectly cooked pork tenderloin is paired with a delicious apple and sweet potato mash that is cooked all at the same time for an easy 30-minute meal.
Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin: Bacon and maple syrup make this pork tenderloin show-stopping! But it still is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Pork and Cabbage Skillet: Sauteed pork tenderloin with cabbage and a tangy mustard sauce is a simple, yet flavorful.
Lasagna Soup: Sausage and noodles are enveloped in a rich tomato broth that is topped with cheese–this soup is a favorite for a reason. And try out Instant Pot Lasagna Soup for an even faster version.
30 Minute Meals with Fish
Fish is such an important staple in a healthy diet. These easy fish recipes make it easy to get a healthy meal on the table in less than 30 minutes–perfect for the busy week.
Baked Salmon: Made with a simple rub and baked quickly, this salmon recipe is not only tasty and healthy, but it is also easy to make.
Easy Skillet Tilapia Veracruz: Tilapia is flavored with olives, capers, and tomatoes for a delicious and healthy recipe for fish.
Fish Tacos: These fish tacos are a great way to change taco night up for the better!
Easy Avocado Tuna Salad: This simple avocado tuna salad makes a great filling for sandwiches or wraps and is a great light, summer entree.
Baked Tuna Cakes: These Tuna Patties are given a southwest spin for an incredibly flavorful and a fun dinner when served with an avocado dipping sauce.
Chili Lime Tilapia: This tilapia is perfectly balanced with heat from the chili rub and sweet from the apple salsa.
30 Minute Meals with Pasta
My family adores pasta. What is not to love about quick meals made with pasta?
They are comforting and when made with whole grain pasta, pasta meals are a great source of protein and fiber. Not to mention very friendly on your wallet and the perfect base for 30-minute meals.
Tuscan Pasta with White Beans and Tomatoes: One of my favorite pasta recipes! Made with a few simple ingredients that really shine when combined together.
Tortellini and Kale Soup: This soup is the EASIEST meal ever to make–but one my family begs for on a regular basis.
Kale Pasta: Such a simple meal that is surprising in taste! Made with pantry staples, this recipe is perfect for nights when you find yourself low on fresh ingredients.
Tomato and Spinach Tortellini Broth Bowl: Cheese tortellini is served in a rich broth over a light salad for a meal that excites the taste buds.
Salsa Verde Spaghetti: A fresh Mexican Spin on spaghetti that is easy to make and fun to eat.
Skinny Fettucine Alfredo: The pasta a lighter alfredo sauce cook up together in just 15 minutes in one pot!
Instant Pot Creamy Italian Pasta: Noodles, sauce, and a cheesy filling cook up together to create a recipe that is reminiscent of baked ziti–just in half the time in the Instant Pot.
Creamy Cajun Pasta: Spicy, creamy, and filling–this is another one-pot pasta meal that families love.
Pasta Primavera: Pasta is tossed with tons of crisp, tender vegetables and a light Parmesan sauce. So simple and so good!
Caprese Pasta Salad: Everything you love about Caprese Salad in pasta form! Prepare it with chicken sausage for a heartier, yet still simple dinner.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese: One ingredient makes this Mac and Cheese recipe stand above the rest! And because it is made in the Instant Pot, it is a fast meal that comes together in one pan!
White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese: Tastes like Panera Mac and Cheese, just without all the calories!
Instant Pot Spaghetti: With or without meat, the pasta cooks up perfectly in a rich tomato sauce for the easiest version of spaghetti.
30 Minute Meatless Meals
Meatless Meals are a weekly must in our rotation. Not only are meatless meals budget-friendly and typically healthier, but they are also often extremely quick to put together. Be sure to look through the Pasta Recipes as well for several more meatless options.
Black Bean Burgers: These hearty meatless burgers are loved even by meat-eaters!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos: Sweet Potatoes and black beans pair PERFECTLY together, especially when seasoned with Southwestern spices. These easy burritos are filling and tasty!
Lentil Tacos: One of our favorite tacos ever! It is really all about that Avocado cream that top these lentil tacos.
Lemon Quinoa Salad: This salad is light and fresh, yet thanks to high protein quinoa, it keeps you full for hours.
Southwestern Veggie Tostadas: These tostadas are like mini Mexican Pizzas that are irresistible with the kids!
30 Minute Baked Potato Soup: This soup is perfection on a cold winter’s night.
Easy Homemade Tomato Soup: This soup is all about that cheese topper!! It is a show stopper!
Easy Black Bean Tacos: Who knew a can of beans and some spices could taste so flavorful?
Easy Bean Burritos: Simple ingredients, but they work to create an easy, healthy, affordable meal that is so tasty!
Hidden Veggie Quesadillas: Cheese and pumpkin puree make an unexpected pair in these healthy cheese quesadillas. Kids LOVE these–even with the veggies!
Easy Homemade Ramen: Made with a rich mushroom broth and ramen noodles, this easy soup is better than any packet out there.
Pumpkin Enchiladas: Pumpkin in enchiladas may sound odd, but the slightly sweet, earthy pumpkin makes a great filling for these enchiladas.
30 Minute Healthy Potato Corn Chowder: This one-pot soup is creamy and satisfying on a cold night.
Healthier Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup: Just like Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup, just a whole lot healthier and super easy to make!
Which 30-Minute Healthy Family Meal are you most excited to try?
