44 Friday Night Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Will Love
Whether you're looking to fire up the grill or whip up a cozy casserole, these recipes are a great way to end the week.
By the time Friday night rolls around, we could all use some fun and easy ideas for dinnertime. Before you rush to grab those take-out menus (we get it), take a minute to think about pulling together a homemade supper that might take you less time than ordering from your favorite pizza joint.
For this list, we’ve gathered some of our favorite comforting dinners that will satisfy everyone in the family. From barbecue chicken pizza to sheet pan fajitas, we’ve got something that everyone will love. Whether you are hosting a sleepover, a grown-up dinner party, or just dining solo, you’ll be pleased with all of these delicious options.
Lemon-Pepper Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Shrimp scampi is one of those no-fail dishes that is simple, yet elegant. Just don't forget to reserve a cup of the pasta water for the sauce.
Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Herb Sauce
There's nothing like a delicious steak supper to start your weekend off right. Drizzled with an elegant herb sauce and served with a side of roasted potatoes, each bite is perfect.
Lemon-Dill Chicken Skillet
This five-ingredient chicken dinner is company-worthy, but easy enough to throw together for a casual Friday night. Be sure to reserve the chicken drippings in the skillet to help flavor the potatoes.
Sheet Pan Fajitas
With plenty of spice and a whole lot of fresh flavor, these are going to become a weekly staple. The best part is that they're ready in 20 minutes.
Ravioli Lasagna
We put a delicious, cheese-filled spin on your favorite comfort dish. Layers of ravioli, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and mozzarella make for a family-friendly lasagna that's ready in just 30 minutes.
Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos
There's something about a sheet pan dinner that just makes life so much easier. Covered with feta, kalamata olives, lemon and more, this Greek Chicken is just too good.
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Skip the added time of making homemade crust and use pre-made frozen puff pastry for a delicious chicken pot pie that'll be ready in half the time.
Chicken-Parmesan Meatballs
Chicken parmesan meets classic spaghetti and meatballs with this dish that is equally delicious served over pasta, on a sub, or with zucchini noodles as a low-carb option.
Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN
Dinner in just 15 minutes? Yes, please! Rotisserie chicken helps this one-pot mac and cheese come together quickly so you can kick your feet up.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Head to your grocery store and pick up some pre-made pizza dough to make this Friday night special.
One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
Penne pasta and Tex-Mex flavors might be the unexpected match-made-in-heaven you didn't know you were missing. This cast-iron skillet dish is full of flavor from chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika.
Walking Tacos
Taco night is always a great idea. This recipe is perfect for a party with kids or a movie night with a few girlfriends.
Extra Easy Lasagna
Easy? Check. Delicious? Check. Need we say more? We use no-boil lasagna noodles which takes out an entire step in this go-to recipe.
Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms
This easy dinner is ready in minutes and can easily feed a crowd. With mushrooms, heavy cream, and a whole lot of cheese, it's like comfort on a plate.
Martina McBride's Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Hear us out on this one. Yes, it takes just a little bit longer, but it's the most searched soup recipe in the South for a reason. Warm, cheesy, and absolutely delicious.
Fried Chicken Salad with Basil-Buttermilk Dressing
Transform grocery store chicken tenders in this fresh Fried Chicken Salad. The hardest part is making the dressing, and that only takes a few minutes.
Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry
It's time to stir things up – literally! This Shrimp Stir-Fry will become a new favorite for Friday nights, or any night. The best part? It freezes like a dream so you can enjoy it for days to come.
Kentucky Hot Brown-Stuffed Chicken
Bacon, Parmesan, herbed cheese, some tomato, and a little bit of panko bread crumbs come together to make a dinner that you won't be able to get enough of.
Creole Burger
This Southern spin on a burger is just what kicking off the weekend calls for. Our Test Kitchen suggests serving on a brioche bun.
Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Save the mess of a shrimp boil with our one-pan shortcut recipe. The ingredients soak up extra flavor from roasting in the Old Bay and butter mixture, so you might even prefer this easy, hands-off version.
Quesadillas Al Pastor
Add fresh pineapples and pulled pork to your quesadillas to start your weekend off on the best note.
Ranch Pork Chops
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Ranch seasoning is the secret ingredient to almost any Southern recipe, from Ranch Snacker Crackers to dips. For this one-of-a-kind recipe, ranch takes pork to the next level.
Baked Caprese Chicken With Green Beans and Corn
The magic formula to this sheet pan dinner involves a protein, a veggie, and a side. Yes, it's that simple. This flavorful dinner is perfect when you want something to come together perfectly all at once.
Fire-Roasted Tomato-and-Beef Ragù
From pasta to crusty bread, this sauce is the ideal starting point to a romantic Friday night at home.
Sheet Pan Nachos
Greg DuPree
If your Friday night plans involve watching your favorite movie curled up on the sofa, these nachos are the perfect pairing for those plans. In just a half-an-hour, you'll have a cheesy meal that's even better than movie-theater popcorn.
Chicken-and-Quinoa Salad with Pepper Jelly Dressing
Lighten up dinner with this bright and flavorful salad. We used rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even more simple to assemble.
Supreme Pizza
More is more and we are here for it. This old-school classic screams Friday night dinner and will have everyone requesting seconds.
Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
If you want something that you can have all weekend long, this is the dish for you. Serve with grocery store chicken tenders and roasted veggies or a simple salad for a crowd pleasing meal.
Creamy Chicken Sausage-and-Kale Soup
From cheesy goodness to healthy vegetables, dig into comfort in a bowl. One reviewer says, "This is a winner," and we couldn't agree more.
Bacon Pancakes
Breakfast for dinner is a good Friday night dinner move when you're in a real food slump.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
If you love the classic sandwich, then you won't want to miss our casserole that was made for Friday night family dinners.
Salmon Burger
If you're tired of the turkey and veggie options, bring this Salmon Burger into your dinner rotation.
Cajun-Style Meatloaf
Meatloaf is always a family favorite, but this recipe adds just a little extra spice to keep dinner the dish interesting. Serve it up with creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.
Hearty Beef And Freezer Veggie Soup
A hearty soup filled with Southern favorites like baby lima beans and okra makes this dish ideal for serving at book club or taking to the neighborhood potluck.
Smothered Enchiladas
Southern Living
Creamy, cheesy, and smothered with flavor. If you're bored of tacos, this is a fresh, unfussy idea that will surprise all of your dinner guests.
Fried Pork Chops with Potatoes and Peas
Break out the fried pork chops for a Friday night dinner that pulls out all of the stops.
Lemon-Basil Chicken Breast Foil Packets
Foil packet dinners are just more fun. There, we said it. Try this packet that's filled with bright cherry tomatoes and other zesty flavors.
Shrimp Fried Rice
If you have leftover rice from a meal earlier in the week, toss it in this recipe with some fresh or frozen shrimp and a few veggies and dinner is served.
Meatball Pasta Bake
Everyone loves pasta night. Here, frozen meatballs are magically transformed into this spectacular pasta bake.
Crispy Chicken With Sweet Potato Fries And Green Beans
For the home cook that wants to serve a well-balanced and delicious supper, try this meal with crispy chicken, green beans, and sweet potato wedges that are crispy and delicious.
Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Recipe
For a healthier version of everyone's favorite macaroni and cheese, whip up this recipe that adds in hearty kale.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This casserole has long been a staple on Southern dinner tables, and for good reason. Dig in and let the creamy, cheesy goodness be the perfect end to a long week.
Burrito Bowls
Burrito bowls let the whole family get creative. Choose your favorite protein, add an array of toppings, and let everyone have some fun.
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole
We turned everyone's favorite pasta dish into baked version with layers of pasta, chicken, and spinach, plus a hint of pesto. Thanks to store-bought Alfredo sauce and rotisserie chicken, all you have to do is cook the pasta before combining all the ingredients in a casserole dish.
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Read the original article on Southern Living.