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My Family's Favorite Dinners: 2020 Edition


My kids have been in charge of deciding what we are having for dinner for most of 2020.  We started a dinner/dishes chart when we were all quarantined at home in March.  The kid that gets to unload the dishwasher that day also gets to pick what we have for dinner.  

This system has worked great for the most part and has cut out on a lot of complaining at dinner time. I've noticed that the kids are less likely to complain about dinner because one of their siblings really likes it.  That's a win!  And another win is that a lot of time the kid that picked dinner will also help me make it.  

I started taking pictures of our dinners and posting them in my Instagram stories with the hashtag #jennymakesdinner and saving them in highlight bubbles labeled "dinner ideas" and "more dinners".  When I need dinner inspiration I often scroll through the saved stories to get ideas.

Yesterday my son wanted spaghetti for dinner, but everyone else complained that we have it ALL the time. So, I wrote some ideas down on a list and everyone voted.  We ended up having turkey meatball sandwiches since I had frozen meatballs and rolls in the freezer.   

After dinner I went through all my Instagram stories and posts and my binder of printed online recipes and made a list of the meals that my family likes and we eat over and over.  Now when my kids need dinner inspiration, they can look at the list.  

I thought the list needs a permanent home here on the blog.  Most of the recipes have links, but some of them don't.  And honestly, a lot of the recipes are from Mel's Kitchen Cafe, because she makes the best food.  :) 

So here you go...our favorite dinners, 2020 edition. 

Click for printable version.

Salad

Spicy Honey Chicken Salad

Chopped Greek Chicken Salad

Grilled Steak Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad

Taco Salad

Southwest Pasta Salad

Southwest Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad

Sesame Chicken Salad


Asian

Teriyaki Meatballs

Beef and Broccoli

Ham Fried Rice

Orange Chicken


Savory

Swedish Meatballs

Beef Stroganoff with Egg Noodles

Chicken Pot Pie

Bistro Chicken

Baked Potato Bar

Rosemary Balsamic Chicken & Roasted Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner


Mexican

Ground Turkey Crunchy Tacos

Navajo Tacos

Soft Tacos (Pork, Ground Meat, Chicken)

Fajitas

Breakfast Burritos

Pork Nachos

Baked Chicken Taquitos

Tamales

Quinoa Turkey Taco Skillet

Honey Lime (Pork or Chicken) Enchiladas

Ground Beef Enchiladas w/Red Sauce

Instant Pot Smoky Honey Chicken Tacos

Grilled Carne Asada Tacos


Italian

Lasagna

Angel Hair & Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Creamy Homemade Alfredo

Crispy Chicken Parm w/Fettuccine Alfredo

Instant Pot Creamy “Baked” Ziti


Pizza

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

Pizza Rolls/Pepperoni Bread

BBQ Chicken Pizza


Sandwiches

Egg/Sausage/Bacon McMuffins

Turkey Meatball Sandwiches

French Dip Sandwiches

Grilled Greek Chicken with Rosemary Pitas

Caesar Chicken Salad Wraps

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Fancy Sandwiches on French Bread

(ham/smoked cheddar, pesto/swiss/turkey)

Crispy BBQ Chicken and Bacon Wraps

Crockpot Roast and Potatoes/Carrots

Crockpot or Instant Pot Kalua Pork

Instant Pot Greek Pork


Grilling

Marinated Steak 

Grilled Dr. Pepper Pork Tenderloin

7up Grilled Chicken

Cedar-Planked Grilled Teriyaki Salmon

Caesar BBQ Chicken

Tinfoil dinners (BBQ Chicken or Make-Your-Own)

Hamburgers on Homemade Buns

Grilled Brats or Hot Dogs

Our Best Bites Asian BBQ Chicken

Tender Grilled Pork Chops


Soup

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Taco Soup

Creamy Italian Sausage and Potato Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Creamy Mushroom and Chicken Soup

Chicken Tortellini Soup

White Chicken Chili

Baked Potato Soup

Clam Chowder in Bread Bowls

Hearty Chicken Gnocchi Soup


I hope this is helpful when it comes to deciding what to make for dinner.  I'd love to know what your family favorites are. 


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