Easy Weeknight Dinner for Family: Kid Friendly Pasta Bake Recipe

I don’t know about you, but feeding a family day after day can be….well, hard. Am I right? Is it the prep, the clean up, trying to make something that everyone will like? How about all of the above - and more!

There’s a ton of invisible mental work behind meal planning and cooking for a family, and my bet is that you’re doing a lot behind the scenes just to keep your family fed. That in itself is an incredible feat - one that deserves all the accolade and acknowledgement in the world. 

But who are we kidding?

Most of it goes unnoticed. I know that can make it tough, too. Nobody understands how much thought and effort you put into making dinner for your family, only to be rejected and met with demands for chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese. 

I see you, though, mama. And I know how hard you work to feed your family and make sure the little bellies in your home have enough food to eat. 

Sometimes, mama just needs a break. Whether it’s with takeout or enjoying a meal you didn’t have to plan or cook, sometimes you need to be rescued from the mental load of meal planning (and motherhood). 

This is where I’ve got you covered. 

Easy Weeknight Dinner for Family

I wish I could reach through this computer screen and come cook you a homemade meal in your kitchen so you can put your feet up for the night. But instead, I want to share this super simple weeknight dinner recipe for you and your family, so you can take the guesswork out of meal planning and have a home cooked meal ready in no time. 

The best part is that this meal is easy to customize and works great for feeding a crowd. It can also be prepared ahead of time and stored in your fridge or freezer to bake at a later time.

Everyone in my family gives this dish a thumbs up, including the picky and selective eaters, which means there’s a good chance it’ll get 5 stars in your home, too. 

Another perk of this dish is that it’s all assembled and baked in one pan.

Yep. Multiple dishes unnecessary. Just add a side of warm, crusty bread and a fresh salad, and voila! - you’ve got a complete meal put together in no time. 

And not to mention that this dish will leave you with the most delicious leftovers for the following day. This pasta bake stores well in glass containers and can easily be reheated the next day for a quick lunch. 

So without further ado, check out the recipe and instructions below!

Easy Family Dinners: Rigatoni Pasta Bake Recipe

Using less than 5 ingredients that you likely already have in your home, this recipe is easy to put together for a homemade meal in no time.

I’ve included a modification I make for family members who may not like foods all mixed together in one dish.

For example, it was a long time before my picky eater would actually eat this dish, as she didn’t prefer pasta with sauce and would only eat plain pasta. I would just boil extra pasta and leave some on the side and serve alongside the dish. That way, she could still feel safe eating at the table with plain pasta.

This is one of those family favorites that appears in our meal rotation regularly, and after some time of being exposed to the dish, she decided to try it unexpectedly. Now, she eats it as is!

I still make extra plain pasta on the side because my kids love it equally as much. For more help on feeding picky eaters, be sure to check out this post here: “My Kid Won't Eat Dinner! How to Meal Plan With Your Picky Eater in Mind”

Ingredients:

• About 3 cups uncooked rigatoni pasta (Add an extra cup if you want to have some plain pasta available for any family members that prefer it served this way)

• 1 lb ground turkey or beef

• 1 (26 oz) jar of your favorite marinara sauce. (We love the roasted garlic jarred marinara from Trader Joes - delish!)

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 8 oz)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

2. Prepare a 13 x 9 - inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta. (TIP: Add plenty of sea salt to the boiling water for the pasta - this helps give it more flavor as it’s cooking. Be sure to cook the pasta until just al dente). Add the cooked and drained pasta to your baking dish and spread evenly. 

3. While your pasta is cooking, cook your ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season your meat as desired while cooking. (I like to use salt, pepper, garlic powder and italian seasoning). Stir frequently until thoroughly cooked through. Once cooked, add on top of the pasta in your baking dish.

4. Pour the jarred marinara sauce over the pasta and meat in your baking dish. Add in 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella and stir to thoroughly combine all the ingredients. 

5. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese over the top layer of the pasta mixture in the baking dish. 

6. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, serve and with warm, crusty bread and salad on the side. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese as desired. 

7. ENJOY!

Getting Kids Involved in the Kitchen

Allowing your children to participate in meal prep can be hugely beneficial in supporting their confidence with food and eating. This is especially important for kids who may be more picky or selective eaters. 

Mealtimes can typically be stressful for kids, particularly if there’s a lot of pressure (spoken or unspoken) for them to eat. If a child is not particularly interested in eating at mealtimes or has a hard time coming to the table, consider creating opportunities where your child can engage with the food where there’s no pressure to have to actually eat the food. 

Involving your kids in the kitchen is a great way to create these opportunities. Just be sure to practice kitchen safety to keep you and your children safe.

Here are some ways your kids can help you out with this recipe: 

• Measuring out the pasta

• Adding salt to the pasta water

• Stirring the pasta or ground meat

• Pouring the marinara sauce over the pasta in the baking dish

• Washing ingredients for your salad

• Sprinkling on the cheese over the pasta mixture in the baking dish

• Shredding cheese

Most importantly, have fun. Family meals are about connecting and coming together, not necessarily about the nutrition aspect of the meal or what your child will or won’t eat. 

For more ways to help support a picky eater in your family, be sure to check out this post here: “Fear of Trying New Food? How to Get Picky Eaters to Try New Foods”

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself and Eat, Too

At the time of writing this, the world feels upside down. It’s frightening and heavy. And I know you’re doing the best you can under these uncertain circumstances to keep your family safe & your kids feed. 

Here’s a gentle reminder to take care of yourself, too. 

Feeding yourself and getting enough to eat is ALWAYS the most valid form of self-care and essential to helping you stay grounded when times are tough. 

Under stressful circumstances, your appetite might be wiped out completely. You might find it hard to eat when you’re feeling anxious or find food unappealing.

On the other hand, you may be seeking out food for comfort, as a reliable source of pleasure when life feels so out of control. 

You might just feel overwhelmed, and finding time to feed your body feels more challenging than ever. 

The last thing you need right now is added stress around food or unnecessary guilt from how or what you’re eating.

Here are some suggestions to help you navigating food and caring for yourself during these stressful times:

1.Set reminders to eat: 

We’re good about feeding our kids regularly, but it’s easy to push yourself to the wayside. Eat with your kiddos when you can. Or set reminders on your phone to eat and to help you care for yourself with consistent nourishment.

2. Switch up your eating environment: 

If possible, change up where you’re eating. Grab the kids, some portable snacks and a blanket, and head outside for some fresh air and change of scenery. During this pandemic time, a mom friend of mine shared how she’d been picking up some store bought sushi on her grocery runs and taking 10 minutes to eat it in her car. Do whatever works for you! 

3. Switch off the screens: 

All the input from screens can be overstimulating. It can make it harder for you to listen to your body & honor what it needs. Try eating without any screens to make food more peaceful and to give your brain a break from the overwhelming input that’s constantly coming in.

4. Give yourself permission to eat what you’re craving: 

Eat what brings you comfort, joy and pleasure. If you’re craving comfort food or find yourself gravitating toward more processed food - that is OKAY. Please give yourself a ton of grace. Don’t force yourself to eat what doesn’t sound good. Do the best you can to listen to what your body needs and honor that as best as possible. This will help your eating experiences feel more enjoyable. 

Wherever you’re at, I know you’re doing what you can to survive these trying times. 

Hang in there, friends. It feels hard because it is hard. You’re not alone. And you know what? You’re doing a great job. 🙏

I hope this recipe can bring you some comfort food to enjoy as a family and a sense of stability as you gather around the table to share a meal. 

If you try the recipe, please let me know in the comments below!