8 Favorite Family Dinner Recipes With A Global Twist

Most kids wake up excited to do their favorite things every day. They might jump at the chance to play video games, spend time with friends, or run around outside with their chalk and scooters. They also look forward to mealtimes because they know you’ll always serve something tasty.

You probably cycle through a few staple recipes that you know your kids love. They’re easy to whip up on your busiest days, but it’s boring to eat the same food all the time. You don’t want to spend time making food your kids won’t want to eat, but you also crave something new for dinner sometimes.

Check out these clever favorite sides and family dinner recipes with a global twist. They’re close enough to what you might already make, so picky eaters will be pleased. And the global spin will appeal to more adventurous eaters, so everyone will leave the meal happy. Get a taste of the world from the comfort of your own home with these delicious recipes.

Read on to discover 8 family dinner recipes with a global spin, and try them out!

1. Scottish Oatmeal Dinner Rolls

Most meals need something on the side, like a salad. Bread rolls are another side that many families serve because they’re easy to grab at the store and they freeze well. Take some advice from an old Scottish tradition and make oatmeal dinner rolls by hand instead.

As long as you have flour, yeast, and sugar, you can whip up this recipe in between doing chores at home. After letting the dough rise for a couple of hours, it only takes 25 minutes to bake the rolls before they’re ready to serve.

2. Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce

Before you dump another can of pasta sauce in a pot to serve over spaghetti, get the ingredients for this Italian sausage sauce. It switches out ground beef for ground sausage, or you can use cooked and sliced sausage links for your protein. Combine the meat with canned tomatoes and Italian seasoning for a new twist on an old favorite family dinner recipe.

3. Lemon and Dill Shrimp Subs

You might top traditional subs with meatballs or pastrami when it’s family sandwich night, but use this lemon and dill shrimp sub recipe from Norway next time you want a quick meal that’s a little unexpected. After you mix shrimp with mayonnaise, dill, and a few spices, your family can enjoy this delectable meal out on the porch or around the dinner table.

4. Traditional Swedish Meatballs

When you can’t stand the thought of another meatball and pasta dinner, make traditional Swedish meatballs and serve them with salad or mashed potatoes. Gather the essential ingredients like ground beef, ground pork, whipping cream, and spices to fry the meatballs on the stove and simmer them in the creamy sauce.

5. Slow-Cooked Spicy Portuguese Caçoila

Many families make barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, but not too many know of the slow-cooked spicy Portuguese caçoila dish. It uses the same meat from an inexpensive cut of boneless pork butt and cooks it with crushed tomatoes, sweet red wine, spices, tomato sauce, and sliced onions for 10 to 12 hours. Shred the meat and serve it on a bun for a delicious family dinner recipe that gives you a mild to spicy alternative to regular barbecue.

6. Creative Korean Nachos

Nachos are great, and they’re especially delicious when they contain Korean ingredients. Bake your favorite tortilla chips in the oven after you cover them with cooked ground beef or a veggie alternative, a melted cheese sauce, and Korean barbecue sauce. It’s a flavorful change to that nacho night your family can’t live without.

7. Colorful Chicken Paella

Chicken and rice are an easy meal to serve with a side of gravy, but sometimes it’s nice to spice things up with an exciting alternative. When your kids want something different, make Spanish chicken paella for an at-home trip around the world. Arborio rice provides a creamy texture, and turmeric transforms the rice with a golden hue. Add in cooked chicken slices, chopped bell peppers, and peas for a colorful dinner that leaves you with enough leftovers to cover lunch for a couple of days.

8. Italian Steak Roulade

Many meat eaters love a steak dinner as a treat now and then. When was the last time you combined steak and bacon all rolled up into one meal? Try this steak roulade recipe from Sicily, and you’ll never look at steak night the same way again.

After cooking bacon whichever way you prefer, slice steak horizontally so it’s half as thick. Pound it with a meat mallet if you have one, and spread a garlic, bacon, and egg mixture over each slice before rolling them up. Bake in the oven, and serve with a traditional sauce. The steak will melt in your mouth and burst with flavor, so it’s bound to win over any kid who’s not sure if they’ll like something new.

Consider Your Family’s Favorites

These new takes on traditional meals can introduce your family to a new culture without requiring a trip across the world. Switch up the usual chicken and rice or nacho night and make these family dinner recipes with cultural twists instead. They’ll look similar enough to your typical meals that young kids will want to try them, and you’ll enjoy a flavorful dish that isn’t a repeat of food you eat every night.