Family meals are a place for gathering and bonding among members, while also providing an opportunity for you to be creative and bring delicious dishes to the family table. Com Nieu Thien Ly will suggest 40 family meal plans, including everyday dishes, special occasion meals, and a variety of dishes for holidays, to help you easily plan your family's menu.

Family meals are moments of reunion, bonding, and love.

1. Daily family meal

The family meal is an important element in bonding members and maintaining a healthy life. Below are some popular, easy-to-make meals that ensure complete nutrition for every meal of the day.

1.1. Family Meal Menu for Busy Days

On busy days filled with work and life responsibilities, preparing a quick yet nutritious family meal can be a challenge. Consider these simple family meal menus below to help you save time while still ensuring a delicious and well-balanced meal for the whole family.

1. Steamed white rice - Pepper-braised fish - Sour soup with snakehead fish - Boiled morning glory with fish sauce dip

The lightly spicy pepper-braised fish, rich in flavor, pairs beautifully with aromatic steamed white rice. The sour snakehead fish soup, with its refreshing tamarind tang, and boiled morning glory dipped in fish sauce make for a perfect combination.

The sour soup is fragrant, sweet, rich, and well-rounded in flavor

2. White Rice – Caramelized Pork Belly – Zucchini and Shrimp Soup – Pickled Eggplant 

The pork belly is crispy and richly aromatic, paired delightfully with the cool, refreshing zucchini and shrimp soup. The crunchy pickled eggplant enhances the flavors of the meal.

3. White Rice – Caramelized Shrimp in Fish Sauce – Spinach Soup with Ground Meat – Fried Egg 

The caramelized shrimp is rich with a perfect blend of salty-sweet flavors, complemented by the glossy fried egg and the nutritious spinach soup, making for a quick and satisfying dinner.

4. White Rice – Pork and Egg Stew – Green Mustard Soup – Pickled Bean Sprouts 

The pork and egg stew is hearty and rich, served with a light and refreshing green mustard soup and crispy pickled bean sprouts, making it an excellent choice for a family meal.

5. White Rice – Crispy Spanish Mackerel – Malabar Spinach and Crab Soup – Mixed Stir-Fried Vegetables

The stir-fried vegetables are fresh and flavorful, far from being bland or uninteresting.

Golden, crispy fried mackerel paired with a sweet water spinach soup and colorful sautéed vegetables will make your meal even more appealing.

1.2. Weekend Flavor Adventure Menu

The weekend is the perfect time for the whole family to gather and enjoy some unique and different dishes. The menus below not only offer a change of taste but also add extra joy to your family's weekend meals.

6. White Rice, Ginger Braised Chicken, Pumpkin and Minced Pork Soup, and Pickled Mustard Greens

The aromatic intensity of the ginger in the chicken perfectly complements the sweetness of the pumpkin in the soup, all balanced beautifully with the tangy crunch of the pickled greens. This is a nutritiously fulfilling meal that offers a delightful taste journey."

Chicken braised with ginger is a dish that is easy to prepare and suits a variety of tastes.

7. White rice – Steamed fish with soy sauce – Shrimp spinach soup – Cucumber tomato salad

The steamed fish with soy sauce retains its natural sweetness, served with a refreshing spinach soup and a fresh salad, creating a pleasant feeling.

8. White rice – Sweet and sour pork ribs – Mullet fish soup with malabar spinach – Stir-fried water spinach with garlic

The soft, flavorful sweet and sour pork ribs, combined with fragrant garlic stir-fried water spinach, make for a perfect meal.

9. White rice – Shrimp stir-fried with pork belly – Bitter melon soup stuffed with pork – Boiled water spinach

The salty-sweet shrimp stir-fried with pork belly, soft bitter melon soup stuffed with pork, and boiled water spinach with fish sauce dip is an optimal choice for the weekend.

10. White rice – Braised wild carp in a clay pot – Pennywort soup with minced pork – Fried Vietnamese sausage

Braised wild carp is a familiar rural dish, combined with refreshing pennywort soup and crispy fried Vietnamese sausage, making for a simple family meal over the weekend.

Field perch fish is braised to absorb the seasoning while retaining its natural sweetness.

Additionally, to add variety to your family meals, you can explore these 10 diverse family meal menus below. These dishes are not only easy to prepare but also bring a refreshing touch to your daily family meals.

11. Steamed rice – Tofu in tomato sauce – Sour shrimp soup – Stir-fried bok choy

12. Steamed rice – Tuna braised with pineapple – Malabar spinach soup with clams – Sweet and sour pickled bean sprouts

13. Steamed rice – Caramelized pork with fish sauce – Winter melon soup – Boiled vegetables

14. Steamed rice – Fried chicken with fish sauce – Bok choy soup with minced pork – Watermelon for dessert

Chicken braised in fish sauce is a "comfort food" loved by people of all ages

15. White rice – Fried fish with ginger fish sauce – Gourd soup with shrimp – Salted eggplant

16. White rice – Braised pork ribs – Jute mallow soup with shrimp – Green bean sweet soup for dessert

17. White rice – Fish cakes in tomato sauce – Sponge gourd soup with peanuts – Boiled morning glory with fish sauce

18. White rice – Honey-grilled chicken – Bitter melon soup with snakehead fish – Vegetable salad

19. White rice – Braised fish with soy sauce – Pumpkin soup with shrimp – Pickled mustard greens

20. White rice – Beer-steamed shrimp – Clam sour soup – Crispy salted eggplant

21. White rice – Grilled pork belly – Centella soup with shrimp – Fresh vegetables with fermented anchovy dipping sauce

22. White rice – Braised goby fish with pepper – Napa cabbage soup – Steamed egg with minced meat

23. White rice – Pork ribs stewed with beans – Sour morning glory soup – Banana blossom salad

24. White rice – Braised pork with radish – Minced meat clear soup – Red bean sweet soup for dessert

Soup with jute leaves and minced meat is a great dish for cooling down.

25. White rice – Stir-fried anchovies with garlic and chili – Green mustard soup with fish – Boiled vegetables served with Vietnamese caramelized pork dip.

Kho quet is a simple and rustic dish, but it is full of the rich flavor of the countryside

26. White rice – Salted fried shrimp – Sweet leaf soup with minced pork – Garlic sautéed mushrooms

27. White rice – Braised chicken with mushrooms – Bitter melon soup – Boiled sweet potato leaves

28. White rice – BBQ grilled ribs – Tofu and tomato soup – Fruit salad

29. White rice – Basa fish braised with turmeric – Sour soup with Sesbania flowers – Garlic sautéed morning glory

30. White rice – Chicken in tamarind sauce – Pumpkin soup – Sweet and sour pickled eggplant

Salted eggplant is a familiar dish, easy to make, and pairs perfectly with rice.

2. Family Meals During the Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is a special occasion of the year, a time for families to reunite and gather together. The Tet feast not only carries the rich flavors of tradition but also symbolizes luck and prosperity for the new year. Below are 10 traditional Tet feasts, complete with delicious dishes for an enticing family meal at the beginning of the year.

2.1 Northern Vietnamese Tet Meal

• Banh Chung
• Braised bamboo shoot soup with pork bone
• Boiled chicken
• Pickled scallion heads and pickled small leeks
• Fried spring rolls
• Braised pork with boiled eggs
• Watermelon

Banh Chung carries deep cultural significance.

2.2 Traditional Central Vietnam Tet Meal

• Cylindrical Sticky Rice Cake
• Bitter Melon Soup with Stuffed Pork
• Braised Pork with Eggs
• Pickled Eggplant
• Caramelized Shrimp
• Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables

2.3 Southern Tet meal

• Cylindrical Sticky Rice Cake
• Bitter melon soup (stuffed or braised)
• Crispy fried chicken rice
• Pickled bean sprouts
• Pickled scallion bulbs
• Braised caramelized fish in clay pot

Braised fish in clay pot: rich in flavor, yet not heavy, perfect for Tet holidays.

2.4 Traditional Vietnamese Tet Family Meal

• Banh Chung
• Gac sticky rice
• Braised pork with eggs
• Bamboo shoot stew
• Boiled chicken
• Pickled onions and scallions
• Fried spring rolls

2.5 Traditional Northern Vietnamese Tet Meal

• Banh chung, banh day
• Jellied meat
• Stir-fried bamboo shoots with mushrooms
• Cilantro soup with meat
• Boiled chicken
• Pickled scallions

Pickled shallots are delicious and enticing when served with sticky rice cakes, rice cakes, or hot rice.

2.6 Premium Tet Feast

• Banh Chung
• Steamed chicken with lime leaves
• Grilled mackerel with scallion oil
• Vermicelli soup with pork balls (Canh mien nau moc)
• Stir-fried beef with mustard greens
• Fresh fruits, Tet seasonal fruits

2.7 Vegetarian Tet Meal

• Vegetarian Banh Chung
  
• Vegetarian Mushroom Soup
  
• Fried Tofu
  
• Boiled Vegetables
  
• Vegetarian Dua Hanh
  
• Assorted Vegetarian Mut

Simple and light fried tofu for the Lunar New Year days.

2.8 Special Tet Meal for Children

• Mini Banh Chung
• Grilled chicken with honey
• French fries
• Fruit salad
• Tet jam cakes
• Fresh milk

2.9 Lunar New Year Feast to Welcome Ancestors

• Banh Chung
• Bitter melon soup with stuffed pork
• Braised pork with boiled eggs
• Boiled chicken
• Fried spring rolls
• Pickled mustard greens

Braised pork with boiled eggs is a dish closely associated with the Lunar New Year for many families.

2.10 A Small Family's Tet Holiday Meal

• Banh tet
• Sour fish soup with snakehead fish
• Roast pork
• Pickled onions
• Vietnamese steamed pork sausage

These delicious dishes for the family meal not only bring the traditional flavors of Tet but also serve as comforting meals that help strengthen family bonds during the spring season. Wishing you and your family a joyful, peaceful, and happiness-filled Tet holiday!

3. A family meal on birthdays or family gatherings

Birthdays and family gatherings are special moments where members come together to share joy and affection. The delicious dishes at these family meals are not only tasty but also reflect the care and love given to each person. Below are 10 meal sets suitable for birthdays and family gatherings, offering a warm and fulfilling dining experience.

3.1 Traditional family birthday meal

• White rice
  
• Boiled chicken
  
• Braised pork with salted eggs
  
• Crab soup with spinach
  
• Fried spring rolls
  
• Pickled vegetables
  
• Fresh fruits

Fried spring rolls are an essential dish in the family meal during important occasions.

3.2 A cozy family reunion meal.

• White rice
  
• Boiled chicken
  
• Braised pork with boiled eggs
  
• Crab soup with pennywort
  
• Fried spring rolls
  
• Pickled vegetables
  
• Fresh fruit

3.3 A light and simple birthday meal.

• Brown rice
  
• Steamed chicken with lime leaves
  
• Sour soup with minced meat and vegetables
  
• Steamed fish with onion and ginger
  
• Fruit salad
  
• Fresh juice

3.4 Northern Vietnam family gathering meal

• Banh Chung
• Jellied pork
• Bamboo shoot soup with pork bones
• Fried sausage
• Pickled onions
• Fruits

The pork leg is tender and melts in your mouth, while the bamboo shoots are crispy and crunchy, creating a flavorful broth.

3.5 A modern-style birthday meal.

• Yangzhou Fried Rice
  
• Honey Glazed Ribs
  
• Cabbage Soup with Ribs
  
• Vegetable Salad
  
• French Fries
  
• Fruit Jam

3.6 A cozy family gathering meal

• White rice
  
• Crispy fried fish
  
• Squash soup with shrimp
  
• Stir-fried mixed vegetables
  
• Vietnamese pork sausage
  
• Fruits, jams

3.7 A Japanese-style family birthday meal.

• Sushi rolls
  
• Miso soup
  
• Teriyaki grilled chicken
  
• Seaweed salad
  
• Fresh fruit

3.8 A luxurious family gathering meal

• Grilled pork broken rice
  
• Grilled tiger prawns
  
• Chive flower soup
  
• Spring rolls
  
• Fruits

The perfectly grilled shrimp will absorb the seasoning while still retaining the sweet flavor of the shrimp meat.

3.9 Children's birthday meal spread

• Homemade pizza
  
• French fries
  
• Pumpkin soup with minced meat
  
• Fruit salad
  
• Birthday cake

3.10 A simple yet delicious family gathering meal.

• White rice
• Braised pork with eggs
• Soup with water spinach and crab
• Stir-fried water spinach with garlic
• Pickled vegetables
• Fresh fruit

Stir-fried water spinach with garlic is quite simple to prepare and doesn't take much time.

With the suggestions from 40 simple and delicious family meal ideas for every day, we hope you've found tasty and easy-to-make dishes to enrich and make your family meals more varied and appealing. Whether it's a quick meal on a busy day or a hearty family dinner on the weekend, each dish brings connection and love within the family.

Com Nieu Thien Ly Restaurant is the ideal place for those who love home-style cooking.

If you want to enjoy delicious traditional Vietnamese family meals with rich flavors, Com Nieu Thien Ly Restaurant is the ideal choice for you. With a variety of dishes from the North to the South, Com Nieu Thien Ly always ensures to bring delicious, high-quality meals full of hometown flavors. Especially, with the perfect combination of fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation, Com Nieu Thien Ly will be the perfect destination for cozy and fulfilling family meals. Come and enjoy delicious meals with the authentic taste of Vietnam at Com Nieu Thien Ly today!