We have started something new at our house that has made a significant difference in mealtime. It has been one very small change that has made a huge impact.
We have started serving our meals family style. See, mealtimes prior, my husband and I would get all of the plates filled and ready before we sat down to dinner. We’d cut up meat, spoon on the veggies, butter the bread…all before we even sat down at the dinner table. It just seemed easier, or so I thought, to get everything all ready for the six of us so that when it was time to eat, that’s what we did.
What I didn’t realize was that by getting the plates ready, I was first of all causing dinner to be rushed. We were missing out on the meandering part of passing the food around the table. I was also taking the control out of the hands of my children. Now, they serve themselves which means they are responsible for taking only the amount that they will eat, knowing that they can usually later get seconds if they are available. They are also learning some very good new table manners…how to pass the food, how to wait until everyone is served before they begin eating and the great lesson of politely asking someone to pass something across the table.
I know it sounds so simple, but this change has truly turned what was once a hectic, rushed, chow fest into a longer, enjoyable, conversational meal. We’ve reached a place where mealtime is finally what I had always hoped for as a mom – a gathering place for my family to laugh, eat, converse and enjoy.
In virtual family style, this past Sunday I joined some fellow bloggers in “Sunday Supper” where we all cooked something from the wonderful cookbook Perfect One-Dish Dinners by fellow blogging friend, Pam Anderson. If you are thinking Baywatch, switch gears and think Pam Anderson from the Best-Selling cookbook The Perfect Recipe. Pam has been cooking for her family and friends for many years and has created some wonderful recipes perfect to pass around your table. In her newest cookbook, Perfect One-Dish Dinners Pam “serves up dozens of one dish wonders perfect for every occasion and any time of year.”
I made the meal that instantly caught my eye upon first perusal of Pam’s book… Shells and Cheese for Everyone, Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sliders and the PLT Salad (Prosciutto Lettuce Tomato). (The Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats will grace our table on another day.) I’m going to share the Barbecue Chicken Sliders recipe with you, but will only tempt you with a photo of the mac and cheese which has to be one of the best shells and cheese dishes I have ever had. I strongly encourage you to go pick up Pam’s book so you can get this recipe and try it out for yourself. Amazing….
For a list of other bloggers who have participated in the Sunday Supper, please see below the recipe for a list. You’ll get several chances to sneak a peek at the other wonderful recipes in this must have cookbook!
Recipe: Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sliders from Perfect One-Dish Dinners by Pam Anderson
I followed Pam’s recipe except omitted the pickles as we aren’t big pickle eaters. Since I absolutely love King Hawaiian rolls when I use them for the Oven Ham Sammies recipe I love, I used them in this recipe and it was a huge hit! I can imagine passing these out the next time the guys are over watching football.
- 1 package (24) small party rolls
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie or other cooked chicken
- 3/4 cup your favorite barbecue sauce
- 24 dill pickle slices
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Break rolls into individual buns and split in half horizontally. Mix chicken and barbecue sauce in a medium bowl. Top each roll bottom with a heaping tablespoon of pulled chicken and a pickle slice and cap each with roll top. Place rolls on a baking sheet and bake until warmed through, about 8 minutes. Serve.
Sunday Supper Participants – Check them all out for a glimpse of other great recipes from Pam’s book!
DadCooksDinner.com
RecipeGirl.com
ArtofGlutenFreeBaking.com
KitchenGadgetGirl.com
MyBakingAddiction.com
Wenderly.com
BluebonnetsandBrownies.com
TheSensitivePantry.com
WhatsCookingBlog.com
TwoPeasandTheirPod.com
WhatsGabyCooking.com
Bellalimento.com
SmithBites.com
MyFavoriteEverything.com
FoodForMyFamily.com
SavoringTheThyme.com
Ivoryhut.com
DineAndDish.net
GlutenFreeGirl
Picky-Palate.com
TickledRed
SheWearsManyHats.com
WhatWereEating.com
ThisWeekForDinner.com
SugarCrafter.net
GoodLifeEats.com
LaFujiMama.com
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Love this post (and recipes) and your daughter looks just like you, Kristen! 🙂 See you in a few days!
Wow, it looks yummy
Love sliders of any kind – so does my hubby!
What lovely family pictures!!
I think serving family style is a fantastic idea!
So funny about baywatch as I figured it would be the first thing that popped into one’s mind – love family style dinner. It is the way my husbands portugese family always does it…I jsut make sure the kids have extra servings of veggies
YUM!
Love this idea, but I’ll have to get creative to apply it to my pickier-than-average family!
What a lovely post, Kristen. Loved reading about how you made the switch from plating-up dinner to serving it family style. Funny how such small things can make such a big impact. Thank you so much for participating in Sunday Suppers!! (Also loved seeing pictures of your family – your kids are absolutely adorable ) p.s. Shells and Cheese is one of my favorites in the book too! So easy, so delicious. And it re-heats well the next day 🙂
Kristen, all of these recipes look amazing! Perfect One Dish Dinners is an awesome cookbook. Thanks for letting us know that one day those family dinners do become more relaxing. We are getting there one day at a time 🙂 xo
I could just pop that whole entire plate of cute little sliders in my mouth right about now! Yummy!
Oh, I almost chose that one too! It looks so yum. Am definitely making it soon.
It’s so nice to reach a point where you can put the control in the kids’ hands for how much food they will take. It’s also such a great way to build manners and judgement, as you said, and even consideration as they have to make sure to leave enough food for everyone at the table. Great post!
It’s so nice to reach a point where you can put the control in the kids’ hands for how much food they will take. It’s also such a great way to build manners and judgement, as you said, and even consideration as they have to make sure to leave enough food for everyone at the table. Great post!
It’s so nice to reach a point where you can put the control in the kids’ hands for how much food they will take. It’s also such a great way to build manners and judgement, as you said, and even consideration as they have to make sure to leave enough food for everyone at the table. Great post!
I’m so glad you finally found the recipe to your family’s dinner-table success. Family style meals are my favorite—they really empower the little ones to feel in charge of their choices and able to make their own decisions. And what a yummy choice to feature on your blog—you did Pam’s recipe justice!
We are making the shells and cheese next. Josh keeps begging to make that recipe:) Great post!
Oh, this reminds me that I haven’t made these in way too long. I like to toss boneless chicken breasts in the crockpot for a few hours, dump on the sauce, and then serve them up this way. So simple and soooo yummy!
Making these tonight! 🙂
That is really a great idea! I need to do that more often than I do. We often fill the plates so we aren’t dirtying up serving dishes every night… but, I do like the family style serving because it teaches them manners and to figure out what the right portion size is for how hungry they are.
Kristen, lovely story about the impact dining together has had on your family.
I really wanted to make the BBQ sliders and shells and cheese, I was so torn! That all looks amazing, it is definitely up next on our list 🙂 And I love dinner family style! My kids are a little bit young still, but that is how I crew up as well and I loved it!!
My kids are 13, 11, and 7, and I am just NOW realizing how important this is… to have them serve themselves and decide how much food they want. My tendency to want to control everything has kept me serving them all of these years… but really, I don’t want anyone else deciding for me how much I eat. Why would they?
Those sliders are a GREAT idea! Especially nights when we have basketball, soccer, and Girl Scouts. Thanks!
Sugar Mama – You know where I got the idea (besides the fact that it was how my mom did things growing up)? Preschool! My daughters class serves their snack at break family style. When I thought about us doing it as a family I thought for sure it wouldn’t work, but it has and it has been life changing!!
What an amazingly simple change – and I can see exactly why it caused the mealtime experience to alter drastically too. I just love this mac and cheese recipe. It is TO DIE FOR. And those pulled chicken sliders saved me when I had both vegetarians and carnivores to feed on a Sunday. Also, have I mentioned that your kids are TOO stinkin’ cute!?
Serving family-style is a great idea. We really need to do this more often. Those sliders look fantastic – how I love Pam’s new book!
Great post, Kristen! Your change in your dinnertime routine is fantastic! It is the way I was raised, and although it is a very simple concept, it is incredibly important on so many levels for your children. Good for you! Thanks for the cookbook recommendation, too…I’ll have to check it out!
that IS so simple, and I hadn’t thought of that! I am totally going to give this tip a try, thank you kristen! and, as always, your photos are lovely. 🙂
What a fantastic post! We do family style in my class. I wish that more families would do this. They are missing out on so much family time.
Love your post. We started the same change here, with 4 and 6 year-old. More dishes, messier table and floor but worthy. Kids do like to feel independent and I like the idea of them controlling their own portions. Thanks for the PAnderson referral…I’l check her books and for the Sunday Supper’s. I’m new to the blog world and it can be overwhelming. I’m stumbling you and subscribing to your blog. Cheers!
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend a Sunday night. I’ll have to make the shells and cheese soon.
Really lovely! If we ever get the baby to stay up late enough to eat dinner with us, I love the idea of serving family-style. Plus, any excuse to buy new serving utensils, right?
I loved it when we switched over to family style meals, too. The hard part for me is when they don’t want anything on the table. I have to work super hard to keep my mouth shut – and trust that if they are really hungry enough they will eat something. Easier said than done! I love this book and was thrilled when my kids saw many recipes they wants us to make together!
OMG! I totally plate and serve. I’m going to have to switch to the family style since I’m always trying to get everyone to stay around the table longer. Love it!
We always have family style dinner and it creates strong bond between each member of the family. Anyway, the shells and cheese seems to delicious. Mind if I ask the recipe?
those look yummy!
What a fantastic idea! And I’m now drooling over the pictures of the food… looks delicious! I think those sliders are going to be on my dinner menu very soon! Thanks for the tips!
I love passing the food around at the table, but my boyfriend and his family like to ‘plate’ the food because they are restaurant owners plus have worked in kitchens and feel that food should be plated.
Those little sliders look soo tasty
Every recipe I’ve seen made from this book sounds fantastic and like one that I would absolutely adore. It has officially been Amazon Wish-Listed!
My mom picked and chose which meals she would serve family style and which she would dole out pre-sitting down. Usually it depended on the mess factor. But as a kid it was definitely more fun to be able to take my own!
Great idea on the family Dinners! I bet it makes à huge difference indeed!!
Yes, we did it family style. My mom did, too. And she tried to teach us to take the one nearest us when we were served cookies, pieces of meat, etc. It worked until I was old enough to figure out how to turn the plate so the biggest piece was the one nearest to me. Ha Ha.
Gosh, I’m loving this book already! Thanks to you lovely ladies. All the recipes look SO good and of-course you’re an expert 🙂
Thanks Kristen for visiting my space and for your kind words. I’m glad you liked whatever I put forward!
Those sliders look marvelous!! And I love your new family dinner philosophy. It makes total sense!! And I bet it’s teaching your kids a lot 🙂
Some of our dinners growing up were family style, some weren’t… although as I got older, we would either serve ourselves or be able to say how much we wanted when being served from the cooking dishes. Those meals tended to be the ones that would be messy or annoying to transfer to the table – like my mom would have to take the spaghetti out of the strainer in the sink, for instance!
Usually the side dishes would be on the table family style regardless, though.
Oddly, my husband and I, despite everything else being totally different in our upbringings, both did the “plate-your-own” thing.
Yum. Please pass the sliders.
I need to take this tip from you and work on sharing meals with my family rather than loading up everyone’s plates like a waitress.
Wow, Kristen. Just look at that mac and cheese!! I bet the kids loved this dinner and will remember it for some time to come. Thanks for sharing!
YUM!! Kristen- This meal looks so good. All my favorites- pulled meat in wrapped in BREAD, cheese covered pasta- WOW. I will be making all of these this coming weekend for our Nevada Day celebrations!
Everything looks amazing! I haven’t tried any of these recipes yet and now I am so excited to!
What a beautiful family Kristen! I completely agree. Most nights I put everything on our LARGE kitchen table and serve it family style. I’m sure we’ll be making our way through EVERY recipe in Pam’s book : )
How right you are love about family style meals. It’s amazing what you can discover over a basket full of biscuits being passed around the table. Great post and by the way…Oh My Word on the mac and cheese photo!!
You win! I’m totally tempted by the shells and cheese pic as well as the description of your sliders. What a fun idea! My friends and I were just moaning about how bored we all were with our current repertoire of recipes. I’m definitely checking Pam Anderson’s book out! Thank you!
Um, come on! It’s nearly midnight and now you’ve made me hungry again! The shells and cheese? My mouth is watering.
Love your post, Kristen. I’m inspired by your idea to serve family style since we always tend to serve “buffet style.” Easier, faster but like you said, maybe we’re missing something. And, my dear, enough with the cheese….like Alison Moore Smith said before me, “It’s nearly midnight here and now you’ve made me hungry again!”
You’ve got adorable kids, Kristin!!
Family style is such fun for everyone…we usually served things up in the kitchen…wish now I had done it like this.
And ohhhhh…that gooey cheese!
Darling photos, my dear! I would love to start this tradition too. Maybe just on Sundays where we can have a Sunday dinner and then pass the food around the table. Of course this is bad for me because I have to resist temptation of having 2nds. Maybe it’s a good lesson!
Hi I was wondering what the second dish you made was? Looks like potatoes?? Can I have the recipe?
We have been doing family-style serving since the kids were young – we provide the place for dinner, the food for dinner, but we allow them the space to chose what they eat. Sometimes they shock us – like the time my son wanted a big plate of Brussels sprouts, skipping the roast turkey and mashed potatoes. I love that my kids are in control of their bodies and can learn to stop eating when they are full.
We made this dinner tonight & served it family style- it was AWESOME!!! One of our very favorite dinners this school year. The kids were so polite & everyone participated. My oldest son was so bummed when I told him what was for dinner (he’s not very apt to try new things) and then ended up eating 3 sandwiches!! Everyone was begging for more!! (And they all asked for family style dinners every night!) Thanks to all!!
Nice. Learned this same lesson about 13 years ago….. But then again, I’m old. ha ha
I didn’t do justice to my last comment. My youngest, Nathan was my picky eater…. I’d prepare his plate and we’d sit down to eat, and he’d stare and want a peanut butter jelly sandwich….
Later on, I learned to put all the food on the table. We’d all serve ourselves…and Nate would sit there with an empty plate…. And I’d say, “Son, just serve yourself whatever you want”…. No pressure, no nothing…. Well, he didn’t want NOT to eat, so he’d serve himself something, and before you know it…. He’s eating everything from spaghetti and meatballs to chicken satay on skewers with mildly hot peanut sauce….!
Right now Nathan is on an exchange program in Taipei, Taiwan for his college, and eating everything…… ha ha ha ha
I absolutely love barbecue sandwiches. They’re such a quick and easy meal, and they’re perfect for serving to small hands.
I cannot get this post out of my head, wondering if I should try this. I’m so impatient, especially with the messes made (bad me–I’m in awe of you). And I swear your youngest is younger then mine, right? (my youngest just turned 4) Hmmm… we also do mostly one pot meals that never leave the stove, but nonetheless am going to think on this.
why was i not eating that mac & cheese for dinner tonight?
Family style! What a great idea! I am going to start doing that…
GREAT seeing you tonight. Can’t wait to cook with you tomorrow!!
Wow. Great post. As a new monther, I’m definitely taking note of your family style experience. My little one is only 10 months old, but we insist that he sits in his high chair with us while we eat dinner, so it’s a family activity.
I’ve started a new blogging group, and I’d love it if you joined us. http://www.cookbookloversunite.blogspot.com. It’s pretty free-form, and should be fun!
We have the same rushed routine in my house, me scrambling to get the plates prepared and drinks ready before the kids sit at the table. I think this is due to the fact that my husband is almost never home for dinner on weeknights. I find mealtime very stressful. Think I’ll give the family meal style a try. We usually do that on weekends when we all have a chance to eat together, but making that a weeknight routine is a good idea.
EVERYTHING that I have seen from this book looks absolutely amazing. It’s going on my wish list!!
I just got Pam’s book. Yum! Interestingly, we’ve switched from family-style to plating in the kitchen. My husband and I are on Weight Watchers, and I weigh/measure our proteins and portion our starches. On the table we have the veggies and fruit. This forces us to eat smaller amounts of the stuff that isn’t so good for us.
The kids sure look happy about it…and delicious looking sliders 🙂
I can’t wait to try these little sandwiches…….we are big chicken lovers here any way!!
Everything looks so good! My kids are still little but the idea of family style dining sounds so nice.
This is a wonderful dish to serve with your family and kids on a Sunday afternoon! You can have a family lunch and can bond and share stories together while feasting on these yummy recipes. I will surely have one of those and will surely invite my cousins too!
Great suggestion for a cookbook. (can never have too many). Those sliders look terrific and you really got me with the mac n cheese dish – oh that gooey cheese. Great post!
The bbq chicken sliders look yummy! I love the idea of “family style” meals. Thanks for sharing!