What if we said you could have an extra free hour every day? Wellwith these speedyeasy kid-friendly dinners in your back pocketyou basically can. Spend less time in the kitchen and more time helping out with that science project (or just kicking back with a glass of wine). From classic pasta recipes to inventive veggies that are picky eater-proofhere are 56 ideas that are sure to please everyone at your table.
56 EasyKid-Friendly Dinners The Whole Family Will Love
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Published Aug 232022
1. Quick Chicken Potpie
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutesbeginner-friendlyhigh protein
Puff pastry is the ultimate time-saver (and it's virtually impossible not to like).
2. Veggie Sheet Pan Nachos
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian<30 minutessheet pan recipe
Coterie member Maria Lichty has finally figured out a way to get kids to eat a pile of vegetables…without hiding them.
3. One-Pot15-Minute Pasta Limone
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutesone pot<10 ingredients
You know the kid who doesn’t like sauce? This one’s for her. Top it with a chicken cutlet to make it more filling.
4. Blackberry-Peach Grilled Cheese
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes<10 ingredientsvegetarian
Totally sophisticated enough for Momtoo. (Come onthe sammy has fontinagoat cheese *and* Emmentaler.)
5. Avocado and Black Bean Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: make aheadbeginner-friendlyvegetariancrowd-pleaser
Swap in your kid’s favorite pasta shape and half your work is done. Serve it hot or cold.
6. 12-Minute Chicken and Broccoli
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutesbeginner-friendlykid-friendlyhigh protein
Sweet and salty FTW. The kids will swear you ordered takeoutonly the meal is ready to serve in less time than it takes to place and pick up an order.
7. Honey-Mustard Sheet Pan Salmon
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteincrowd-pleasersheet pan recipe
Think your kids won’t eat salmon? Wrong: The honey-mustard glaze on this one-pan meal will have them coming back for secondsonce you get them to try a bite. (You have your wayswe're sure.)
8. Instant Cup of Noodles with Spiralized Vegetables
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead<10 ingredients<30 minutes
Stash it in the fridge and pour boiling water into the jar when you need dinner readystat.
9. Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthyvegetarian
You’ll love this veggie-heavy recipe just as much as the little ones (as long as you provide them with plenty of ketchupthat is).
10. Eggplant Pizza
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredientscrowd-pleaservegetariankid-friendly
Get the kids to help you prepare this easy dishwhich trades carby pizza crust for eggplant rounds.
11. Enchilada Skillet Lasagna with Chicken and Chorizo
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleasermake aheadhigh protein<30 minutes
We love this twist on a dinner staple. Nix the chile or chorizo if spice is a deal-breaker for your kid.
12. Pancake Tacos with Cheese and Bacon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlybeginner-friendlyhigh protein
Breakfast for dinner: exciting every time. What kid would complain about maple syrup making a dinner cameo?
13. Loaded Baked Potato and Cauliflower Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser<10 ingredientsone pot
Just as comforting as the original but with a good-for-you secret. Rope them in with all those delicious toppings.
14. Rainbow Vegetable Sandwich
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook<30 minutesvegetarian
Whoarainbows really do have magical powers (as does herb-kissed cream cheese).
15. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaserone pankid-friendly
All of their dinner favoritescombined in one cheesy casserole.
16. 20-Minute Healthy Chicken Parm
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredientsbeginner-friendly
PSA: Many grocery stores now sell pre-made zoodlesso you won't have to spiralize your own.
17. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pankid-friendlyvegetarian
Serve a heaping scoop with a side of peas and dinner’s donesecret vegetables and all.
18. Waffle Breakfast Sandwich with Chorizo
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlyhigh protein
Everyone will go bonkers when you announce this brinner masterpiece. Go the extra mile with a side of frozen hash browns.
19. Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlyhigh proteincrowd-pleaser
Fun fact: Quinoa is a complete protein that also happens to be gluten free. Pass the honey mustard.
20. Roasted Broccoli and Bacon Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: make aheadbeginner-friendlycrowd-pleaser
Now this is a salad preschoolers can get behind. Make a batch on Sunday and nosh on it all week long.
21. Baking Sheet Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetariancrowd-pleasersheet pan recipebeginner-friendlykid-friendly
Bookmark this one for when the kids have friends over: It’s ready in a flash and leaves you with only one dirty dish.
22. Garlic Breaded Roast Chicken Breast
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: high proteinkid-friendly<10 ingredients
Crispy chicken *without* a spitting vat of oilright this way. Serve it with pastasteamed veggies or Caesar salad.
23. Carrot Pasta
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthyvegetarian
The ultimate answer to “How do I get my kids to eat more veggies without them noticing?”
24. Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteinmake aheadone potcrowd-pleaser
Double the recipe and stash half in the freezer for nights when you’re tempted to order in.
25. Broccoli Cheddar Melts
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly<30 minutes
It's sort of like their favorite broccoli-cheddar soupplus the bonus of buttery sourdough bread.
26. Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaserhigh proteinone pot
This stick-to-your-ribs soup costs less than $5 a serving and feeds a crowd. What are you waiting for?
27. Buffalo Cauliflower Nuggets
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarianbeginner-friendly
Saucy and flavorful (but not too spicy). Serve them with ranch dressing to further curb the heat.
28. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlybeginner-friendlyhigh protein
When all else failslean on this classic that never quits (and packs a ton of protein onto your kid's plate).
29. Eggplant Parm Casserole
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleasermake aheadbeginner-friendly
For those nights when you need a hearty meal that'll satisfy your whole crew—and their craving for cheese.
30. Rainbow Thai Chicken Salad
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minuteshigh proteinbeginner-friendly
It may look like a riskbut trust us. Start with a bite of the chicken drizzled in peanut butter dressingand your kids will be sold.
31. The Ultimate Chicken Potpie
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: one panhigh proteincrowd-pleaser
Helloold friend. Whip up this timeless dish in your trusty cast iron skillet.
32. Polenta Ragu Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: one panmake aheadcrowd-pleaser
As satisfying as lasagnaminus the fussyfragile noodles. Did we mention it freezes like a charm?
34. The Ultimate Pasta Pie
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlycrowd-pleaserhigh protein<10 ingredients
Seal the deal by telling everyone you're serving pie for dinner. It's like baked zitionly a million times more exciting. You can even get the kids in on helping you line up the noodles in the pan.
35. General Tso's Cauliflower
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlybeginner-friendlyvegetarian
Prep the white rice ahead and you're halfway to the finish line before you even begin.
36. Swedish Meatballs
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteinbeginner-friendlykid-friendly
Let the whole fam know it’s hygge night. Don't forget the easy mashed potatoes.
37. Cauliflower “Tater” Tots
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly<10 ingredientscrowd-pleaser
They'll love these poppable gems so much that they won't even notice they're potato-free.
38. Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendlyhigh proteinkid-friendly
BRBdrooling. It's so decadent and delicious that the kids (and you) will want to lick their plates.
39. Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendlykid-friendlyvegetarian
Our favorite cruciferous veggie strikes again. Prepare the crustthen let them add the toppings.
40. Chicken and Carrot Cups
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: make aheadkid-friendly<10 ingredients
Anything baked in a muffin tin is a guaranteed hit with the pre-K set. Send them to school with the leftovers.
41. Parmesan-Ranch Chicken Thighs
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteinkid-friendlycrowd-pleaser
They'll be hooked at the first mention of ranch. You'll be hooked once you learn you only need seven ingredients.
42. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteinone pan<30 minutes
Just like takeoutbut faster and healthier. File this one under “ingenious.”
43. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir Fry
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minuteshigh proteinbeginner-friendly
Ohyour kid hates bell peppers? No big dealtrade them for another crisp veggielike carrots or broccoli.
44. Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta with Peas
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredientsvegangluten free
Yesyour kids can see the peasbut the sweet butternut squash sauce with cream cheese more than makes up for it.
45. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipecrowd-pleaserhigh protein
Tacosburritosquesadillasnachosenchiladassandwiches—the possibilities are endless.
46. Pasta alla Norma with EggplantBasil and Pecorino
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: vegetarianbeginner-friendlykid-friendly
It's a breeze to prepare and the homemade sauce comes together in one pot. Best of allyou can make four servings for less than $10.
47. Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: veganbeginner-friendlyno cook
You could use this recipe as an opportunity for a fridge clean-outor let your kids pick and choose the fillings.
48. Black Pepper Chicken
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteinbeginner-friendly
A clean version of a takeout favorite that’s ready in 30 minutes. Kudos to you.
49. White Turkey Chili with Avocado
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaserone pothigh protein
If your kids think standard beef-and-tomato chili is too intensethey'll love this dialed-down take.
50. Easy One-Pan Baked Ziti
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaserone pankid-friendly
Memorize this formula: pasta + canned tomatoes + cheese = happy kids. It's that easy.
51. Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipehigh proteinbeginner-friendly
They already dip their chicken tenders into honey mustardso why not try this easylow-effort meal? (If your kids are totally anti-sauceyou always can serve it on the side.)
52. Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutesvegetarianlow carb
Psst: This dinner staple is even easier to prepare if you use frozen cauliflower rice instead of making your own.
53. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Bites
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendlyvegetariancrowd-pleaser
Presentation is everything. They might pass on a boring bowl of soupbut they’ll gobble these minis right up.
54. Lightened-Up Fettuccine with Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredientskid-friendlyvegetarian<30 minutes
We love a sneaky vegetable as much as the next personand no one will know this sauce is full of cauliflower.
55. Portobello and Avocado Quesadillas with Magic Green Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendlyvegetarian
Give them permission to eat with their hands and they’ll love you even more.
56. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: high proteinno cookmake ahead
The yogurt is just as creamy as mayonnaise but a little more nutritious. Pack these in lunches or serve them as a quick dinner.
