When you have one or more kids to feed, it can be exhausting to find the "perfect" dinner that picky eaters actually want to eat — and that can be made on a busy weeknight after homework, ballet class, and soccer practice. Not to mention the added work of preparing a separate dinner for Mom and Dad if you aren't craving, say, mac 'n' cheese with a side of tater tots. Enter our list of the best kid-friendly dinner recipes. Here, you'll find dozens of ideas for easy dinners that the whole family will love, the majority of which are healthy meals that can be made in under 30 minutes.
Even though catering to kids' ever-changing taste preferences can be a constant source of frustration, these recipes are designed to combine their favorite foods with new ingredients that will expand their palate. And if your kids have to stick to a certain diet, you'll be happy to know that many of these recipes are vegetarian and gluten-free, too. Some can even be prepared in a slow-cooker for a convenient kid-friendly Crockpot dinner you can make ahead of time. Plus, these delicious family dinner ideas are super versatile, so you can serve them as breakfast for the kids, too. No one said that cooking dinner for a family was going to be easy, but these kid-friendly meals will help make everyone at the dinner table a happy camper (including you!).
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Turkey Burgers and Slaw with Sweet Potato Chips
Ryan Dausch
You don't need to hit the drive-thru for fast food. This fresh turkey burger recipe only takes 30 minutes to prepare.
Take your kids down South with their new favorite quesadilla recipe. And for some extra veggies, serve it with a mixed green salad dressed with fresh lime vinaigrette.
Kids will go nuts when you cover chicken nuggets in chopped pecans and Panko breadcrumbs. Dip them with a tangy cranberry-mustard sauce for extra yummy flavor.
If you're feeding one or more kids who follow a gluten-free diet, prepare this grain-free lasagna alternative that has a sneaky green surprise you will appreciate.
You'll love this dinner idea because it only takes 40 minutes to prepare, and they'll love it because it has all of their favorite ingredients mixed into one big bowl.
All kinds of pizza is a good idea for a dinner with the kids, but this pie is loaded with lots of peppers — and you can skip the jalapeño if the kids are sensitive.
Spaghetti with Bacon and Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Mike Garten
Brussel sprouts may not be ever kid's favorite green vegetable, but they won't be able to resist munching on a few sprouts when they're tossed with spaghetti, garlic, bacon, and parmesan.
On a first glance, combing pork with PB may sound a little strange, but if the kiddos can't get enough of PB&J sandwiches, then this dish will agree with their taste buds. Plus, you probably already have plenty of nut butter jars at home making this an easy dinner for you, too.
Erika Lapresto. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Allstar Turnbull
Most kids love biting into a burger during the warmer months, and these burgers use ground white-meat turkey instead of red-meat for a healthier dinner option.
Tomato soup is perhaps the most kid-friendly soup — and you'll enjoy this recipe too with the addition of flavorful ingredients that you can adjust depending on everyone's spice preferences.
Whether you're surprising the family with a ball-game outing tonight or just want to bring the stadium-vibes to the dinner table, these chicken dogs can achieve both (all the while being a healthier dog option).
Caesar salad is a such a classic dish even the kids will swoon over. And when you top flatbread with the iconic combo? They will be asking for this dinner every night of the week.
Zucchini boats make any dinner more exciting, and when stuffed with chorizo sausage, pepper jack cheese, and black beans, the kids won't be able to resist.
Beef soup can be a nostalgic meal that transports the kids to their grandparents home on a cold winter night. Give them those cozy vibes with this slow-cooker meal.
Make a long process shorter by layering zucchini, summer squash, Italian sausage, lasagna noodles, and marina sauce in a skillet rather than a baking dish.
CHRIS COURT. FOOD STYLIST: VIVIAN LUI. PROP STYLIST: MEGAN HEDGPETH
Scrambled eggs may be the easiest egg to cook around — but when you add in tomatoes, avocado, tortilla chips, and red onion, it becomes a lot fancier without too much additional time.
This recipe requires a bit more time to prepare as it's a slow-cooker dish, but once you have everything in the pot, you can do whatever else you have to do on your list.
Elizabeth BerryEditorial AssistantElizabeth Berry (she/her) is the digital editorial assistant for Woman’s Day, where she covers seasonal recipes, holiday gift ideas, and other lifestyle topics for the website.
