Quick and Easy Kid-Friendly Recipes

Photo: John Autry

Fast Kid-Friendly Recipes

Picky eaters and never enough time? Dinner doesn't need to be a battle against the clock and finicky taste buds. Our Kid-Friendly Superfast Recipes will have a nutritious dinner they will all love on the table in less than 20 minutes.

Bagel halves are a quick, kid-friendly stand-in for traditional pizza crust.

View Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas

Photo: John Autry

Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

This delicious handheld breakfast will get the kids going in the morning and out the door without delay. Warm and savory, it will truly start the day off right.

View Recipe: Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry

Baked Mozzarella Bites

Serve this quick after-school snack to your kids as an alternative to traditional fried cheesesticks.

View Recipe: Baked Mozzarella Bites

Photo: John Autry

Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

For picky eaters, try serving this meat sauce over whimsically shaped pasta, like bow ties, rotini, or wagon wheels.

View Recipe: Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Serve this dip with baby carrots, broccoli florets, or other fresh vegetables.

View Recipe: Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chili-Cheese Mac

Meaty, cheesy, and delicious—kids will love this comforting dinner. But, that's not all, parents will love it too.

View Recipe: Chili-Cheese Mac

Photo: Johnny Autry

Tomato-Basil Soup

This creamy tomato soup is super flavorful courtesy of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and our delicious blend of ingredients. Don't forget the cheesy French bread. Dunking is a must!

View Recipe: Tomato-Basil Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

We lightened up a kid-friendly favorite that will still please your pint-sized diners.

View Recipe: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Saucy, cheesy, and oh-so-flavorful—this will soon become one of your family's new favorites.

View Recipe: Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Pack a cherry-spiked piece in your child's bag (or you own) for a creamy-crunchy treat.

View Recipe: White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Photo: John Autry

Bananas Foster Parfaits

Our Bananas Foster Parfaits are truly a treat for children of any age. Just be sure to make an extra one for yourself.

View Recipe: Bananas Foster Parfaits

Photo: John Autry

Sloppy Joe Sliders

An already kid-friendly classic just got kicked up a notch. Kids and adults alike will love these pint-sized sliders.

View Recipe: Sloppy Joe Sliders

Photo: John Autry

Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

If you can't find Braeburn apples, Gala or Fuji varieties also stand up to dipping and add a touch more sweetness.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

Breakfast meets dinner in this play on the Southern favorite. What's not to love about a fun sandwich?

View Recipe: Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

The tang in the salt and vinegar chips mellows as the fish bakes in the oven, creating a crunchy spin on fish and chips. Look to hook-and-line-caught Atlantic or Pacific cod for the most sustainable choice.

View Recipe: Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

Photo: Johnny Autry

Banana-Chocolate French Toast

For tough-to-please kids, try serving breakfast for dinner. Pair this dish with a mixed fruit cup to round out the meal.

View Recipe: Banana-Chocolate French Toast

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken and Bean Burritos

Try also using this filling for tacos, quesadillas, or nachos. Adults can spike it with jalapeños.

View Recipe: Chicken and Bean Burritos

Photo: Johnny Autry

Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

This sundae also makes a great breakfast parfait—just substitute plain fat-free Greek yogurt for frozen.

View Recipe: Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

Photo: Johnny Autry

Melty Monsieur

Serve fruit with this kid-friendly take on the classic croque monsieur.

View Recipe: Melty Monsieur

Photo: Johnny Autry

Easy Peach Crisp

Choose peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm to the touch.

View Recipe: Easy Peach Crisp

Photo: Johnny Autry

Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

This recipe is just as tasty with fresh blueberries or strawberries. If you can't find wonton wrappers, egg roll wrappers work equally well--just cut them into 3 1/2-inch squares.

View Recipe: Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

Photo: Johnny Autry

Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

These bacon-and-egg toasts make for a fun breakfast or easy dinner. This kid-friendly recipe is sure to be a hit, any time of day.

View Recipe: Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine

Popcorn Balls

This kid-friendly snack only costs $0.32 per serving. Kids will love these as an after school treat.

View Recipe: Popcorn Balls

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine

Turkey, Apple, and Swiss Melt

Vary the fruit to suit your kids' preferences—use red- or green-skinned apples or pears.

View Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Swiss Melt

Photo: Johnny Autry

Italian Sausage Hoagies

The hearty filling garnered rave reviews from our kid panel, and Evan, who usually avoids vegetables, didn’t even notice the sliced bell pepper.

View Recipe: Italian Sausage Hoagies

Photo: Johnny Autry

Beef and Broccoli Bowl

This stir-fry was a hit, and several tasters even went back for seconds. A flavorful sweet-salty sauce helps make the veggie-packed dish (four cups’ worth) easy to love.

View Recipe: Beef and Broccoli Bowl

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Tiny pasta stars will up the fun factor. Or try orzo, alphabet, ditalini, or another small pasta. Swap in your kids’ favorite veggies—spinach or zucchini are good options. Don’t skip the nutty Parmesan, which adds extra depth to the soup’s broth.

View Recipe: Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Raspberry Chocolate Parfaits

Sweet raspberries and creamy frozen yogurt replace traditional ice cream—a much lower-fat swap that went unnoticed by Maclaine, one of our toughest kid critics.

View Recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Parfaits

Photo: Johnny Autry

Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks

Young cooks will enjoy breading the fish sticks and stirring together the tartar sauce. Look for wild-caught Pacific halibut at your fish counter for the most sustainable choice. Avoid Atlantic halibut. For tilapia, buy American farm-raised.

View Recipe: Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks

Photo: Johnny Autry, Recipe By Laraine Perri

Peanut Butter Hummus with Cucumber Dippers

Hummus is made more kid-friendly with the addition of peanut butter. To easily measure 7 tablespoons water without losing count, pour 1/2 cup into a measuring cup and remove 1 tablespoon.

View Recipe: Peanut Butter Hummus with Cucumber Dippers

Photo: Johnny Autry, Recipe By Laraine Perri

Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl

Mirin is a rice wine low in alcohol, and most of it cooks off in this recipe. For a nonalcoholic substitute, use a mixture of equal parts rice vinegar and sugar.

View Recipe: Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl

Photo: Johnny Autry

Browned Butter Gnocchi with Broccoli and Nuts

Kids like the chewy gnocchi, sweet broccoli, and crunchy nuts. Look for shelf-stable packaged gnocchi with the dried pasta.

View Recipe: Browned Butter Gnocchi with Broccoli and Nuts

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pudding

This pudding isn't just fast, it's easy too. Try sliced bananas on top.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pudding

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

Vary the nuts to your kids' preferences—walnuts or almonds would be equally tasty.

View Recipe: Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Barbecue Turkey Meatballs

This will be a new family favorite from the very first bite. Serve with simple mashed potatoes on the side to catch the sauce.

View Recipe: Barbecue Turkey Meatballs

Photo: John Autry

Zucchini Mini Muffins

These are tasty for breakfast or as a snack. For even portions, use a small ice-cream scoop to spoon the batter into the muffin cups.

View Recipe: Zucchini Mini Muffins

Photo: John Autry

Honey-Lime Chicken Kebabs with Mango Slices

For a colorful accompaniment, add mini bell peppers to the broiler pan with the skewers.

View Recipe: Honey-Lime Chicken Kebabs with Mango Slices

Photo: John Autry

Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits

To make this portable breakfast a snap, prepare the granola in advance and store it in an airtight container. Be sure to keep a close eye on the broiler so the granola doesn't burn. You can also sub pitted fresh cherries or any ripe berry for the raspberries.

View Recipe: Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits

Photo: John Autry

Grilled Peaches with Honey Cream

The perfect summer cookout treat, grilling brings out the sweetness in peaches. If you can't find them, feel free to use apricots or nectarines instead of peaches. Garnish with mint to serve.

View Recipe: Grilled Peaches with Honey Cream

Superfast Kid-Friendly Recipes

Fast Kid-Friendly Recipes

Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

Baked Mozzarella Bites

Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Chili-Cheese Mac

Tomato-Basil Soup

Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Bananas Foster Parfaits

Sloppy Joe Sliders

Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

Banana-Chocolate French Toast

Chicken and Bean Burritos

Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

Melty Monsieur

Easy Peach Crisp

Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

Popcorn Balls

Turkey, Apple, and Swiss Melt

Italian Sausage Hoagies

Beef and Broccoli Bowl

Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Raspberry Chocolate Parfaits

Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks

Peanut Butter Hummus with Cucumber Dippers

Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl

Browned Butter Gnocchi with Broccoli and Nuts

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pudding

Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

Barbecue Turkey Meatballs

Zucchini Mini Muffins

Honey-Lime Chicken Kebabs with Mango Slices

Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits

Grilled Peaches with Honey Cream