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Superfast Kid-Friendly Recipes

December 01, 2011
Photo: Jennifer Causey
Picky eaters and never enough time? Dinner doesn't need to be a battle against the clock and finicky taste buds. Our Kid-Friendly Recipes will have a nutritious dinner they will all love on the table in less than 20 minutes. Whether it's favorites like pizza, macaroni and cheese, or fish sticks, you'll find healthy versions of all the dishes your children love. The best part is that adults will enjoy these creative recipes too.
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Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce

Chicken fingers aren't just for kids. Savory-sweet and addictive, the tahini-tomato dipping sauce offers a palate intrigue adults will love but enough flavor familiarity to keep it kid-approved.

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Upside-Down Shepherd's Pie

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Upside-Down Shepherd's Pie

To keep things lightning-fast, we forgo the layered-in-a-skillet approach to shepherd's pie and instead serve the veggie-flecked beef mixture on top of a bed of creamy mashed potatoes.

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Ham and Cheese Pizza

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Ham and Cheese Pizza

When a classic sandwich gets reincarnated as a cheesy pizza, rave reviews are bound to follow. Sweet, crisp Fuji apple provides a great balance to the rich, gooey cheese and savory ham, and everyone knows there's no better place to slip in some extra leafy greens than on a pizza. To get julienne-cut apple pieces, cut into thin slices; then stack and cut lengthwise into matchsticks.

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Turkey and Swiss Sloppy Joes

Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Turkey and Swiss Sloppy Joes

This twist on a classic sandwich swaps the sweet, barbecue-style sauce for a white sauce enriched with nutty Swiss cheese.

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Fresh Corn Cakes with Summer Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Fresh Corn Cakes with Summer Salsa

This speedy vegetarian entrée is absolutely bursting with peak-season produce. Side suggestion: an herby white bean and arugula salad.

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Family-Style Chicken Spaghetti

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Family-Style Chicken Spaghetti

A family favorite swaps jarred sauce for fresh—which requires just a few ingredients and less than 10 minutes.

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Glazed Beef Skewers with Ginger Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Glazed Beef Skewers with Ginger Slaw

Have your little helpers mix up the glaze, while older kids can help skewer the beef.

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Mini Bow Ties with Bacon and Peas

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Mini Bow Ties with Bacon and Peas

Finishing your peas and carrots is exponentially more exciting when bacon is involved. In fact, almost every dish is more exciting when bacon comes to play, so feel free to swap your family's favorite veggies into this versatile pasta.

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Egg and Toast Cups

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Egg and Toast Cups

Lure kids into eating a fulfilling breakfast with this cute all-in-one dish. You can cater to individual tastes too: Add chives to one up and spinach to another, or exchange the bacon for ham.

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Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats

These decadent chocolate-on-chocolate cookies boast full satisfaction and a dose of whole-grain goodness. And they’re ready to eat in a fraction of the time needed to prepare typical sweet treats. For added protein and a fun flavor variation, replace ½ cup cereal with ½ cup chopped toasted nuts.

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Sweet Potato and Sausage Strata

Photo: Linda Pugliese
View Recipe: Sweet Potato and Sausage Strata

Hand over the reins: Let the kids assemble this savory-sweet oven-baked treat. If you make this dish ahead, bring it to room temperature before baking so it will reheat evenly.

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Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas

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

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Baked Mozzarella Bites

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Baked Mozzarella Bites

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

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Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

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

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Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

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

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Chili-Cheese Mac

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chili-Cheese Mac

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

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Tomato-Basil Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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!

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Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

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

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Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

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

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White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

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

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Bananas Foster Parfaits

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Sloppy Joe Sliders

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Sloppy Joe Sliders

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

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Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

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

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Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Banana-Chocolate French Toast

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Chicken and Bean Burritos

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken and Bean Burritos

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

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Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

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

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Melty Monsieur

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Melty Monsieur

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

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Easy Peach Crisp

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Easy Peach Crisp

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

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Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Popcorn Balls

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine
View Recipe: Popcorn Balls

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

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Turkey, Apple, and Swiss Melt

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine
View Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Swiss Melt

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

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Italian Sausage Hoagies

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Beef and Broccoli Bowl

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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