• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Sous Vide
  • Air Fryer
  • Starbucks Copycat Drinks

IzzyCooking

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Sous Vide
  • Air Fryer
  • Starbucks Copycat Drinks
  • Let’s Connect!

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Sous Vide
    • Air Fryer
    • Starbucks Copycat Drinks
  • Let’s Connect!

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Kid-Friendly

    11/16/2022

    24+ Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners for Picky Eaters (Best Dinner Ideas for Kids)

    • Share
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    We’ve rounded up our 24 best, quick, and easy dinner ideas for kids. From kid-friendly soup to pasta to healthy recipes – this list will make your picky eaters happy.

    Sometimes we are tired of the routine and want to switch things around a bit. Whether it’s for a weeknight meal or a lazy Sunday dinner, you may wonder, what should I make for the family tonight that the kids will actually eat? Are there some HEALTHY and EASY options?

    For kids (and for adults), we’ve put together this list of the best dinner recipes that are kid-friendly – some are quick recipes, some are healthy recipes, some are more indulgent – regardless they’re proven to be popular among picky eaters. No matter if your kids are 4 years old or 10 years old, you’ll find something that will satisfy their taste buds.

    Table of Contents Show
    Most Popular Meals for Picky Eaters
    Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
    Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
    Creamy Mac n Cheese
    Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup
    Benihana Fried Rice
    Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners for Weeknight
    Beef Stir Fry
    Creamy Baked Cavatappi Pasta
    Air Fryer Corn Dogs
    Pull-Apart Pizza Bread
    Easy 30-Minute Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings
    Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf
    Our Best 15-Minute Dinner Recipes for Kids
    Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
    BLT Pasta Salad
    Honey Garlic Shrimp
    Easy Hot Dogs
    Healthy Dinner Ideas for Kids and Adults
    Dragon Roll Sushi
    Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
    Avocado Pasta
    Turkey Tacos
    Other Family-Friendly Dinner Ideas
    Crock Pot Pulled Pork
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
    Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops
    Homemade Cheese McBurger
    Pigs in A Blanket
    24+ Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners (Mini Corn Dogs Recipe and More)

    Most Popular Meals for Picky Eaters

    Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    Delicious and comforting, this chicken noodle soup is loaded with flavorful chicken and soft noodles. 30 minutes are all you need for a family-friendly meal.

    Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

    Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

    Sweet, savory, and packed with flavor. You’ll have no complaints from your picky eaters! Oh, and did I mention it cooks in only 15 minutes.

    Creamy Mac n Cheese

    Creamy Mac n Cheese

    It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and it’s perfectly seasoned. This Southern-style mac and cheese is one of my kids’ favorite dishes. Serve with ketchup for some extra delicious flavor.

    Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup

    Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup

    It’s my go-to meal as it’s cheesy and comforting. Perfect for pickier palates!

    Benihana Fried Rice

    Benihana Fried Rice

    Full of veggies and flavors your kids will like, this fried rice is fast, easy, and delicious. A winner all around!

    Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners for Weeknight

    Beef Stir Fry

    Beef Stir Fry

    This classic Chinese recipe is a family favorite all year round! It’s sweet and savory with a hint of garlic flavor. Use flank steak or skirt steak for the best tender and juicy beef stir fry.

    Creamy Baked Cavatappi Pasta

    Cavatappi Pasta Bake

    Shaped like corkscrews, this cheesy pasta is a fun choice for kids, making it a grown-up version of mac and cheese.

    Air Fryer Corn Dogs

    Air Fryer Corn Dogs

    Crispy and crunchy, these healthy air fryer corn dogs are made without deep-frying. They’re a big hit with kids and adults alike!

    Pull-Apart Pizza Bread

    Pull Apart Pizza Bread

    Your kids will love this delicious and cheesy pull-apart pizza in a star shape! A comfort food that you can serve as a party or game day appetizer with lots of fun. So good!

    Easy 30-Minute Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings

    Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings

    One of my kids’ favorite meals is these easy Bisquick dumplings. You’ll have a warm and comforting bowl of chicken dumplings in under 30 minutes.

    Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf

    Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf

    This best meatloaf will have your kids asking for seconds! It uses our favorite Lipton onion soup mix hack and tastes even better than the classic meatloaf, making it one of our favorite kid-friendly meals.

    Our Best 15-Minute Dinner Recipes for Kids

    Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

    Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

    Made with pizza dough and your favorite toppings, these pizza rolls are ready in under 15 minutes in an air fryer. It’s a homemade spin on a kid’s favorite food that the whole family will love.

    BLT Pasta Salad

    BLT Pasta Salad

    This summer salad is a fresh meal made with bacon, veggies, and pasta. Great for toddlers as well as older kids!

    Honey Garlic Shrimp

    Honey Garlic Shrimp

    All you need is 6 simple ingredients and 15 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner that’s kid-friendly and will make their mouths water!

    Easy Hot Dogs

    Hotdogs

    There’s nothing better than a hot dog in summer! Easy to make and popular among kids. Note that for safety reasons, don’t serve this to kids under 4 years old.

    Healthy Dinner Ideas for Kids and Adults

    Dragon Roll Sushi

    Dragon Roll Sushi

    One of the all-time best sushi dishes, this dragon roll is filled with shrimp tempura and cucumber, with a fun avocado topping, resembling the dragon scales. It’ll definitely attract attention from your kids immediately.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

    Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

    This crockpot chicken recipe is one of our favorite dinners. Serve them with flour tortillas and your kids will love them!

    Avocado Pasta

    Avocado Pasta

    A delicious vegetarian dinner idea that’s made with avocados, basil, garlic, lemon, and olive oil. It’s creamy, refreshing, and full of flavor!

    Turkey Tacos

    Turkey Tacos

    One of the few healthy options for kids, these turkey tacos are loaded with ground turkey, veggies, and spices. They are full of flavor and perfect for meal prep!

    Other Family-Friendly Dinner Ideas

    Crock Pot Pulled Pork

    One of kids’ all-time favorite foods! This easy “dump and go” recipe is made in a slow cooker. Shred the pork and add BBQ sauce before serving. A family-friendly recipe that’s always a hit!

    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

    It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare in the morning, and you’ll come home with tender and juicy chicken smothered in a tangy sweet and savory sauce.  

    Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops

    Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops

    Tender and delicious pork chops cooked in rich and creamy mushroom soup. They take just 30 minutes to cook in one pan for a family-friendly dinner for busy weeknights.

    Homemade Cheese McBurger

    If you and your family enjoy the cheeseburgers at McDonald’s, this homemade copycat recipe is just what you need! It’s better than the cheeseburgers at the golden arches!

    If you and your family enjoy the cheeseburgers at McDonald’s, this homemade copycat recipe is just what you need! It’s better than the cheeseburgers at the golden arches!

    Pigs in A Blanket

    Pigs in a Puff Pastry Blanket

    This has been a popular kid-friendly food for decades. Made with store-bought crescent roll dough and cocktail sausages, they’re super easy to make.

    Crispy and crunchy air fryer corn dogs are one of the best dinner ideas for kids. Corn dogs are made from scratch without deep-frying. Great for kids and adults alike!

    24+ Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners (Mini Corn Dogs Recipe and More)

    Crispy and crunchy air fryer corn dogs are one of the best dinner ideas for kids. Corn dogs are made from scratch without deep-frying. Great for kids and adults alike!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 18 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Author: Izzy
    Calories: 172kcal

    Ingredients 

    • 4 hot dogs
    • 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 3/4 cup buttermilk
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
    • cooking spray

    Instructions 

    • Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl.
    • In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk and eggs.
    • Add the buttermilk and egg mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix to combine.
    • Transfer the batter to a tall glass and leave enough room to dip the hot dog without overflowing.
    • Add the breadcrumbs to a separate bowl and set aside.
    • Cut the hot dogs and the skewers into halves. Skewer the mini hot dogs onto wooden sticks.
    • Roll the hot dogs in flour to coat, and shake off the excess.
    • Dip the floured hot dogs into the batter and then cover the battered hot dogs with breadcrumbs.
    • Spray cooking spray on the hot dogs, and then place them in the basket in one layer. Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer. Cook in batches if necessary.
    • Set the temperature to 375ºF, and set the time to 8 minutes.
    • After 4 minutes, take out the basket and flip the corn dogs.
    • Return the basket to the air fryer. After 2 more minutes, check every 1 minute until heated through. Serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 442mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 97IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg
    Author: Izzy
    Course: Dinner
    Keyword: Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas
    Tried this recipe?Follow or tag us on Pinterest @izzycooking

    Filed Under: Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Recipes, Roundups Tagged With: Dinner ideas for kids

    About Izzy

    I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jj says

      November 07, 2021 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      its noise

      Reply
      • Bob Mcdannels says

        April 16, 2022 at 12:42 pm

        5 stars
        SO GOOD

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, this is Izzy! On my blog, you will find easy and delicious recipes for the everyday home cook, with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Best Low-Cholesterol Recipes For Your Low-Cholesterol Diet
    • What to Cook with Instant Ramen (Best Instant Ramen Recipes)
    • 40+ Popular Authentic Chinese Recipes That Are Easy To Make At Home
    • How Many Cups In A Gallon

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Copyright © 2022 - Izzycooking