When you have picky eaters at home, it can feel like you make the same recipes over and over. Trying something new may be a struggle but these Easy Kid-Friendly Dinners for Picky Eaters will make your life easier & tastier!
Here are basics like Simple Skillet Chicken Breasts that every fussy eater loves but also some clever recipes that sneak in veggies (and they will love it!) Or elevate a classic to make it a comfort food like CrockPot Creamed Corn.
In my house, all three of my kids were exposed to everything the adults ate from a young age. With much trial & error, here are quick & simple main courses they love & hope you all will too. Ok, let's cook!
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Types of Recipes
All of these yummy meal ideas work for lunch or dinner. Some are great for healthy meal planning or batch cooking (freezes & reheat well) to save time. Here's an idea of the kind of recipes you will find here:
- 30-Minute Meals
- One-Pan or One-Pot Meals
- Healthy Hidden Veggie Meals
- Kid Classic Comfort Foods
- Kid-Approved Vegetables & Salads
Some even have 5-ingredients or less. For even more, be sure to check out my collection of 60 Top Cozy Sunday Dinner Recipes.
Chicken Recipes
Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
For the crispiest fried buttermilk chicken tenders, this Southern recipe is the best. Juicy on the inside & crunchy on the outside every time. A family favorite for dinner, lunch, or as a party appetizer. In less than 30 minutes this homemade version is ready - and so much better than frozen or fast food!
Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
For the ultimate crispy & spicy air fryer buffalo chicken tenders, look no further. Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside. This easy 20-minute recipe is sure to become a new favorite in your home. The best homemade crunchy breaded chicken & is healthier than fried in oil.
Crunchy Panko Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
AIR FRYER FROZEN POPCORN CHICKEN
Crispy air fryer popcorn chicken is so easy to make using your favorite store-bought frozen popcorn chicken. It is a family favorite whether it is for an appetizer, snack, football food, lunch, or dinner.
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Oven Baked Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders
The best bacon-wrapped chicken tenders is a must-try recipe. The seasoned chicken is wrapped in bacon for a juicy, savory, & salty combination that is a meat lover's dream. This easy recipe is great for dinner or appetizers and is keto, low-carb, gluten-free, & paleo.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
Dutch Oven Chicken Stew
Nohting like a comforting bowl of chicken stew made in the dutch oven. This simple one pot meal is loaded with juicy chunks of chicken breast, tender potatoes, hearty vegetables, & a rich creamy broth. A complete meal in a bowl to warm up any cold winter or fall day.
Dutch Oven Chicken Stew
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken cacciatore is an easy slow cooker recipe that is hearty, tasty, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. This Crockpot cacciatore recipe is so easy and results in a rich tomato sauce packed with vegetables, chicken, and flavor.
Slow Cooker Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Cacciatore
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
In 3 hours this quick & easy recipe for Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken is ready! Just 5 minutes prep & this dump & go recipe is done. A Southern classic recipe made in the CrockPot for saucy, tender, & moist shredded chicken with a tangy vinegar flavor that is sweet, spicy, & sour. Enjoy on a bun, soft roll, or plated with your favorite sides. Pile on some coleslaw for a traditional pairing. Gluten-free, keto, low-carb, & healthy options in this yummy party favorite. Serve for Super Bowl, potlucks, game day, & holidays.
CrockPot Shredded Chicken with BBQ Sauce
Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast
For the juiciest chicken breast cooked in a cast iron skillet, this easy recipe will become your go-to weeknight dinner. In just a few simple steps you will learn how to make seasoned boneless skinless chicken breasts in a cast iron skillet. This simple recipe creates a flavorful pan-seared crust on the outside & is moist & tender inside.
Cast Iron Chicken Breast
Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
The best grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs are easy to make for summer cookout perfection. They have a sweet and spicy dry rub that adds so much flavor. These yummy chicken thighs come out juicy and cook in less than 15 minutes for a quick meal. Chicken thighs are great for meal planning to add to salads, soups, sandwiches, and wraps for lunch or dinner.
Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
For juicy, sauced, & seasoned grilled bbq chicken breasts, this summer easy recipe is the best. The crispy crust & tender meat is ready in 30 minutes. Only 3 ingredients for a sweet, spicy, & bold cookout chicken recipe.
Grilled BBQ Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
Teriyaki chicken on a stick is an easy family favorite recipe. These tasty marinated chicken teriyaki kebabs are grilled to perfection for the ultimate sweet, salty, and savory bite. This is a gluten-free recipe with keto options as well.
Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
Pasta Recipes
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
This quick & easy 30 minute pasta meal is a kid favorite. The simple creamy sauce made with a block of Philadelphia cream cheese is the best. The one pot vegetarian recipe is a weeknight go-to dinner.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
Pasta alla Pizzaiola
This 30-minute recipe for pasta alla pizzaiola is a quick & delicious Italian classic. The rich tomato sauce is inspired by the best pizza makers. The recipe from Naples, Campania region of Italy, is so easy. The simple meatless pasta is a yummy vegan/vegetarian meal that is comforting & a family favorite.
Pasta with Pizza-Inspired Pizzaiola Sauce
Rigatoni al Forno (Baked Pasta)
Rigatoni al Forno is a baked pasta casserole everyone will love. This easy recipe has hearty rigatoni, a rich tomato sauce, layers of gooey cheese, and more for a great Italian dinner. This is a comforting recipe great for holidays, potlucks, & make-ahead meals.
Baked Rigatoni with Cheese
Penne alla Vodka with Chicken
Amazing penne alla vodka with chicken is an easy restaurant-quality recipe. The rich tomato cream sauce with al dente pasta and tender chicken is fantastic. The Italian American pasta dish is fast enough for a busy weeknights but fancy enough for Sunday supper.
Pelle alla Vodka with Chicken (alcohol-free options)
Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon
Creamy macaroni & cheese with caramelized onions & bacon is a classic old-fashioned recipe. The best homemade baked mac and cheese begins with a traditional roux, 3 kinds of cheese & al dente elbow pasta. This family-favorite casserole recipe is creamy, comforting, & simple to make.
Baked Mac & Cheese with Bacon
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken spaghetti in the Instant Pot is a quick and easy recipe. This one-pot chicken and pasta recipe is comforting and delicious. The creamy sauce has 3 kinds of cheese for a gooey melty meal kids & adults will love. Best pressure cooker pasta recipe.
Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Fried Spaghetti with Eggs
Fried spaghetti with eggs is a great way to enjoy leftover spaghetti in a delicious meal that is great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. This simple recipe results in crispy spaghetti, fried eggs, with a creamy garlicky sauce that pulls it all together in just minutes.
Fried Spaghetti with Eggs
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
This fantastic one-pan casserole recipe combines a classic Philly cheesesteak and pasta that any cheese lover will rave about. Thinly shaved beef is tender plus peppers, onions, 3 kinds of cheese, and rotini pasta are cooked together in the skillet for a family-favorite meal. So the next time you crave a Philly cheesesteak, skip the roll and make a pasta dish instead.
Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Casserole
Beef & Pork Recipes
Grilled Wagyu Burgers
Top-quality delicious Wagyu burgers cooked on the grill are not just for fancy restaurants, enjoy them at home with this easy recipe. For all the melt-in-your-mouth flavor you get from ground Wagyu without the high price, grill these juicy patties at home & elevate any cookout into a special occasion. Gluten-free, keto, low-carb, & perfect for summer on the grill or skillet for a smash burger.
Grilled American Wagyu Burgers
Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs and Sauce
Slow cooker Italian ground beef meatballs & tomato sauce is an easy CrockPot recipe. Tender & juicy seasoned meatballs is a family favorite. Great to serve with pasta or on a roll for a hot sandwich no one can resist.
Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs & Tomato Sauce
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
This slow cooker Salisbury steak recipe is easy, tasty, and simply the best. The creamy mushroom gravy is so rich and comforts the soul.
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
This easy recipe for Slow Cooker Pepper Steak is a family favorite. Tender strips of beef & a savory sauce is great over rice. The simple dump & go recipe made in the CrockPot is perfect for weeknights. It's low-fat, gluten-free, & packed with protein.
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
Grilled Tri-Tip
Perfectly grilled tri-tip is so easy with this recipe. The seasoned beef roast is tender, juicy, & a steak lover's dream. Everything you need to know to sear, grill, rest, slice, & serve the best tri-tip you have ever had. Recipe for how to cook tri-tip over indirect heat slowly on a gas or propane grill. Plus info on charcoal, pellet, or a smoker.
Grilled Tri Tip
Teriyaki Flank Steak
This easy recipe for Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak is a summer favorite. The quick Asian-inspired marinade is salty, sweet, & savory.
Teriyaki Flank Steak
Air Fryer Pork Chops (no breading)
This quick & easy recipe for air fryer pork chops cooks in 20 minutes. The seasoned thick-cut pork chops are juicy & tender with a caramelized crust. This is the best way to make pork chops without breading in the air fryer. Great for gluten-free, keto, low-carb, and healthy diabetic-friendly diets.
Air Fryer Thick-Cut Pork Chops
Ground Pork Stir Fry
In 30-minutes this easy recipe for ground pork stir fry with broccoli is ready. The spicy sesame sauce makes it better than take-out. It's gluten-free, low-carb, & with less oil is a healthy complete meal.
Ground Pork Stir Fry
Pulled Pork Burger
For the best juicy & sauced Pulled Pork Burger, try this recipe. The shredded meat piled high on a bun is a hearty sandwich everyone will love. The seasoned & slow smoked pork butter or pork shoulder makes for the best moist & flavorful meat. Add your favorite smoky, sweet, or spicy BBQ sauce or a pile of creamy coleslaw. Enjoy for lunch, dinner, summer cookouts, Super Bowl game day, camping, parties, or tailgating.
Pulled Pork Burger
Air Fryer Frozen Potstickers
For an easy foolproof method for cooking frozen potstickers in the air fryer, try this recipe. They will be hot on the inside and crispy on the outside. Air frying is an easy way to cook dumplings, gyoza, mandu, and any pork, shrimp, vegetarian, or chicken potsticker.
Air Fryer Pork Potstickers
Seafood Recipes
Kid-Friendly Poke Bowls (build your own)
This DIY at-home recipe for poke bowls is a fun and delicious idea. The kid-friendly ingredients will be sure to please the entire family. Mix it up with different proteins, vegetables, and more for a different poke bowl every time you make them.
Kid-Friendly Poke Bowls
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
There is no better way to cook frozen fish sticks than the air fryer. The best hot & crispy fish sticks are ready in minutes.
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Shrimp
Juicy pan-seared shrimp in a lemon butter garlic sauce is a quick recipe perfect for any meal or as an appetizer. This easy shellfish recipe is rich, buttery, & decadent. The one-pan shellfish recipe tastes gourmet but only takes 10 minutes!
Simple Pan-Seared Butter Garlic Shrimp
Soups & Sandwiches
Easy Vegetable Rice Soup (vegetarian & gluten-free)
An easy vegetable rice soup that is vegetarian and full of flavor. This recipe uses vegetable broth, fresh vegetables, tomatoes, rice, and seasonings for a hearty vegan soup that everyone will love.
Easy Vegetable Rice Soup
Pot Pie Soup
Homemade creamy pot pie soup is an easy recipe that is tasty with any savory protein filling like chicken, turkey, beef, ham, or a vegetarian option.
Pot Pie Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Soup
For a hearty soup, this easy slow cooker chicken and corn soup is just the thing you need. It is creamy & filling packed with sweet corn, tender chicken, and vegetables. It is a cozy complete comforting meal in a bowl perfect for lunch or dinner in fall or winter. Simple to make with frozen, canned, or fresh summer corn.
Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Soup
Toaster Oven Grilled Cheese Sandwich
For the best toaster oven grilled cheese sandwich, you must try this easy recipe. In just minutes the toasty sandwich with gooey melted cheese is ready. Great for those without a stove or in an RV, dorm, or office kitchen. So easy, kids love to make their own.
Toaster Oven Grilled Cheese
3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
This easy homemade sloppy joe sauce is made of only 3 ingredients. Together they make this classic sandwich saucy, sweet, and savory with a bit of tang. There is a lot of flavor with just a few ingredients. It's a gluten-free, dairy-free, & from scratch recipe instead of using canned Manwich.
3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
Philly Cheesesteak with Trader Joe's Shaved Beef
Tender beef and melty cheese are delicious in this iconic sandwich, easy enough to make at home. This is the best Philly Cheesesteak using Trader Joe's Shaved Beef Steak.
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches with Shaved Beef
Roast Beef, Cheddar, & Caramelized Onion Sliders
These oven-baked roast beef & cheddar sliders on Hawaiian rolls are a yummy appetizer, small bite, or meal. Sliced beef steak, cheddar cheese, & sweet caramelized onions combine for an easy slider sandwich recipe. Great for parties, game day, Super Bowl, birthdays, lunch, dinner, or snack.
Beef & Cheddar Sliders
Side Dishes
Pan Fried Potatoes & Onions
Fire up your skillet and pan-fry some potatoes and onions for a hearty side dish. This easy recipe is ready in 30 minutes & takes only a few ingredients. This southern recipe for seasoned russet potato cubes is a classic American dish great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The potatoes are crispy & fork-tender - plus gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, & dairy-free.
Pan Fried Potatoes & Onions
Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries
For an easy foolproof method for cooking frozen crinkle-cut french fries in the air fryer, try this recipe. They will be hot, crispy, and yummy with just the right amount of time to cook in the air fryer. Plus delicious dips and seasonings to add for the best air fryer french fries.
Air Fryer French Fries
Instant Pot Cubed Sweet Potatoes
For a quick and simple way to cook sweet potatoes, this Instant Pot recipe is the best. Cubed sweet potatoes steam perfectly in the pressure cooker in no time for a wonderful healthy side dish.
Plain Cubed Sweet Potatoes made in the Instant Pot
Chicken Broth Rice
For a flavorful 30-minute side, make 3 ingredient chicken broth rice. It's better than using just water, a buttery rich simple recipe. It's a comforting recipe similar to a no pasta/gluten-free Rice-a-Roni copycat. Made in a skillet & not a pot or rice cooker, the toasted rice flavor is the best.
White Rice made with Chicken Broth
Vegetables & Salads
Air Fryer Green Beans
In just 10 minutes, this recipe for crispy air fryer green beans is the best. This simple side dish with few ingredients is quick & easy.
Air Fryer Green Beans
Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli
Two yummy side dishes in one sheet pan recipe - oven roasted potatoes & broccoli florets are the ultimate pairing. The spice mix add a ton of flavor & it pairs with anything from fish to chicken or beef. This easy vegetable side takes little prep & the small pieces cook fast in the oven. This simple yet fancy recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, & dairy-free.
Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli
Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
Instant pot steamed broccoli is a healthy and easy recipe that comes out perfect every time. In just a few minutes fresh broccoli is cooked and ready to enjoy. This method works in any electric pressure cooker with or without a steamer basket and results in fresh steamed broccoli that is not mushy.
Simple Steamed Broccoli in the Instant Pot
Steamed Frozen Vegetables
Steamed frozen vegetables are a great healthy way to enjoy more vegetables at mealtime. Cooking frozen veggies is easy and when done in the steamer, they come out tender and delicious. Plus the nutrients are retained a lot more than when boiling. This is hands down the best way to cook any kind of frozen vegetable.
Steamed Frozen Vegetables
Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese
This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.
Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese
Fruit Salad with Cool Whip
This fresh fruit salad with Cool Whip is light, sweet, & creamy. The easy dessert recipe is healthy, refreshing, & a summer favorite. It is perfect to serve at BBQ, cookouts, potlucks, parties, & easy to make a lot to feed a crowd. A holiday favorite at Easter, Mother's Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, & Labor Day. It is gluten-free, vegetarian, & better for you than classic ambrosia - made without coconut or marshmallows.
Fruit Salad with Cool Whip
Final Notes
Be sure to get your kids involved in shopping, cooking, & cleaning. It gives them a sense of pride & more interest in trying new things. There are so many benefits of cooking with your kids!
Setting out food bars when everyone can DIY their own meal is my top tip. It is so easy with my tips for how to make your own pizza night at home. Or try a new cookbook as a gift for your teen or child to get them excited.
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