Kid Friendly Meals
When it comes to kid-friendly meals the whole family will enjoy, I have you covered! This list of healthy meals will provide tons of easy recipes that will make dinners less of a hassle.
Whether you are dealing with picky eaters, busy weeknights, or merely needing more simple meals in your life, there are tons of easy dinner ideas here that will be a big hit with the entire family!
Getting kids to eat is a challenge! I know this because I have 3 kiddos at home. The last thing I want at the dinner table is whining and complaining. You too? Ok good. Let’s make easy dinner recipes that everyone loves, kids AND adults — without always resulting to French fries and chicken nuggets.
![A collage of images featuring kid-friendly dinner recipes like French bread pizza, tomato and pesto pasta, lemon honey salmon and ground beef taquitos!](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Roundup-Featured-Image-Collage-1.png)
This homemade red pesto sauce is amazing! It’s super simple to make! Add all the ingredients to a blender and you’re done! It has so much flavor and is always devoured by my kiddos.
![A white plate filled with Red Pesto Pasta topped with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/red-pesto-pasta.jpg)
These chicken taquitos are crazy good! My son will devour these! I like to serve them alongside my creamy cilantro salsa dressing <–recipe included in the post. These baked chicken taquitos are the perfect dinner recipe. They’re easy to make and everyone loves them!
![Baked Chicken Taquitos stacked on top of one another on a white plate with fresh parsley in the background.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/chicken-taquitos-featured.jpg)
Possibly the easiest and most affordable meal you’ll come across… this French bread pizza will satisfy the pickiest of eaters. Dinner has never been easier! These French Bread Pizzas are easy to make and loved by everyone!
![Overhead view of French Bread Pizza with pepperoni on top and a basil garnish.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/French-Bread-Pizza-4.jpg)
Surprisingly salmon is my 4 year olds meat of choice. He loves fish! If your kids struggle with salmon, make this lemon honey glazed salmon recipe; they won’t even be able to tell they’re eating fish.
![Seared Lemon Honey Glazed Salmon in a black skillet.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/honey-lemon-salmon-featured.jpg)
This Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes only requires a few ingredients and takes minimal time to prepare. It’s a great pasta recipe to make because you can add fresh ingredients for your kiddos! Perfect way to boost nutrients while still serving them something they’ll love.
![A bowl of creamy pesto pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella balls.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Pesto-Pasta-with-Tomatoes-featured.jpg)
If your kids like fish, they’ll love these! And even if they don’t like fish, they won’t be able to tell that’s what they’re eating. These tilapia cakes are loaded with fresh parsley, onion, celery, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to bring a subtle but welcome burst of heat! Topped with a smear of mayo for added flavor, these tilapia cakes are moist and crazy flavorful.
![A tilapia cake on a plate sitting atop a blue linen napkin.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tilapia-Cakes-14-blog.jpg)
Served along side a bed of rice, these BBQ pineapple meatballs are an easy and satisfying meal. These Hawaiian meatballs make for the perfect dinner or appetizer!
![Overhead photo of easy crock pot BBQ Pineapple Meatballs in a bowl.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BBQ-pineapple-meatballs.jpg)
My family affectionately calls this Avocado Pesto Pasta “Green Noodles.” And they don’t even know the avocado is in there. Some of my kids don’t like avocado, but it is such a great source of healthy fats! Adding it in is a great way to make this recipe healthier without dealing with a battle at the dinner table.
![A close up image of pasta tossed in a light green basil pesto with mashed avocado and topped with fresh basil leaves.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/avocado-pesto-pasta.jpg)
Basic ingredients and subtle flavors are what this pasta dish is all about. The creamy lemony flavor is fresh and refreshing!
![A white plate with a helping of lemon pasta on it, garnished with fresh parsley.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lemon-pasta-new.jpg)
Bowtie pasta served with a creamy garlic Alfredo sauce, tossed with crispy bacon, diced tomatoes, and chicken. This recipe isn’t lacking in flavor! This recipe is a copycat version from a famous restaurant in my hometown. Trust me, everyone will want seconds.
![A large bowl full of Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Johnny-Carinos-Bowtie-Festival.jpg)
I’ve made this recipe for over 15 years, it’s one my family loves and requests monthly!
![A hand grabbing a Beef Stroganoff Sandwich that's topped with tomatoes, peppers, and cheese.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/beef-stroganoff-sandwiches.jpg)
This recipe can be considered an appetizer or main course. When making this for dinner I will serve these juicy meatballs over a bed of rice. This recipe uses 3 ingredients… and it’s made in the slow cooker (double win)! It’s so easy and really really good!
![Crock pot Grape Jelly Meatballs on a black plate against a white background.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/crock-pot-grape-jelly-meatballs.jpg)
Making macaroni and cheese at home is a much healthier way of serving Mac ‘n Cheese to your kiddos. Feel free to mix up the different types of cheeses!
![Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese topped with chunks of bacon.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pepper-jack-mac-and-cheese.jpg)
Make your October dinners fun and kid friendly with these spooky Mummy Dogs! It is such a fun way to mix up your hot dog dinners while making it festive for the Halloween season too.
![Mummy Hot Dogs on a white plate with a bowl of ketchup to the left.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/mummy-hot-dogs-featured.jpg)
Another delicious fall dinner recipe is my butternut squash pasta. It looks like macaroni and cheese, but has a delicious creamy butternut squash sauce with a hint of nutmeg. It’s a great way to make pasta with veggies.
![Ziti noodles covered in a creamy orange butternut squash pasta sauce.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/butternut-squash-pasta-square.jpg)
Boursin pasta is a delicious cheesy pasta that comes together in just 10-15 minutes. Add some fresh spinach for some greens and you are set!
![A black plate with creamy Boursin Pasta tossed with spinach.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/boursin-pasta-recipe-square.jpg)
This pizza casserole is really easy to make and it makes quite a bit. I love that it tastes just like pizza (if not better) and if you have a small family you’ll have leftovers to enjoy the following day.
![Pizza casserole with peppers and pepperoni on a white plate.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pizza-casserole.jpg)
These taquitos are crispy on the outside and filled with a creamy meat mixture on the inside! We love to serve these with a side of broccoli.
![A stack of crispy taquitos on a brown plate.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Taquitos-10.jpg)
Ditch the packaged meal and make your own homemade hamburger helper! Fresher foods make for healthier meals that are much yummier, too.
![A close up photo of macaroni noodles, ground beef, and a cheesy sauce in a cast iron skillet.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/homemade-hamburger-helper-2.jpg)
Need to get dinner going fast? These English muffin pizzas are the perfect dinner hack.
![Three English muffin pizzas topped with mini pepperoni's on a gray plate.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/English-Muffin-Pizzas-4.jpg)
Pizza rolls are easy to make at home and my kids love helping me fill them. It’s a fun way to make dinner special and delicious.
![Two hands pulling a pizza roll apart showing the stretchy mozzarella cheese and pepperoni inside.](https://saltandbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/best-pizza-rolls.jpg)
I’d love to hear what your favorite kid friendly go-to dinner recipes are! Leave a comment below.
3 Comments on “Kid Friendly Meals”
I’m excited to try some new recipes out on my kids! Some of our favorites are beef or chicken tacos w/ guacamole, Hawaiian haystacks (5 year old can’t get enough!), and chicken and pesto pasta.
Yum, I love Hawaiian haystacks!
What a great idea. I need to print these all up and start using them frequently also.