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55 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes for Kids

0% chance of these being fed to the dog.

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chicken nugget parm casserolepinterest
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Making dinner for kids is no easy feat. They love what they love, and that often means parents turning into short-order cooks. But no exaggeration, these easy kid-friendly dinners are so good that we've even found ourselves stealing a few bites. And no, these recipes aren’t all variations on mac and cheese or pizza either (but don't worry, we’ve got some favorites in there too). We’ve found if you’re lucky, you can shake kids up by introducing something new (but familiar!) to dinnertime. Avoid the headache and check out all 55 of these quick and easy dinner ideas for kids, and maybe even pick up the Delish Kids (Super-Awesome, Crazy-Fun, Best-Ever) Cookbook?!

Cooking for kids can be a… conundrum. But what's true is that kids and parents alike love a handheld, like our taco cups or cheeseburger cups—because who doesn’t love food in miniature? We know, we know, kids sometimes don’t like green food, like our zucchini tots or falafel bites. But have them help you roll the balls, and they’ll quickly get on board! When all else fails, don’t fight it, and give the kids what they want. If yours are anything like ours, that means lots of grilled cheese, buttered noodles, and hot dogs.

To make things easier on parents, a number of these recipes can be prepped ahead of time or in your slow cooker or Instant Pot. (Don’t have an Instant Pot yet? Do your future self a favor and check out our guide for how to choose the best Instant Pot or pressure cooker for your kitchen.)

Less time stressing over what your kids will or won’t eat in the kitchen means more time to enjoy, well, kids being kids. Get even more ideas with our easy dessert recipes for kids too!

1

Chicken Nugget Parm Casserole

chicken nugget parm casserole
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Craving chicken Parm but not in the mood for all the time it requires to prepare this labor of love dish? Opt for our chicken nugget Parmesan casserole instead. This comforting dish has all the cheesy flavor you know and crave, but with simple shortcuts to cut down on all that cooking time (and effort). Store-bought chicken nuggets are a much faster swap-in for breading and pan-frying chicken cutlets—just layer them in between cheesy pasta, then top it with more chicken nuggets, more sauce (store-bought for ease), and cheese for an irresistible presentation.

Get the Chicken Nugget Parm Casserole recipe.

2

Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese

waffle grilled cheeses
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY

These highlight everyone's favorite part of grilled cheeses—the crispy, cheesy edge bits. Discover all the other ingenious recipes you can make in your waffle maker.

Get the Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese recipe.

3

Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie

garlic bread topped chicken pot pie
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Nothing is more comforting than chicken pot pie topped with a buttery crust. Swap out the crust for garlic bread, though, and now we are really talking. The top gets golden and crunchy, while underneath, the texture comes out more like dumplings. 😍

Get the Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

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4

Orange Chicken

orange chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

If your kids just can't get enough of the classic Panda Express dish, this copycat recipe will be a game-changer. Ready in under an hour with all of the same sweet and savory flavors you love, staying in for weeknight dinner has never been easier.

Get the Orange Chicken recipe.

5

French Bread Pizza

french bread pizza
JOEL GOLDBERG

Craving homemade pizza, but don’t want to deal with finicky pizza dough? We get it, that stuff can be tricky. Skip it altogether, and grab the nearest loaf of French bread instead. The loaf makes for a delicious pizza “crust” that will get crispy on the outside while staying nice and soft on the inside. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Get the French Bread Pizza recipe.

6

Smash Burgers

smash burger
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN: FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Super-thin patties and crispy edges are the draw of a smash burger. The patty is so thin, it’s almost impossible to dry out because it cooks so quickly, and cooking two patties for each burger gives you more of those lacey edges. Using an ungreased skillet or griddle is important, as it gives the ground beef a chance to really stick to the surface and form an irresistible crust.

Get the Smash Burgers recipe.

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7

Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini

mac and cheese stuffed zucchini
Andrew bui

Here’s one way to get more veggies into picky eaters’ mouths: Score and scoop out zucchini pulp, chop, and cook it down with spices into a cream sauce, then incorporate it into good ol’ kid-approved mac & cheese.

Get the Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

8

Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Tahini Dip

herby baked falafel bites with spicy mint tahini dip
Emily hlavac green

These are delicious as is, but you can also stuff them into a wrap or pita with your kid's fave veggies for a more substantial meal.

Get the Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Tahini Dip recipe.

9

Sloppy Joe Meatball Bake

sloppy joe meatball bake
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Meatballs don’t take the sloppy out of sloppy Joes, they just turn it into a whole new form. Trust us—these little ones are just as delicious as the original ground beef version. Cheesy, hefty, and super-saucy, this skillet dish also comes together in just under an hour, making it the perfect anytime meal.

Get the Sloppy Joe Meatball Bake recipe.

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10

One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac

one pot chili mac delishcom
JOEL GOLDBERG

Looking for a hearty vegetarian weeknight dinner? Our smoky vegetarian chili mac is here to save the day! It all comes together in one pot, and it's SUPER versatile. Throw in your favorite bean and pasta shape, melt in your favorite cheese, and top with whatever else you like (as long as it's crunchy!).

Get the One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac recipe.

11

Sheet Pan Honey Mustard–Pretzel Chicken

sheet pan honey mustard pretzel chicken

In our opinion, the crunchier, the better. Which is why pretzels make the perfect chicken coating for these nuggets. The obvious and best dipping sauce? Honey mustard, of course. It's a MUST.

Get the Sheet Pan Honey Mustard–Pretzel Chicken recipe.

12

Copycat Olive Garden Meatballs

copycat olive garden meatballs with spaghetti on a platter
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Aside from their signature breadsticks and their creamy zuppa toscana, one of Olive Garden’s most iconic dishes is their meatballs. Sauced in bright marinara and perched atop a glossy mound of spaghetti, they transform into a showstopping entrée that still manages to deliver those down-home comfort food vibes.

Get the Copycat Olive Garden Meatballs recipe.

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13

Broccoli Cheddar Pasta

broccoli cheddar pasta in a navy blue dutch oven
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS

The broccoli is in no way hidden, but it's still a great way to sneak in an extra serving of greens to this grown-up mac and cheese. Even the pickiest of eaters will eat their vegetables if they're coated in cheese.

Get the Broccoli Cheddar Pasta recipe.

14

Cheeseburger Cups

cheeseburger cups

We love using muffin tins for genius hacks like this. The "cups" are pieces of white bread that get molded and then filled with a ground beef mixture that tastes just like a cheeseburger. Don't forget to drizzle with your favorite condiments and top with a pickle chip.

Get the Cheeseburger Cups recipe.

15

Mini Meatball & Marinara Soup

mini meatballs and anelletti ring shaped pasta sit inside two bowls of marinara soup
Andrew Bui

The genius shortcut in this grown-up take on Spaghetti-Os? A jar of marinara. This recipe is super-flexible too. Anelletti is the preferred pasta cut here for the ultimate nostalgia factor, but any small cut—like elbows or bowties—will do.

Get the Mini Meatball & Marinara Soup recipe.

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16

Black Bean Tostadas

black bean tostadas
Lucy schaeffer

We keep these simple with just five ingredients, but you can always add additional toppings like corn salsa, avocado ranch, or endless crunchy veggies like radishes or pickled red onions. Chef's choice!

Get the Black Bean Tostadas recipe.

17

TikTok Ramen

tiktok ramen
Joel Goldberg

Have fun customizing these ramen noodles with your favorite veggies and toppings. Try using frozen peas or halved snow peas in place of the bell pepper and carrot. Skip the egg and top with seared chicken or tofu and try the whole thing topped with a smattering of everything bagel seasoning.

Get the TikTok Ramen recipe.

18

Easy Frittata

closeup of a frittata with mushrooms, spinach, and cheese
Bryce Johnson

There is no limit to what you can add to a frittata! We love making a kid-friendly pizza-flavored frittata, with some sautéed cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, grated Parmesan, and basil.

Get the Easy Frittata recipe.

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19

Meatloaf

meatloaf sliced and topped with rosemary
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Meatloaf can be many things to different people—for some, it might be a comfort food from childhood; for others, a reliable weeknight dinner. Whatever it is for you, one thing is for sure: Your go-to recipe should be simple and dependable, but also packed with flavor to keep you (and your family and guests) coming back for more. We tested this recipe again and again to guarantee that this WILL be your new forever go-to, never-fail meatloaf.

Get the Meatloaf recipe.

20

Zucchini Tater Tots

zucchini tater tots
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY

These are a great way to sneak extra veggies into the tater tots you already know your kid (and maybe you!) loves. These would also be killer in a tater tot casserole.

Get the Zucchini Tater Tots recipe.

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