35 Kid-Friendly School Night Dinner Recipes for Picky Eaters
Navigating mealtime with picky eaters can be a challenge, especially on busy school nights. Parents often find themselves in a dilemma, wanting to provide nutritious and delicious meals that their kids will actually enjoy. To ease your dinner planning, here are 35 kid-friendly recipes that cater to even the pickiest of eaters. Each recipe is designed to be quick to prepare and appealing to children’s tastes, ensuring that mealtime is both enjoyable and stress-free.
1. Cheesy Veggie Quesadillas
Ingredients:
2 whole wheat tortillas
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
1 cup mixed vegetables (bell peppers, spinach, zucchini)
Olive oil
Instructions:
Heat a pan over medium heat and add a bit of olive oil.
Layer cheese and vegetables on one tortilla, then top with another tortilla.
Cook until golden brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes.
Cut into wedges and serve with salsa or guacamole.
2. Mini Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a bowl, mix all ingredients until combined.
Form small meatballs and place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes until cooked through. Serve with marinara sauce.
3. Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
1 box macaroni
1 cup cauliflower, steamed and pureed
1 cup cheese (cheddar or a mix)
1/2 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Cook macaroni according to package instructions.
In a saucepan, combine pureed cauliflower, cheese, and milk over low heat until melted.
Mix the cheese sauce with the cooked macaroni and serve.
4. Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups broccoli florets
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
Olive oil
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add chicken and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, add broccoli and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.
Return chicken to the pan, add soy sauce and honey, and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
5. Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, cut into fries
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
Salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Toss sweet potatoes in olive oil, paprika, and salt.
Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
6. Pancake Tacos
Ingredients:
1 cup pancake mix
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup cooked sausage or bacon
Maple syrup
Instructions:
Prepare pancakes according to package instructions.
Cook pancakes in a skillet, making them smaller to resemble tacos.
Fill each pancake with sausage or bacon, fold, and drizzle with maple syrup.
7. Vegetable Fried Rice
Ingredients:
3 cups cooked rice
1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
2 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions:
Heat oil in a pan and scramble eggs. Set aside.
Add mixed vegetables and cook until tender.
Stir in rice, soy sauce, and scrambled eggs, cooking until heated through.
8. Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells
Ingredients:
12 jumbo pasta shells
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded spinach (frozen or fresh)
1 cup marinara sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook pasta shells until al dente. Drain and cool.
Mix ricotta, spinach, and half of the mozzarella. Stuff shells with the mixture.
Place in a baking dish, cover with marinara, and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 25 minutes.
9. Homemade Pizza
Ingredients:
1 pre-made pizza crust
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings (pepperoni, vegetables, etc.)
Instructions:
Preheat oven according to crust instructions.
Spread marinara sauce over crust and top with cheese and desired toppings.
Bake until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
10. Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients.
Transfer to a baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until heated through.
11. Beef Tacos with Custom Toppings
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
Taco seasoning
Taco shells
Toppings (lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream)
Instructions:
Cook ground beef in a skillet until browned. Drain fat.
Add taco seasoning and water, cooking until thickened.
Serve in taco shells with a variety of toppings.
12. Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1 cup oats
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Heat a skillet and pour batter to form pancakes.
Cook until bubbles form, then flip and cook until golden.
13. Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Dip
Ingredients:
1 pound chicken breast, cut into strips
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup mustard
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Dip chicken strips in egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until crispy. Mix honey and mustard for dipping.
14. Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup cream
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Bread and cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches
Instructions:
Combine tomatoes, broth, and seasoning in a pot. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Blend until smooth, then stir in cream.
Make grilled cheese sandwiches and serve with soup.
15. Sloppy Joes
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Burger buns
Instructions:
Cook ground beef in a skillet until browned. Drain fat.
Stir in ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, simmer for 5 minutes.
Serve on burger buns.
16. Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
1 cup oats
1 cup milk
1 apple, diced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Honey to taste
Instructions:
In a jar, combine all ingredients.
Refrigerate overnight. Serve cold or warmed up.
17. Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1 cup diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are tender.
18. Fish Tacos with Avocado Cream
Ingredients:
1 pound white fish (tilapia or cod)
Taco seasoning
Corn tortillas
1 avocado
1/4 cup sour cream
