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Over the years I have noticed little things that help make a kid-friendly meal. Here is my go-to list of dinner ideas for kids!!

More Collections: Sunday Dinner Ideas, Quick Dinner Ideas, Family Dinner Ideas

Collage of dinner recipes that are kid-friendly.

Dinners Kids Love!

There’s not a hard fast thing that makes things kid-friendly, and the more children I have, the more I realize how incredibly different they all are. Including what they will eat.

One thing I decided long ago is that I will not be a short-order cook and my family will eat what I serve. Fortunately, we have plenty of yummy kid-friendly dinner ideas that even the pickiest kids will love!

Why they are loved:

  • Kid approved. All of these are loved by our kids and you’re sure to find something to please your picky eaters.
  • Easy. Each of these recipes is easy and many can even be made by your kids.
  • Flavor. Of course, we never skimp on flavor!
Chicken strips on a plate with a side of ketchup.

Some of Our Family Favorites

  1. Chicken is usually liked by most children. It doesn’t have a strong flavor and pairs well with different ingredients. It can be grilled, baked, pan-fried, and served as a stand-alone ingredient or added to soups, salads, or casseroles
  2. Pasta dishes tend to be kid-friendly recipes. They are often cheesy or have a flavorful sauce. 
  3. Pizza is easy to make, easy to customize to the preference of your family, and easy to eat.
  4. Rice is another ingredient that most children will eat. Neither white nor brown rice has much flavor on its own and both pair well with all kinds of other ingredients. 
  5. Fruit is often the preferred produce. I typically always have some type of fruit available at meal times. 
  6. Veggies that can be dipped in dressing, typically Ranch Dressing. They also tend to prefer roasted vegetables like Oven Roasted Broccoli with a bit of cheese over other ways to prepare them. 
Lunch kabobs of meat cheese, tomato, and lettuce served on a white plate, a favorite dinner idea for kids.

Make it Kid Friendly

Make dinner a success with these additional suggestions!

  • Being creative with a dish takes effort and time that many just don’t have regularly, but every once in a while, it’s fun to be a little creative.
  • Little fingers. A kid-friendly meal often involves foods that are easy for kids to eat. Sometimes that means with their fingers, other times it means making it easier for them to use their utensils. For example:
    • Instead of frying a large chicken breast, cut it up and make chicken strips. 
    • Kids love to dip their food! Try our Honey Mustard.
    • Spaghetti noodles are tricky for little kids to eat with a fork so I’ll substitute the spaghetti pasta with penne or wagon wheels.  
  • Make it mini. Even I find mini versions of a dish irresistible, so it’s not surprising that children love mini versions of things. Easily make mini Pancakes, mini muffins, mini cookies, mini Quiche, Mini Corn Dogs, Mini Pizzas, and more. 

Favorite Family Friendly Dinner Ideas

Have you ever heard the phrase “All your children want for dinner is you?” I wholeheartedly believe this. These dinner recipes are favorites and perfect for the kiddos!

1 Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe

Main Course Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes

Recipe Video

4.93 from 55 votes
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2 White Sauce Recipe

Main Course White Sauce Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 852 votes
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3 Corn Dog Recipe

Main Course Corn Dog Recipe
Total Time: 17 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 111 votes
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4 Pigs in a Blanket Recipe

Main Course Pigs in a Blanket Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 177 votes
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5 Spaghetti Recipe

Main Course Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 349 votes
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6 Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe

Main Course Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 273 votes
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7 Hamburger Helper Recipe

Main Course Hamburger Helper Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

4.97 from 56 votes
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8 Grilled Cheese Recipe

Main Course, sandwich Grilled Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 13 votes
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9 Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Main Course Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 44 votes
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10 Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

Main Course Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 373 votes
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Easy Dinner Ideas for Kids

Weeknight dinners can sometimes feel rushed and stressful, but these easy dinner ideas can help!

11 Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 96 votes
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12 Quesadilla Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Quesadilla Recipe
Total Time: 12 minutes

Recipe Video

4.96 from 304 votes
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13 Pizza Casserole

Main Course Pizza Casserole
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 95 votes

14 Hot Dog Nuggets Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Hot Dog Nuggets Recipe
Total Time: 18 minutes

Recipe Video

4.93 from 41 votes
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15 Chicken Drumsticks in Oven

Main Course Chicken Drumsticks in Oven
Total Time: 55 minutes

Recipe Video

4.86 from 42 votes
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16 English Muffin Pizza Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course English Muffin Pizza Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 7 votes
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17 Tostadas Recipe

Main Course Tostadas Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 22 votes
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18 Cheese Crisp

Main Course, Snack Cheese Crisp
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 30 votes
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19 Chicken Tacos Recipe

Main Course Chicken Tacos Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 83 votes
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20 Burrito Recipe

Main Course Burrito Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 52 votes
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21 Walking Tacos Recipe

Main Course Walking Tacos Recipe
Total Time: 28 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 7 votes
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22 Lunch Kabobs Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Lunch Kabobs Recipe
Total Time: 8 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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23 Pizza Roll Ups Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Pizza Roll Ups Recipe
Total Time: 22 minutes
5 from 12 votes
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24 Mini Corn Dog Muffins Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Mini Corn Dog Muffins Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 8 votes
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25 Taquitos Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Taquitos Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 915 votes
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26 Taco Soup Recipe

Soup Taco Soup Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 29 votes
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27 Chicken Taco Salad Recipe

Salad Chicken Taco Salad Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
5 from 6 votes
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28 Pizza Muffin Recipe

Appetizer Pizza Muffin Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
4.86 from 7 votes
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29 Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe

Main Course Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 16 votes
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More Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas

If you, like me, can’t get enough kid-friendly dinner ideas to keep weeknights whine-free and easy, we’ve rounded up even more!

30 Mac and Cheese Recipe

Main Course Mac and Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 167 votes
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31 Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

Main Course Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 6 votes
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32 Hot Ham and Cheese Roll Up Recipe

Main Course Hot Ham and Cheese Roll Up Recipe
Total Time: 16 minutes
5 from 7 votes
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33 Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Main Course Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 23 votes
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34 Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Main Course Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour

Recipe Video

5 from 10 votes
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35 Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Main Course Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 100 votes
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36 Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Main Course Beef Stroganoff Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 17 votes
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37 Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Main Course Pepperoni Pizza Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 10 votes
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38 Spaghetti Pie

Main Course Spaghetti Pie
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 10 votes
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39 Baked Ravioli Recipe

Main Course Baked Ravioli Recipe
Total Time: 21 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 43 votes
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40 Frito Pie Recipe

Main Course Frito Pie Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 9 votes
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41 Easy Meatball Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Easy Meatball Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 201 votes
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42 Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

Main Course Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 33 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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43 Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Main Course Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
5 from 48 votes
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44 Ritz Cracker Chicken Recipe

Main Course Ritz Cracker Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Recipe Video

4.97 from 94 votes
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45 Chicken Tenders Recipe

Main Course Chicken Tenders Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 13 votes
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46 Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese recipe

Main Course Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
5 from 52 votes
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47 Baked Ravioli Recipe

Main Course Baked Ravioli Recipe
Total Time: 21 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 43 votes
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48 Popcorn Chicken Recipe

Main Course Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 29 votes
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49 Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe

Main Course Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 13 votes
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50 Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe

Main Course Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 18 votes
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51 BBQ Chicken Pizza

Main Course BBQ Chicken Pizza
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 12 votes
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52 Dorito Casserole Recipe

Main Course Dorito Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 35 votes
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53 Chicken Fingers Recipe

Main Course Chicken Fingers Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

4.87 from 15 votes
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54 Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Main Course Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 12 votes
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55 Mini Deep Dish Pizza Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Mini Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
Total Time: 17 minutes
5 from 11 votes
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56 Bean Chimichangas Recipe

Main Course Bean Chimichangas Recipe
Total Time: 19 minutes
5 from 5 votes
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57 Mini Pizzas

Main Course Mini Pizzas
Total Time: 18 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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58 Turkey Meatball Recipe

Main Course Turkey Meatball Recipe
Total Time: 28 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 11 votes
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59 Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

Main Course Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 16 votes
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Kid-Approved Dinner

Pigs in a Blanket have been a kid classic for decades and adults can’t get enough of this wrapped hot dog delicacy either!

The best part is how easy they are to make with the crescent dough and they’re delectably dippable!

Here is the recipe:

5 from 1 vote

50+ Dinner Ideas for Kids

By: Lil’ Luna
Over the years I have noticed little things that help make a kid-friendly meal. Here is my go-to list of dinner ideas for kids!!
Servings: 8 dogs
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 8 hot dogs
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • sesame seeds for topping

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Open the can of crescent rolls and separate the dough into triangles.
  • At the widest end of the triangle piece, place a hot dog length-wise and roll it up in the dough. Place each roll up on the baking sheet.
  • In a small bowl, combine egg and water. Brush egg wash over the tops of the rolls. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and press gently into rolls.
  • Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 1dog, Calories: 119kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 317mg, Potassium: 73mg, Sugar: 0.03g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Vitamin C: 0.04mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

So Many Choices!

With so many amazing choices you’re sure to find some new kid-friendly and family-friendly meals the whole family will love!

More Collections: Healthy Dinner Ideas, Pantry Staple Recipes, Beef Dinner Ideas

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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3 Comments

  1. First, my kids LOVED Macaroni and Cheese recipe on here. I served it with the pigs in a blanket recipe (How my kids reached teen years with my never making these I don’t know). Next time I’ll use parchment paper since some of the “blanket” stuck to my pan.
    Also, wanted to give shout out for your pizza dough recipe . i make it almost each week. My kids love using it to make their own personal pizzas.

  2. I love all the yummy food ideas for the kids. There’s really nothing here that the kids won’t eat. Everything is good and not hard to make. Sure to please everyone.

  3. My kids are older, but still so picky! They would love everything in this post! Thanks for sharing these great ideas!