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The kitchen is the heart of our home and with these easy recipes for kids our whole family can get involved in preparing meals together. Your kids are sure to take pride in the yummy food they help to cook and will love to eat!

More Collections: Dinner Ideas For Kids, 3 Ingredient Recipes, Easy Dessert Recipes For Kids

A collage of easy recipes for kids.

Kid Friendly Recipes

One of our favorite things to do is be in the kitchen together. We love to cook, and of course, we love to eat together!

My kids also love to help out. They love to get their hands dirty (and the kitchen) and help make everything from breakfast to dinner to desserts and after-school snacks.

All kids can help regardless of age. Whether it be simply stirring, or completing a recipe from start to finish. We’ve rounded up several easy recipes for kids to get your kids helping out in the kitchen!

Chicken tortilla soup topped with avocado slices and crispy tortilla strips in a white bowl.

Where to Start

We’ve included some fantastic beginner, kid-friendly recipes in this round-up for you to start making with your kiddos. It’s always best to start cooking alongside your kids, making sure they are comfortable and safe with any new techniques before you feel confident letting them make a meal from start to finish on their own.

Few ingredients. Some of the best recipes to start out with are those with few ingredients such as Toad In The Hole, Bean Dip, and 3 Ingredient Banana Bread.

No bake. It is also a good idea to begin with recipes that don’t require an oven such as Yogurt Parfaits, Flatout Monster Sandwiches, and Fruit Kabobs. Once your child begins to gain confidence in the kitchen they will be able to move on to recipes that require more time and skill.

Cooking with your kids is a great bonding experience and will give your child a great sense of pride in the meals they are able to make!

Fruit kabobs consisting of strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, kiwi, red grapes and blackberries on wooden skewers.

Recipes for Picky Eaters

One of the best ways to satisfy a picky eater is to make mealtime fun.

Finger foods like Hot Dog Nuggets and Pizza Muffins are always a hit, especially when they can be dipped in ketchup or Ranch dressing.

Foods that are served on a skewer like our Lunch Kabobs or have a fun appearance like Pigs in a Blanket are also big hits with picky eaters.

Favorites. It’s also a good idea to stick with some tried and true kid favorites like Crock Pot Mac and Cheese and Cheese Quesadillas and gradually add in some new vegetables each time you serve them.

Picky eaters are also much more likely to try foods that they helped to prepare so making meals with your kids is definitely a win!

A stack of pancakes topped with fresh berries on a white plate.

Age Appropriate Cooking

Toddlers as young as 2 years old can begin to help out in the kitchen with mealtimes. Little kids can help wash produce, stir food, press the button on the blender, and add in pre-measured ingredients. We recommend using a kitchen helper stool to allow young children to work safely beside you.

Older kids can begin to learn skills such as cracking eggs, working an electric mixer or blender, breading chicken, and basic knife skills with a small knife. A regular step stool can be helpful for them to be at a safe height for working at the kitchen counter.

You know your child best and can begin with very basic techniques and let them gain confidence and work up to more complicated cooking skills. It is always important to teach and reinforce food safety and kitchen safety.

  • Kids can learn to use different cutting boards for meat and veggies and to cook meats to proper temperatures.
  • Good handwashing techniques are also very important to learn from a young age.
  • Basic kitchen safety such as turning pot handles away from you, tying back long hair, using oven mitts, knowing how to properly extinguish a grease fire, and knife safety skills are also important to teach and go over repeatedly.

Feeling comfortable in the kitchen will really help to build your child’s self-esteem and hopefully begin a love of cooking starting at a young age.

A plate of scrambled eggs and bacon.

Start Compiling Recipes

What should kids 10 years old and up know how to cook? This will really depend on what age your child started cooking and how comfortable they have become in the kitchen over the years.

However, if they are just starting out in the kitchen do not fear – at this age, they should be able to master basic techniques pretty quickly and should be pretty confident cooks in no time.

Some of the best types of recipes for kids to make at this age to cook completely on their own are Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Cheese Crisps, and making simple drinks such as an Orange Julius.

Once they become confident using a frying pan, blender, and baking in the oven, the possibilities for recipes they can cook alone will be endless!


Breakfast

These breakfast recipes are so simple to make and only require a few ingredients. They are also kid favorites that are sure to be on repeat at your house!

Orange Julius

Refreshing & simple Orange Julius takes a minute to make and tastes just like the real thing. It is a favorite family treat!

1 Orange Julius Recipe

Drinks Orange Julius Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 192 votes
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Easy Pancakes

For delicious homemade pancakes, this easy pancake recipe is the perfect base for your favorite toppings and variations!

2 Pancake Recipe

Breakfast Pancake Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 285 votes
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oven french toast

Sweet & filling oven french toast is perfectly spiced and can feed a crowd! This “eggy bread” is a family favorite.

3 Oven French Toast Recipe

Breakfast Oven French Toast Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours
4.91 from 11 votes
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Toad In The Hole

Toad in a hole is toasted bread with an egg cooked into the middle. It’s a simple breakfast classic, perfect for any morning.

4 Toad in the Hole

Breakfast Toad in the Hole
Total Time: 6 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 35 votes
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Yogurt Parfaits

Fresh & creamy yogurt parfaits are filled with fresh fruit and topped with crunchy granola. They are perfect for breakfast or dessert!

5 Yogurt Parfait Recipe

Dessert, Snack Yogurt Parfait Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 24 votes
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Scrambled Eggs

Easy and delicious scrambled eggs never go out of style! This recipe is fluffy, flavorful and absolutely perfect every time.

6 Scrambled Eggs Recipe

Breakfast Scrambled Eggs Recipe
Total Time: 9 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 19 votes
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Energy Bites

These delicious energy bites are filled with healthy ingredients that give you a little boost—including peanut butter, oats, coconut flakes, and flaxseed.

7 Energy Balls Recipe

Breakfast Energy Balls Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 20 votes
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Cheesy Breakfast Casserole

This easy savory cheesy breakfast casserole is perfect for any morning or special holiday occasion. It is perfect for making ahead!

8 Cheesy Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Breakfast Cheesy Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
5 from 13 votes
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French Toast Bake

This super delicious overnight french toast bake recipe takes french toast to a whole new level! Pieces of sourdough bread covered in an egg mixture, topped with cinnamon sugar, and baked to perfection! This easy french toast casserole is the ultimate holiday or weekend breakfast!!

9 French Toast Casserole Recipe

Breakfast French Toast Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 5 hours

Recipe Video

5 from 3329 votes
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Sides + Appetizers

Our kids love to nibble and these recipes are always a surefire hit! They are easy enough to serve with your favorite main dish or even on their own.

Sweet Salsa Verde

Sweet salsa verde – a delicious salsa recipe that is sweet and takes just minutes to make. Ingredients include tomatillos, jalapenos, sugar, & cilantro.

10 Salsa Verde Recipe

Appetizer Salsa Verde Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 50 votes
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Best Salsa Recipe

This is such an EASY and delicious homemade salsa recipe! All you have to do is throw all the ingredients into your blender, and blend!

11 Salsa Recipe

Appetizer Salsa Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 113 votes
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Bean Dip

With sour cream, cream cheese, Mexican cheese, refried beans, and salsa, this delicious bean dip is perfect to eat with chips, tacos, or any Mexican dish!

12 Refried Bean Dip

Appetizer Refried Bean Dip
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 378 votes
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Fry Sauce

Tangy and sweet fry sauce is the only dipping sauce you’ll ever need for your fries, burgers, and nuggets!

13 Fry Sauce Recipe

Dressing Fry Sauce Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
5 from 46 votes
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Bacon Wrapped Smokies

Just 3 ingredients to make candied bacon wrapped smokies. They are the ultimate appetizer and always the first to disappear!

14 Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes

Appetizer Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 81 votes
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Jiffy COrn Pudding

Jiffy Corn Pudding is creamy, buttery, and sweet! The perfect side dish to any dinner, it’s comfort food at its finest.

15 Jiffy Corn Pudding

Side Dish Jiffy Corn Pudding
Total Time: 1 hour

Recipe Video

5 from 96 votes
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BBQ Meatballs

Sweet + savory BBQ meatballs are saucy and delicious with a bit of tanginess. With only 5 minutes of prep they are a breeze to make!

16 Barbecue Meatballs Recipe

Main Course Barbecue Meatballs Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
5 from 10 votes
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Slow COoker Creamed Corn

Dinner wouldn’t be complete without rich, flavorful slow cooker creamed corn! It’s creamy, buttery, and cheesy – a holiday favorite!

17 Crock Pot Creamed Corn

Side Dish Crock Pot Creamed Corn
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
5 from 19 votes
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Fruit Kabobs

Colorful fruit kabobs are the best appetizer or side for any occasion! Load up your favorite fruits and get snacking.

18 Fruit Kabobs

Side Dish Fruit Kabobs
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 15 votes
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Crockpot Meatballs

Sweet + savory crockpot meatballs are packed with flavor, and perfect for parties. They are SO easy, yet SO tasty!

19 Crockpot Meatballs

Appetizer Crockpot Meatballs
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 214 votes
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Breads

Bread is always so fun to make and these recipes will be ready to enjoy before you know it. They are the perfect recipes to start out with for a beginner cook.

3 Ingredient Banana Bread

Easy, quick and delicious banana bread made with only 3 ingredients – overripe bananas, eggs and yellow cake mix. Add a 4th ingredient – chocolate chips – if you love them!

20 3 Ingredient Banana Bread Recipe

Bread 3 Ingredient Banana Bread Recipe

Recipe Video

5 from 8 votes
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Easy Yeast Rolls

These easy yeast rolls can be made in under an hour with just 4 ingredients! With how quick and simple they are, they will become your new go-to dinner rolls.

21 Easy Yeast Roll Recipe

Bread Easy Yeast Roll Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
4.93 from 26 votes
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Garlic Knots

Buttery-soft homemade garlic knots whip up in under 20 minutes and make a perfect side for pizza, pasta, or salads!

22 Garlic Knots Recipe

Side Dish Garlic Knots Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 13 votes
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Cheesy Garlic Bread

This is by far our favorite garlic bread recipe. It takes minutes to put together and is SO cheesy and delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal, but especially for pasta and Italian dishes!

23 Garlic Bread Recipe

Bread Garlic Bread Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

4.89 from 36 votes
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DINNER

From pizza casserole to corn dog muffins, these fun and easy dinner recipes for kids are perfect and are our family favorites. They are so quick to put together that you will be able to enjoy them in no time!

Cilantro Lime Rice

This recipe tastes just like Cafe Rio and Chipotle cilantro lime rice! It’s a simple and delicious rice perfect for a salad, burrito, or taco. Now you can make this delicious lime rice from home!

24 Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

cropped-cilantro-lime-rice-resize-2.jpg
Side Dish Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

4.97 from 63 votes
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Pizza Casserole

Quick and delicious easy pizza casserole – prepped in 5 minutes and only requires 5 ingredients. We call that a dinner win!

25 Pizza Casserole

Main Course Pizza Casserole
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 116 votes
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Cheese Crisp

A cheese crisp is a crunchy open-face quesadilla that is an Arizona favorite!! They are quick, easy, and perfectly dippable.

26 Cheese Crisp

Main Course, Snack Cheese Crisp
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 34 votes
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Cheese Quesadilla

Look no further for the best cheese quesadillas! They are everything you want in a queso-filled golden brown slice of heaven.

27 Cheese Quesadilla

Main Course, Snack Cheese Quesadilla
Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 9 votes
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Chicken Tortilla Soup

The BEST slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is filled with chunks of chicken, beans & corn. It is easy to make and full of flavor!

28 Chicken Tortilla Soup

Main Course, Soup Chicken Tortilla Soup
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 383 votes
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Taco Soup

Taco Soup is one of the EASIEST dinner recipes of all time! Just dump, simmer, and enjoy in under 20 minutes!

29 Taco Soup Recipe

Soup Taco Soup Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 29 votes
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Lunch Kabobs

Kid-friendly lunch kabobs are filled with savory meats and fresh veggies. They’re perfect for parties, BBQs, Lunches and more!

30 Lunch Kabobs Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Lunch Kabobs Recipe
Total Time: 8 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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Hot Dog Nuggets

Hot dog nuggets only require TWO ingredients and make a perfect for lunch, dinner or even a party appetizer! Kids and adults alike will love these little bites.

31 Hot Dog Nuggets Recipe

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

Recipe Video

4.93 from 42 votes
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Pizza Muffins

These cheesy and delicious pizza muffins make for the perfect appetizer. They’re filled with melty mozzarella, and topped with a yummy garlic butter, more cheese, and mini pepperonis.

32 Pizza Muffin Recipe

Appetizer Pizza Muffin Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.86 from 7 votes
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Corn Dog Muffins

Mini corn dog muffins are yummy and kid friendly. These tasty bite-size snacks are ready in under 20 minutes!

33 Mini Corn Dog Muffins Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Mini Corn Dog Muffins Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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Pigs In A Blanket

A yummy lunch, dinner, or snack idea for the whole family! Homemade pigs in a blanket with delicious crescent dough and a sprinkling of sesame seeds on top!

34 Pigs in a Blanket

Main Course Pigs in a Blanket
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 181 votes
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crispy chicken tenders

Chicken tenders are one of our go-to weeknight meals around here. They are simple, always tasty, and my kids love ’em!

35 Chicken Tenders Recipe

Main Course Chicken Tenders Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 13 votes
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Homemade Chicken Nuggets

We’ve always loved chicken nuggets, and this fried version is a family favorite. Delicious, golden and crispy – these nuggets are even better than the restaurants!

36 Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Main Course Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 51 votes
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Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole

Hearty & delicious hamburger tater tot casserole is layered with flavors everyone will love! It is kid friendly, easy, and freezes perfectly!

37 Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Main Course Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
5 from 49 votes
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Flatout Monster Sandwich

Fun and delicious flatout monster sandwiches filled with your favorite meats, cheese and veggies are a hit with the entire family!!

38 Flatout Monster Sandwiches recipes

Main Course Flatout Monster Sandwiches recipes
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 1 vote
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Cheeseburger Casserole

Hearty cheeseburger casserole is filled with ground beef and pasta, and oozing with cheese! It really is everything but the bun.

39 Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

Main Course Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 33 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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Crock Pot Mac And Cheese

Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, and this crock pot mac and cheese is so simple, cheesy, and delicious!

40 Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

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

Recipe Video

4.99 from 283 votes
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Recipes perfect for kids to make!

There are so many easy and delicious recipes on this list perfect for the beginner cook! Your kids are sure to gain more and more confidence in the kitchen as they try out these fun recipes!

More Collections: 5 Ingredient Recipes, Easy Pasta Recipes, Easy 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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5 Comments

  1. Natasha says:

    I love these recipes and the ones I’ve tried so far were all successful!

  2. Olivia says:

    All these recipes for kids are amazing! Can hardly wait to try them. I think it’s fun to make the food appealing. Love the ideas!

  3. Matt says:

    This is such an awesome compilation of kid-friendly easy recipes. My favorites have got to be the pigs in the blanket, the mini corndog muffins, and the little smokies wrapped in bacon. So yummy!

  4. Samantha says:

    My kids love to help in the kitchen, and we’re going to have a project this summer where they make a new recipe together each week. Can’t wait to try some of the great recipes on this list!

  5. Kristina says:

    My daughter loves to bake and my son likes to cook with me. We often come here for recipes.