Getting dinner on the table is easier when you have recipes the whole family loves! This roundup of easy kid-friendly dinner ideas has over 31 quick and delicious meals that even picky eaters will enjoy. From simple chicken dinners to fun pasta recipes, these family-friendly meals are perfect for busy weeknights and guaranteed to make dinnertime less stressful.
Kid-Friendly Dinners for Picky Eaters
From pasta to chicken favorites, these kid-friendly recipes are simple, tasty, and loved by the whole family.
- Pull Apart Pizza Bread
- Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders – serve with a side of my easy baked mac and cheese
- Crockpot Chicken Nachos – keep it simple or load up with all your favorite toppings
- Ground Beef Quesadillas
- Baked Meatballs Parmesan
- Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
- Crockpot Sausage and Potatoes
Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas
Keep mealtime simple with these tried-and-true family recipes everyone will enjoy. They are perfect, easy weeknight dinners.
- Baked Tortellini Casserole
- Baked Crispy Ground Beef Tacos
- Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with marinara dipping sauce
- Garlic Cheddar Chicken Bake
- Crockpot Chili – an easy make ahead meal
- Easy Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
Pasta Recipes Kids Love
Twirl, slurp, repeat! These pasta dishes are simple, cheesy, and always a hit with little (and big) appetites.
- Loaded Mac & Cheese with Ground Beef
- Cheeseburger Pasta
- Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
- Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Kid Friendly One-Pan Dinners
Minimal cleanup, maximum flavor. These sheet pan meals make weeknight dinners a breeze.
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Sheet Pan Baked Pineapple Chicken
- One Pan Beef Ramen Stir Fry – add a side of my asian cucumber salad
- Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
- Ground Turkey Fried Rice
- Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas
30 Minute Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas
Fast, flavorful, and family-approved! These dinners get everyone fed without being in the kitchen all day.
- Easy Italian Sausage Tortellini Skillet
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs – serve with a side of rice and veggies
- 30 Minute Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Spaghetti Marinara
- Big Mac Sliders
- Baked Chili Cheese Dogs
Healthy Kid-Friendly Dinners
Your kids don’t need to know that what they’re eating is healthy. We won’t tell anyone!
- Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Bites – a healthy alternative to chicken nuggets
- Easy Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Pepper Steak Stir Fry – serve with steamed rice or noodles
- Italian Turkey and Vegetable Skillet
- Chicken Burrito Bowls
If you’re looking for the best kid-friendly dinner recipes, this list will be a keeper. If you need more family dinner ideas, check out my Quick Family Faves here.
If you have a tried and true recipe that your kids love for dinner, make sure and let me know in the comments!
What are the most common classic kid-friendly dinners?
Classic kid-friendly dinners tend to be hits like spaghetti with meat sauce, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, tacos, and pizza. I have some quick and easy takes on all of these!
How can I make my kids eat healthier?
Make small swaps to their favorites (baked nuggets instead of fried, adding veggies to pizza, etc.), offer choices, and try to model healthy eating.
What are some tips for picky eaters?
Let them help you! Involvement in the process encourages them to try new foods. Or you can try sneaking a small bit of veggies into sauces or baked dishes.
Kids Favorite Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken tenderloins
- 1/4 cup flour, all purpose
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs, unseasoned
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp ranch seasoning, (or one envelope)
Instructions
- Mix the bread crumbs, parmesan, and ranch seasoning together in a shallow dish and set aside. Place the flour and eggs each in their own shallow dish.
- Dredge each chicken tenderloin in flour to coat, then place it in the egg mixture to wet the flour, and finally, coat it in the bread crumb mixture on all sides. Place each chicken tender on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Once all tenders are coated, discard any extra flour, eggs, or breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 400 on the lower oven rack for 10-12 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temp.)
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately or place chicken tenders on a wire cooling rack until you are ready to serve.
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