18 Dishes Even Picky Eaters Will Love

Kid-Friendly and Delicous

Written by
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cathy Jacobs
Updated 07/22/20

Picky eaters—we've all heard the term and many of us have at least one at home. Our littlest diners can be tricky to cook for, especially when trying to make sure they get the nourishment they need. These kid-friendly recipes for tasty breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks are great for family members of all ages. Even your pickiest of eaters are sure to find something new here to love!

  • 01 of 18

    Homemade Chicken Nuggets

    Chicken nuggets

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Do your kids love fast-food chicken nuggets? Here's an easy recipe that lets you make a healthier version at home with the same great crunch and meaty taste. Chicken chunks are dipped into an egg-and-butter mixture, then coated with seasoned breadcrumbs and baked in the oven until golden brown.

  • 02 of 18

    Eggs in a Basket

    Eggs in a basket

    Michelle McMahon / Getty Images

    Also called "toad in a hole," this fun breakfast gives kids an eggcellent protein boost to start their day. Get the kids to help make this recipe—they can do everything from cutting shapes in the bread slices to cracking the egg and sliding it into the "basket."

  • 03 of 18

    Apple Pancakes

    Apple pancakes

    Ira Heuvelman-Dobrolyubova / Getty Images 

    These homemade pancakes are a great way to sneak fruit into kids' breakfast and have a delicious apple pie flavor that children love. For an extra treat, serve them topped with warmed, store-bought applesauce.

  • 04 of 18

    Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

    Easy chicken pot pie casserole

    The Spruce

     

    Everyone loves chicken pot pie, but some recipes take a lot of effort to assemble. This easier, family-friendly casserole version cuts down on prep time by baking biscuit mix right along with the nutritious chicken and vegetable filling, so you don't have to make a separate crust. The whole thing is covered with cheese, for gooey topping kids love!

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  • 05 of 18

    Frozen Fruit and Cereal Yogurt Bites

    Frozen fruit and cereal yogurt bites

    The Spruce

    Treat little ones to these tasty breakfast bites that taste like a frozen yogurt dessert, but are secretly good for them. They're made easily by filling muffin tins with healthy fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, and cereal to create a granola-like parfait that you pop into the freezer to create perfectly-portioned bites.

  • 06 of 18

    Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

    Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Kids will ask for seconds of these French toast sticks flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. The recipe makes a large batch for easy breakfasts throughout the week. Just freeze portions in plastic bags for reheating on the griddle or in a toaster oven. Serve with maple syrup.

  • 07 of 18

    Cheesy Meatball Bombs

    Cheesy meatball bombs

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Cheesy meatball "bombs" are basically a meat and sauce-filled snack that can easily replace frozen pizza rolls. Refrigerated biscuit dough is used to form the buns and you can bake the seasoned Italian meatballs from scratch with the recipe included or use pre-cooked frozen meatballs.

  • 08 of 18

    Baked Ham and Cheese Quesadilla

    Baked ham and cheese quesadillas

    Envision / Getty Images

    This ham and cheese quesadilla is the perfect cross between a cheesy grilled ham and cheese sandwich and the classic Mexican dish. They're also baked rather than fried for a healthier lunch or after-school snack.

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  • 09 of 18

    Perfect Tomato Soup

    Perfect tomato soup

    Aleksandr Kuzmin / Getty Images

    Tomato soup is right up there with chicken noodle as one of the most kid-friendly bowls. This essential recipe is bursting with tomato flavor, silky smooth in texture, and not complicated by too many ingredients, though it does sneak in some extra carrots—kids won't be able to taste the difference.

  • 10 of 18

    Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwich

    Grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich

    Grilled Cheese Social

    Kids will flip when you serve up these super awesome mac and cheese sammies! Just five ingredients are needed to make a genius lunch that combines America's most popular cheesy pasta dish with kids' favorite grilled cheese sandwich.

  • 11 of 18

    Chicken Noodle Soup

    Chicken noodle soup

    Lilli Day / Stockbyte / Getty Images

    Classic chicken noodle soup is like a big, warm hug for kids' stomachs. You can pour it into a thermos for warm and comforting school lunch, or serve it with crackers and cheese for a light dinner. This version is made from scratch, so allow time to cook the chicken.

  • 12 of 18

    Loaded Baked Potato Skins

    Loaded Baked Potato Skins

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    These twice-baked stuffed potatoes with cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions are always a hit at lunch or snack time. You can vary the toppings with your family's favorite ingredients or add some browned ground meat to the filling to bulk it up for dinner time.

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  • 13 of 18

    Black Bean and Corn Vegetarian Chili

    Vegetarian black bean and corn chili recipe

    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston

    Vegetarian kids will love the hearty flavor and texture of this bean and corn chili topped with crunchy corn tortilla strips. Parents will love how quick and easy it is to make, with mostly canned ingredients. Omit the cheese and optional sour cream topping if you need it to be vegan and dairy-free.

  • 14 of 18

    Parmesan Crusted Baked Fish

    Parmesan baked fish

    The Spruce 

    If your kids enjoy fish sticks, this baked recipe is a great way to get them to eat healthier. Fresh or thawed frozen fillets are coated with a Parmesan cheese and seasoned breadcrumb crust, drizzled with a little melted butter, then baked to crunchy, golden, flaky perfection.

  • 15 of 18

    Fruity Popcorn

    Fruity popcorn

    The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

    Kids will cheer for this treat made with colorful popcorn and salty peanuts, covered in a light, crunchy candy coating that's bursting with fruity flavor from Jell-O. Let them choose which gelatin flavor to use for a customized treat that makes a great snack for birthday parties or family movie nights.

  • 16 of 18

    Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Favorite spaghetti and meatballs

    Carl Tremblay / Getty Images

    What could be more welcome on a cold winter night than a heaping plate of hot spaghetti noodles smothered in tomato sauce and topped with big, beefy meatballs? This essential family recipe for pasta and meatballs with Italian seasonings is sure to become a regular in your rotation.

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  • 17 of 18

    Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

    Peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Kids will go bananas over this tender homemade quick bread. The batter is made with mashed ripe bananas, peanut butter powder, chopped peanuts, and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, along with some pantry baking ingredients, and optional chopped roasted peanuts. It's a wonderful on-the-go snack.

  • 18 of 18

    Simple Nachos

    Simple nachos

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray 

    These popular, easy nachos are cooked in the microwave oven for a hearty after-school snack that can be ready in minutes. This version tops them with jalapeño peppers, cheese, and taco sauce, but you can change up the ingredients according to what your kids like.