Some of my very favorite moments have been time spent in the kitchen with my children.
From when my oldest daughter would sit on the kitchen counter and hand me the items to make a stew while her baby sister to a nap, to when all three kids had some friends come over and we all decorated Christmas cookies to when I taught my son how to make his favorite meal of Reuben sandwich ... there's just something about making food with my gang that bring me a lot of joy.
If you want to make a meal that you kids can easily help you with (or perhaps even have them make themselves), here are 8 easy dinner recipes the entire family will love.
Why is it important to teach kids how to cook?
Getting your kids into the kitchen has a lot more benefits than just giving you an extra set of hands.
- Cooking gives kids confidence.
- It's an real-life way for them to learn math, vocabulary, and nutrition.
- Cooking is an important life skill.
- Making a meal themselves gives them more appreciation when someone else (like you) cooks for them.
What age should a child start cooking?
Kids can start doing something in the kitchen at around the age of two, or even a little earlier.
Here are a few things kids can help with in the kitchen depending on their age:
- Under age 3
- Stir room temperature ingredients
- Wash vegetables
- Squeeze lemons
- Set the table
- Age 3-6
- Cut soft foods like butter and fruit with a blunt knife
- Use measuring cups and spoons
- Drain and rinse canned beans
- Spread icing or sauce
- Ages 7-11
- Pound chicken
- Open cans
- Peel potatoes
- Make a salad
- Use a blender
- Make sandwiches and wraps
- Egg-tastic Power Packs with Salsa and Cheddar Cheese
- Holiday Celebration Cupcakes topped with fresh fruit or candy
- MVP Mac n Cheese with Turkey and Vegetables
- Honey-Lime Ramen Salad
- Avocado Toast with Fried Eggs
Once kids get to be about 12 or 13 years old (especially if you've been training them over the years), they can probably do almost everything in the kitchen with minimal supervision.
Easy Dinner Recipes Kids Can Make
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe is an easy recipe that kids love to help make -- and eat.
Ingredients:
* Macaroni
* Butter
* Evaporated milk
* 3 kinds of cheese
Easy Pepperoni Pizza Muffins
Kids will love helping make dinner with this simple recipe for easy pepperoni pizza muffins!
They take less than five minutes to put together, and are a quick dinner or meal for a busy day on a tight schedule.
Ingredients:
* Muffin tin
* Can of refrigerated Pillsbury biscuits
* Spaghetti sauce
* Grated cheese
* Sliced pepperoni
Homemade Pizza Rolls with Pie Crust
This recipe super fun for kids and picky eaters because you can make all different shapes and sizes.
And all you need are 3 ingredients:
* Pre-made pie crust
* Marinara sauce
* Shredded mozzarella cheese
Chicken Pot Pie with Bisquick Topping
Cindy used this recipe for a 7-10 year old’s home school cooking class.
The kids loved mixing up the filling and then the topping. The moms loved having supper ready to put in the oven when they got home.
Ingredients:
* Cream of potato soup
* Cream of chicken soup
* Mixed vegetables
* Diced chicken or two 12.5 oz cans
* Milk
* Pepper
* Bisquick baking mix
* Egg
Easy Calzones Using Biscuit Dough
Dads Dan and Scott work with their kids a lot in the kitchen, to the point now where the kids are starting to make meals and desserts on their own!
These easy calzones are a great example of what you can do to help your kid get into the kitchen and learn a valuable life skill.
Ingredients:
* Can of buttermilk biscuits
* Pizza sauce
* Shredded mozzarella cheese
* Pepperoni slices
Easy Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes
These potato and salmon fish cakes are a quick and easy dinner idea that the entire family will love.
Not only that, but they're also both inexpensive and very nutritious.
Ingredients:
* Prepared mashed potatoes with salt, butter and milk added
* Cooked or tinned salmon
* Eggs
* Chopped Italian parsley
* Breadcrumbs
* Salt and pepper
* Olive oil
Easy Homemade Italian Pasta Recipe
Using this recipe to make homemade pasta is both simple and delicious. Your kids will have tons of fun making it will you.
Mini Chicken Quesadillas
Mini chicken quesadillas are the perfect recipe to make with toddlers because they’re easy to put together.
In this post, Kate shares her best tips for how to make this cooking activity a success.
This page has 3 recipes:
Just click here and scroll down to see all 3 recipes.
Cookbooks for Kids Who Like to Cook
Here are two of the most popular kids' cookbooks out there.
If you click here or on either image below and then scroll down, you'll get a full sample recipe -- including a color photo -- for:
Easy Dinner Recipes for Kids to Make
Good Housekeeping Kids Cook!: 100+ Super-Easy, Delicious Recipes
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