Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband

  • Cold Appetizers
  • Hot Appetizers
  • Kids’ Favorites
  • Mini Desserts
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cold Appetizers
  • Hot Appetizers
  • Kids’ Favorites
  • Mini Desserts
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Cold Appetizers
  • Hot Appetizers
  • Kids’ Favorites
  • Mini Desserts
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
×
Home » Kids’ Favorites

8 Easy Dinner Recipes Kids Can Make

Published: Apr 1, 2020 · Modified: Dec 26, 2024 by Tina · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Print

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

     

    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

    1

    Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

    Photo Credit: easybudgetrecipes.com

    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

    2

    Easy Pepperoni Pizza Muffins

    Photo Credit: savingtalents.com

    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

    3

    Homemade Pizza Rolls with Pie Crust

    Photo Credit: talesofatiredmom.com

    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

    4

    Chicken Pot Pie with Bisquick Topping

    Photo Credit: lovinghomeschool.com

    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

    5

    Easy Calzones Using Biscuit Dough

    Photo Credit: www.plattertalk.com

    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

    6

    Easy Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes

    Photo Credit: www.christinascucina.com

    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

    7

    Easy Homemade Italian Pasta Recipe

    Photo Credit: swirlsofflavor.com

    Using this recipe to make homemade pasta is both simple and delicious. Your kids will have tons of fun making it will you.

    8

    Mini Chicken Quesadillas

    Photo Credit: www.babaganosh.org

    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.

     

    Want more easy recipes kids can cook?
    This page has 3 recipes:

    • 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

    Just click here and scroll down to see all 3 recipes.

     

    Cookbooks for Kids Who Like to Cook

    If your kids really enjoy making dinner, they'll love owning their own cookbook.

    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:

    • Honey-Lime Ramen Salad
    • Avocado Toast with Fried Eggs

    Easy Dinner Recipes for Kids to MakeEasy Dinner Recipes for Kids to MakeEasy Dinner Recipes for Kids to MakeGood Housekeeping Kids Cook!: 100+ Super-Easy, Delicious RecipesGood Housekeeping Kids Cook!: 100+ Super-Easy, Delicious RecipesGood Housekeeping Kids Cook!: 100+ Super-Easy, Delicious Recipes

     

     

    You might also like:

    • 15 Easy Recipes to Make Using Leftover Spaghetti
    • 43 Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Spaghetti

     

    Easy Meals kids can cook

    Easy meals kids can cook

More Kids’ Favorites

  • Popsicles served over ice, surrounded by fresh strawberries and sliced lemons.
    Homemade Strawberry Lemon Popsicles
  • Pineapple coconut lime popsicles served over ice with lime slices and pineapple chunks.
    Easy Pineapple Coconut Lime Popsicles – No Artificial Ingredients!
  • Popsicles served on a plate with sliced mango and lime on the side.
    Mango Coconut Lime Popsicles
  • Golden-brown Cap’n Crunch French Toast on a plate, topped with fresh berries.
    Easy French Toast with Cap'n Crunch Cereal

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A girl sitting on the rocks besides the sea.

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Tina, creator of Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband. As a busy mom, I share trusted family recipes, kids’ activities, and Disney World tips to make life easier and more fun for families like yours.

More about me

Popular

  • A plate of Tuna Tartare with layers of avocado and tuna, topped with sesame seeds and scallions, served with cucumber slices.
    No-Cook Tuna Tartare Appetizer

  • A round cheeseball coated with chopped pecans, bacon bits, and scallions, placed on a plate and surrounded by crackers.
    Pecan Bacon Cheeseball

  • Three tortellini skewers on a plate, each with an olive, cheese cube, folded pepperoni, green tortellini, all neatly arranged.
    Tortellini Skewers with Pepperoni and Olives

  • A collage featuring a variety of skewer recipes.
    25 Easy Skewer Recipes That Make Great Party Appetizers

Seasonal

Spring

  • Spring rolls served on a plate with a dipping sauce on the side.
    Chicken and Vegetable Spring Rolls

  • Colorful rainbow veggie rice paper rolls on a plate with hoisin sauce and chopsticks on the side.
    Rainbow Veggie Rice Paper Rolls – No Cooking Required!

  • A collage of four different spring appetizers.
    20+ Fresh and Easy Spring Appetizers for Your Party

  • Simple queso dip in a baking dish, creamy and melted, with a spatula ready to serve it.
    Simple Loaded Queso Dip

Footer

↑ back to top

Legal

  • Privacy Policy

Contact

  • Contact

Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Copyright © 2025 Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband