10 Simple Family Meals Your Kids Will Love to Help Make
Cooking together as a family not only brings everyone closer but also helps kids develop confidence and a sense of responsibility. Plus, getting them involved in meal preparation makes them more likely to try new foods! Here are ten delicious and easy-to-make family meals that your kids will love to help prepare—and everyone will enjoy eating.
1. Cheesy Baked Ziti
Why Kids Will Love It: This hearty pasta dish is cheesy, comforting, and super satisfying. Kids can help by mixing the pasta with sauce, layering the cheese, and sprinkling on the final layer before it goes into the oven.
How They Can Help: Let your children stir the pasta with marinara sauce, spoon ricotta cheese into the baking dish, and sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top. Older kids can help grate the cheese or chop vegetables to add some extra nutrients.
2. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Why Kids Will Love It: Fajitas are colorful, flavorful, and fun to assemble. This one-pan meal is easy to prepare, and kids will enjoy seeing all the vibrant vegetables and juicy chicken come together.
How They Can Help: Kids can help by slicing the bell peppers and onions (with supervision), tossing everything in olive oil and spices, and spreading the ingredients on the sheet pan. Once the fajitas are cooked, they can assemble their own tortillas with their favorite toppings.
3. Homemade Mac and Cheese
Why Kids Will Love It: Mac and cheese is a classic family favorite that’s creamy, cheesy, and oh-so-delicious. Making it from scratch is easier than you think, and kids will love the hands-on process.
How They Can Help: Have the kids stir the cheese sauce as it thickens on the stove, pour the sauce over the cooked pasta, and mix everything together. They can also sprinkle breadcrumbs on top if you’re baking it for a crispy finish.
4. Taco Salad Bowls
Why Kids Will Love It: Taco salad bowls are a fun twist on traditional tacos. They’re customizable, colorful, and packed with flavor, making them a hit with kids and adults alike.
How They Can Help: Let the kids chop veggies, shred cheese, and arrange the salad ingredients in individual bowls. They can also help by spooning in seasoned ground beef or beans and topping the bowls with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa.
5. Chicken Parmesan
Why Kids Will Love It: This Italian-American classic is crispy, cheesy, and smothered in marinara sauce—what’s not to love? Kids will enjoy the process of breading the chicken and watching it transform into a delicious, golden-brown dish.
How They Can Help: Have the kids dip the chicken breasts in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. Older kids can help fry the chicken in a skillet, then layer it with marinara sauce and mozzarella before baking.
6. Stuffed Peppers
Why Kids Will Love It: Stuffed peppers are a nutritious and colorful meal that kids will enjoy helping to create. The filling can be customized with their favorite ingredients, making it a versatile dish.
How They Can Help: Kids can mix the filling ingredients (rice, ground meat, vegetables, and cheese), stuff the peppers, and sprinkle more cheese on top before baking. They’ll love seeing the peppers come out of the oven, golden and bubbly.
7. BBQ Chicken Sliders
Why Kids Will Love It: These mini sandwiches are perfect for little hands and packed with smoky, tangy BBQ flavor. They’re great for a casual family dinner or a fun weekend meal.
How They Can Help: Let your kids help by shredding the cooked chicken, mixing it with BBQ sauce, and assembling the sliders with cheese and pickles. They can brush the tops of the buns with butter before you bake them.
8. Vegetable Stir-Fry with Rice
Why Kids Will Love It: Stir-fry is quick, colorful, and a great way to sneak in some extra veggies. Kids will love the vibrant colors and the chance to create their own flavorful sauce.
How They Can Help: Kids can help by chopping vegetables, mixing the stir-fry sauce, and tossing everything together in the pan. Let them stir the ingredients as they cook and watch the colors intensify.
9. Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Why Kids Will Love It: Quesadillas are cheesy, crispy, and endlessly customizable. They’re also super easy to make, which means kids can take the lead on this one.
How They Can Help: Let the kids assemble the quesadillas by layering cheese, cooked chicken, and other toppings between tortillas. They can brush the tops with a bit of oil before they go into the oven to bake.
10. Mini Meatloaves
Why Kids Will Love It: These individual-sized meatloaves are fun to make and even more fun to eat. They’re a twist on the traditional meatloaf, perfect for little hands.
How They Can Help: Kids can mix the meatloaf ingredients (ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings) and shape them into mini loaves. They can also brush on the ketchup glaze before baking.
Cooking as a family is a great way to spend quality time together while teaching kids important life skills. These ten meals are not only easy to make but also fun for kids to help prepare. So, gather your little chefs, pick a recipe, and enjoy a delicious meal that everyone can be proud of!