14 Easy Meals Kids Can Make

Cooking with children builds confidence, teaches basic kitchen skills, and can turn mealtime into quality time. Below are 14 simple, safe, and tasty meals that kids can make with a bit of supervision. If you’re looking for options that help hide or spotlight vegetables, check out these recipes kids can make that include veggies for more inspiration.

Tips before you begin

• Always match tasks to the child’s age and skill level: toddlers can wash produce and stir, school-age kids can measure and assemble, and older kids can handle simple stove or oven tasks with supervision.
• Keep kid-sized tools available (small rolling pins, measuring spoons) and a safe workspace.
• Teach simple hygiene: hand-washing, tying back long hair, and safe handling of knives (use a child-safe knife or teach the “bear claw” grip).
• Make cleanup part of the process so kids learn responsibility and kitchen order.

The 14 easy meals

1. Yogurt Parfait

• What to do: Layer yogurt, fruit, and granola in a cup. Let kids pick fruit combinations.
• Skills taught: Layering, portion control.

2. Mini Pita Pizzas

• What to do: Spread sauce on pita, sprinkle cheese and toppings, bake until bubbly (adult handles oven).
• Skills taught: Spreading, simple assembly, choosing toppings.

3. Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups (or sunflower butter)

• What to do: Spread nut or seed butter on a tortilla, place banana, roll and slice.
• Skills taught: Spreading and rolling; safe for younger kids.

4. English Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches

• What to do: Toast muffins, add scrambled eggs, cheese, and ham or veggies. Older kids can make eggs on stovetop with supervision.
• Skills taught: Toasting, assembling, egg cooking basics.

5. Ants on a Log

• What to do: Fill celery sticks with cream cheese or peanut butter, top with raisins.
• Skills taught: Spreading and fine motor skills.

6. Quesadillas

• What to do: Sprinkle cheese and fillings on a tortilla, top with another tortilla, heat briefly in pan with adult supervision, then cut into wedges.
• Skills taught: Measuring, griddling with help, safe cutting.

7. Smoothie Bowls

• What to do: Blend frozen fruit with a bit of milk or yogurt, pour into a bowl and decorate with seeds, nuts, or fruit.
• Skills taught: Blending (adult handles blender), creative plating.

8. No-Bake Energy Bites

• What to do: Mix oats, nut/seed butter, honey, and mix-ins, roll into balls and refrigerate.
• Skills taught: Measuring, mixing, rolling.

9. Veggie Wraps

• What to do: Lay out whole-wheat tortilla, add hummus, shredded carrots, cucumber, and roll tightly.
• Skills taught: Spreading, rolling, choosing balanced fillings.

10. Baked Potato Bar

• What to do: Microwave or bake potatoes (adult handles heat), kids top with cheese, broccoli, chili, or yogurt.
• Skills taught: Topping choices, portioning.

11. Simple Stir-Fry (for older kids)

• What to do: With adult supervision, sauté pre-cut veggies and protein, add a simple sauce, serve with rice.
• Skills taught: Stirring, timing, stovetop safety.

12. Fruit & Cheese Kabobs

• What to do: Thread chunks of fruit and cheese onto skewers (use blunt or short skewers for safety).
• Skills taught: Patterning, fine motor skills.

13. Open-Faced Tuna or Chickpea Salad Sandwich

• What to do: Mash canned chickpeas or mix tuna with mayo/yogurt, spread on bread and add lettuce or tomatoes.
• Skills taught: Mashing, mixing, assembling.

14. Homemade Ramen Upgrade

• What to do: Start with instant ramen; kids can add veggies, an egg (soft-boiled by adult), and proteins to upgrade nutrition.
• Skills taught: Customizing, seasoning.

How to adapt for picky eaters

• Let them choose one new topping to try alongside familiar favorites.
• Give two options for a component (e.g., cheese or avocado) so they feel control.
• Involve kids in grocery shopping or picking a vegetable at the market to increase buy-in.

Make it a learning activity

• Use measuring tools to teach fractions and counting.
• Talk about colors, textures, and where foods come from.
• After cooking, extend the fun with a creative project like these fun and easy crafts for kids that pair well with a kitchen-themed afternoon.

Safety reminders

• Keep a first-aid kit handy and teach what to do if a minor cut occurs.
• Store knives and hot pans out of reach when not in use.
• Teach kids to turn pot handles inward and to use oven mitts.

Conclusion

If you want a ready-made list of kid-friendly dishes with step-by-step instructions, this detailed roundup of 14 easy meals for kids complements the ideas above with photos and printable directions. For more family-friendly recipes that encourage kids to help in the kitchen, see this collection of 40 easy recipes you can cook with your kids, which includes options even picky eaters will enjoy.