15 Easy And Quick Recipes For Kids To Make

Usually, parents cook, and kids eat. But what if kids could cook too?

Cooking is a necessary life skill that every child should learn. And, while cooking may be an adult’s forte, kids can sometimes lend a hand in the kitchen as it is the best way to start learning this life skill!

Of course, children should be allowed to make quick and easy dishes that would not require the use of kitchen equipment such as the grill or stove. So, MomJunction has compiled 15 easy and quick recipes for kids.

Wear your aprons and get started!

Quick And Easy Recipes For Kids To Make

This list has a variety of quick breakfast, meal, and dessert recipes that your child can help you make. We have also included a few easy dishes that the children can make all by themselves.

1. Sloppy Joe sliders

Sloppy Joe sliders are a quick meal or snack option that kids can make if they have the right ingredients to make the filling.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup frozen baby corn
  • ½ cup baby carrots, crinkle-cut
  • 8 potato slider buns
  • ¼ cup dill pickle chips
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage

How to:

  1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet and add the ground beef. Cook for four minutes, stirring in between. Add chili powder and salt, and cook for another two minutes or until the beef is thoroughly cooked.
  2. Drain the excess liquid from the skillet into a cup and add two teaspoons of it to the pan.
  3. Reduce the heat and add ketchup, sugar, vinegar, and half a cup of water, and stir. Keep stirring occasionally as the beef mixture cooks and the sauce thickens.
  4. Stir in the corn and the carrots and cook for five more minutes, or until the vegetables have become tender.
  5. Cut the slider buns in two and scoop a teaspoon full of this mix between two buns, top it with the shredded cabbage, and pickles and serve.

Your kids can help you prepare the buns and sprinkle the toppings before serving! Teens can be taught to make the sauce from the beginning.

Time: 30min
Servings: 8

[ Read: Easy Sandwich Recipes For Kids ]

2. Crunchy breakfast tacos

When you are getting late and need help making breakfast, try this recipe. Or you could teach your child to make it for you!

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 8 hard corn taco shells
  • 6 eggs
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp taco seasoning
  • ½ cup salsa
  • ½ cup quartered grape tomatoes
  • 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • Sliced olives for topping

How to:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a bowl, beat the eggs, add the taco seasoning, and whisk them using a fork.
  3. Heat a medium-sized pan and add butter. Once it starts bubbling, add the eggs and cook on low flame, while stirring in between, until the eggs are scrambled.
  4. Line the center of the tacos with two teaspoons of scrambled eggs.
  5. Top it with cheese, chopped scallions, a teaspoon of salsa, and shredded lettuce.
  6. Garnish with chopped tomatoes, olives, and serve.

If you have all the ingredients (except the scrambled eggs) ready, your child can make this as a snack when you are not around.

Time: 25min
Servings: 8 tacos

3. Greek pasta salad

A salad is not a child’s favorite food. But it is one of the easy food preparations that a child can manage. Here is a salad recipe your kids can make, and maybe eat too!

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 1 ½ cups crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 English cucumber, diced
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp finely chopped garlic
  • 1/3 cup pitted black olive, halved
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp chopped oregano

How to:

  1. Cook the pasta in mildly salted water, until they are soft but firm.
  2. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, olives, olive oil, and vinegar.
  3. Drain the pasta water and reserve half a cup of it. Add the hot pasta to the bowl of veggies and toss. You can add water to loosen the consistency as desired.
  4. Stir in the black pepper and oregano, and serve.

Time: 20min
Servings: 4

[ Read: Easy Egg Recipes For Kids ]

4. Tater tot grilled cheese

This is a quick side dish you can make with just three ingredients.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 12 frozen tater tots
  • ½ cup cheddar, shredded
  • Cooking spray

How to:

  1. Defrost the tater tots and set them aside.
  2. Heat a nonstick pan on medium flame. Grease it with the cooking spray.
  3. On one side of the pan, arrange the tater tots in a rectangle. Make another one on the other side as well.
  4. Use a spatula to press the tater tots on the pan and let them cook for three minutes. Use the spatula to press them close, so that they hold together.
  5. Once they turn a little crisp, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Let it cook till the cheese melts.
  6. Use the spatula to flip one of tater tot squares on top of the other, like a sandwich, such that the cheese is in the center.
  7. Cook using the spatula until both sides turn a little crisp.

Serve hot.

Time: 15min
Servings: 1

5. Baked tofu tenders

Crispy on the outside and tender inside, these tofu treats are rich in calcium and taste yummy too.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 2 oz block of extra firm tofu
  • 2/3 cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup apricot preserves
  • 1 tsp grated garlic
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • ½ to 1 tsp Asian chili sauce
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

How to:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with some cooking spray.
  2. Take the tofu from the pack and drain the excess water. Cut the tofu block in half and then cut the halves into two. Cut the four portions of tofu into two again, so that you have eight equal-sized pieces of tofu. Similarly cut the other block.
  3. Place the tofu pieces on a cloth and blot dry them gently, so that they don’t crumble. Sprinkle one teaspoon salt evenly over the tofu.
  4. Crack the eggs in a bowl, add a teaspoon of salt and some pepper, and whisk it. In a shallow bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper grounds.
  5.  Put the cornstarch on a plate and line it up along with the breadcrumbs, egg mix, and tofu.
  6. Take a piece of tofu and coat it with the cornstarch, removing any excess flour, and then dip it in the egg mixture. Then coat it with the breadcrumb mixture and transfer it to the baking sheet. Repeat the step for the remaining block of tofu.
  7. Grease the tofu with cooking spray and bake for 30 to 35 minutes,
  8. In the meantime, heat the vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet. Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry them until they turn light brown.
  9. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the apricot preserves, chili sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil, and heat for one minute. Season it with half a spoon of salt and transfer it to a bowl before serving.

Time: 1h 5min
Servings: 4

[ Read: Noodle Recipes For Kids ]

6. Oatmeal cookie smoothie

Using a blender is easier when compared to using a stove or an oven. This recipe is easy and can be made by kids without a lot of effort.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • ¾ cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • ¼ tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup full-fat vanilla yogurt

How to:

  1. In a bowl or a tumbler, add the oats, milk, raisins, and pumpkin spice and set aside for 15 minutes.
  2. Blend the milk and oats mix until they turn smooth. Add the yogurt and sugar and blend again for 30 seconds.

Pour into a glass or two and serve.

Time: 5min
Servings: 2

7. Chocolate banana penguin

Bananas are perhaps one of the healthiest fruits you can give to your child. But it is also just a banana, which makes it boring! This recipe makes even bananas appealing.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • Bananas
  • ½ cup chocolate sauce
  • Dried apricots or carrots
  • white chocolate chips or vegan marshmallows

How to:

  1. Peel the bananas and cut them in half, width-wise. Place them on a parchment paper.
  2. Put the chocolate sauce in a bowl and dip one end of the bananas in the chocolate sauce. Freeze it to set the coating to make the penguin heads.
  3. Meanwhile, cut the apricots in the shape of penguin’s beak and feet.
  4. Use the melted chocolate sauce as glue to join the feet and beak to the banana. Cut the marshmallows and glue them to the banana using the chocolate sauce.
  5. Freeze the bananas to set and let them stay in until they are ready to be served!

You can also make banana bears, badgers, and bunnies using peanut butter and whipped cream!

Time: 5min
Servings: Depends on the number of bananas

[ Read: Chocolate Recipes For Kids ]

8. Bread in a bag

Baking can be a fun activity for kids. And when you teach them to bake, you prepare them to lead a self-sufficient life as adults! This is a simple bread recipe that kids can try.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 3 cups plain flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 quarter-pack active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin oil
  • 2 tsp salt
  • Cooking spray for the loaf pans

How to:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease the mini loaf pans with the cooking spray.
  2. Add one cup flour, yeast, warm water, and sugar in a resealable bag. Seal the bag and squish it with both your hands to mix the ingredients inside. Let it rest for ten minutes, to let the yeast activate.
  3. Add a cup of oil, salt, and one more cup of flour to the bag and seal it. Squish it again until it is well combined.
  4. Take the mix out of the bag and knead it with your hands until it is smooth. Divide the dough into two halves and place them in the loaf pans.
  5. Brush the top of the dough with olive oil and bake for 30 minutes.

Time: 1h 20min
Servings: 2 mini loaves

[ Read: Bread Recipes For Kids ]

9. Mini pepper pizzas

Pizza on dough made of plain flour is the norm and unhealthy. But pizza on peppers is different and healthy.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 4 bell peppers (red, yellow or green), halved and cored
  • ½ cup pizza sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • 1/3 cup pepperoni (mini)
  • 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Place the peppers on the baking tray and drizzle olive oil on them. Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper for seasoning.
  3. Add one spoon of seasoning in each of the peppers and top it with the cheeses.
  4. Put the mini pepperoni on the cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the peppers become crisp and the cheese melts.
  5. Garnish with parsley and serve!

Time: 30min
Servings: 4

10. Salad in a jar

This is a fun recipe that you can modify to suit your child’s tastes. You can change the list of veggies and meats used in this salad to suit your child’s tastes. Best, ask your kid to choose what goes into their salad jar. But make sure it is edible in the end!

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • Salad dressing of your choice
  • Vegetables and fruits such as peas, carrots, broccoli, avocados, corn, tomatoes, and strawberries as well. You can also add pomegranate if you like.
  • Chickpeas, or ham if you eat meat
  • Greens such as iceberg lettuce or kale
  • Mason jar

How to:

  1. If you are using ham, chop it into small pieces. You can ask your child to cut slices of ham using a pair of scissors.
  2. Chop the vegetables and fruits (peel skin if needed) and arrange them on a platter. Cut the avocados just before you put them in the jar.
  3. Start by adding the dressing at the bottom of the jar, so that the other ingredients do not get soggy. Then start layering it by adding the chopped vegetables and fruits to the jar.
  4. Add the harder vegetables such as carrots first and then the slightly harder ones such as chickpeas, peas, corn, avocados, strawberries, or pomegranate and then the greens such as the lettuce and broccoli.

You can also add some crisps to make the salad appealing to the kids. You can refrigerate the salad and eat it later or immediately. Before serving, ask the child to shake the jar to mix the ingredients. Invert the jar into a bowl mix again and enjoy the salad.

Time: 30min
Servings: 1

[ Read: Potato Recipes For Kids ]

11. Toaster pita pockets

These take less than 10 minutes of your time. So the next time your child wants a quick snack, this recipe will be useful.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 1 mini pita bread
  • 1 tbsp soft cheese
  • 1 tbsp cheddar, grated
  • Fillings of your choice – chickpeas(ham), sweetcorn, tomatoes, roasted peppers, etc

How to:

  1. Put the pita in the toaster for 30 seconds, so that it is puffed. You do not want it crisp.
  2. Mix the soft cheese and the cheddar cheese in a bowl.
  3. Cut open one end of the pita and spread the cheese mix inside it, using a bread knife or a teaspoon.
  4. Fill the pita with your choice of fillings. Push the filling to the end of the pita and ensure it sits evenly along the length of the bread.
  5. Squish the pita gently to close it and put it back in the toaster, cut side up, for about one or two minutes, or until it turns crisp.

Time: 5min
Servings: 1

12. Creamy linguine with ham, lemon, and basil

Pasta is one of the simplest and quickest meals you can whip up for dinner or lunch.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 400g linguine
  • 1 pack thinly sliced prosciutto ham
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp crème Fraiche
  • Juice of one lemon
  • Handful of basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan

How to:

  1. Cook the linguine pasta as per the instructions on the pack. Drain the water, reserving a little for later, and set the pasta aside.
  2. Tear the ham into small pieces. Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet and fry the ham until they turn crisp.
  3. Put the pasta in the pan and mix it with the ham.
  4. Meanwhile, mix the lemon juice, egg yolks, and crème Fraiche, and add it to the pan. Stir in the basil and parmesan and mix them all, using tongs or a pair of forks.
  5. You can add a little water to make the sauce creamy. Cook until the ingredients are mixed well.

Garnish with extra parmesan, and serve hot.

Time: 25min
Servings: 6

[ Read: Dinner Recipes For Kids ]

13. Baked dippy eggs

This is a dish that kids can make with a little help from the adults.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 piece of ham, large
  • 8 spinach leaves, small
  • 8 cherry tomatoes
  • 1 small cube of cheese
  • 4 slices of bread, toasted and cut into triangles

How to:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Take 4 ramekin bowls and ask the child to cut small strips of ham and spinach, using a pair of scissors. Put the spinach and the ham in the ramekins.
  3. Let the child squish the cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Then put one spoon each of the tomato juice in the ramekins.
  4. Break an egg into a bowl, take out any shells, and tip it into the ramekin bowl. Do the same with the remaining four eggs.
  5. Grate the cheese and sprinkle it on top of the egg.
  6. Bake for 15-18 minutes and serve hot.

Time: 20min
Servings: 4

14. Simple Nutella brownies

Can kids make brownies? If the recipe is this simple, yes!

Image: IStock

You will need:

  • 1 ¼ cup Nutella
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup plain flour

How to:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×9 inch baking pan with cooking grease.
  2. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
  3. Pour the mix into the baking pan and bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
  4. Brownies should not be baked for too long, or they end up dry.

Time: 25-30min
Servings: 8-10 small brownies

[ Read: Easy Baking Recipes For Kids ]

15. Mac ‘n’ cheese

Mac ‘n’ cheese a dish that most kids like. So why not teach them how to make their favorite dish when you are not around?

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

  • 6 oz elbow macaroni
  • 6 oz evaporated milk
  • 6 oz grated cheddar cheese, mild or medium
  • Salt

How to:

  1. Boil the macaroni in a large pan, add a little bit of salt. Keep stirring while the macaroni boils. Cook it until the water is completely evaporated.
  2. Immediately add the evaporated milk and let it come to a boil and add cheese.
  3. Bring it to low heat and continue to cook the macaroni while stirring it continuously, until the cheese and milk make a creamy sauce.

Let it sit for two more minutes on the stove and serve hot.

Time: 8min
Servings: 2

In addition to these 15 amazingly simple recipes, you can also teach your kids other family recipes that you think they can make. But make sure that the kids are safe in the kitchen and keep them away from harm’s way. Also, if you think the child is not ready to handle a recipe all by themselves, be there to supervise and help. Trust us, it is fun to cook when the kids help!

Have any more easy cooking recipes for kids? Share them here in our comments section below.

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