Toddler Meals Don't Have to Be Boring — You'll Love These 20 Dishes, Too
Finding toddler-friendly meals can prove challenging when they've refused everything but pizza for weeks. You want them to get more variety, but you don't want your well-intentioned cooking efforts to go to waste. Hey, we love pizza as much as the next person, but even that can get old after a while.
Instead of giving in to their demands yet again, why not set out on a modest culinary adventure — one that still includes toddler-friendly favorites like grilled cheese, eggs, and, yes, pizza, but with a foodie flair that'll result in meals you both love. These 20 recipes include meals that you and your toddler can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Sweet Potato Fries
If your toddler is crazy for French fries, mix things up a bit with this sweet potato variety. This recipe calls for chili powder and cayenne, but if that's too much heat, you can replace them with paprika or cinnamon.
Rainbow Roasted Vegetables
Sometimes you just need to present foods in a new way to get your kids to try them, and these Rainbow Roasted Veggies may just do the trick. Together, you can taste all the colors of the rainbow and choose which one is your favorite!
Avocado Breakfast Tacos
Save the cereal for snack time and make these Avocado Breakfast Tacos instead. Smaller-sized tortillas are perfect for little hands and they'll love helping stuff their own tacos.
1-Minute Mug Omelet
If your little one is about to make you late for work again, whip up this 1-Minute Mug Omelet. They'll enjoy watching the eggs magically transform in the microwave and, if you're really in a hurry, you can take the mug with you and eat in the car.
Protein Breakfast Cookies
Next time your toddler asks for cookies for breakfast, watch how surprised they look when you tell them "yes!" These Protein Breakfast Cookies combine peanut butter, banana, oats, and chocolate chips with a secret veggie-filled ingredient (shhh . . . it's zucchini, but we won't tell).
Baked Potato Salad
Salad isn't always at the top of kids' favorite foods list, but this one might just change their mind. This Baked Potato Salad replaces traditional salad ingredients with potatoes, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese. What's not to love?
Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries
If your kid loves fries, why not use their favorite food to introduce them to a new veggie. These Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries replace potatoes with crispy parmesan and panko-breaded zucchini slices for a side dish, proving any vegetable can be a french fry if it works hard enough.
Southwestern Oat Muffins
These muffins may look like a snack, but they are actually a complete and balanced meal. Southwestern Oat Muffins combine cheese, black beans, and broccoli for a savory twist on a toddler-friendly favorite.
Baked Egg in Avocado
Eggs and avocado go together like toddlers and tantrums. This Baked Egg in Avocado can be served any time of day and is the perfect serving size for your hungry kiddo.
Barbecue Chicken Pinwheels
If you're getting bored with sandwiches, these Barbecue Chicken Pinwheels are a fun alternative. Your toddler will love the barbecue chicken, cheese, and zesty ranch for dipping.
Chicken and Rice Soup
When the temperature drops and your toddler has spent all morning playing in the cold, heat up a pot of this Chicken and Rice Soup. This combo of chicken, carrots, and celery will warm them up and give them enough energy to head back out after nap time.
Easy Enchilada Skillet
Your kids will love this cheesy Easy Enchilada Skillet, and you'll love that it comes together in only about 30 minutes. The recipe calls for homemade enchilada sauce, but you can make this recipe even simpler by using store bought.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
We don't know many kids who would turn down spaghetti and meatballs. These tasty meatballs utilize the slow cooker, freeing you up to watch another episode of Paw Patrol with your toddler.
Honey Lime Fruit Salad
The lime in this honey-sweetened fruit salad gives it just enough pucker power to make it more interesting than a plain bowl of chopped fruit. Serve alongside deli turkey and carrot sticks for a no-cook lunch.
Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Every parent should have a killer grilled cheese recipe in their repertoire. This beyond-basic Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich even has a crispy, cheesy crust.
Spiced Rice Pilaf
This Spiced Rice Pilaf is anything but boring. The inclusion of cinnamon, raisins, and apples make a kid-friendly dinner when served with their favorite protein.
Banana Overnight Oats Smoothie
This breakfast smoothie incorporates oats, banana, chia seeds, and soy milk for a protein-packed breakfast you can sip. We'll keep your secret if you tell your kids it's a milkshake.
Chicago Hot Dog Pasta Salad
When you get tired of cooking hot dogs for your toddler again, upgrade to this Chicago Hot Dog Pasta Salad. Just be sure to cut the hot dogs into kid-size pieces to prevent choking hazards.
Homemade Hot Pockets
These Homemade Hot Pockets made a great handheld lunch for kids who refuse to use a fork. You can customize the filling to your liking (or stick to the cheese and pepperoni the recipe calls for) and freeze any extras for a busy day.
Waldorf Salad
This crunchy Waldorf Salad is a great way to introduce tiny taste buds to the idea of salad. With apples, celery, raisins, walnuts, and a just-sweet-enough dressing, you may be fighting over the leftovers.