Make memories in the kitchen by cooking with your kids! Here’s over 10 easy dinner recipes that kids can help make.
I love having my kids in the kitchen with me. I’ve never been one to force them to help, but I do ask if they’d be willing to help from time to time and they are usually happy to lend a hand. Sometimes they show an interest in cooking with me all on their own…and when that happens, I’m beyond thrilled.
For me, as I’m sure it is for many of you, it’s not really about having them to lighten the load. Having the kids cooking with me is much more about the company, the conversation, and just being together. I think of my own memories of helping my mom and dad in the kitchen. I didn’t do it a lot, but one of my favorite memories is when I was helping my mom make her special spaghetti sauce (which truly was the best). She told me that someday I would find our her “secret” ingredient. I tried to get her to tell me that day, but she said I had to wait until I was older. I actually happily accepted that I wasn’t going to find out that day, because I felt special knowing that someday my mom would share that special ingredient with me.
I hope that my kids have their own special memories with me. I also encourage you to provide those opportunities to your children. I know that sometimes it might seem like a hassle. And, I’ll be honest, it probably is easier to just do it yourself. But I promise you, bringing your kids into the kitchen to cook with you can be one of the most rewarding experiences as a parent.
While not every recipe out there has kid-friendly steps in them, most of the typical things we eat in our house have stuff that kids can do. Of course, what’s easy for one child, may not be the best for another child, but use your best judgement. I’ll bet you probably have dinners that you make regularly that have kid-friendly steps in them. But if you need some inspiration, I’ve put together a list of 10 easy, kid-friendly dinners that kids can help make.
Note: As a reminder, use your best judgement on what steps your child can handle. While I list below the steps that a child can do, not every child is the same. Also, I recommend parental supervision on these recipes.
BBQ Chicken Mini Pita Pizzas (eliminate jalapeno garnish)
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- lay pita breads on baking sheet
- shred cheese
- shred chicken
- mix chicken with barbecue sauce
- spoon mixture onto mini pita breads
- sprinkle cheese on chicken mixture
Beef and Potato Tacos
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- cook ground beef and potatoes (older kids)
- shred cheese
- tear lettuce
- mix homemade taco seasoning
Zesty Grilled Wings
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- pour dressing over chicken
- stir chicken and dressing together
Frito Olé
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- cook ground beef and potatoes (older kids)
- pour in tomato puree and salsa and stir together
- shred cheese
- tear lettuce
Oven-Baked Meatball Sandwiches
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- Place meatball in the pot
- Pour pasta sauce over meatballs
- Shred cheese
- Sprinkle tops of meatballs/sauce with shredded cheese
Calico Beans
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- rinse and drain beans
- add beans to meat and bacon
- stir beans with meat/bacon
- measure brown sugar and add to mixture
- measure and add ketchup to mixture
- shred cheese
Peanut Butter and Jelly Quesadillas
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- Spread peanut butter on tortilla
Veggie Chili
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- chop vegetables
- drain and rinse beans
- mix together vegetables and beans
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- mix together mayo and parmesan cheese
- spoon mixture on top of chicken
- sprinkle breadcrumbs on chicken
Chicken Parmesan Sliders
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- mix chicken with seasonings
DIY Almond Butter Pizzas
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- slice fruit and/or veggies
- spread almond butter on pita
- top pizza with toppings
Hawaiian Pizza Grilled Cheese
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- Spread butter on bread
While this next one isn’t a dinner, I thought it would be good to have at least one dessert that’s perfect for kids to help make.
Yogurt Cake
POSSIBLE STEPS KIDS CAN DO:
- measure ingredients
- mix ingredients
- spoon batter into pan
Thank you to Horizon Organic for sponsoring this post on Easy Dinner Recipes Kids Can Help Make. Be sure to follow Horizon Organic for coupons and ideas for family fun:
This conversation is sponsored by Horizon Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.