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Life is busy and dinner time can come fast, leaving parents scrambling for ideas of what to feed kids for dinner. Trying to find dinners that are quick and easy, healthy, and budget-friendly meals, but food that picky kids will eat can feel like an impossible quest. If you’re running out of easy meal ideas and need some 30 minute dinners that kids will love, look no further! I’ve compiled a list of our best kid friendly dinners in under 30 minutes.
Tips and Tricks for Mealtime Success
Before we jump to healthy kid-friendly recipes, here are some tried and true tricks on how to make mealtime smoother for kids. These tips are simple guidelines that can make dinnertime a little easier as you train kids to enjoy food (especially vegetables!).
- Aim for easily customizable dishes: If family members have different tastes, aim for dishes that each person can customize to their liking. For example, you can remove the tomatoes for those who run at the sight of them, or add more rice for the ones who can’t get enough.
- Let your little ones help: This may sound difficult in the rush of getting food ready during a busy day, but try starting on slower days like weekends. You may be surprised at how quickly kids buy-in to the meal when they’ve helped prepare it (or picked out the groceries). Kids love to get involved in the process and are much more likely to eat what they helped prepare.
- Keep it simple: In my experience, the fewer ingredients you use in your meals the less likely you are to find yourself in a dinnertime war. Too many ingredients, flavors, and textures can be overwhelming for kids, so keep things simple.
- When possible, opt for finger (or hand-eaten) foods: Foods like burritos, pizza, and tacos can be easier and more engaging for kids to eat than a steaming bowl of soup that’s hard to keep in the spoon.
- Try to give fast-food favorites a healthy spin: Creating dishes that remind kids of the fun of eating restaurant meals can make food more exciting.
- Introduce one new ingredient at a time: Don’t go crazy on the new healthy foods and throw them all in at once. If you’re keen on your child eating kale, then add it to a few recipes a few times a week and see how it goes. This smoothie is a great option and was designed specifically for kids!
- Try eating with them when possible: I know this is not easy to accomplish every day of our busy lives, but when you can, try sitting at the table with them and talk about your day. Mealtime is a moment to slow down and connect with our loved ones.
We all want our children to eat healthily and enjoy it at the same time, but set reasonable expectations and remember nobody is perfect and we can only do our best. This is why I’m thrilled to share this list of Plant-Based on a Budget Kid-Friendly Dinners in Under 30 minutes.
Try what looks appealing, or let your kids pick a few favorites from the list, and I’m pretty sure you’ll find at least a few you can incorporate into a regular meal plan!
Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinners
Rainbow Salad
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This fun and colorful Rainbow Salad is the perfect example of a customizable recipe, like I suggested above. You can use the ingredients you have and whatever your child loves most. Follow the recipe’s serving suggestions to add in a whole grain and plant-based protein of your choice! Most kids also prefer a creamy dressing like ranch or Caesar, in place of the vinaigrette. The best part? You can meal prep in advance and quickly combine multiple variations throughout the week!
Bean & Rice Burrito
These burritos are a family favorite in my house! Both adults and kids request it several times a week. It has it all! The protein in the beans, the whole grains of the rice, and the healthy fats from the avocado, plus it tastes amazing! Use your choice of wraps and sauces, and if you have picky eaters, help them compile their own burrito to their choosing. Psst, did we tell you these are freezer friendly and quick to reheat?
Sweet and Salty Tofu Bites
Although not a full meal, these Sweet & Salty Tofu Bites can be the star of the show alongside some simple brown rice with veggies. While you prepare these bites, you can have your brown rice cooking in your Instant Pot (or already prepared during meal-prep!) and voila! Add some steamed peas and you have yourself a simple and VERY kid-friendly dinner.
Sweet Potato Burritos
Burritos, again? Absolutely! My kids would be happy with a different burrito for each day of the week. This recipe switches up the ingredients for a fresh but familiar feel. The sweetness of the sweet potato and the softer textures make these burritos a perfect dinner for the little (or not so little!) ones.
Easy Vegan Pizza
Ok, this pizza recipe takes 40 minutes instead of 30, but a lot of that is waiting for the rise or the bake. Plus, who doesn’t love pizza? It’s a perfect recipe to get the kids involved in. They’ll love getting their hands messy in the dough, or even just adding their favorite toppings to their portion of the pizza. It’s also a super fun recipe for the weekend when friends are over!
Perfect Pasta Salad
This Perfect Pasta Salad recipe is the golden ticket of kids’ meals! You can have it prepped in advance and ready to go. You can use seasonal ingredients for great health boosts. Plus, pasta is always a hit. And you don’t have to stress over kids picking out their favorite parts, as continued exposure to foods is the key to expand their palate!
Pumpkin Curry
The bright colors of this curry is enough to draw anyone in! It’s creamy and slightly sweet, to satiate even the smallest stomachs. And don’t be scared of the spices! You can make it very mild to serve to the kids, and then add some kick for the grown-ups. The chunks of tofu and the sweet pumpkin make this curry recipe an excellent choice for kid-friendly meals.
Four Bean Chili (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot!)
Want a kid friendly slow cooker recipe? This warming and hearty chili is another hit with the kids. It has all the goodness of protein and fiber in the beans, and pairs perfectly with some simple white rice. To make it even more child-friendly, I like to add chunks of avocado on top (or mashed is even better!) with a few tortilla chips on the side.
Alphabet Soup
To continue the quick and easy soup theme, who could say no to the fun of alphabet soup? It comes together quickly with pantry staples and has simple savory flavors. The kids might be so distracted by the letters that they eat the veggies they might otherwise pick over! This is also a perfect “family time” meal to engage conversation and learning even at the dinner table.
Broccoli Pasta
I have no qualms with hiding veggies if it gets kids to eat them! This creamy pasta sauce is packed with the secret ingredient of broccoli. Plus, with silken tofu, it has the protein all mixed in. One simple, tasty (and colorful!) dish and kids won’t even realize they’re getting a completely nutritious meal!
Quick SpaghettiO’s
If your kid is a fan of the canned SpaghettiO’s (or it’s a nostalgic throw back for you!), this recipe is ready almost as quickly in 15 minutes! Serve it as is, or make it more filling by using a higher protein pasta. Alternatively, serve alongside some meal-prepped tofu, like crispy tofu strips (below) or sweet and salty tofu.
Crispy Tofu Strips
Have a chicken nugget addict on your hands? Or you missing them yourself? These breaded tofu strips are a winner, all around. Kids love the finger food, they’re great vehicles for fun dipping sauces, and they’re free from food additives! Even better, there’s an option to air-fry or bake, and they can be meal-prepped and reheated!
Crispy Pan Fried Tofu
Don’t want the hassle of breading? These bite-sized pan friend tofu bites are ready in only 15 minutes! They’re a simple but solid protein source to pair with an easy pasta dish, a grain bowl, a light salad, or some roasted veggies. Or make it special with quick air fryer French fries!
Easy Black Bean Meatballs
What’s more fun for kids than meatballs? These black bean meatballs are hearty and filling. They can be served as a finger food with a dipping sauce, alongside raw veggies strips. Or go traditional and serve them atop this classic (but quick!) spaghetti.
Creamy Alfredo with Peas
This creamy alfredo pasta sauce has hidden sources of protein, along with protein-packed peas (many kids’ favorite veggie!). It’s quick and easy and oh-so-satisfying for young and old alike! And it’s filling enough to be a complete meal without an additional protein source!
4 Ingredient Vegan Burgers
Recreate a happy meal, but healthier! These hearty burgers can be served on a bun, or for the lower-carb parent, on a bed of greens or bowl of whole grains. Either way, enjoy them with all the fixings! Some sliced avocado adds yummy healthy fats. And while you’re prepping those, throw some baked sweet potato fries in the oven for a sweet surprise.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
A list of favorite kid foods wouldn’t be complete without tacos! These sweet potato and black bean tacos marry two satisfying staples into a sweet and savory, and absolutely satiating taco. Build them together around the table to allow personalization as well as helping hands.
Tofu Tacos
We shared two burrito recipes, so here’s two taco recipes! These tofu tacos are a great foundation to build in your favorite flavors and toppings. Keep them as mild or spicy as each person prefers, and as simple or as loaded as each kid can handle!
Tofu Spring Rolls
We all eat with our eyes, kids most of all! So it’ll be hard to say no to these delightfully colorful spring rolls. Especially if kids join in the fun process of picking the veggies and wrapping the rolls. This meal is perfect for a hot summer day when you don’t want to use the oven, and are craving something refreshing to eat!
Vegan Tortilla Pizzas
And last but not least, pizza again! But this time even quicker and easier than making dough from scratch. Instead, use the simplicity of packaged tortillas to build personal ‘pan pizzas’. Each kid can have their own and fix it up to their liking! Perfect for building that involvement in cooking and eating. Psst, these are great for using up leftovers as the toppings!
We hope these simple plant-based kid-friendly dinners help you find some mealtime favorites that make cooking for the kids a little less stressful! Rotate these recipes throughout the week and see which ones resonate with your children best. Don’t hesitate to make a few modifications in order to make the recipe quick and easy for you and enjoyable for your family.
If you find one (or a few) recipes that you really love, we’d love to hear in the comments!
