These 32 vegetable recipes for kids have become my go-to for getting so many veggies into my family’s diet. Easy, kid-friendly and so delicious!
Helping kids and families eat more vegetables in a way that is both positive, healthy and easy has become my life’s mission. I’ve crafted so many veggie-loaded recipes with that very goal in mind
Important to remember when introducing children to vegetables
There is no magic trick for getting kids to eat (and like) vegetables right off the bat. It is well documented that it can take kids 20+ times of seeing a vegetable (on their plate, through play, while cooking with adults, gardening and so on) to become comfortable enough with it to actually try it.
When introducing a child to a vegetable, some things you can do to help speed up the process of a child being interested in trying it is:
- role modeling enjoyment. Make sure you are eating it along side your child and saying positive things about your experience.
- offering new veggies in small portions to prevent overwhelm. A huge pile of a new, possibly intimidating food on a child’s plate can make them feel as though there is an expectation to eat all of it. Start with one small piece and positive, encouraging words to help the child feel curious instead of overwhelmed.
- skip the pressure. Simply having a vegetable on his/her plate is valuable to a child eventually warming up to it. Avoid punishment for not wanting to try the new vegetable. That usually results in a child seeing vegetables as “the enemy” and eating them out of compliance/fear rather than embracing a new healthy food.
- offer vegetables regularly. Try offering one at every meal (yes, even breakfast) for vegetables to become a normal thing for your child to see on his/her plate.
- offer vegetables in a variety of ways. If you have offered broccoli roasted and your child doesn’t like it, try serving it in a creative way (like broccoli tots) a few times before offering it roasted again. Helping your child find the way he/she likes a vegetable best is key to getting them to enjoy them and skipping dinnertime battles.
- serve new vegetables next to familiar foods your child already enjoys. Maybe add a little cheese sauce to the broccoli or serve sweet potatoes next to yummy apples. Seeing comforting, beloved foods next to new foods can help a child feel more open to trying something different. I mean, don’t we all enjoy the comfort of a friend in a new situation?
Breakfast vegetable recipes for kids
Veggie-Loaded Chocolate Pancakes
Make these naturally gluten free pancakes with your child to help them see that adding vegetables to a breakfast favorite can result in a delicious treat!
Banana Carrot Bread
This healthy banana bread is not only incredibly delicious and easy to make, but is loaded with veggies!
Sweet Potato Apple Muffins
These sweet potato muffins are not only delicious and packed with good-for-you ingredients, but they have the sweetness of apple!
Apple Carrot Pancakes
Mixed entirely in your blender, these pancakes add some delicious and kid-friendly vegetables to breakfast.
Green Smoothie Muffins
My #1 most popular, kid-approved veggie-loaded recipe. These muffins are great for breakfast or to grab for a quick snack.
Superhero Waffles
With all the good-for-you ingredients in these waffles are going to make your kid feel like a superhero all day long.
Dinner vegetable recipes for kids
Kid-Friendly Vegetable Sauce
Make this in about 30 minutes and freeze some for later meals. This super kid-approved sauce is delicious, easy and has 7 different vegetable in it
Veggie-Loaded Chicken Bites
The ultimate vegetable recipe for kids. These healthy chicken nuggets have 4 different vegetables in them and are super easy to make!
Slow Cooker Creamy Vegetable Chicken Stew
This delicious stew is perfect for busy families. Full of kid-friendly vegetables, it is easy to make for dinner on the most hectic of days. Serve the soup deconstructed for children who might find the bowl of soup overwhelming so that he/she can try the broth, meat and different vegetables individually and/or pass on what they are not quite ready for.
Sweet Potato Apple Sausage Skillet
Another great meal for busy nights, this one-skillet dish can also be easily deconstructed. A little sweet and a little savory.
Healthy Ranch Spinach Turkey Meatballs
These healthy turkey meatballs are easy, veggie-loaded and full of that beloved ranch flavor! Loaded with protein and quick to make, they are the perfect weeknight dinner.
Plant based protein blended up with delicious butternut squash into a tasty soup that you can easily make. Serve it it with some fun crackers for dipping, with a little shredded cheese to sweeten the deal or with a side of your child’s favorite fruit.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup (+ slow cooker instructions)
This soup is hearty, delicious and like a hug in a bowl. It is also easy to make and leaves you feeling so satisfied and good from the inside out.
Healthy Taco Stuffed Peppers
Bell peppers are one of the most kid-friendly veggies out there. Naturally sweet, these poppers offer up an extra veggie bag with easy, veggie-packed taco filling!
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole
Add a healthy, veggie-loaded twist to family pizza night!
Add these to your family’s next pasta night!
Side vegetable recipes for kids
Broccoli Tots
A fun, veggie-loaded twist on the tator tots so many children love. These tots combine broccoli and cheese (a heavenly combination) and are a fun finger food that might be the magic trick to helping your child love broccoli.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
This veggie is one that is often a no-go for kiddos due to its bitter taste. However roasting Brussels sprouts cuts that bitterness and gives them a wonderful flavor and texture that many children find amazing!
Mashed Instant Pot Potatoes with Cauliflower
Creamy, delicious and so easy!
Sweet Potato Tots
Another tot recipe that is healthy, delicious, kid-approved and veggie-packed.
Roasted Cauliflower
Roasting is our family’s favorite way to prepare veggies! This recipe works well with broccoli too!
Turmeric Roasted Carrots
Such great flavor and roasting brings out the carrots’ natural sweetness.
Snack vegetable recipes for kids
Beet Hummus
So beautiful to look at and perfect for dipping carrot sticks in or spreading on your kiddo’s favorite cracker.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Carrot Balls
Super helpful to have on hand for when the hangries hit!
Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie
Delicious this easy and delicious smoothie is made with strawberry, banana, red bell pepper
Veggie-Loaded Applesauce
A classic childhood favorite but with a veggie-loaded twist
Homemade Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather
Who remembers Fruit-by-the-foot from when we were kids? Well, this is a homemade, veggie-loaded version that is going to knock your kiddo’s socks off.
Dessert vegetable recipes for kids
Wait, vegetables IN DESSERT?
Yep, that is what I said. And adding vegetables to a fun sweet treat can not only get extra veggies into your little ones, but also take the scary out of eating vegetables at other meals too!
Fudgy Chocolate Zucchini Cookies
Naturally gluten free and dairy-free, these cookies taste like a brownie in cookie form and are wildly kid-approved.
Healthy Hot Chocolate (with veggies)
This healthy hot chocolate is a delicious, easy and homemade alternative to the commercially prepared mixes so many of us grew up on. Veggie-loaded with a littlespinachfor a little extra goodness, but no, you can’t taste it.Made withjust a handful of ingredientsand takes just and takes just5 minutes to make
Chocolate Sweet Potato Cookies
Fun and delicious enough for dessert, these cookies are also a fun snack you can feel good about your kids eating.
Healthy Gluten Free Brownies (with zucchini)
These brownies are so fudgy, chocolatey and delicious that no one will ever suspect that they’re healthy! Vegan and flourless with Paleo option!
Flourless Peanut Butter Carrot Zucchini Cookies
These healthy flourless peanut butter carrot zucchini cookies are soft, perfectly sweet and so easy to make! Made with only 7 ingredient and in one bowl.
