49 Kid-Friendly Meals (That Aren’t Chicken Nuggets)

Read Time: 21 mins

49 Kid-Friendly Meals (That Aren’t Chicken Nuggets)2/49 Muffin-Tin Lasagnas 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 1 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a super fun way to serve lasagna. —Sally Kilkenny, Granger, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 2 mini lasagnas: 414 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 970mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein. 3/49 Skillet Mac & Cheese 96 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This creamy mac and cheese

is so simple it’s almost too easy!

is so simple it’s almost too easy! Kids always go for the rich cheese flavor, but I’ve never met an adult who didn’t love it just as much. —Ann Bowers, Rockport, Texas. Here are our kid-friendly dinner ideas that will please little ones and parents alike. Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 600 calories, 37g fat (23g saturated fat), 144mg cholesterol, 1185mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. 4/49 Chili Dog Pizza 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My girls love it when I make this

mash-up pizza with hot dogs and chili

mash-up pizza with hot dogs and chili. It’s a marvelous way to use up leftover chili. —Jennifer Stowell, Smithville, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 404 calories, 25g fat (11g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 1113mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein. 5/49 Meatball Stroganoff 26 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Meatball Stroganoff Recipe photo by Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe has fed not only my own family, but many neighborhood kids! They come running when I make this supper. It’s one of

It’s easy to turn sloppy joes into hearty hot pocket snacks

those things you throw together after work on a busy day because you know it works. —Julie May, Hattiesburg, Mississippi Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 717 calories, 57g fat (30g saturated fat), 172mg cholesterol, 1291mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein. 6/49 Meaty Sloppy Joe Pockets 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Meaty Sloppy Joe Pockets Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: It’s easy to turn sloppy joes into hearty hot pocket snacks. I make the filling ahead and use refrigerated biscuits. I

time them so they’re done baking just before kickoff

time them so they’re done baking just before kickoff. —Shelly Flye, Albion, Maine Nutrition Facts: 1 pocket (calculated without cheese): 294 calories, 11 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 35 mg cholesterol, 909 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate (9 g sugars, 1 g fiber), 15 g protein. 7/49 Waffle-Iron Pizzas 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These little pizza pockets put together using the waffle maker are a fun mashup. Try your favorite toppings or even breakfast fillings like ham and

Pile on the extra cheese, relish and even bacon

eggs. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota Nutrition Facts: 1 pizza (calculated without sauce): 461 calories, 21g fat (8g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 1650mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 19g protein. 8/49 Mini Mac & Cheese Dogs 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mini Mac & Cheese Dogs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We wanted to get creative with hot dogs, so we made a mac-and-cheesy one. Pile on the extra cheese, relish and even bacon. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 1 appetizer:

10/49 Over-the-Top Baked Ziti 2 Reviews

198 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 446mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein. 9/49 The Elvis Sandwich Test Kitchen Approved The Elvis Sandwich Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 5 min Servings 1 serving Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Like the King himself sang, you’ll be “all shook up” when you taste this savory-sweet sandwich. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 open-faced sandwich: 266 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 356mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 3g fiber), 10g protein. 10/49 Over-the-Top Baked Ziti 2 Reviews

The revised recipe was a success with my family

Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 40 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I adapted a ziti recipe to remove ingredients my kids did not like, such as ground beef, garlic and onions. The revised recipe was a success with my family. It’s so versatile: You can use jarred sauce, double or triple the recipe, and even freeze it. —Kimberley Pitman, Smyrna, Delaware Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 499 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 826mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein. 11/49 Pizza on a Stick

4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 5 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My daughter and her friends had fun turning sausage, pepperoni, veggies and pizza dough into these cute kabobs. —Charlene Woods, Norfolk, Virginia Nutrition Facts: 2 kabobs with 1/4 cup sauce: 429 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 52mg cholesterol, 1337mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein. 12/49 Ham & Swiss Baked Penne 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Mark Derse For Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings

With its melty, gooey goodness, this bake makes me think of them

6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: As a kid I loved to the hot ham and Swiss sandwiches from a local fast-food restaurant. With its melty, gooey goodness, this bake makes me think of them. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 559 calories, 30g fat (18g saturated fat), 116mg cholesterol, 905mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 31g protein. 13/49 Brief Burritos 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With three children in school, evenings are often hectic and short on time—especially

during the holiday season

during the holiday season. I can put this dish together after school and still have time to run back to town for evening activities. Best of all, the kids love it. —Ginger Burow, Fredericksburg, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 burrito: 430 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 1022mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 9g fiber), 21g protein. 14/49 Mini Barbecue Meat Loaves 46 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Kids can have fun helping to prepare these mini meat loaves in muffin cups. For

extra spice, we sometimes add 2 teaspoons chili powder and 1 cup of salsa

extra spice, we sometimes add 2 teaspoons chili powder and 1 cup of salsa. —Linda Call, Falun, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 2 mini meat loaves: 330 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 668mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein. 15/49 Ham and Cheese Puffs 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These tasty little bites go over well with kids. They’re also delicious with soups or as party appetizers. —Mrs. Marvin Buffington, Burlington, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 1 appetizer: 110 calories, 6g

fat (2g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 263mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein. 16/49 Homemade Fish Sticks 32 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Homemade Fish Sticks Recipe photo by Orly Catz for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I am a nutritionist and needed a healthy fish fix. Moist inside and crunchy outside, these are amazing with oven fries or roasted veggies and low-fat homemade tartar sauce. —Jennifer Rowland, Elizabethtown, Kentucky Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 278 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 129mg cholesterol, 718mg sodium, 25g

carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 33g protein

carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch. 17/49 Beefy Chili Dogs 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings (2 cups chili) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For years, people have told me I make the best hot dog chili out there. It’s timeless, it’s family-friendly, and I carry the recipe with me because people ask for it. —Vicki Boyd, Mechanicsville, Virginia Nutrition Facts: 1 hot dog with 1/4 cup chili: 400 calories, 22g fat (9g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 1092mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (11g

sugars, 1g fiber), 19g protein

sugars, 1g fiber), 19g protein. 18/49 Pizza Roll-Ups 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Since getting this recipe from our 4-H club, it’s been a regular after-school snack. We like to dunk these bite-sized pizza treats, made with refrigerated crescent rolls, in spaghetti sauce. —Donna Klettke, Wheatland, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 roll-up: 94 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 206mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein. 19/49 Mini Shepherd’s Pies 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mini Shepherd’s Pies Recipe

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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