Easy Toddler Meals (With Hardly Any Cooking)

When I have no energy to time to cook, or I just want a break, these are the easy toddler meals I turn to. Each idea is nutritious yummy, and requires hardly any cooking at all!

This list is meant to give you a few new ideas for easy kids meals you can pull together in minutes. Each is made with a mix of nutrients and can be adjusted and customized for your own kids.

I love to take the opportunity on busy nights to make quick dinners for kids that are simple and easy. And most of the time the kids appreciate that!

Of course, everyone’s idea of “easy” and “cooking” is different, so there’s a range here. Some of these toddler dinners do require cooking and some are assembly only (and others rely on leftovers being stored away in the freezer), but all are relatively straightforward. Keep this list on hand for those nights when you need to make family dinner, but you need to make your life a little easier.

(You may also like Healthy Toddler Breakfasts, Toddler Lunch Ideas, and recipes for constipated toddlers.)

22 Easy Toddler Meals—No Recipes Required

Favorite Buttered Noodles

I love this since it’s serious comfort food, and it can be topped with all sorts of additional flavor boosters for adults as we like—so we can all happily share the meal.

Mac and Cheese with Peas

This easy recipe is one of our very favorite shortcut toddler meals. It comes together quickly, you’re not actually making anything from scratch, and it’s a complete and satisfying meal. 

Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese

Transform beans and cheese into delish Vegetarian Quesadillas in less than 10 minutes for family dinner tonight—or a go-to kids meal for anytime. 

Quick Pizza Quesadillas

These are ready in about 6 minutes, have classic pizza flavor with a soft and easy to chew texture, and are almost endlessly versatile!

Quick English Muffin Pizzas

They are so fast to make, and you can reheat them from the fridge or the freezer—so you can assemble them whenever you have the time and serve them up in minutes.

10-Minute Flatbread Pizza

This is the easiest way I know how to make homemade pizza that actually tastes like it’s from scratch—and it’s lightning fast. 

Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta

You need just 2 simple pantry staples, the method takes just a few minutes, and you can store the sauce in the refrigerator or freezer for future easy meals.

Easy Snack Dinner

The next time you just cannot summon the energy to cook a meal…Snack Dinner to the rescue! I love this easy concept because it’s so easy to make one big platter for the whole family to share or individual plates for each kiddo. 

Best 2-Ingredient Baby Pancakes

I love recipes for kids that use simple ingredients and are also SUPER quick and easy to make and this method totally fits that bill. 

Quick Cottage Cheese Pancakes

They’re an easy toddler breakfast idea that you can make and serve in the moment or reheat on a future morning.

Easy Breakfast Burritos

These easy burritos are so straightforward to make and are one of my favorite make-ahead breakfast options. I love that I can make a pile of them at once and store them in the fridge or freezer to warm up on future days. 

Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

These bowls are easy to prep ahead (should you have the time) and easy to serve family-style so everyone can decide exactly how they want their bowl.

Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos

With just 5 simple and nutritious ingredients, you can make these Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos for family dinner. They’re great to make ahead, too!

Tortellini in Broth

You need only a few ingredients to make this soup recipe for kids (and Italian recipes in general), and you can use a few different options for the broth. From there, it’s easy to add flavor for kids who like that or to enhance your own serving.

Quick Pasta with Peas

It’s rich in vegetarian protein, it’s very fast, and it’s easy for little kids to eat—and for grown-ups to enjoy, too.

Easy Taco Roll Ups

This is a fun yet easy way to vary up how we serve the basic ingredients of a quesadilla and refried beans—or smashed pinto beans. Both options hold the tortilla together, which is nice here.

Quick Sandwich Roll Ups

Transform a basic sandwich into a super fun Sandwich Roll-Up with a simple method anyone can do. This works with a variety of fillings and can be served at home or packed for school lunch.

Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe

The idea is so simple, but we have found a few tips that make it tastier, have a better texture, and hold together well enough for little kids to pick up. 

Easy Hummus Wrap

This no-cook meal is an easy lunch for school or for work or home for you. And you can make it in less than 5 minutes!

Yogurt Flatbread

You can mix together this bread dough and have the whole thing ready to eat under 20 minutes. There’s no waiting for it to rise or rest, and no need for yeast. It’s similar to naan bread in flavor and texture and can be used in similar ways.

Favorite Healthy Toddler Smoothie

It’s a perfect smoothie for kids since it’s naturally sweet, loaded with nutrition from fruit and veggies, and tastes great! 

Favorite Protein Shakes for Kids

With simple ingredients, naturally sweet flavor, and about a third of your kiddo’s protein needs for the day, these are a great breakfast or snack option.

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I’d love to hear your go-to easy meals, so chime in below in the comments!