There have been a few nights lately when I’ve just had no motivation to cook. And I’m quite sure that I’m not the only one who’s ever felt that way! So whether it’s your busy schedule, warm weather, or just the general business of parenting, here are 50 ideas for 50 easy toddler meals (with very little cooking) for those nights that you don’t want to do any “real” cooking. They’re some of my favorite quick dinner ideas for kids!
Easy Toddler Meals
I polled my amazing Instagram community for ideas, I added a few of my own, and I would love to hear additional ones from you! Because the more we share our tips and tricks with each other, the easier all of this feeding the kids business gets for all of us.
Healthy Kids Food Ideas
This list is meant to give you a few new ideas for meals you can pull together in minutes. Each is healthy in essence 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!
Quick Dinner Ideas for Kids
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 straight forward. Keep this list on hand for those nights when you need to make family dinner, but you want to make your life a little easier.
50 Easy Toddler Meals (With Little Cooking)
- Nut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Cheese quesadillas (maybe add a little snipped spinach!)
- Butter and cheese pasta
- Tacos with beans, cheese, and/or salsa
- Meatballs (pulled from the freezer), sliced cucumbers
- Toddler cheese plates with cheese, crackers, fruit, and fresh veggies
- Fruit, veggies, and bread
- Take out!
- Pancakes (from the freezer) or 2-Ingredient Pancakes
- Canned soup (like Annie’s Lentil Soup)
- Pouches (clearly this one only works for toddlers!)
- 15-Minute Lo Mein
- Pasta with jarred sauce
- Pasta with peas and olive oil
- Burrito Bowls with rice and beans
- Rotisserie chicken tacos or Fish Stick Tacos
- Grain bowls with beans, rice, avocado, mango, and salsa
- Quinoa with Peas
- Avocado toast and quick scrambled eggs
- Ham fried rice
- Cheese and salami and fruit
- Cheese and/or deli meat sandwiches or wraps
- Yogurt, granola, and berries
- Breakfast burritos
- Snack plates with hummus, fruit, veggies, and cheese
- Flatbread Pizza
- Quesadilla pizza
- English muffin pizza
- Oatmeal with berries or dried fruit
- Sheet Pan Chicken
- Cereal
- Muffins with cream cheese or nut butter and fruit
- Burgers
- Snacky muffin tin meals
- Tortellini (with a favorite jarred sauce)
- Scrambled eggs with toast
- Pasta Salad
- Pesto Pasta
- Boxed mac and cheese (with peas or broccoli or just plain)
- Poached chicken with bbq sauce
- Chicken simmered in jarred tomato sauce with toast
- Chocolate Chip Oat Bars
- Chocolate chip pancakes (with a handful of shredded zucchini perhaps!), or any other pancakes
- Tortilla roll ups with banana and nut butter
- Tortilla roll ups with deli meat and cheese
- One Pot Meat Spaghetti
- Black beans or pinto beans with salsa and whole grain crackers
- Cottage cheese, granola, fruit
- Toddler trail mix (dry cereal, dried fruit, softer nuts like cashews) and milk
- Smoothies
Hi, I have a very picky almost two-year-old and I’m struggling with coming up with meal ideas. Unfortunately I’m not very creative in the kitchen, and I’ve tried several things to get him to try new things, but it is still a big struggle. I’d love to hear ideas of what to try. He’s not a fan of pasta, so a lot of things have been a no go for him.
Hi Kaely-
It’s hard for me to give individualized info in a reply, but you can search my site for other recipe ideas. Here is a post about Normal Picky Eating and the feeding approach that I follow which could help reduce your stress about having to continually serve new foods.
I make savoury quinoa muffins: 1 cup of cooked quinoa to 1 egg as a basic ratio and mix in whatever you like: ham and cheese/ buffalo chicken/ taco meat/ spinach and tomato are some of our faves. Press the mixture into silicone muffin cups and bake 20 minutes at 350. My twins girls gobble them up and you can customize flavours for any meal. You can add panko breadcrumbs for a bit of crunch I’d preferred.
Thanks for sharing Lynsey! I made these last night for my 15 month old. He sorta liked them which is a win in my book! I added chopped carrots, spinach and bacon.
Add a cup of ground up carrots to spaghetti sauce. It disappears in the sauce, adds a little sweet to the sauce, and adds one more serving of veggies to the day.
Great idea!
Thank you for all those great ideas, which are really practical! I love how you strive for reasonable healthy ideas without being dogmatic, and how you combine convenience products and “shortcuts” with fresh fruit and veg to allow for quick meals which are not hideously high in salt and sugar.
Sugar-free spelt-and-date-syrup-homemafe waffles with rice flour crusts are great, but I think I speak for many patents when I say we also need the “quick fix” options. So thanks for providing those!
Yes, I think being realistic is helpful for most families!
Cauliflower crust is great for picky toddlers! Load them up with more veggies and protein or keep it simple with sauce and cheese. Simple, quick healthy alternative to reg pizza 🙂