Make feeding the family a little easier with these top ten chicken recipes that are great to share with the kids! Each has an easy method, nutritious ingredients, high protein, and yummy flavor that everyone will love.
Chicken is a go-to for many families, but it can be hard to know which recipes are best for kids—so below find the ones that are nutritious, yummy, and also easy for toddlers to chew.
You will find slow cooker chicken, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken that works great for tacos, and more to use as easy weeknight dinners to share with the kids.
Each can also be used as a toddler meal prep option if you want to get ahead for the week, too.
(You may also like my protein snacks for kids, make-ahead lunches, breakfast for dinner ideas, and my Turkey Zucchini Meatballs as more nutritious kids meal options.)
Table of Contents
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Baked Chicken Meatballs
They use super simple ingredients, are easy to mix together, and are a wonderfully easy-to-eat texture for little kids.
Baked Chicken Nuggets
With just a few simple ingredients, you can bake up moist and crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets. They’re so darn delicious that parents usually enjoy them just as much as kids!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
These homemade Chicken Nuggets (with sweet potato!) are an easy toddler dinner that parents will enjoy, too. They’re packed with nutrition and have a veggie right in the mix!
Baked Chicken Tenders
These Baked Chicken Tenders are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—and are ready in about 20 minutes. They’re a total hit with kids and adults, and you need only 4 simple ingredients to make them.
Yogurt Chicken
This recipe, which uses yogurt and pantry spices to make a quick marinade, is incredibly tender and perfect for shredding. That makes it a great chicken recipe for babies, toddlers, and really anyone who’s interested!
Salsa Chicken Tacos
The shredded chicken is so tender and easy for toddlers to gum or chew. And it’s flavorful enough without being overly spicy. (Plus, it’s delicious for adults, too!)
Cilantro Chicken
The marinade ingredients are similar to the ones used in classic carne asada, which means they are super flavorful. But paired with less expensive (and easier to cook) chicken thighs, the recipe hits all the marks for flavorful and easy.
Chicken Bites
These are mild yet also flavorful enough for my grown up tastebuds. They cook in minutes, work well as leftovers, and are perfect for dunking into your dip of choice (try them with my Teriyaki Sauce!)
Chicken Fritters
These Chicken Fritters are delicious, yes, but they also solve a problem I often have—what to do with leftover chicken to ensure that it actually gets eaten.
Marinated Chicken Tenders
I love that this recipe creates chicken that’s flavorful and tender, there are easy flavor variations, and you can make it ahead of time and stash it in the fridge or make it in the moment in less than 15 minutes start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your family’s preferences, but we love Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Baked Chicken Meatballs, and the chicken tenders shared here since each is easy to make, flavorful, and really yummy.
Do your best not to overcook the chicken. You can use an instant-read thermometer to help.
Reheat on a heat-safe plate in the microwave in 15 second increments to avoid overcooking or warm in an air fryer at 350 degrees F for 2-4 minutes. The air fryer is best for breaded chicken recipes that are meant to be crispy.
How to Store
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 6 months. Warm briefly in the microwave or air fryer, or serve cold according to how the kids prefer it.
Best Tips for Success
- Add simple sides like cut up fruit, applesauce, Cheesy Rice, or Roasted Frozen Broccoli to round these meals out.
- Shred or slice thinly for younger toddlers to make the chicken easiest to chew.
- Omit the salt from the recipe and add it to your own serving as you like if you prefer to cook without added salt for a baby or one year old.
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