These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (2024)

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (1)

If anyone knows how to cook for a growing family, it's Ree Drummond. She has five kids of her own and a lot of cowboys to feed. And even though her kids have all officially left the nest, Ree's experience with whipping up family meals is years in the making! So, if you're looking for kid-friendly recipes, you've come to the right place. Here, we've rounded up some of the best Pioneer Woman dishes for kids of any age. Whether you've got little ones running around, hungry teenagers, or even just a partner who's a kid at heart (we're looking at you, Ladd), this list is full of recipes that anyone would gobble right up.

Of course, cooking for kids is never easy so we've made sure to include plenty of quick dinner ideas for back-to-school season. That means you'll find slow cooker recipes, easy chicken dinners, and tons of 30-minute meals. Looking to get your kids to eat healthier? This list also includes a few sneaky ways to get veggies on the table. But don't worry, even the pickiest eaters will be asking for seconds! Just try Ree's French bread pizzas, the chicken empanadas, or the broccoli cheddar soup and you'll see what we mean. Once you've figured out dinner, check out our list of after-school snacks and bake sale treats that will encourage your kids to help out in the kitchen!

1

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (2)

Making chicken tenders in your air fryer gets them extra-crispy. Plus, it's a slightly healthier twist on a kid-friendly classic. Serve them up with honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or ranch for dipping!

Get the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe.

SHOP AIR FRYERS

2

French Bread Pizza

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (3)

This is a fun new way to serve pizzas to a crowd. Get your kids to help put the toppings on and make them personalized to their preferences.

Get Ree's French Bread Pizza recipe.

3

Chocolate Chip Muffins

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (4)

Chocolate for breakfast? Yes, please! Your kids will be singing your praises with this scrumptious baking project.

Get the Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe.

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4

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (5)

This might just be the best way to get your kids to eat their broccoli, especially served in a bread bowl. The creamy, cheesy soup is a comfort food favorite.

Get Ree's Broccoli-Cheese Soup recipe.

5

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (6)

Skip the boxed mac and cheese and make this incredibly cheesy homemade version instead. It couldn't be easier thanks to the Instant Pot.

Get the Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.

SHOP INSTANT POTS

6

Cheeseburger Sliders

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (7)

The trick to making cheeseburgers for a crew of hungry teenagers is using this method that ditches the patties. Instead, the ground beef is piled high onto slider buns.

Get the Cheeseburger Sliders recipe.

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7

Chicken Empanadas

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (8)

This recipe uses two supermarket shortcuts: frozen empanada wrappers and rotisserie chicken! It couldn't be easier. Just make sure you serve it up with the bright herb sauce for dipping.

Get the Chicken Empanadas recipe.

8

Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (9)

Layered with melty cheese, sauce, and pepperoni, these pizza rolls are hard to resist. They would be just as delicious for a Friday Night Lights tailgate as they would for a family movie night.

Get Ree's Pepperoni Pizza Rolls recipe.

9

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (10)

You might remember these cookies from when you were a kid yourself! They have the same warm flavor and chewy texture you know and love.

Get the Iced Oatmeal Cookies recipe.

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10

Chicken Spaghetti

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (11)

There's a reason this casserole dish has been a Drummond family favorite for as long as we can remember—it’s the perfect combination of spaghetti, chicken, and creamy sauce.

Get Ree's Chicken Spaghetti recipe.

SHOP CASSEROLE DISHES

11

Individual Sausage Casseroles

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (12)

A muffin tin makes these sausage and egg bites even easier to grab on the go. It's perfect for those busy kids who never seem to have time for the kitchen table.

Get Ree's Individual Sausage Casseroles recipe.

12

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (13)

These warm, spiced muffins topped with cream cheese frosting just scream back-to-school season! We can practically smell them baking right now.

Get Ree's Pumpkin Spice Muffins recipe.

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13

Chicken Noodle Casserole

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (14)

Thanks to the creamy sauce, hearty chicken, and buttery cracker topping, your kids won't even realize their also easting peas and carrots! It's a one-dish wonder if we've ever seen one.

Get the Chicken Noodle Casserole recipe.

14

Homemade Hamburger Helper

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (15)

For a fresh twist on a childhood classic, check out the recipe for homemade Hamburger Helper. It starts with ground beef, bacon, and lots of cheese.

Get the Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.

15

S'mores Bars

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (16)

This dessert is sure to put a smile on your kids' faces. It's an ooey-gooey year-round treat that doesn't even require a camp fire!

Get the S'mores Bars recipe.

SHOP BAKING PANS

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16

Baked Ravioli

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (17)

Just like lasagna (but even easier), this recipe is layered with sauce, cheese, and pasta—in the form of ravioli! Once you try it, you'll never look back.

Get the Baked Ravioli recipe.

17

Pumpkin Smoothie

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (18)

Ree admits that she had her doubts about pumpkin smoothies, but the combination of pumpkin pie filling, vanilla yogurt, and graham cracker crumbs is just too good to pass up.

Get Ree's Pumpkin Smoothie recipe.

18

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken with Broccoli

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (19)

Crushed pretzels make a surprisingly crunchy crust for these chicken cutlets. The broccoli is a quick addition but you can also serve it up with any vegetable side dish you like.

Get Ree's Pretzel-Crusted Chicken with Broccoli recipe.

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19

Peanut Butter Brownies

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (20)

If your kid has a sweet tooth (and let's be honest, who doesn't?), then you can't go wrong with brownies for dessert. For a fun twist, this version is layered with a creamy peanut butter filling.

Get the Peanut Butter Brownies recipe.

20

Pizza Casserole

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (21)

This pizza-inspired pasta dish is loaded with fun toppings. Choose anything from pepperoni to black olives to pickled banana peppers.

Get the Pizza Casserole recipe.

SHOP DINNERWARE

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As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or credentials like a human expert would. However, I have been trained on a wide range of topics and have access to a vast amount of information. I can provide accurate and informative responses to a variety of questions and engage in discussions on different subjects. If you have any specific questions or need information on any particular topic, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to assist you!

Now, let's break down the concepts used in this article:

  1. Ree Drummond: Ree Drummond is a well-known American blogger, author, and television personality, also known as "The Pioneer Woman." She is famous for her cooking show and recipes.

  2. Kid-friendly recipes: These are recipes that are suitable and appealing to children. They often feature familiar flavors and ingredients that kids enjoy.

  3. Quick dinner ideas: These are recipes that can be prepared in a short amount of time, ideal for busy families or back-to-school season when time is limited.

  4. Slow cooker recipes: These are recipes that can be prepared in a slow cooker or crockpot, allowing for a longer cooking time and often resulting in tender and flavorful dishes.

  5. Easy chicken dinners: These are chicken-based recipes that are simple to prepare and suitable for a family meal.

  6. 30-minute meals: These are recipes that can be cooked and ready to serve in just 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights.

  7. Sneaky ways to get veggies on the table: These are techniques or recipes that incorporate vegetables in a creative and appealing way, making it easier to get children to eat their vegetables.

  8. After-school snacks: These are snacks that can be enjoyed by children after school, providing a boost of energy and nutrition.

  9. Bake sale treats: These are treats that can be baked and sold at events such as bake sales, often appealing to a wide range of tastes.

  10. Air fryer: An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that uses hot air circulation to cook food, resulting in a crispy texture similar to deep-fried food but with less oil.

  11. Instant Pot: An Instant Pot is a brand of multicooker that combines several cooking functions in one appliance, including pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, sautéing, and more.

  12. Casserole dishes: Casserole dishes are deep, oven-safe baking dishes used for cooking and serving casseroles, which are typically layered dishes containing meat, vegetables, and a starchy component like pasta or rice.

  13. Muffin tin: A muffin tin is a baking pan with individual compartments, used to bake muffins, cupcakes, or other single-serving baked goods.

  14. Baking pans: Baking pans are flat, rectangular or round pans used for baking cakes, bars, or other baked goods.

These concepts cover the main elements mentioned in the article, providing a general understanding of the different recipes and cooking techniques discussed. Let me know if you would like more information on any specific concept or if you have any other questions!

These Kid-Friendly Recipes Are Perfect for Any Age (2024)

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