When my kids were small, they are anything so I had a million healthy dinner ideas for kids! As they got older, the universe laughed at me and I had to admit that my kids were picky eaters.
The kids will still eat most of what I cook, but I had to get creative. We eat dairy free recipes now so no shredded cheese, including grilled cheese sandwiches (where I could hide anything!).
For the most part, I can come up with delicious recipes based on what we have on hand. But every once in a while we just want to eat something special! Below, I’ve listed 15 Clean eating dinner ideas for kids that they will actually enjoy. Skip the frozen pizza and give these delicious dinner recipes a try.
Slow cooker and Instant Pot recipes make for easy dinner ideas, so there are a good mix of them in this post. We’ve also included make ahead recipes.
Be sure to join our facebook group for more kid-friendly recipes and ideas!
With so many options, you are sure to find a handful that your family will love!
15 Kid Friendly Clean Eating Recipes
Dinner Ideas for Kids
Family Meals
These delicious kid friendly dinner ideas will become a staple in your house! Pair them with a couple of sides and you've got a dinner that even picky eaters will enjoy.
Kalbi Short Ribs – Delicious Korean Recipe!
Talk about a kid pleaser! These kalbi short ribs are just the right balance of sweet and salty. Delicious! You’ll be surprised how fast the kids devour this one. Pair it with quinoa or rice and a vegetable like sauteed asparagus for a complete meal!
Oven Baked Ribs
Crock Pot Paleo Sloppy Joes Recipe {Clean Eating}
Who doesn’t love Sloppy Joes?? This simple recipe is made in the slow cooker. Just set it and forget it!! And those Paleo Hamburger buns…. I’m sold. If you are feeling adventurous, use the leftovers to make a sloppy joe pizza.
Better Than Takeout Sesame Chicken Stir fry
My kids love this recipe! Skip the takeout and make this sesame chicken instead. Serve with brown rice and a side of veggies!
Curry Chicken and Rice casserole
This one pan dish makes a great freezer meal, but can also be put together in 15 minutes. Pop it in the oven for an hour and dinner is ready!
Easy Cheesy Crispy Vegan Black Bean Tacos
Quesadillas are the masters at hiding vegetables and anything else you want your kids to eat. These beautiful dairy free quesadillas are so easy to make and are perfect for busy evenings.
Clean Eating Chicken Chili (with Video)
This chicken chili recipe is perfect for fall and the cold blustery weather. But we also make this in the summer when we have a big group of friends over! So Delicious…
Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
This dish is everything kids love. Rice, ground beef and a sweet sauce. Serve it with brown rice or cauliflower rice.
Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks for Dipping
I love the idea of cauliflower pizza crust, but this recipe takes it to the next level! It’s a little time consuming but completely worth it! The kids enjoy this one and the adults love that it is low in calories. This is a great appetizer idea!
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
This quick dinner takes just 25 minutes and uses ingredients that you may already have at home!
Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
This is a delicious one pan meal! It's also a great budget meal that everyone will enjoy.
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
Even picky eaters will love this chicken and broccoli stir fry. It is quick to put together and everyone will enjoy it!
Fried Quinoa for Kids
What kid doesn’t like fried rice?? My kids will even eat vegetables if it’s mixed with rice. This healthy dish is fast and easy to make on those lazy nights. Definitely give this one a try!
Low-Carb Zucchini Crust pizza
You will not believe how delicious this low carb zucchini pizza crust is! It’s delicious and the whole family loves it! And it’s a great variation from Cauliflower crust!
Dairy-Free Pizza Chicken Bake (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free, Keto)
My kids love pizza and anything pizza related is going to be a hit! Try this pizza chicken bake for your kids!
Steamed Tofu with Ground Pork
Do your kids like tofu? I have one that likes it and he would definitely enjoy this one!
Chicken Taco Rice
Chicken and rice are the perfect kid food. This recipe uses brown rice so it will keep those growing kids full too!
Hot Pot at home - Everything You Need To Know
Save this one for a weekend when you have time to sit around the table and enjoy time as a family. This one is always a hit.
Healthy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (low-carb, paleo, whole30)
If you are looking for a new twist on an old classic, this is it! This shepherd's pie uses cauliflower in place of potatoes and it is surprisingly delicious!! You must try it.
Filipino Chicken Adobo Recipe
Kids just love this chicken adobo recipe. Serve it over rice and watch them gobble it up!
20-Minute Baked Fish Croquettes
Kids enjoy fish when it is prepared properly. Bread it and they are immediately willing to give it a try! These fish croquettes are the perfect way to introduce your kids to fish!
Dairy Free Pasta Dishes
These dairy free pasta recipes use creative ways of cutting out the cheese to make dishes that kids love. There are a few vegan pasta recipes sprinkled in but feel free to add meat if you are not vegan.
Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta
Forget buttered noodles. This delicious vegan tomato pasta uses gluten free noodles and cashews in place of cheese. The kids won't know it but they will be getting all kind of nutrition from this dish!
Gluten Free Lasagna Soup
This delicious lasagna soup takes all the deliciousness of lasagne and makes it much faster to prepare!
Paleo Mac and Cheese Recipe {Gluten-Free, Clean}
This is one of my favorite recipes on the list! This Paleo Mac N Cheese uses cauliflower in place of the noodles. My kids complain about the cauliflower but one taste and they are asking for seconds! If there is only one recipe on this list that you try, this should be it…
Mexican Shell Soup (Sopa de Conchitas) – Vegan
This is a favorite among kids and their adults! It is so creamy that you won't even realize there is no cheese!
The Perfect Pasta Salad
This isn't your typical pasta salad! This delicious pasta salad is packed with veggies and kids just eat it right up!
Dairy-Free Baked Ziti (Gluten-Free)
This baked ziti uses a cashed cheese that takes this to another level! I'm going to say that most kids are going to love this one. It would also be a great freezer meal!
Paleo Alfredo Sauce Chicken Bake Recipe
This delicious Alfredo Bank uses Almond milk to make the creamy sauce. Add zucchini noodles and it’s a delicious meal for the whole family! One secret to getting your kids to eat zoodles is to mix it with whole wheat noodles.
Healthier Italian Pasta Salad {Gluten Free}
This Gluten Free recipe is also clean eating friendly! If you don’t have a Clean Italian Recipe that you love, check out this one from Gracious Pantry: https://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-italian-dressing/
Finger Foods
Finger foods are a staple for kids so we are giving it its own section! Don't worry, these can all be eaten with utensils too!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets - Gluten Free Recipe
Kids love chicken nuggets and I have found that gluten free flour makes them even crunchier than whole wheat! Double this recipe because they will go fast!
Zucchini Tots
These delicious zucchini tots are a perfect side dish to any dinner! They also make a great nut free lunch the next day!
Gluten-Free + Vegan Chickpea Nuggets (Allergy-Free, Grain-Free)
These gluten free nuggets are allergen-friendly and perfect for lunch or dinner! Pack the leftovers for lunch the next day.
Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets
To make these chicken nuggets clean eating compatible, swap out the Italian breadcrumbs for whole wheat breadcrumbs. I like to take stale bread and blend it in the blender or food processor to make breadcrumbs. Store it in the freezer until you need them. Easy and delicious!
Cheesy Broccoli Bites Recipe
Don’t be intimated by the pretty picture on this one! These are fast and simple to make. The best part is that the kids will eat them simply because they are easy to pick up with your hands!
Instant Pot Recipes and Slow Cooker Recipes
Instant pot recipes and slow cooker recipes are perfect for busy nights. Set it in the morning and have dinner waiting when you get home. They also tend to make a lot so you can have leftovers for lunch!
Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Pulled pork recipes are one of those that everyone enjoys and usually, you will have enough for dinner the next night. I call that a win!
Crispy Keto Whole30 Carnitas (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)
They can be made in an Instant Pot or slow cooker and come together easily. These pork carnitas are melt in your mouth delicious!
The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast + Video
This Instant pot chicken recipe is so easy that you'll be making it for everything! It's great for dinner but make extra because you can also use the leftover chicken for wraps, salads or sandwiches the next day.
Instant Pot Hamburger Soup
Instant pot hamburger soup is packed with veggies and is easy to put together. Kids will enjoy it without knowing it is healthy!
Instant Pot Meatballs - Low Carb, Keto, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, THM
These amazing meatballs take just 7 minutes in the Instant pot. They are also made with almond flour so they make a great low carb dinner idea too.
Low Fat Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili
Another Slow Cooker recipe – You’re welcome! I love to replace ground beef with ground turkey. It works especially well in this dish since the chili flavor is the star of this dish.
Healthy Side Dishes
Here are a several side dishes if you want to add something extra!
Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms
If your kids like mushrooms, they will love this recipe! If they don't like mushrooms, there really isn't any way to hide it, lol.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes In The Convection Oven
This recipe is a favorite of kids and adults! These potatoes are crispy and crunchy, meaning they are irresistible!
Mashed Potato Cakes
These leftover mashed potato cakes are a family favorite. These were meant to be used with leftover mashed potatoes but the kids eat so many that I have to make potatoes just to make this dish!
Try out these dishes and let me know which is your favorite!!
Looking for more kid friendly dinner ideas? Try these!
Easy Calzone Recipe – Kids Love This School Lunch Idea!
14 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes For Busy Nights – Kid Friendly Too!
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