15 Simple Meals Kids Can Make

Summertime is the perfect time for kids to learn how to cook, and these recipes kids can make are the easiest ways to teach them.

Hi, this is Annie from Venture1105, and I am really excited about this list! With a bunch of older kids at home, I know how important it is to teach them how to cook meals for themselves safely. It won’t be long before they are graduated, so I want to teach them now how to make healthy meals.

Kids is a very broad term, so as you read this list, I’ll explain the age that is appropriate, but please keep your child’s maturity and abilities in mind.

Types Of meals Kids Can Cook

Before we get to these recipes, I wanted to share a quick overview of the types of meals kids can cook. Please remember that the abilities of kids are unique, and no two kids are alike.

Slow Cooker

Slow cooker meals are fantastic for kids because there is no flame or hot stove. As long as you teach your child not to touch the hot inner pot, it’s a relatively safe cooking method.

Cold or No-Cook Meals

These are best for really young children. It might take some prep time from you, but when you provide them with all of the ingredients, all they have to do is put them together. These kinds of recipes include meat and cheese trays, pizza Lunchable, and sandwiches.

George Foreman

As long as your child doesn’t touch the hot grill plates and can pay attention to the cooking time, they might be able to cook easy meals on a Geroge Foreman indoor grill.

Air Fryer

The air fryer is another fantastic kitchen gadget! Food will be really hot when it’s done, so teach your kiddos to use tongs or a spatula to remove the food carefully.

The Easiest Meals Kids Can Make

Alright! Here you go! These are the easiest meals that kids can make! You might just discover a young chef in your family.

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1. Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

These delicious shredded chicken sandwiches are super easy to make! Shredding the chicken might be tough for younger kiddos, so you might have to help them with that step.

Since really young kids might not be able to handle raw chicken very well, this recipe might be best for kids over the age of eight.

2. Air Fryer Tacos

As long as you prepare all the ingredients ahead of time, kids as young as five years old can fill and heat up their own air fryer tacos. Older kids in middle school might be able to brown their own taco meat and chop up their own ingredients.

3. Slow Cooker Chicken Taco soup

This chicken taco soup has a long list of ingredients. If you have really small kiddos, maybe prepare all the ingredients first. Older kids should be able to follow this simple recipe easily.

4. Air Fryer Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls

As long as your children can wrap wonton wrappers around pepperoni and cheese, they can make these pepperoni egg rolls. They are a delicious new take on a classic lunch recipe.

5. Easy Pizza Sliders

These sliders are so easy to make, that kids as young as five can help place the ingredients on the rolls. You might have to put the pizza sliders in the oven for them. The best thing about these sliders is that kids can use their favorite toppings.

6. Taco Faces

Making easy taco faces is a fun way to let kids help make their own food. It’s not just fun and easy, but they are healthy too!

7. Cheesy Tuna Casserole

This tuna casserole recipe is best for kids older than age eight or nine, since it requires the use of a can opener. If you open the cans for them first and boil the noodles, then younger kids can help pour and mix the ingredients.

8. Ham Egg and Cheese Breakfast Muffins

These simple breakfast muffins are perfect for any meal of the day. It’s a fantastic way to teach kids how to break eggs. In fact, this is such a simple recipe that preschool kiddos can help.

9. Breakfast Sandwiches For Kids

When you pre-slice the fruit, young children can help build and decorate their own healthy breakfast sandwiches. It’s a fun way to encourage kids to eat more fruit and lets even toddlers and preschoolers feel like they are cooking.

10. Air Fryer Pizza Croissants

This air fryer pizza croissants recipe is best for kids that are a bit older, like around nine or 10 years old. It is simple but does require some folding, which might frustrate younger kiddos.

11. Homemade Pizza Lunchables

Kids of all ages will love putting together their own mini pizzas. All you have to do is set out the ingredients for them.

12. Cheesy Chicken Melts

These open faced cheesy chicken melts include red pepper jelly, but you can leave that out if you have kids that don’t like it. This is a simple recipe that you bake in the oven for just 10 minutes.

13. George Foreman Grill Quesadillas

Using a George Foreman grill is safe for kids and easy to use. Use canned chicken and pre-chopped veggies and kids can make their own quesadillas.

14. Slow Cooker Frito Pie

Kids can customize their own chili and Frio pie. If you have younger kids, then I suggest browning the meat for them first. Then, they just have to place it all in the slow cooker and then build their own bowls when it is done.

15. Air Fryer Pepperoni Grilled Cheese

Kids of all ages can make their own grilled cheese when they use the air fryer. This simple air fryer grilled cheese recipe is easy for kids to customize too.

There you have it! I hope you found a few ideas and have fun teaching your kids how to cook. It’s a great way to instill pride and a bit more independence too.