21 Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Recipes (2024)

Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Recipes

Finger Foods

Most meals end up as finger foods. And so, I try to work around that issue by making items that he can easily eat with his hands and foods that are awesome as leftovers. The lentil bites and the falafel are my top two favorites. They are perfect for Mack and also make for a substantial dinner for M and I.

• Lentil Biteswith Burst Tomato Pasta
• Quinoa Falafel
• Chipotle Black Bean and Avocado Quesadilla

Mexican

I've probably been a bit pushy with Mack in terms of flavor but I didn't want him to be afraid to try big flavors. I watch the spice level of things like chipotle powder but I don't shy away from cumin, coriander, and smoked paprika. He happily eats these recipes and usually asks for more.

• Cilantro Sweet Potato Tostadas
• Spinach Enchiladas with Lentils
• Enchilada Skillet with Eggs

Pasta

I feel like a list of kid-friendly vegetarian recipes wouldn't be complete unless pasta is mentioned. I try to really load up the pasta with vegetables but I also always keep pasta sauce and noodles on hand for a quick dinner. For recipes that call for nuts, like the butternut squash pasta listed below, I leave the nuts out.

• Butter Butternut Squash Pasta
• Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese with Spinach
• Summer Squash Pasta with Yogurt Sauce

Stews

This category is an awesome one for loading up on vegetables, grains, and legumes but you have to be prepared for mess. However, it's good spoon practice.

• Sweet Potato Barley Stew
• Red Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes
• Root Vegetable Cassoulet

Veg Cakes

Vegetable cakes prove for an endless amount of finger food for toddlers. So many vegetables, grains, and legumes provide for excellent dinners. I typically whip up a hummus or yogurt sauce to use as a dip for these recipes. You can also make smaller, bite-sized versions and freeze to cook in a hurry.

• Quinoa Potato Cakes
• Cauliflower Cakes with Brown Rice and Cheddar
• Chickpea and Spinach Burgers

Mack's Favorites

While Mack is pretty open to trying new recipes, he has his favorites. He loves chili flavored items (M taught him his Midwest tradition of dunking peanut butter sandwiches in chili) and pizza is always an easy win. However, making these items at home allows for control of vegetable and salt content.

• Spinach Fennel Pizza
• Chili Lentils over Sweet Potatoes
• Baked Barley Risotto with Carrots

Breakfast

We've yet to find a breakfast item Mack doesn't like but most mornings, it's oatmeal. Occasionally on the weekends it's eggs or pancakes/waffles (over loaded with fruit, yogurt, and nut butters).

• Simple Vegetable Egg Bake
• Sprouted Spelt Pancakes
• The Very Best Oatmeal