22 Easy Recipes for Cooking with Kids

Sometimes you need an indoor activity that keeps the kids busy and having fun. Cooking with kids is a great way to not only keep young children all the way up to the older kids entertained, but keep them learning (without realizing it). Preparing and cooking their own food is so beneficial for so many reasons!

Knowing how to cook, measure, prep, and plan meals are all really important life skills because, eventually, they’ll be doing it all on their own.

One of the great things about teaching your kids and having them learning how to cook is that you’ll get quality time with the whole family. The kids can indulge in what they actually want to eat and perhaps even stumble upon a new hobby. 

The kid-friendly recipes we’ve collected below are all very easy to make. Kids of any age can help out with most, if not all, parts of the food making process. It should go without saying that some recipes call for use of kitchen items like a food processor, the oven, and the stovetop, so these types of tools should be shown and used with caution. Check out these kid friendly fun recipes

 

10 Snack Mix Recipes

This is one of my favorite resources for cooking with kids for so many reasons. First, all kids like snack mixes and creating their own makes allows them to customize it to their liking. Second, these snack mix ideas include a free printable recipe for beginning readers. This allows your children to strengthen their reading skills and confidence while making something delicious!

 

On The Go Bars

This free printable resource is a great tool for teaching kids how to read and also how to read a recipe. If you’re looking to increase their attention span and they enjoy cooking and baking, this is a sure fire can’t miss way to do it.

With easy to read instructions (great for beginning readers) and common baking items, you can turn your kitchen into a place for learning and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Learning how to read is obviously an important life skill, but learning how to read a recipe so one day they can cook for themselves is one of those important life skills that is often overlooked. Using this free printable resource is a great way to get them on the path of learning how to be self sufficient.

 

Homemade Granola

This is sure to be one of your new little baker’s favorite recipes. Not only is it an easy homemade snack, but it also allows great practice using measuring cups, one of the most important math skills needed in the kitchen.

You can even make a little math lesson out of it. Have the little kids measure the amount needed for each ingredient and then empty them into small bowls for mixing. For an unbeatable combo, add it to yogurt with some fresh fruit.

 

Cookies For Kids

Making cookies is the best way to spend a lazy afternoon together. These easy bake cookies will be an absolute hit, especially with the younger children when they get to stir the batter and be a part of the cooking process. For an added fun bonus, let kids use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes.

 

 Doughnuts For Kids

Satisfy your family’s sweet tooth with homemade doughnuts. This simple doughnut recipe is a fun way to create memories in the kitchen and have kids work on their fine motor skills by rolling and shaping the dough. Your kids will absolutely love this tasty and fun to make breakfast or snack.

 

Easy Homemade Jam

Going berry picking is a great way to kick off the summer season. Aside from eating fresh berries and using them in a fruit salad, there’s nothing better than making jam using those farm fresh berries and fruits. This easy recipe is a lot of fun for kids at a young age because they get to wash fruit, get messy, and they get to help squash and mix the fruit and berries.

 

Peanut Butter Roll Ups

This easy and tasty peanut butter roll up can be combined with other healthy snacks for a munchies on the go box. They make a great after school snack too. They’re really quick to make and filling enough to hold the kids over until dinner. The best part is you can give kids the ingredients and tools to make them all on their own.

Some other great ideas for these roll-ups are to let kids pretend they’re baking something to serve to friends for imaginative play or give each child a kitchen task like rolling the bread out or spreading the peanut butter.

 

 

Rice Krispie Treat Balls

These rice krispie treat balls are so fun to make and delicious to eat. This a fantastic easy recipe for young kids that requires very few ingredients and kitchen tools. They are perfect for road trips, after school snacks, and movie night treats. Rice Krispie treat balls are the perfect portable snack.

 

Watermelon Cream Pops

This is a delicious recipe that is easy to make and perfect for a hot day. The hardest part with this recipe is waiting for them to freeze. Waiting is an important lesson too. 

 

Homemade Bread

Delicious homemade bread sounds like a hard task, but it really is simple to make. Include your kids every step of the way as you prepare homemade bread for dinner. What an accomplishment!

 

Banana Bread

Banana bread is the perfect way to use up bananas that aren’t going to be eaten. Make a loaf of banana bread or muffins for the week. Sprinkles are an added bonus. This recipe is too easy not to try!

 

 Cheesy Rice Balls

This a terrific recipe for moms with younger kids and busy lives. These simple rice balls are made with ingredients you probably already have at home, and they take just a short time to make. Best of all, kids will go absolutely crazy for them.

 

Pizza Grilled Cheese

This will be your kid’s new favorite way to eat pizza. It’s such a fun way to combine two favorites. You’ll find yourself making an extra one that you’ll eat too. The best way to set this up is buffet style. First, lay out the ingredients cheese, bread, sauce, and whichever toppings they might like, such as pepperoni and veggies. Then, let them create their own personal pizza grilled cheese! 

 

Getting kids to try new foods can be a daunting task, but if you allow them the opportunity to make and taste new food items that they had in hand in making, you will open up a brand new world of food to them. Try these easy recipes to get you started cooking with kids.