3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (2024)

You’ll be amazed at what you can make with just three ingredients

If you’re anything like us, you’re always on the hunt for easy dinner recipes. The fewer ingredients we have to remember, the better (because no one likes doing a last-minute grocery store run!). To make all of our lives easier, we’ve rounded up a list of 3-ingredient recipes that will please even the pickiest of eaters. Read on to simplify your meal plan.

Cauliflower Soup

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (1)

Your whole crew is sure to fall in love with this silky soup from Just a Taste. It’s practically begging to be topped with your favorite add-ons, from a simple swirl of olive oil to crumbled bacon or crispy chickpeas.

Blackened Chicken

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (2)

Dry, overcooked chicken will be a thing of the past once you try this 3-ingredient recipe from Cooking with Janica. Their easy method yields a juicy, well-seasoned chicken breast—perfect for pairing with rice, salad, or potatoes.

Perfect Roasted Potatoes

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (3)

Our hunt for perfectly crispy roasted potatoes has finally come to an end, thanks to A Clean Bake. This foolproof method will have your whole family asking for seconds.

Honey Teriyaki Lime Salmon

Delicious salmon is less than a half hour away, thanks to this 3-ingredient recipe from Savory Nothings. Bonus points if you make your own teriyaki sauce (but we won’t judge if you go for the bottled stuff!).

Tomato Tortellini Soup

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (4)

Grab your soup pot and make a big batch of this soup from Honey and Birch! With the homey goodness of tomato soup and tortellini (a kid fave!), we guarantee it'll disappear in no time.

Creamy Tomato Shells

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (5)

Trust us, you're gonna want to bookmark this delish recipe from Pinch of Yum. It's hearty, homey, and can be whipped up for any busy weeknight dinner.

Related:14 Easy Meals Kids Can Make Themselves This Summer

Ham and Cheese Freezer Sandwiches

Make-ahead-meal alert! We love how these sandwiches from A Taste of Madness can be frozen and then heated whenever you need a quick and easy school lunch. Plus, you can always customize it with your kiddo’s favorite lunch meat.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (6)

Taco night just got way easier, thanks to this genius recipe from Lanc Foodie Girl. Set up the slow cooker in the morning, and dinner will be hot and ready by the time you get home.

3-Ingredient Biscuit Recipe

The Feathered Nester has an incredibly easy 3-ingredient biscuit recipe we love for weekend breakfasts.

Grilled Ranch Pork Chop

No one likes a dry pork chop! Good news: this recipe from Gimme Some Grilling is going to be your new go-to method for the juiciest (and easiest) pork. The secret ingredient is hiding in the grocery store spice aisle.

Sweet Potato Wraps

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (7)

We’re always on the hunt for healthy snacks that the little ones will actually eat, and these sweet potato wraps from Lemons & Basil get the toddler seal of approval. You can fill them up with butter, cheese, or peanut butter for a perfectly balanced snack.

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Wings

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (8)

Three ingredients and a few hours in a Crock Pot and bam! Now you have killer BBQ chicken wings to feed the masses, all thanks to this recipe from Intelligent Domestications. Plus the kids will get a kick out of the “secret ingredient.”

Grilled Cheese Rollups

Flat sandwiches are so last year… These rollups from My Little Gourmet are perfectly sized for tiny hands to dunk into a bowl of soup.

Related:31 Make Ahead Meals That Are Perfect for Busy Weeknights

Handmade Gnocchi

Get your tiny taste testers’ hands deep into potatoes when they help you make gnocchi from scratch! Pair this step-by-step tutorial from Eugenie’s Kitchen with the tomato sauce later in this roundup.

Baked Rollups

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (9)

Roll up ham and cheese for a dinner that will have the little ones forgetting about their pre-boxed meat, cheese, and crackers (you know which ones we're talking about!). You and your kids can whip up this recipe from It's Peachy Keen in less than 20 minutes for a fun, fingers-only meal.

Apple Juice Chicken

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (10)

You know that stockpile of juice boxes your family has been collecting? This sweet recipe, courtesy of Oatmeal With a Fork, puts them to good use! This chicken is flavorful and easy to make—and we’re willing to bet it’ll be a hit with kids and grown-ups alike.

Steak Pinwheels

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (11)

A dinner that is fun to make, fun to look at, and deliciously satisfying to eat? Please let your burgeoning kitchen master bring these pinwheels to your dinner table. Weary Chef simplifies it down so your little one can get artsy with their greens before rolling it up to bake.

Garlic Charred Green Beans

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (12)

For the easiest (and kid-friendliest) side dish, you’ve got to try these green beans from Nyssa’s Kitchen. Her method leaves the beans perfectly tender with a little char on the outside. Drooling yet?

Grilled PB&J Sandwiches

If your little one is tired of sandwiches, switch it up with this tortilla version on the stove. It’s literally as simple as spreading peanut butter and jelly on a tortilla, then heating up before devouring.

Dairy-Free Perfect Noodles

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (13)

This easy dish subs nutritional yeast for parmesan and olive oil for butter to make a simple, dairy-free alternative to your kiddo’s favorite go-to pasta dish. Just cook spaghetti or linguine noodles according to the package, toss in enough olive oil to coat, and sprinkle liberally with nutritional yeast. You can add parsley, pepper, and a pinch of salt if you’re a rule-breaker.

Black Bean Soup

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (14)

Does your kiddo feel like traveling south of the border for dinner? Try out this deliciously simple black bean soup recipe from The Pretty Bee.

Easy Meatballs

We know your kids can’t get enough of meatballs once they’re on the table—it’s time to teach them where those delicious things come from. Take a peek at Persnickety Plates’ recipe for three-ingredient slow cooker pineapple teriyaki meatballs and have your little sous chef’s help with all the prep.

Rich Tomato Sauce

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (15)

This one's an easy one for momma's helper, and it's done in no time at all. The Honour System has got tomato sauce down to a two-step science: simmer and stir!

Maple & Mustard Salmon

Your iron chefs-in-training may or may not be ready for handling raw salmon, but they can certainly help out with a sweet and spicy glaze from For the Love of Cooking.

Advertisem*nt

3-Ingredient Recipes That Make Kids AND Parents Happy (2024)

FAQs

What foods boost mood for kids? ›

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, chia seeds, walnuts and flaxseeds are known to reduce feelings of depression. At the same time, Vitamin B6 helps to regulate sleep, reduce tiredness, and improve alertness. Oats, wheatgerm, bananas and peanuts are some of the sources of this vitamin.

What food makes kids happy? ›

Dark leafy greens are high in Vitamin B-12, B9 (also known asfolate) and other B-vitamins. B-vitamins get an “A+” when it comes to producing natural brain chemicals that positively affect mood and other brain functions. Common leafy greens that you can grow in your garden include kale and spinach.

What can you cook in 3 minutes? ›

Three-Minute Meals
  • Mushroom Toast. 1 piece whole-grain toast. ...
  • Spring Salad with Shrimp and Brown Rice. ...
  • Italian-Style Ratatouille with Chicken Sausage. ...
  • Quick Vegetarian Tacos. ...
  • Mediterranean-Style Loaded Baked Potato. ...
  • Breakfast for Dinner: Vegetarian Omelette. ...
  • Asian-Inspired Stir Fry. ...
  • Whole Grain Flatbread Pizza and Salad.
Jun 7, 2017

What is the healthiest meal you can make? ›

10 Simple Dinner Ideas for Healthy Eating in Real Life
  1. Stuffed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are loaded with beneficial nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber ( 1 ). ...
  2. Grain bowls. ...
  3. Veggie loaded frittatas. ...
  4. Dinner salad. ...
  5. Loaded brown rice pasta. ...
  6. One-pot soups. ...
  7. Curry. ...
  8. Burgers.
Jun 30, 2021

What foods do kids love the most? ›

In my experience, most kids like white bread, spaghetti (sometimes without tomato sauce), white rice, pizza, and chicken nuggets (fried boneless, breaded, bite-sized chicken pieces). Kids tend to like foods with high sugar content as well, such as carrots, fruit juices, and of course, desserts of various kinds.

What are kids least favorite food? ›

The foods children are most likely to turn their nose up at are cabbage, onions - and Brussels sprouts. A study of 1,000 parents, of 5-11-year-olds, revealed the top 30 foods kids are particularly wary of, including broccoli, tomatoes, and spinach. Others complain about eating mushrooms, avocado, and fish.

What is the food least liked as a child? ›

The most hated foods by children usually include milk, spinach, mushrooms, and water. Do not worry. Food preferences will change over the years and children usually grow up to develop a taste for the foods they hated in their childhood.

What food do 10 year olds like? ›

A standard 10 year old should be willing to eat anything put in front of them. However, a picky 10 year old would probably prefer a few foods over others. This includes pizza, mac and cheese, hot dogs, ice cream, chicken nuggets, hamburgers and grilled cheese.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6094

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.