50 Chicken Recipes for Kids That They’ll Actually Like
Chicken, we just can’t quit you. You’re dependable, easy to cook and definitely take the number one spot on the list of proteins our kids will eat. Here, a shout-out to your greatness with 50 chicken recipes for kids that they’ll actually enjoy (and the rest of the fam will gobble up too).
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1. Honey-Mustard Chicken Bake
The combination of savory and sweet will secure this one-dish meal a part of the weekly rotation.
2. Chicken and Carrot Cups
When in doubt, put everything in a muffin tin and bake it. The shape is a guaranteed hit with the pre-K set.
3. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
Ahh, tenders. We’re not kids anymore, but we’ll still happily eat them for dinner, especially when they’re baked instead of fried.
4. Baked Chicken Meatballs with Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Noodles + pesto + tender, savory meatballs = a match made in little kid heaven.
5. Parmesan-Ranch Chicken Thighs
They’ll be hooked at the first mention of ranch.
6. Mini Chicken Shawarma
And the award for cutest lunch goes to…
7. One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo
It’s a classic for good reason, but with a modern update. Read: It takes 35 minutes from start to finish and comes together in a single saucepan.
8. Chicken Potpie Hand Pies
If they can wrap their little fingers around their meal, all the better.
9. Chrissy Teigen’s Cheesy Chicken Milanese
Extra crispy and stuffed with mozzarella? Yep, this has Friday dinner written all over it.
10. Chicken Parmesan Bites
The key to a kid’s heart is breaded and bite-size with marinara for dipping.
11. Paprika Chicken Pasta
Paprika is just spicy enough to add intrigue without scaring anyone away. Serve this with roasted broccoli and you’re golden.
12. Meal-Prep Honey Sesame Chicken with Broccolini
We paired this sticky chicken with cauliflower rice and broccolini, but you can mix up the sides to please their palate.
13. Pasta Florentine with Grilled Chicken
It’s kind of like macaroni and cheese with chicken and spinach. What’s not to love?
14. Homemade Chicken Taquitos
Tortillas get filled with chicken and cheese, then fried until they’re crispy. Pass the sour cream.
15. Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Pile on the freshly grated Parmesan and serve it with toasted bread for a real dinnertime hit. (And hey, you hardly had to lift a finger.)
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16. Honey Mustard Sheet-Pan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts
They can’t have nuggets with honey mustard every night, but this tastes close enough to satisfy their developing taste buds.
17. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers
You’ll feel good about serving a lightened-up chicken salad, and they’ll think you’re a genius for putting it in bell pepper boats. Win-win.
18. Easiest Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Since standing at the stove is not happening on a Tuesday night, move the entire production to the oven. In 35 minutes, dinner is done.
19. Garlic Breaded Roast Chicken Breast
Breaded chicken is fine…but garlic breaded chicken is so much better.
20. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir-Fry
Short on time? Enter the stir-fry. This one takes 20 minutes tops and is way healthier than ordering takeout.
21. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet
The chicken gets brushed with pesto and topped with cheese before baking until bubbly. Need we say more?
22. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Honey, we shrunk the sandwiches. (And no one is mad about it at all.)
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23. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Skip the whole sauce-on-the-side business and glaze the tenders in it from the get-go.
24. Avocado Chicken Salad
By adding creamy avocado to an already kid-friendly classic, you can ease up on the mayo while simultaneously winning the award for coolest parent.
25. Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets
We can’t deny the power of a chicken nugget. But we can make them a little more nutritious by coating them in quinoa and skipping the deep fryer.
26. Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Plop some warm tortillas on the table and let them go to town.
27. Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Just like your mom used to make, except *so* much easier.
28. Crispy Baked Chicken Burritos
The smaller and more portable, the better.
29. Pineapple Korean Chicken Thighs
If you’re thinking, No way will my kid eat that, think again. The gochujang is similar enough to ketchup that they’ll be all over it.
30. One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Carrots
Even better than a dinner your kid won’t turn up her nose at is one that requires minimal cooking time and cleanup.
31. Black Pepper Chicken
It’s sweet, saucy and actually pretty healthy. (Not today, takeout. Not today.)
32. Skillet Roast Chicken with Peaches, Tomatoes and Red Onion
Give us a skillet and we’ll make you a dinner you can’t refuse.
33. Slow-Cooker Chicken Teriyaki
The hardest thing you’ll have to do is make the rice.
24. Sweet Potato Cheddar Barbecue Chicken Burgers
They don’t like toppings? Leave ’em off.
35. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Pick a mild buffalo sauce if you’re dealing with sensitive palates. Just don’t forget the dressing for dipping (or the napkins).
36. Slow-Cooker Pulled Chicken
Aside from being low-maintenance to make, this one freezes beautifully. Last-minute dinner, done.
37. Baked Chicken and Mushroom Risotto
Risotto? On a weeknight?? You bet—just let your oven do the hard work.
38. Slow-Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
If you’re worried about spice level, make the green chilis optional.
39. Chicken Gnocchi Soup
No one is immune to dreamy, pillowy, potato-y gnocchi. Not even picky kids.
40. Buffalo-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These babies work as a side dish, but they also make a mean main course. Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to five days.
41. Katsu Bites with Chipotle-Gochujang Sauce
Someone at the table doesn’t like sauce? No problem. Keep it for yourself and thank us later.
42. Baked Chicken Breasts
This one goes with anything and everything.
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43. Chicken Pesto Focaccia Sandwiches
Lunchmeat doesn’t know what’s coming.
44. Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil
Once everything’s cooked, you can toss the foil. Look ma, no dishes!
45. Slow-Cooker Chicken Potpie Soup
The entire family will be instantly hooked when you dish up this one. Pretend it was so much work.
46. Firecracker Chicken with Rice
The stickier and sweeter the sauce, the better.
47. Chicken Tacos
These tacos have a secret: They get wrapped up before being fried, so nothing falls out when you go for a bite.
48. Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs
Meatballs are already hard to resist. Add a buttery, creamy tomato sauce for a complete home run.
49. Dijon-Maple Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
File this one under “how to get kids to eat Brussels sprouts.” (It’s all about that glaze.)
50. Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery
Thanks to rotisserie chicken, these lunchtime heroes take 20 minutes to make. Who’s the greatest of all time? You are.
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