Find the best side dishes for kids with these easy recipes. Each is nutritious, easy to make, and super yummy for little and big kids alike.
Find my go-to easy sides to make serving meals to kids much easier. These are the ones I turn to in order to easily round out meals and add variety and nutrients. They are also my favorite easy way to add a sort of “safety net” to meals. Which means these simple foods can help ensure the kids always have something they like on the table during a meal where they may not love the main dish.
There are easy fruit side dish recipes here, including sauteed apples and baked pears. There are also muffins and make-ahead options, like cornbread muffins and broccoli rice. And plenty of easy vegetable recipes, including our favorite roasted carrots and roasted frozen broccoli.
(For more yummy recipes, check out my Sweet Potato Fritters, Beet Pasta Sauce, and Pasta in Brodo.)
Table of Contents
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Simple Sauteed Apples
- Easy Sliced Baked Apples
- Quick Sauteed Cinnamon Pears
- Easy Baked Pears
- Easy Broccoli Rice
- Cheesy Broccoli Rice
- Easy Roasted Broccoli
- Roasted Frozen Broccoli
- Easy Roasted Carrot Fries
- Quick & Easy Sauteed Carrots
- Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)
- Favorite Buttered Noodles
- Easy Baked Risotto
- Easy Oatmeal Muffins
- Easy Cornbread Muffins
- How to Store
- Best Tips for Success
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whole grain crackers, applesauce, roasted vegetables, salad with chopped lettuce to make it easier to eat, steamed vegetables, rice, buttered pasta, dips, and more are some easy options to try.
Roasted vegetables like Sweet Potato Baby Food, a puree in a reusable pouch, mashed avocado or Avocado Puree, or soft fruit prepared for the age of the baby so it’s easy and safe to eat.
Some of our favorites include applesauce, fresh fruit, cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, whole grain crackers, bread, toast, rotisserie chicken, or thinly sliced raw vegetables like cucumbers or bell peppers.
Simple Sauteed Apples
Made with just three ingredients, these simple apples pair perfectly with oatmeal, pancakes, and yogurt, as well as savory mains like pork and chicken.
Easy Sliced Baked Apples
This super simple method transforms apples into sweet slices of goodness without any need for extra sugar or fancy ingredients.
Quick Sauteed Cinnamon Pears
Whenever I have a few pears on hand—or pears that just won’t ripen—I love turning them into these cooked pears.
Easy Baked Pears
With a super simple method and a most delicious flavor, these Baked Pears are a favorite snack for babies, toddlers, and us parents.
Easy Broccoli Rice
This healthy broccoli recipe has subtle garlic flavor, fiber from brown rice, and all of the nutrition you expect from broccoli. It also boasts a surprising amount of vegetarian protein, as an added bonus.
Cheesy Broccoli Rice
With nutrients, creamy texture, and ultimate cheesiness, this one-pan dish is a great vegetarian main or an easy side dish.
Easy Roasted Broccoli
This Roasted Broccoli requires just three ingredients and less than 20 minutes, and the result is slightly sweet and caramelized. So yummy!
Roasted Frozen Broccoli
I love to keep a bag of frozen broccoli on hand in the freezer to make this easy side dish to go with weeknight meals, and I love how easy it is to add flavor according to our moods.
Easy Roasted Carrot Fries
Made with just three simple ingredients, this side comes together in under 30 minutes—and most of that is hands off time when the carrots are in the oven and you can be doing other things!
Quick & Easy Sauteed Carrots
These Sauteed Carrots are an example of the types of veggie recipes for kids I make regularly when I’m in a time crunch come dinner—which is always. My kids love them.
Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)
I love this approach to Cheesy Rice because the four flavor variations make it easy for kids (and adults!) to eat, the veggies are soft, and there’s just enough cheese for it to be creamy and yummy.
Favorite Buttered Noodles
I love this since it’s serious comfort food, and it can be topped with all sorts of additional flavor boosters for adults as we like—so we can all happily share the meal.
Easy Baked Risotto
I love traditional risotto, but I find it to be nearly impossible to make with toddlers and kids underfoot—which is why baking it in the oven is such a nice option! This version has just a handful of ingredients, too, and can be finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon for a nice fresh flavor.
Easy Oatmeal Muffins
These have a solid dose of oatmeal for fiber, whole grains, and complex carbohydrates, yet are naturally sweet and tender—like a classic muffin should be.
Easy Cornbread Muffins
They are soft, easy to mix up, and store well in the fridge or freezer. Oh, and the kids love them!
How to Store
Store leftover side dishes in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. Warm up as needed and refer to the Notes at the end of each individual recipe for more specific storage information.
Best Tips for Success
- Remember that you don’t need to make a lot of sides dishes when feeding your family, but 1 or 2 can add variety and nutrition to a meal.
- Let the kids help choose a side dish as an easy way to help them feel invested in a meal.
- Try no-cook sides like applesauce, fresh fruit, cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, whole grain crackers, bread, toast, or thinly sliced raw vegetables like cucumbers or bell peppers.
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