40 Best Chicken Recipes for Kids That Are Fast and Simple
We couldn't keep all of these tasty recipes cooped up!
Even the pickiest of picky eaters will usually agree to eating chicken: It's a delicious, protein-packed choice for any dinner's main ingredient. This is especially true when it comes to children, who are often known to turn up their noses at anything that isn't macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets. But if you're looking to whip up a meal that's a bit more exciting than chicken tenders, know that while chicken recipes for kids are easy to find, sometimes it's that ease that makes choosing just the right one a little bit overwhelming. When you factor in wanting to make healthy, balanced dinners for kids, that can make things more complicated, too. That's why we've rounded up the best chicken recipes for kids — so you can find new ways to get creative with quick and healthy dinner recipes that feature chicken.
Whether you are looking for an easy weeknight dinner plan or you're trying to get out of a boring dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets rut (though, let's be honest, those are pretty fun, too), here are some of the best chicken recipes that will keep kids (and adults) satisfied and happy while maybe even sparking their interest in food and cooking, too. From chicken pizza burgers to sheet pan chicken parm, these are recipes that your entire family is sure to ask for week after week.
Everything Chicken Fingers
What kid doesn't like chicken tenders? This recipe is classic kid fare with a twist. Even the salad might be basic enough to please the little ones in your house.
Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps
If your child is a little more on the adventurous side, these peanut chicken wraps could be a great, super healthy option for an exciting weeknight dinner.
Spaghetti with Roasted Chicken
Spaghetti and chicken are typically two foods which are beloved by kids, so why not combine them?
Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos
When in doubt, throw everything onto a sheet pan and call it a day. While some of these ingredients might not be so kid-friendly, feel free to experiment with whatever toppings your family loves.
Get the Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos recipe.
Chicken Pitas
This recipe fills a crowd-pleasing pita with chicken and lots of other healthy ingredients, but feel free to experiment with your faves.
Grilled Caesar Salad Flatbreads
Trick your kids into eating a healthy salad with this flatbread recipe.
Chicken Kebabs
There's just something fun about kebabs. Your kids can even help put together their own, if you want to make dinner extra exciting.
Get the Chicken Kebabs recipe.
Apricot-Glazed Chicken and Corn
What's not to love about apricot chicken and corn-on-the-cob?
Baked Chicken Cutlets and Pineapple Rice
These baked chicken cutlets look like chicken tenders, while the pineapple rice gives the recipe a sweet twist.
Zesty Fried Chicken
This is food that looks like takeout, but isn't, which will make it that much more appealing to little ones.
Get the Zesty Fried Chicken recipe.
Sesame Chicken
This chicken recipe replaces traditional breadcrumbs with sesame seeds, which will be a fun change from typical nuggets or chicken tenders.
Mediterranean Chicken Pitas
If you have one of those kids who just can't get enough of hummus, this would be a great chicken recipe for them and the whole family.
Get the Mediterranean Chicken Pitas recipe.
Chicken Caesar Salad
If there's any salad that's kid friendly, it's probably the savory chicken caesar salad, so this recipe is worth a try.
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
If your kiddos are sensitive to spice, maybe lay off the more intense ingredients in this recipe, but otherwise, this is sure to be a hit with everyone.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe.
Pasta with Chicken and Bacon
This pasta recipe is filled with delicious chicken and bacon, but also green beans and spinach for a healthy dose of vegetables.
Greek Tacos
Use ground chicken to switch up your boring old taco night with this recipe.
Get the Greek Tacos recipe.
Rigatoni with Chicken and Broccoli
This is like an elevated, cheesy broccoli casserole, so what's not to love?
Chicken Bolognese
Everyone (even the pickiest eaters) seems to love bolognese, and using chicken gives this classic recipe a healthier spin.
Get the Chicken Bolognese recipe.
Greek Chicken Burgers
Everyone loves burgers, so putting a chicken-y spin on things is a great choice.
Get the Greek Chicken Burgers recipe.
Crispy Baked Chicken
Just tell your kids that this recipe uses cereal (cornflakes!) and they might be that much more interested in what you're making for dinner.
Get the Crispy Baked Chicken recipe.
Katelyn Lunders is the Deputy Digital Editor of House Beautiful, where she oversees the brand's digital strategy and audience growth. When she's not obsessing over the latest trend on TikTok, you can find her binge-watching house tours or online shopping for her Upper East Side apartment.
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