Find the best dairy-free recipes for kids to make feeding toddlers and kids with milk allergies and intolerances easy and delicious. Bonus: Everyone in the family will love these recipes, too!
Dairy-Free Recipes for Kids
Finding nutritious dairy-free recipes that the kids will actually eat can be a challenge—so much kids food has so much cheese!—but I hope this list helps you to have a few more options for easy toddler meals and kid-friendly recipes.
There is almost always a substitution available to make a recipe dairy-free, but there are also so many delicious recipes and foods that naturally don’t contain any dairy. Some of my favorites are below.
(You can always use plain nondairy milk, a nondairy yogurt substitute, or a neutral oil in place of butter—or vegan butter!)
This post includes my top dairy-free picks and you can see all dairy-free recipes for kids that are either naturally dairy-free or have a dairy-free option in the Notes at the end of the recipe.
What to Feed a Dairy-Free Toddler
When a child can’t have dairy, it can help to focus on the foods they can eat. A dairy-free toddler, assuming no other allergies, can eat the following dairy-free foods:
- Complex carbohydrates including whole grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat, poultry, fish
- Legumes, seeds, and nuts
- Healthy fats including avocado, hemp, chia, and flax
- Plant-based dairy substitutions including plant milk, nondairy yogurts, and more
TIP: Keep a running physical list of all of the foods your child can eat if you often feel stumped for what to serve them.
Dairy-Free Breakfast Recipes
These dairy-free recipes for kids either are free from dairy or offer easy substitutes—and are great options for easy toddler breakfasts.
These simple blender muffins pack a serious nutrition punch and are dairy-free, with a nut-free option. I prefer the flavor of these once they are fully cooled and chilled in the fridge.
Chocolate Protein Muffins (With Veggies!)
These are delicious served warm soon after baking, at room temperature or even chilled, so see what your family prefers. They are naturally dairy-free and can be made gluten-free and egg-free as well. See the Notes section for details.
Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins
With just a handful of nutritious ingredients and an easy method, these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are a perfect treat to share. We love to make and enjoy these each fall for breakfast, snack time, or as a simple side dish for dinner. (This recipe has very little flour—that is not a mistake.)
Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
With naturally sweet flavor and a simple method, these pancakes are a favorite Sunday staple in our house. (I sometimes even hide a few bananas on the top of the fridge to ensure we have super ripe ones ready!)
Fluffy Vegan Banana Pancakes
Use Sunbutter to make these nut-free. You can cut these into smaller bars if desired. If you want them a little softer, serve them at room temperature rather than chilled.
Healthy Breakfast Bars with Jam
Learn to customize yummy smoothies for your toddler by starting with one simple recipe, then adjusting based on which fruit and veggies you’d like to use.
Favorite Healthy Toddler Smoothie (with Veggies!)
TIP: You can make any smoothie recipe using nondairy milk or nondairy yogurt. Any overnight oats recipe can be made with nondairy yogurt.
Dairy-Free Snack Recipes
Try these healthy snacks for kids if you need to provide dairy-free options. They are easy to make, easy to store, and super yummy for the kids to eat.
With an easy method, accessible pantry ingredients, and the yummiest flavor, these Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are a snack time staple.
Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Perfectly spiced and just sweet enough, these Applesauce Muffins are a yummy breakfast or snack. We like these on their own, topped with nut or seed butter, or even with a smear of cream cheese. See what your littles like!
Favorite Applesauce Muffins
Salty-sweet coconut chips are a favorite snack to make and share with the kids. Feel free to double the recipe and use two sheet pans to make more at once.
Easy Coconut Chips
Learn the easiest way to make a batch of Applesauce Pouches, with six flavor options, in less than 30 minutes. This is easy, delicious, and versatile—and a perfect way to batch-prep a snack or meal component.
Favorite Applesauce Pouches
This roasted chickpeas recipe is an easy and delicious way to add nutrition to your toddler’s diet. If you start with dried beans in this salty-sweet snack, make sure to cook them until they are very tender. If making these for a kiddo under one, use maple syrup instead of honey or skip the sweetener altogether.
Soft Roasted Chickpeas with Cinnamon
These no-bake bites taste like a cross between oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookie dough. I use natural creamy peanut butter (like the kind from Smuckers), and it works really well.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
With just 5 simple and nutritious ingredients and no baking, these Fruit and Nut Bars taste like store-bought Larabars but for less cost. You can customize the flavors and store them in the fridge or freezer for weeks.
Fruit and Nut Bars (Copycat Larabar)
TIP: Store-bought snacks including mini Larabars, MadeGood granola bars, and Enjoy Life Foods products are all dairy-free.
Dairy-Free Dinner Ideas
Try these family-friendly dairy-free recipes for kids for dinner to feed everyone at the table a delicious dairy-free meal.
You can use whichever type of rice your family likes best. We rotate through short grain brown rice, basmati, and jasmine. Adults may want to top their portions with shredded fresh basil and/or crushed red pepper.
Easy Stuffed Peppers Skillet
Crispy on the outside and tender in the middle, these Homemade Chicken Nuggets are both easy and delicious. You can prep the sweet potato up to 5 days ahead if that’s easier for you, too. Try serving these with ketchup, ranch, or marinara sauce.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets (with Sweet Potato)
With a short ingredient list and cooking time, these Fish Nuggets are ready in about 20 minutes and are crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. They are such a delicious meal to share with the kids.
Crispy Fish Nuggets
Transform pantry staples into the yummiest homemade Vegetarian Burrito Bowls with this easy recipe. (Prep the rice, beans, and veggies ahead if you can or want to. They store well in the fridge and simply need to be reheated.)
Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can make this cozy Pastina Soup to share with the kids in under 30 minutes. Look for little star “pastina” pasta in the pasta aisle.
Quick Pastina Soup
With plant-based protein and Vitamin C-rich veggies, this brightly flavored Red Lentil Soup—with sweet potato, ginger, and coconut— is a perfect fast family dinner ready in less than 30 minutes.
Easy Red Lentil Soup
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
When serving this to a little one, I like to drain off much of the broth. This makes it a little easier (and less messy) for them to eat. If your family likes spice, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)
This Lentil Patties recipe has a short ingredient list, the flavor of lentil falafel, and a cooking method that’s quick and easy. Plus, each patty is easy enough for little ones to pick up and eat, and they store and reheat well for future meals!
Easy Lentil Patties
With just a few ingredients and a quick cooking time, these Chickpea Fritters are a protein–packed meal that’s ready in under 20 minutes. (And they reheat well for the future, too!)
Easy Chickpea Fritters
Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas for Kids
Find these easy dairy-free recipes for kids to serve for lunch without having to rely on cheese or yogurt.
You can make one sandwich at a time, or make a batch of a few to stash in the freezer. Adjust this as needed for your preference.
Easiest Homemade Uncrustables
Banana Sushi is a seriously fun and fast lunch for kids—that’s filling too! Plus: You only need three nutritious ingredients to make this lunch.
Banana Sushi (3-Ingredient Kids Lunch)
This simple Pasta Salad with Chicken works well anytime of the year, but the flavors are particularly great in summer. Try it for dinner, a potluck, or to meal-prep lunch.
Pasta Salad with Chicken
Learn this easy technique to add iron and fiber to pasta sauce without impacting the flavor or texture. This is a great option to make a meal a little more satisfying and as an iron-rich vegetarian meal. (You can start with half the amount of lentils to start to ensure the kids like the sauce, if desired.)
Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta
Quickly combine a few simple ingredients to make a really yummy lunch wrap. This recipe makes one wrap, so increase the serving size as necessary.
Easy Hummus Wrap (to Share with the Kids)
Dairy-Free Desserts
These are my go-to dairy-free desserts for kids, which can be enjoyed by the whole family.
With an easy method, full-fruit flavor, and endless variations, these Fruit Popsicles are refreshing and delicious for any age.
Favorite Fruit Popsicles
Refreshing, simple, and ready in minutes, this Mango Sorbet is a seriously delish recipe to share with the kids. You don’t need an ice cream maker and yet, it’s perfectly creamy! Plan to serve right after making.
2-Ingredient Mango Sorbet
This makes a small batch of lightly sweet cookies. Double it to make more. If at any point the dough seems too sticky, pop it into the fridge for 5-10 minutes to firm up a bit. Or dust your parchment paper and cookie cutters with flour.
Easy Sugar Cookies (Healthy and Delish!)
Flavorful, whole-wheat gingerbread with just a hint of natural sweetness. These are a perfect holiday cookie to make with the kids. Double the batch to make more.
Easy Gingerbread Cookies
With the exact texture and a similar flavor to classic Rice Crispy Treats, this version boasts only 3 ingredients and a natural sweetener. Plus, these Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats take only minutes to make AND they’re so super yummy!
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
TIP: Buy dairy-free chocolate chips as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can usually use melted coconut oil in place of butter in baked goods or olive oil in savory foods. It may vary depending on the recipe.
You can usually use a nondairy plant milk (plain unsweetened is best) in place of regular dairy milk in baked goods and other recipes. It may vary depending on the recipe.
According to Jenny McGlothlin and Katja Rowell, MD, authors of Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating, some parents think that their children are allergic when it is a lactose intolerance. In those cases, lactose-free milk, hard aged cheeses, some yogurt, and even chocolate milk are more readily tolerated.
Additionally, some children grow out of an earlier sensitivity and even allergies. Check with your doctor for more detailed information.
Best Tips for Success
- In recipes that call for milk, use plain nondairy milk, plant-based milk, or lactose-free milk if that works for your family.
- In recipes that call for butter, use vegan butter or melted coconut oil or avocado oil. Some recipes also work with coconut milk for adding a creamy texture.
- For recipes that call for yogurt, try Greek-style nondairy yogurt.
- Try easy sides like Roasted Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, simple noodles, roasted cauliflower, Roasted Carrot Fries, peas, sliced cucumbers, Roasted Bell Peppers, salsa and crackers, or a dip like hummus.
- Add more flavor without relying on cheese with fresh herbs, soy sauce, nut butter, garlic, and/or onion.
- Some families like to replace Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment to share!
This post was first published June 2019.