When I have no energy to time to cook, or I just want a break, these are the easy toddler meals I turn to. Each idea is nutritious yummy, and requires hardly any cooking at all!
This list is meant to give you a few new ideas for easy kids meals you can pull together in minutes. Each is made with a mix of nutrients and can be adjusted and customized for your own kids.
I love to take the opportunity on busy nights to make quick dinners for kids that are simple and easy. And most of the time the kids appreciate that!
Of course, everyone’s idea of “easy” and “cooking” is different, so there’s a range here. Some of these toddler dinners do require cooking and some are assembly only (and others rely on leftovers being stored away in the freezer), but all are relatively straightforward. Keep this list on hand for those nights when you need to make family dinner, but you need to make your life a little easier.
(You may also like Healthy Toddler Breakfasts, Toddler Lunch Ideas, and recipes for constipated toddlers.)
Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!
Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
22 Easy Toddler Meals—No Recipes Required
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.
I have all kinds of easy ways to incorporate veggies into pasta dishes for kids, but some days, we just need the classic and comforting option of Buttered Noodles. This is my go-to method for the creamiest, easiest buttered pasta to share with the kids.
Favorite Buttered Noodles
Mac and Cheese with Peas
This easy recipe is one of our very favorite shortcut toddler meals. It comes together quickly, you’re not actually making anything from scratch, and it’s a complete and satisfying meal.
Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
Transform beans and cheese into delish Vegetarian Quesadillas in less than 10 minutes for family dinner tonight—or a go-to kids meal for anytime.
Quick Pizza Quesadillas
These are ready in about 6 minutes, have classic pizza flavor with a soft and easy to chew texture, and are almost endlessly versatile!
This meal is perfect for when you’re short on time or when you want to make pizza with less fuss. Add a simple side of cut up fruit, applesauce, or a salad kit and call it good.
Quick Pizza Quesadillas (An Easy Kids Meal)
Quick English Muffin Pizzas
They are so fast to make, and you can reheat them from the fridge or the freezer—so you can assemble them whenever you have the time and serve them up in minutes.
I am here for all of the quick and easy meal ideas, and these English Muffin Pizzas are just SO good. They are classic, versatile, and easy to make ahead and reheat. A total win!
Quick English Muffin Pizzas
10-Minute Flatbread Pizza
This is the easiest way I know how to make homemade pizza that actually tastes like it’s from scratch—and it’s lightning fast.
For delicious homemade pizza without the work and in a lot less time, Flatbread Pizza to the rescue. Adjust this for allergies as you need.
10-Minute Flatbread Pizza (Just 3 Ingredients!)
Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta
You need just 2 simple pantry staples, the method takes just a few minutes, and you can store the sauce in the refrigerator or freezer for future easy meals.
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
Easy Snack Dinner
The next time you just cannot summon the energy to cook a meal…Snack Dinner to the rescue! I love this easy concept because it’s so easy to make one big platter for the whole family to share or individual plates for each kiddo.
You can do a big family-style platter or individual ones for the kids depending on your preference. Add anything else that sounds appealing and know that the nutrition info will vary according to what you use.
Easy Snack Dinner (to Share with the Kids!)
Best 2-Ingredient Baby Pancakes
I love recipes for kids that use simple ingredients and are also SUPER quick and easy to make and this method totally fits that bill.
Blend up a fruit or veggie with an egg for the fluffiest, easiest, healthy baby pancakes. These use just 2 ingredients, have four flavor options, and are a perfect texture for both babies and toddlers. See the NOTES at the bottom for the flavor variations.
Best 2-Ingredient Baby Pancakes
Quick Cottage Cheese Pancakes
They’re an easy toddler breakfast idea that you can make and serve in the moment or reheat on a future morning.
These Cottage Cheese Pancakes have just a few ingredients and are packed with nutrients. So yummy! Double the ingredients to make a larger batch to feed a family of four as this recipe is on the smaller side.
Quick Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Easy Breakfast Burritos
These easy burritos are so straightforward to make and are one of my favorite make-ahead breakfast options. I love that I can make a pile of them at once and store them in the fridge or freezer to warm up on future days.
With just 4 simple ingredients, these easy Breakfast Burritos can be made ahead and reheated, or made in minutes and served right away. They’re a protein-packed breakfast to share with the kids.
Easy Breakfast Burritos
Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
These bowls are easy to prep ahead (should you have the time) and easy to serve family-style so everyone can decide exactly how they want their bowl.
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
Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos
With just 5 simple and nutritious ingredients, you can make these Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos for family dinner. They’re great to make ahead, too!
You can make and serve these at the same time, or prep them ahead of time and warm up quickly for an easy meal. You can vary the beans in these simple burritos. Serve them with salsa and/or sour cream.
Vegetarian Rice and Beans Burritos
Tortellini in Broth
You need only a few ingredients to make this soup recipe for kids (and Italian recipes in general), and you can use a few different options for the broth. From there, it’s easy to add flavor for kids who like that or to enhance your own serving.
With just a few ingredients and the easiest method, you can make the most comforting Tortellini in Broth. It’s one of the easiest soups ever, ready in just 15 minutes.
Tortellini in Broth
Quick Pasta with Peas
It’s rich in vegetarian protein, it’s very fast, and it’s easy for little kids to eat—and for grown-ups to enjoy, too.
With just a few ingredients, you can make a satisfying vegetarian meal to share with the kids. This Pasta with Peas is fast, simple, and so yummy
Quick Pasta with Peas
Easy Taco Roll Ups
This is a fun yet easy way to vary up how we serve the basic ingredients of a quesadilla and refried beans—or smashed pinto beans. Both options hold the tortilla together, which is nice here.
This super simple riff on tacos takes just minutes to make, is really satisfying, and is great for lunch, dinner, or even snack. (This makes 6 rolled-up tacos, so you can adjust this as needed for your family.)
Easy Taco Roll Ups
Quick Sandwich Roll Ups
Transform a basic sandwich into a super fun Sandwich Roll-Up with a simple method anyone can do. This works with a variety of fillings and can be served at home or packed for school lunch.
Pair a soft sandwich bread with your filling of choice to make this easy toddler lunch or school lunch. You can even make them the night before.
Quick Sandwich Roll Ups (2-Minute School Lunch)
Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe
The idea is so simple, but we have found a few tips that make it tastier, have a better texture, and hold together well enough for little kids to pick up.
Roll up a few simple ingredients to make this delicious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It’s a great lunch wrap for home or school, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit the preferences of your child. This makes one wrap, so scale up as desired.
Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe
Easy Hummus Wrap
This no-cook meal is an easy lunch for school or for work or home for you. And you can make it in less than 5 minutes!
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)
Yogurt Flatbread
You can mix together this bread dough and have the whole thing ready to eat under 20 minutes. There’s no waiting for it to rise or rest, and no need for yeast. It’s similar to naan bread in flavor and texture and can be used in similar ways.
With two main ingredients and no rising time, this Yogurt Flatbread is a protein-rich meal component. We love it with hummus for an easy kids meal—and how well it stores for future meals!
Yogurt Flatbread (2 Ingredients)
Favorite Healthy Toddler Smoothie
It’s a perfect smoothie for kids since it’s naturally sweet, loaded with nutrition from fruit and veggies, and tastes great!
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!)
Favorite Protein Shakes for Kids
With simple ingredients, naturally sweet flavor, and about a third of your kiddo’s protein needs for the day, these are a great breakfast or snack option.
I’d love to hear your go-to easy meals, so chime in below in the comments!