Find the best kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes (that are also easy!) to share with your family. Each recipe is easy to make, is designed to be easy for kids to eat, and still delicious enough for the adults at the table, too.
Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
I know firsthand how challenging it can be to cook a big holiday meal with kids running underfoot, in terms of the logistics and also trying to make food that the kids will enjoy. There is a lot about holiday food that can be challenging for kids, including that many of our traditional dishes are ones that they haven’t seen very many times yet in their lives.
I try to encourage families not to stress too much about what the kids eat or don’t eat on holidays like Thanksgiving—because so many of the foods are still unfamiliar to our littles and pressure can just make the meal so much harder for everyone to enjoy. It’s totally normal for some kids to eat only foods they know, like rolls or crackers, and others to try a range.
The more we can remember that the holidays mean so much more than just the food, the more we’ll be able to really enjoy the time together.
Having said all of that, I do have my favorite Thanksgiving recipes for kids to share that are designed for the littlest eaters at the table in mind. These are holiday dishes that everyone at the table can enjoy together, so you don’t have to cook extra food just for the kids.
Here you’ll find a mix of Thanksgiving recipes from muffins and quick breads to holiday side dishes and desserts. They’re all great in both the days leading up to the holiday and on the holiday itself.
(These holiday printables and activities the kids can do while you cook may help, too.)
TIP: You can find my make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes and tips here if you want to get ahead.
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Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Vegetables
Here are my favorite vegetable side dishes to make for Thanksgiving to share with the kids. There’s a mix of sweet potato recipes, baby food purees, and classic vegetable sides like green beans and Brussels Sprouts.
Silky, smooth, and dairy-free, these Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes are SO darn good as a holiday side or a weeknight veggie. Bonus: These sweet potatoes are a super delish baby food!
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Look for a pumpkin labeled “pie” or “sugar” for the best flavor. I used a Winter Density Squash, which is an heirloom variety. The amount of puree you’ll wind up with will depend on the size of your pumpkin.
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Creamy, easy to make, and so delicious, these Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes are a favorite for holidays and family meals. (I prefer to use Yukon Gold potatoes in this recipe. They are usually widely available at grocery stores.) Double or triple this recipe as needed.
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Serve these plain or add one of the seasoning suggestions below—mashed butternut squash is very versatile!
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You can break or cut these into any size you prefer. I usually just break them in half.
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Try these quick Shredded Brussels Sprouts for a simple side for dinner. It’s extra flavorful from lemon and Parmesan and is also slightly sweet and pleasantly nutty. Your kids might (they might!) just surprise you by eating it up! (If not? More for you!)
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Thanksgiving Baby Food
Easy baby food options in seasonal flavors are a perfect way to include baby at the table. These are some of our favorite purees and blw-style Thanksgiving foods.
This fresh pumpkin puree is mellow and flavorful, and can be combined with other purees to make delicious baby food combinations. (See the Notes for flavor options.) The amount of puree you wind up with will vary according to the size of the pumpkin you start with.
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Learn the easiest way to make flavorful Brussels Sprouts Baby Food with one simple method. Plus: Find storage and serving tips.
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Perfectly creamy Sweet Potato Puree is a very favorite easy side dish (and baby food!). This is delicious in fall, takes less than 30 minutes, and can be flavored in all sorts of ways.
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There’s no one right serving size for every child, so start with a smaller amount and offer more as indicated by baby. When they turn their head or close their mouth, end the meal—it’s usually pretty obvious when they want to be done!
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Learn the easiest way to turn fresh acorn squash into Acorn Squash Baby Food as a puree and a baby-led weaning finger food. This can also work as an easy side dish for the entire family, or you can easily freeze portions for future weeks.
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We like these apples warm or cold out of the fridge, so see what your kids like best!
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These quick stove top Cinnamon Apples cook in under 10 minutes, are perfectly tender, and can be served with or without added sugar. They’re a delicious snack or topping for yogurt or oatmeal—and they taste like apple pie filling!
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Easy Cranberry Sauce
I love to make this cranberry orange sauce each year because it’s incredibly easy and it has the best flavor. We have it as a side on Thanksgiving, but also love to stir it into plain yogurt as a fruit-on-the-bottom option.
You can make this weeks ahead and stash it into the freezer, too.
Yes, this is delicious on turkey, but it also makes a great jam or addition to a bowl of plain yogurt with honey!
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Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Muffins and Breads
These are all great holiday sides or easy foods to have on hand for Thanksgiving breakfast. And all of them can be made a few days (or a few weeks, if you put them into the freezer, ahead.)
We love to have one of these on hand for the holiday since they are festive in flavor and easy to pull out as needed.
This Applesauce Bread comes together in one bowl in just minutes and bakes up into the most delicious quick bread. It’s lightly spiced, super moist, and freezes beautifully.
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These bars are tender when warm out of the oven, so do be sure to let them cool completely before slicing.
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Tender, fluffy, and perfectly spiced, these easy Pumpkin Muffins are a one-bowl, no-special-equipment recipe that’s perfect to share for breakfast or snack.
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Use a gluten-free flour blend or whole wheat depending on what works best for your family. This recipe has very little flour—that is not a mistake. They bake up wonderfully, so have faith! Adapted from Against All Grain.
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These store well in the fridge so you can make them a day or two ahead if you prefer—or bake and serve warm from the oven. These taste like a cross between baked oatmeal and a traditional pumpkin muffin (they don’t have any flour, so they’re a little denser than a traditional muffin, but still super moist!).
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This bread has the classic flavor and moist crumb of a traditional Pumpkin Bread, but with half the sugar. It stores well too! (Heads up: There’s a full can of pumpkin puree In this, so it takes a little longer to bake.)
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Combine a handful of simple ingredients into fresh Cranberry Orange Muffins to share with the kids come breakfast or snack time … or to serve alongside your favorite chili, soup, or holiday recipe. (These mini muffins work best with fresh cranberries.)
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This delicious Cranberry Orange bread is flavorful and tender—and it works really well to bake ahead and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve it. We love it topped with cream cheese, but butter and honey also work.
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Moist and nutritious, these healthy cornmeal muffins are an easy side, quick breakfast, or yummy snack.
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These moist muffins are great on their own or topped with butter, honey, or apple butter. Try them for breakfast, snack, or as a side for dinner.
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Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts
From cookies and cupcakes to our very favorite pies, these holiday desserts will make the whole family happy. Each has classic flavor and less sugar than similar recipes so the flavors of all of the ingredients shine right through.
I like to frost these soon before serving. You can make the frosting ahead, transfer it to a zip top bag, and store in the fridge until ready to add to the cupcakes.
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These fluffy cookies are not super sweet, so you can add 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar to the batter if desired. (We like them just fine as is with the chocolate chips for sweetness!)
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These Fluffy Pumpkin Cookies are soft and delicious, and they almost melt in your mouth. They take only 20 minutes to make and are perfect for Thanksgiving or winter holidays—or any time you have a craving. They’re particularly pretty with a sprinkles on top!
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With a super simple, lightly sweetened dough, these Thanksgiving Cookies are such a fun dessert to make and share with the kids. You can do any shape you prefer, though we’re partial to tiny turkeys!
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Bake up an easy batch of Sweet Potato Cookies for a fun dessert to share with the kids for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any day of the week.
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With sweet-tart flavors and an easy method, this pie is perfect for the winter holidays! Use fresh or frozen cranberries in this recipe for the best results. Discard any that are blemished or shriveled.
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This pie is similar to classic pumpkin, but has so much flavor from the squash.
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Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas
These are in contention for an easy, yet festive Thanksgiving breakfast. You can also make these ahead of time and reheat or pull out as you like. (Many are also a great way to use up a little leftover pumpkin if you have some lying around.)
You can make this in about 15 minutes on any morning, or make the whole recipe ahead and simply warm right before serving. See the Notes for variations to make it with other types of oats.
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These Pumpkin Pancakes stir together in one bowl, are fluffy and flavorful, and are a perfect breakfast to share with the kids. They’re made with whole-wheat flour and just enough pumpkin spice.
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Use this easy method to make the best Pumpkin French Toast to share with the kids. These are a versatile, delicious breakfast option—and they take less than 15 minutes to make and reheat in 2 minutes!
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Learn how to make the easiest French toast casserole with this simple method. It works with any fruit and is a great option for using up leftover bread!
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With just five ingredients and a hands-off baking method, this French Toast Casserole with apples is special enough for holidays and easy enough for weekdays.
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This creamy Pumpkin Smoothie has delicious pumpkin-pie-like flavor and is a delicious meal component or snack. This makes two toddler-size servings, or a smoothie to share for a parent and toddler. You can freeze any leftovers into a freezer pop!
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Simple Store-Bought Sides to Add
You can of course buy any of the other traditional elements of the meal that you want. Take shortcuts where you need them my friends!
- Rolls or cornbread
- Whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream
- Salad
- Cheese and crackers
- Pumpkin pie or other treats
- Any part of Thanksgiving dinner you don’t want to cook!
Best Tips for Success
- To help keep the kids busy, these free printables are here to help! My kids have been loving these coloring pages for the past week and I can’t wait to use the Turkey Taste Test on the holiday to see what they like.
- I always make a Split Roast Turkey, where you cut down the backbone and lay the turkey flat, since it cooks much faster and more evenly that way in about 3 hours.
- It’s okay if things aren’t perfect! You can make your Thanksgiving menu any way that works for your family.
- Add any other easy recipes or foods your family likes such as green bean casserole or sweet potato casserole.
- It’s okay if the kids don’t eat all of the food! They are new to the world and they’ve only experienced this holiday a handful of times in their lives (if that), so have empathy that they haven’t seen most of these foods many times before.
- Try to remember that the day is about being grateful, not about a perfect meal or whether the kids eat all of the things. Enjoy your family!
- Store anything you make ahead of time in an airtight container. Reheat in 30-60 second increments, stirring in between as needed, until warmed through.
Related Recipes
If you have other tips to share about having a great Thanksgiving with less stress, please share it below!
This post was first published October 2020.