27 Easy 20 Minute Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas

Managing house chores, and cooking along with kids can be a little hectic sometimes. You’ll be always running out of time. So if you are looking for easy yet delicious recipes, here are some of the best 20 minutes for kid-friendly dinner ideas.

Chicken pot pies, lemon pasta, sweet and sour chicken, skillet lasagna, and curry lentil soup are some of my favorite kids friendly dinner ideas. All of these are extremely delicious and can be cooked in under 20 minutes.

From pasta to easy salad recipes, I have included some amazing dinner recipes which are delicious and equally nutritious. Most of the recipes are so good that they can be served to adults as well.

So if you are having a very busy day and are wondering what to cook for your kids, try any of these recipes. 

20-Minute Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas

If you have kids at home, then you would know it’s hard to spend too much time on anything let alone cooking! So if you are looking for some delicious kids friendly dinner ideas to cook in under just 20 minutes, here are some of my favorites.

1. Chicken Potpie

With a thin layer of crispy coating outside, chicken pot pie is great kids friendly dinner idea you can cook for dinner. However, preparing the original pie recipes might be a tedious task for us. But with this recipe, I prepared the whole meal from scratch within 20 minutes. 

For this, preheat your oven to 200 °C and spread some olive oil on the baking tray. Arrange the pastry sheets on the tray and bake until the sheets become golden puffs and crispy. Once it’s done, you take the pastry sheets out of the oven and keep them aside. 

 Meanwhile, add some sliced onions and garlic cloves and sauté for a minute. Once the onions turn slightly soft, add some chicken pieces and bacon to them. Add some marsala or white wine to it and cook until the liquid has mostly evaporated.

Once the vegetables are slightly softened up, add some all-purpose flour on top of them and slowly stir in some milk. Bring it to a simmer and add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for some more time, or until the vegetables are well cooked and softened up!

Get The Recipe Here – recipetineats

2. Loaded Vegetarian Nachos 

If you have tried everything in your power to give veggies to your kids and failed miserably, this kids friendly dinner recipe could be a game changer. The crunch of nachos, when combined with the flavors from sauces and veggies is a great way to lure your kids to eat their dinner.

Add ingredients like beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, red onion, and sliced jalapenos on top of it, and then hide all these ingredients under a layer of shredded cheese. What makes this recipe stand out from the rest and make it even more healthy and delicious is its avocado-cilantro spread.

 Make sure to blend until you get a thick and creamy paste. However, if you have a lot of people to feed or just want your sauce to have a much looser consistency, you can add more water and blend it one more time.

 Before taking it out of the oven, make sure that the cheese is melted and the top layer of nachos has turned slightly brown. Also, make sure to place the nachos on the top layer of the oven. Take out the nachos and spread the avocado and cilantro spread on top of them.

Get The Recipe Here – Hannah Magee RD

3. Lemon Pasta 

The definition of lemon pasta might be as easy as it could be, but the taste it offers us is so much more than that. Most kids love the creamy taste of the lemon pasta along with its lovely tart flavor. 

So if you are looking for an easy kids friendly dinner idea, try this recipe. Just like most other pasta recipes, start by cooking some pasta in water according to the package directions, and once done, drain it and keep it aside. 

 Take a lemon and make some lemon zest out of it. While the pasta is cooking, take another pan and place it on the gas. Add some butter to it and throw some minced garlic into it. Saute the garlic until it is slightly brown! Or cook the garlic until it becomes extremely fragrant. 

 To this, add some heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, and some capers. Take it off the heat and add the cooked pasta to this sauce. Garnish with some grated parmesan cheese and serve it hot!

Get The Recipe Here – Carlsbad Cravings

4. Grilled Peaches With Blackberry Sauce 

It’s on the sweet side, with a little sourness, and goes well as a dinner as well as a dessert. So if your kid is having a bad day, make sure to cook this easy kids friendly dinner recipe to make their day a little better! While the grill is getting hot, let’s make the blackberry sauce. 

 For this, in a blender, add all the blackberries along with a little water and sugar. Blend it well and make a puree out of it. Once the butter is melted, add some sugar to it and slightly caramelize it. Once it gets a little cool, use a brush and brush this sauce all over your peaches.

 Cook for nearly 8 minutes, and make sure to roll the peaches once in a while. Pour the prepared blackberry sauce onto the top of the peaches and serve it with a bowl of yogurt for the best taste.

Get The Recipe Here – Abbeys Kitchen

5. Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad

Pasta is something regular, and this could be one reason why kids get easily bored with it. Try this quick creamy avocado pasta salad with beans and avocado dressing for a new twist of flavors.

Also, while cooking this recipe, make sure to choose your kid’s favourite pasta shape to make it more interesting. This isn’t just an easy kids friendly dinner idea but also a healthy one. 

 The best thing about this pasta recipe is the dressing we serve with it. So let’s start this recipe by preparing the dressing. For this, combine some avocado, mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic, salt, and cumin in a blender and blend till it becomes a paste. 

 Then, take a pan and cook the pasta in it. When the pasta is well cooked, drain the water and keep it aside. To the pasta, add some tomatoes, beans, corn, Cheddar, onion, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over the pasta and mix it all well. 

Get The Recipe Here – Eating Well

6. Sweet And Sour Chicken

This sweet-and-sour chicken is nothing but a burst of different flavors. So if you have some chicken in your fridge, make sure to try this easy kids friendly dinner idea The first thing you should do to make this recipe is cook the chicken. 

 For this, take a large pan and add some oil to it. To this, add the sliced chicken breast pieces. Once the chicken is done, remove the chicken pieces from the pan and deglaze the pan using some orange juice. In the same pan, add some broccoli and pineapple and cook until tender.

  While the broccoli is cooking, take a small bowl and mix some vinegar, cornstarch, and soy sauce in it. Add the vinegar mixture to it along with some honey, garlic, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the cooked chicken and broccoli to it.

Get The Recipe Here – ambitious kitchen

7. Instant Cup Of Noodles With Spiralized Vegetables 

Whatever dish you are cooking, whether your child will eat it or not will greatly depend on how pretty it looks! So if you have some vegetables with you, get ready to cook instant vegetable noodles with them.

 The first thing we should do is make some spiral cuts of carrots and zucchini! While doing this, make sure to get some thin cuts. Take a cup and add some red curry paste to the bottom. In the same glass, add the spiralized zucchini and carrots.

 You can add crunchy vegetables like scallions and cilantro for more flavor. Put a half-slice of boiled egg into it along with some lemon wedges. Once done, keep the glass jar in the refrigerator for two days. On the day of serving, remove the eggs and lemon wedges and fill them with some boiling water. Allow it to sit for a minute or two. Give everything a good mix and serve along with the boiled eggs and lemon wedges.

Get The Recipe Here – Pure Wow

8. Skillet Lasagna 

So if you want to prepare something special but do not have too much time to dedicate to it, try this lasagna. Lasagna is often considered a food that takes so much time to make, but with this extremely kids friendly dinner recipe, you can cook it in under 20 minutes.

  For this, take a large skillet and add some oil to it. Once the oil is slightly hot, add the ground beef to it and cook it for some time. While the beef is cooking, take another pan and add some water to it. Salt the water and add pasta to it. 

 To this, add some spaghetti sauce and cooked beef. To add some flavors, add garlic powder and Italian seasonings to it. Give everything a good mix and heat it up in the microwave for some time.

 However, if you want to make it more cheesy, you can always add some more mozzarella cheese to it.

Get The Recipe Here – Six Sister’s Stuff

9. Chicken Sausage Pasta 

Chicken sausage pasta is one of the best kids friendly dinners you can make for your little one. It’s extremely easy to make and can keep your kids fuller for longer. Also, most kids absolutely love both pasta and sausages, so what’s stopping you?

 For this recipe, sauté some sliced onions in olive oil. Meanwhile, in another pan, add some oil and brown the sausages. To the sautéed onion, add diced tomatoes. Wait for a minute, and then add some chicken broth to it and bring it to a boil.

 To the boiling broth, add some penne pasta and cook it until al dente. Once the pasta is well cooked, add some spinach, sour cream, and seasonings to it. Carefully stir it and add some more salt and pepper if desired. Add the cooked sausage to it and serve it hot.

Get The Recipe Here – Create Kid’s Club

10. Broccoli Cheddar Melts 

This is an easy kids friendly dinner you can cook for your kids if they don’t want a heavy meal. It uses just five ingredients and would be a suitable dinner dish for both kids and adults. You can have it as it is or make it more interesting by pairing it with some other sauces.

If your kids hate broccoli, this is a great way to make them eat it! To make this recipe, start by toasting some bread. Make sure to add some butter on both sides to make it more tasty. Add a slice of cheese to it.

Add a little bit of salt and pepper over it, and top it off with some cooked and chopped broccoli. Top the broccoli with some more cheese, and add the other slice of bread over it. Cook for a minute or two in the heat and serve it hot.

 Get The Recipe Here – Cait’s Plate

11. Easy Pepper Steak 

If your kids are in the mood to have something from outside, take them out! But if you don’t want to take them out and also don’t want to disappoint them, try making them this easy pepper steak! It is a little peppery with all the goodness of beef and is an easy kids friendly dinner idea to impress kids. 

For this recipe, take a ziplock bag and add ingredients like soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, corn starch, and some water. Add the steak to it and shake the cover so well that all the pieces are evenly coated in the mixture.

Start cooking this recipe by sautéing some sweet pepper, scallion, ginger, and garlic in some olive oil. Once done, remove the ingredients from the pan and transfer them to another plate. In the same pan, add some more oil and cook the marinated steak in batches.

Once the steak is done, transfer it to the plate with the cooked vegetables. If there are any remaining marinades in the bowl or zip-top bag, add them to the pan, throw in the cooked vegetables and steak, and mix well! Your pepper steak is all ready to serve!

Get The Recipe Here – Gimme some Oven

12. Chicken With Snow Pea Stir Fry 

There is no doubt that pea pods are extremely delicious! So if you want to add a twist to your regular pea pod dish, try this chicken and snow pea stir fry. Snow peas are often associated with Chinese cuisine, however, if you do not have snow peas, you can use regular peas.

For this recipe, start by marinating the chicken. For this, mix some cornstarch, light soy sauce, and oil in a bowl. Coat the chicken in this and allow it to rest for some time. Meanwhile, mix some hot water and chicken broth and add some cornstarch to it to make a slurry.

Heat a wok, smear some oil in it, and place the marinated chicken in it. Cook until the chicken becomes slightly brown on all sides. I added some snow peas and garlic to the pan. Deglaze the pan by adding some Shaoxing wine to it.

Stir everything together until the snow peas are well cooked. Once done, add in some soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, salt, pepper, and sugar. Mix everything well and add the prepared slurry to it. Cook until it becomes thick. Serve with a bowl of steamed rice.

Get The Recipe Here – The Woks Of Life 

13. Cauliflower Fried Rice 

Even if you are not a huge cauliflower fan, I want you to try this kids friendly dinner recipe. It’s one of the healthiest and tastiest meals one could ever think of! With so many nutrients and tastes, I’m sure your kids are going to love this recipe.

For this recipe, start by sautéing some garlic and onion in a large pan. Once done, add some ham to it and cook for a minute. To this, add some frozen vegetables like peas and carrots and cook until they are half-cooked.

Add the cauliflower rice to it along with one tablespoon of mirin sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Cook until the cauliflower becomes crisp, not mushy! Move the cauliflower to a side and cook a beaten egg in the same wok.

Mix everything together, and serve the cauliflower vegetables hot!

Get The Recipe Here – recipetineats

14. Grilled Fish Tacos 

Kids love tacos, and that is a fact! So replace your regular meat tacos with these grilled fish tacos, and enjoy the amusement on their faces. These tacos are so easy to prepare, yet the taste is extremely delicious.

For this recipe, start by grilling the fish. For this, marinate the fish with some salt, paprika powder, and pepper. Grill for a minute or two or until the fish is well cooked. Set it aside and allow it to cool down.

In another bowl, mix together some cherry tomatoes, cooked corn, green onion, jalapenos, and fresh cilantro. Add some fresh lime juice, salt, and pepper for taste, and give everything a good mix. 

Shred some cabbages, and place them in each tortilla. Add some grilled fish to it and top it off with some tomato salsa. Serve with some lime wedges and cilantro for the best taste. 

Get The Recipe Here – flavor the Moments

15. Easy Beef Chowmein 

Chowmein is often looked at as a heavy meal. But here is an easy kids friendly chowmein recipe you can cook for your kids. If you think chowmein takes so much of your time, try this recipe, which can be cooked in under 15 minutes.

For this recipe, start by mixing the stir-fry sauces in a bowl. For this, add oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, shao xing wine, and sesame oil. Take two teaspoons of this and use it to marinate the beef. 

Meanwhile, cook the noodles and drain the water out of them. In a large wok, add some oil and cook some minced garlic in it. Add the marinated beef to it and cook until the beef is no longer pink. 

Add some onion, carrot, and pepper to this and stir it all well. Mix the leftover sauces into the noodles and stir well. Mix the noodles and beef together.

 Get The Recipe Here –  The Bewitchin Kitchen

16. Baked Frittata 

If you have to cook a meal for your kids and their friends, don’t think twice and start making this baked frittata recipe. This can be cooked in under 20 minutes, even though it needs a little bit of preparation.

Before starting this recipe, make sure you preheat your oven to 180 °C. Then, in a bowl, mix together some milk, eggs, salt, and pepper. In another pan, heat some oil and cook the bacon. In the same pan, add some minced garlic and spinach, and cook everything well. 

Once done, remove it from the pan and set it aside. In another bowl, pour some beaten egg, cover it with some cheese, and repeat the process. Continue this process and top it off with some cooked bacon and spinach.

Cook until one side is slightly brown, transfer it to the oven, and cook for another few minutes. Slice it into pieces and serve it hot.

 Get The Recipe Here –  recipetineats

17. Creamy Garlic Shrimp 

Shrimp is undoubtedly one of my favorite things to cook for my kids. But out of all the other recipes I cook for them, my kids always like this recipe more than anything. So if you’ve got some shrimp in the fridge and want to cook an easy and delicious kids friendly dinner, make this creamy garlic shrimp. 

For this recipe, start by heating a pan and adding the shrimp to it. Sear the shrimp in the oil until it is well cooked, and season it with some salt and pepper. Once done, keep it aside. In the same pan, add some butter and garlic and cook until they are extremely fragrant.

 Add some white wine to it and follow it with some heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and white cheddar. Keep the sauce on medium heat and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the shrimp to the sauce and mix well. Serve it with a bowl of pasta or white rice for the best taste.

Get The Recipe Here – Ahead Of Thyme

18. Curry Lentil Soup 

If you are not in the mood to cook something extravagant and want to serve very light yet healthy food to your kids, cook this curry lentil soup. It’s a vegan recipe and can be cooked in no time. It’s a perfect kids friendly dinner for a cosy evening. 

 For this recipe, start by sautéing some onions in olive oil. Season it with salt and pepper. Once the onion becomes translucent, add some ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and ginger to it and cook for another 1 minute.

 Deglaze the pan with some broth and add the cooked chickpeas, lentils, coconut milk, and remaining broth to the pan. Cook until the lentils are well cooked. Serve it warm with a dash of lime juice, and enjoy your evening.

 Get The Recipe Here – Midwest Foodie

19. Easy Lamb Kofta 

In the mood to surprise your kids with something extremely delicious? Then, give a shot to this easy lamb kofta recipe. Even though this dish might look like it needs a lot of time to cook, you can cook it in under 20 minutes.

For this recipe, put the onion, garlic, coriander, and mint in a food processor or chopper and coarsely chop them. Add minced lamb to this, along with cumin, coriander, ground all spices, and some lemon zest. 

Add a little oil to this and combine everything together. Divide the mixture into small Kofta patties and cook them over a griddle pan. Make sure to cook both sides evenly. Serve it hot with some fresh coriander chutney. 

Get The Recipe Here – Supergolden bakes

20. Potrbello Mushroom Pizza 

The pizza is undoubtedly great! But if your little munchkins want something a little more delicious and healthy, try this portobello mushroom pizza. These are tasty, yummy, and healthy kids friendly dinner ideas that you can cook in no time.

Clean the mushroom and pat it dry. Arrange it on a tray and spread some pizza sauce over it. Top it off with some cut vegetables and load it with a lot of cheese. Sprinkle some seasonings over it and bake it for a few minutes. 

Take it out of the oven and sprinkle some more parmesan cheese, red chili flakes, and oregano over it. Serve it warm with some of your favorite sauces.

Get The Recipe Here – One Pot Recipes

21. Smoked Salmon Sushi Bowl

 If you have some smoked salmon with you, then try making this smoked salmon sushi at least once. This is not just a kids friendly dinner idea but can be used to impress adults as well! This smoked salmon sushi bowl would definitely add a twist to your regular sushi bowls. 

Start making this recipe by cutting the cream cheese into small blocks. Flatten it slightly and freeze it for some time. Take two bowls, and in one beat some eggs and in the other some panko.

Dip the frozen cream cheese slices in the egg, then in panko, and deep fry them in the oil. Divide the cooked rice into small serving bowls. Top it off with some avocados, smoked salmon, and some fried cream cheese. 

Get The Recipe Here – Cook Well With Others

22.  One Pot Caprese Pasta 

If you are planning to make some pasta for dinner, then give it a second thought before cooking your regular pasta. This one-pot caprese pasta is filled with flavors and is quite easy to make! So if you are running short of time, this is something you can try cooking on weeknights. 

With bright colors and fresh flavors, this caprese pasta is sure to impress your kids with its vibrant taste as well as its color. It’s not just a tasty meal but also a one-pot meal, which means not too much dishwashing after cooking this!

For this dish, take a large pot and add tomatoes, onion, garlic, pasta, marinara, salt, pepper, olive oil, basil, capers, and broth. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Add in some fresh mozzarella cheese and basil when served.

Get The Recipe Here – Food Dolls

23. Pesto Chicken And Broccoli Pasta 

With a creamy flavor and a hint of pesto, this pesto chicken and broccoli pasta will be a star dish at your kid’s dinner table. It’s an easy dish to incorporate into kids friendly dinner ideas if your kids are a little hesitant to have broccoli!

Start making this recipe by cooking the pasta as per the package directions. Once done, add the broccoli to it and cook it for a minute in the same pasta water. While this is being done, take a pan and sauté some onions.

Once the onion becomes slightly translucent, add some grated ginger along with sliced chicken pieces. Cook until the chicken is cooked through. Season it with some salt and pepper to taste.

Add parmesan cheese, cream, and pesto to it and cook for a minute or two. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to it and give everything a good mix. Cook for another minute, and serve it hot with some grated parmesan cheese. 

 Get The Recipe Here – Gimme Delicious

24. Turkey Burger 

 If you want to make a yummy burger from leftover turkey meat, here is a great recipe for you. This turkey burger is a mild-flavored meal with lots of vegetables, which your kids would definitely love! Just make sure to grab some buns if you don’t have any in your kitchen.

Start this recipe by preparing the turkey patties. For this, combine turkey with garlic, cilantro, mint, parsley, pepper, cumin, and salt. Blend everything together in a blender and make small patties out of it.

Heat the grill, cook both sides of the patties, and keep them aside. Once done, set it aside. Wrap the patties in a lettuce leaf or burger bun and have it as it is! If you want, you can also add some avocados and blue cheese as burger fillings. 

Get The Recipe Here – Salt & Lavender

25. Baked Pizza Taquitos 

 This super easy-baked pizza taquito can undoubtedly count as one of the best kids friendly dinners. It can be made in no time and is extremely delicious. Moreover, it’s a wrap with a pizza taste which will make it easy for your kids to have it. 

For making this recipe, start by placing the tortillas on a flat surface and spreading some pizza sauce over it. Place some pepperoni on it along with some shredded cheese. Roll the tortillas and secure them with a toothpick and bake it for a few minutes. 

Allow it to cool and serve it with some more pizza sauce. 

Get The Recipe Here – the Bakermama

26. Pesto Zucchini Noodles With Salmon

If you want to spend a happy night with kids along with some yummy food, it would be a great kids friendly dinner idea to be included in your menu. This zucchini noodle dish with salmon is super delicious and a great idea to include zucchini in your kid’s menu. 

For this recipe, start by making the salmon. For this, place the salmon on a baking tray and lightly season it with salt and pepper. Bake for a few minutes. Cook the zucchini noodles and coat them in pesto.

Place the pasta in a bowl. Top it off with some avocados, veggies, and baked salmon, and serve!

Get The Recipe Here – inspiralized

27. Thai Red Prawn Curry 

Thai red prawn curry is an excellent way to introduce new flavors to your kids. It might look a little spicy; however, it is not spicy, especially when served with some coconut rice. So if you are planning to introduce cuisines from across the world, try this one!

For this recipe, start sautéing some ginger, garlic, and chili in a saucepan. Once softened, add the red curry paste to it and cook for a few minutes. To this, add some vegetable stock, coconut milk, and fish sauce, and give everything a good stir.

Get The Recipe Here – delicious

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Conclusion

If you have little kids at home, making dinner might not be an easy task, as they get bored of food items very easily! While cooking for kids, we have to choose recipes that are easy to cook and healthy!

 If you are continuously worrying about what to cook every other night, here is a little help from our side! Try one or all of the recipes above, and let us know which one your kid enjoyed the most!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)