16 Dinner Ideas for Toddlers + EASY Veggies

Toddlers are notorious for being picky eaters. It can be tough coming up with dinner ideas for toddlers that are healthy and will satisfy even the pickiest toddler.

However, cooking a separate meal (and thus being a short-order cook for your toddler) can cause picky toddlers to become even pickier! To prevent this from happening it pays to get creative about family dinners now. Here are some toddler dinner ideas that can work for your whole family.

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Planning a Healthy Meal for Your Toddler

When it comes to feeding your toddler dinner, healthy eating should be a priority. After all, you want your toddler to develop good eating habits that will last a lifetime. A few tips for planning a healthy toddler dinner (or even older kid/adult dinner!) include:

• Include at least one veggie at dinner for your toddler. Including a veggie at lunch and dinner is one of my biggest goals for my toddlers. However, if I can’t or it just doesn’t work out I aim for a fruit.
• A good source of protein. Whether animal protein such as meat, chicken, fish, yogurt, or eggs or a plant-based protein such as beans – I aim to give my toddler’s protein at dinner every night.
• Include healthy fat. We often serve avocados, nut butter, or full fat dairy (kefir, yogurt, cheese, or milk).
• Complex Carbohydrates – Whether it’s fruit, starchy veggies (corn, peas, potatoes), or whole grains (we love sourdough or sprouted bread, but any whole grain will do.)
• Serve small portions. Kids can get overwhelmed

Tips for Easy Family Dinners

1. My number one biggest tip is …make one meal for the whole family!! I do not look to cook “toddler special” dinners each night. However, I do try to ensure that there is at least one item being served that my kids feel comfortable with. For example, I often include pepper sticks because both of my kids love them and I often have them already prepped in the fridge.
2. Make a meal plan. – Plan ahead what you will eat for dinner. You can either do a flexible plan or a schedule.
   • Flexible meal plan – Plan ahead how many dinners you will need and decide what they will be, but leave it open as to when you cook what until the day of or the night before.
   • Scheduled Meal Plan – If you like to plan more closely plan each night of the week what you will eat. You can write on your calendar or meal plan what you will have each night.

16 Quick & Easy Dinner Ideas for Toddlers

Below are some SUPER QUICK toddler dinner ideas that are both healthy and easy to make. While I like to make a full home-cooked dinner for my family many nights and simply serve this to the whole family (even toddlers and babies,) having some quick and easy toddler dinner ideas in your back pocket is important.

There are many nights something goes wrong and we need a quick dinner for the whole family to eat or I simply don’t have time to cook an elaborate dinner. These are my favorite fallback ideas that can be made with no or minimal cooking.

1. Rotisserie Chicken + Roasted Veggie or Sweet Potato Fries

This SUPER EASY toddler dinner idea is one of my favorites when I don’t have time to cook or deal with kitchen cleanup. I simply bake sweet potatoe fries (or another veggie) and serve it with a rotisserie chicken from the store. You can also do this with shredded cooked chicken if that’s what you have on hand.

2. Quesadillas (Beans or Chicken + Cheese)

Quesadillas are a family dinner idea (also make a perfect toddler lunch idea) that I often turn to when I want something simple and fast. I’ll either use black beans that I’ve cooked ahead of time or cook up some shredded chicken. Then, I’ll heat up a tortilla in the pan, add some cheese and the cooked beans/chicken. Once the cheese is melted and the quesadilla is browned I flip it.

3. Easy Pizzas (Bread, Tortillla, or Sourdough Starter)

I love making pizzas for toddler dinners because they are so easy to customize. I’ll either use sprouted grain bread, tortillas, or make pizza crust with some sourdough starter that I’ve been keeping in the fridge. Then I’ll add whatever toppings we have on hand. I make sure to always keep shredded cheese in the freezer and pizza sauce in the pantry.

4. Eggs + Pancakes or Toast

Another toddler dinner idea that I turn to a lot is eggs. We’ll either make pancakes or toast to serve along with eggs. I like to cook a large batch of pancakes in the evening and freeze the extra for an easy toddler breakfast idea.

5. French Toast + Green Smoothies

Another easy “breakfast for dinner idea” is french toast. I’ll make a quick batch of french toast using some whole wheat bread and serve it with green smoothies.

I love this 3 ingredient baby french toast recipe that is actually perfect for the whole family (but healthy enough for babies and toddlers!)

6. Spaghetti + Marinara Sauce + Veggie

This toddler-friendly family dinner idea is another favorite for my kids. I’ll cook spaghetti and serve it with a jar of marinara sauce (sometimes I’ll add in some ground beef for protein) and grated parmesan on top. Then, quickly steam or roast some veggies (like broccoli) to go along with it.

7. Toddler Friendly Charcuterie Board/ Snack Plate Dinner

For a toddler dinner idea that requires no cooking at all, you can simply put together a toddler-friendly charcuterie board or snack plate. Put together a combination of toddler-friendly crackers, cheese, sliced nitrate-free deli meat, sliced veggies, and fruit, or even mini sandwiches (even PBJ) or leftover meat.

We love to do this as a picnic. It can truly make the hardest day better!

8. Tuna or Salmon Cakes

1 Can Tuna + 1 Egg + 10 Triscuit Crackers
Mix ingredients in a bowl. Make into patties and cook over medium heat pan in olive oil.

Tuna (or salmon) cakes are a great toddler dinner idea that I make when I have limited time. They are easy to make and cleanup is a breeze. Plus, it exposes my toddlers to fish.

9. Tuna or Chicken Salad

My son simply likes Tuna or Chicken + Greek Yogurt mixed in a bowl. However, you could make this 4 ingredient greek yogurt tuna salad with just a few extra ingredients. Or if you are looking for something really simple you can always buy it from the deli!

This toddler dinner idea is also really easy to make and can be tailored to what you have on hand. I’ll often serve it with some whole grain toast or crackers.

10. Grilled Cheese (Add veggies, avocado, or even nitrate free deli meat)

Grilled cheese is a toddler dinner idea that I often turn to when I need something quick. Add mashed or thin roasted veggies (broccoli, sweet potato, squash), avocado, or even nitrate free deli meat to the grilled cheese for an extra boost.

11. Tortilla Roll Ups

These are a kid favorite dinner idea that I like to do when I have leftover cooked chicken. I will serve shredded meat along with cheese and cream cheese rolled in a tortilla and cut. Serve with: veggies and/or fruit

12. Mexican Rice Bowls

1 Can Black Beans + 1 Cup Cooked Rice + Cumin, Garlic Powder, Chili Powder
Mix ingredients in a bowl.

Everyone can top their own with: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, tomatoes, leftover cooked meat, etc.

This toddler dinner idea is perfect for those busy nights. It’s simple to make and can be tailored to what you have on hand.

13. Macaroni & Cheese with Veggies

I love to use Banza brand pasta to make macaroni and cheese for my toddlers and they have no idea it’s made with chickpeas.

I’ll often serve this toddler dinner idea with roasted broccoli or peas.

14. Avocado Egg Salad

We love to make an avocado egg salad and add it on top of toast, bagels, crackers, or simply eat it alone!

15. Frozen Soup

When I make soup I will often freeze it in small portions in the freezer for an easy meal for my toddlers or family. Serve it alongside cornbread, toast, crackers, fruits, or veggies.

16. Leftovers

Of course, sometimes the best toddler dinner idea is just using leftovers from a previous meal. Just heat it up and serve! This is my favorite kind of dinner to prep – no cooking involved! 🙂

Dinner Side Dishes or Veggie Ideas for Toddlers

I make a solid attempt to add a veggie to my toddler’s dinners even on stressful or busy nights. Below are some of my favorite toddler dinner veggies (and other sides) that are healthy and easy to make.

Make sure you cut and prep food appropriately for your toddler’s age and ability.

1. Roasted Broccoli or Cauliflower
2. Canned Green Beans
3. Frozen Sweet Potato Fries (baked)
4. Sauteed Spinach (chopped finely)
5. Roasted Sweet Potatoes
6. Dr. Prager’s Kale and Spinach Littles (or Aldi’s brand similar product)
7. Cucumber Slices
8. Carrot Sticks
9. Pepper Sticks
10. Frozen Peas – no need to cook, simply dethaw.
11. Fruit salad
12. Carrot fries – My 2 year old loves these!
13. Crispy potatoes
14. Any appropriately cut fruit
15. Rice
16. Toast with butter and garlic (or just butter)
17. Cottage Cheese
18. Yogurt (read this for more on the best yogurt for babies & toddlers)

Best Toddler Eating Essentials

Our Go-To Toddler Cups

Best Toddler Plates – By the way if you don’t have time to see all of my favorites this is my favorite stackable silicone toddler plates!

3 Best Toddler Utensil Sets

Tips for Feeding Picky Toddlers

1. Use the Division of Responsibility in Feeding -This will help you to know your boundaries and responsibilities in feeding as a parent and those that belong to your kids.
2. Make it fun. – Make a new or unfamiliar food more fun by adding food picks, serving as a kabob, or cutting with a cookie cutter.
3. Serve 1 food you know they like. – Have a “safe food” available that you know they feel comfortable with to take the pressure off the unfamiliar, new or unpreferred food.
4. Keep trying! – Don’t assume a child dislikes a food because they have declined it in the past. Keep offering and remind them taste changes.
5. Involve your picky toddler in food prep. – My son used to decline broccoli over and over at the dinner table. But when we were cutting it up he would munch and munch. Kids are more adventurous if they help in food prep.
6. Allow them to dip their own plates. – This also teaches important skills such as noticing how much food is available and saving some for others.

Toddler Dinner Ideas

Dinner time can be tough with toddlers, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve provided toddler dinner ideas that are healthy and easy to make. If you’re struggling for inspiration or need a toddler-friendly recipe idea, we hope this article has been helpful!

What are your favorite no cook or minimal prep dinner ideas for toddlers or families? Please leave your ideas in the comments below!

Need More Realistic Toddler Meal Ideas?

Check out these other helpful posts for more toddler meal inspiration. Whether you are feeding a picky 2 year old or an adventurous 4 year old, I’ve got ideas for you:

15 Toddler Breakfast Ideas

EASY Toddler Lunch Ideas

What To Do When Your Toddler Won’t Eat Their Dinner

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