Easy Recipes for Children to Make (Mostly!) Alone

Vanessa M. said:  Peanut Butter Energy Balls make great fuel for busy bodies. On days when my kids stay after school to run in track meets or cheer for basketball games, I make sure to pack a few of these in their backpacks for them to eat after school. The no-bake recipe only takes a few minutes to make; just mix the ingredients together, roll them into balls, and chill! Feel free to substitute sun butter and omit crushed peanuts for nut allergies. From Home Made Interest

Kelly R said:  These pickles are one of my favorite easy recipes for children to help with because there is lots of measuring and dumping to be done - my kids' favorite part of cooking! They also like to stuff all of the various ingredients into the jars. I handle pouring in the hot brine, but this is a task that can be done by older kids, too. From Our Best Bites

Kelly R said:  My kids love to help make this overnight recipe, and I love that I have more control over the ingredients than I do with prepackaged oatmeal options. On Sunday afternoon we'll fill individual glass jelly jars with the ingredients, shake them up, and chill them overnight in the fridge. With minimal effort, we have a nice supply of healthy and easy breakfasts for the first few mornings of the week. From 100 Days of Real Food

These healthier "donuts" are fun to make together, and are sure to put a smile on your child's face. Apple rounds are topped with cocoa powder and peanut butter (or substitute sun butter for nut allergies) to create donut "frosting." Kids will enjoy spreading the frosting on their donuts and topping with sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, granola, or chopped nuts or seeds.

This tasty peanut butter fruit dip from Cooking Classy uses only 3 ingredients and takes a few minutes to put together! Great for dipping fresh apple slices, banana, berries, graham crackers, pretzels, or whatever you'd like.

Erin P. said:  I just tried this out with my son tonight, and we were able to bypass our daily struggles over dinner as the little chef proudly (and without a single complaint) ate his creation! Pretty quick and easy recipe for kids to make. My four-year old was able to do most of the prep work which gave him a little more skin in the game. From Food.com

Kristy Pepping said:  If your kids are like mine, eating certain veggies can be a struggle. Not these in our house! Make anything look like a french fry and they are in! Plus, these require mixing a few ingredients in a bowl which is simple enough even for younger kids to take charge.

Molly Weber said:  I love this healthy treat for my little one. It's literally only two steps to make and can be prepared in large batches to have on hand in the freezer for when you need a quick snack. This is definitely something that your kids can help make since it simply requires dipping the frozen grapes in yogurt and placing them back in the freezer. Plus, when they get bored of it, you can mix things up by picking a new yogurt flavor or adding a topping.

Vanessa M. said:  Hot Dog Nuggets is a great recipe for kids to help make. They can use a plastic knife to cut hot dogs into chunks, then wrap each piece in crescent dough. Bake and serve warm with ketchup and mustard for dipping! Yum!

Shila said:  Quiche is one of my go-to easy recipes for children to make! Beat eggs together, pour the mixture into a store bought frozen pie crust, & bake it in an oven! The variations are endless. You can add bacon, cheese, sausage, veggies, etc. Or, like our family, you can just eat it plain. Kids love cracking the eggs & stirring the bowl. I love fast & easy help with little mess, and a hearty breakfast idea! From Pillsbury

Lisa R said:  This is the simplest bread recipe I've found for making with my daughter. It's fun to watch the yeast bubble and the dough is nice and soft for little hands to knead. Each step only takes a few minutes to complete. Best of all, it's the perfect size shape for adding a stenciled design with flour, which can be as simple as sprinkling flour over a couple of geometric shapes that kids cut from paper. Place the shapes or a stencil on top of the loaf and sprinkle with extra flour just before baking. Remove the paper before putting the loaf in the oven. From King Arthur Flour

Kristy Pepping said:  Pizza is one of the best easy recipes for children to make! Using French bread instead of fresh dough makes it possible for kids to make pizza virtually on their own. It's fun for them to top it with whatever they like, and this is a great way to try new veggies. From The Pioneer Woman

Shila said:  This dip recipe is great for family movie nights, parties, sleepovers, etc. It's also a clever way to introduce artichokes, as they're paired with your favorite crackers. Kids can whip up this fancy appetizer on their own. From Spend With Pennies

Alexandra F. said:  This hearty (if not especially healthy!) meal is a favorite in our house, and so easy even the kids will often make it. Simply mix together a can of tuna, a can of cream of potato soup, 1/2 cup of milk, a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 2 tsp of dried onion in a bowl. Then layer about 1.5 cups of crushed potato chips in a microwave-safe casserole dish, followed by the tuna mix, followed by another 1.5 cups of crushed potato chips. Microwave for about six minutes and dinner is served!

Katie G. said:  My 13yo recently started making his own eggs. He makes them any time of day when he needs a quick, easy, high protein snack. He was very proud of himself after he discovered how easy they are to make. Now if I can just get him to clean the dishes afterwards. From The Cozy Cook