31 Vegan Recipes for Kids That Are Picky-Eater Approved (2024)

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Chloe Flavor

If we’re being honest, even we didn’t realize there’s no actual cheese in this creamy, gooey mac and cheese. The kids will be none the wiser.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Swap the raw fish for their favorite summer fruit, and you’re in plant-based dinner business.

Inspired Entertainment/The Domestic Geek’s Meals Made Easy

What takes 20 minutes to make, requires a single dish and zero meat? This guy. (Just skip the Parmesan cheese when you serve it to make it fully vegan.)

Chloe Flavor

Upgrade taco night with these loaded bowls, which happen to take 30 minutes from start to finish. Want to make them even more enticing? Serve tortillas on the side for the kids who like to eat with their hands.

Simon Smith/Vegan 100

This chicken has a secret: It’s made from seitan, a wheat-based meat substitute that crisps up like a dream. Nuggets won’t know what’s coming for them.

Nisha Vora

Who could possibly resist the creamy deliciousness of risotto? Let your kids pick the toppings and they’ll love you forever. (Psst: That creaminess comes from a white bean puree, BTW.)

Nassima Rothacker/Happy Food

Noodles? Check. Garlicky pesto? Double check. Cheesy faux-Parmesan? You see where we’re headed…

Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell

Making this one vegan is easy: Trade the tablespoon of butter for olive oil and you’re home free. An excuse to eat toast for dinner? Genius.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

If you’re dealing with a picky eater (or mushroom hater), you can leave the ’shrooms out or serve them on the side.

Sweet Simple Vegan

They taste just like the real thing and, most important, go just as well with ketchup.

Damn Delicious

You’ve got options for assembly. You could use this as a fridge-cleanout opportunity, or let your kids pick and choose the fillings. Either way, that peanut sauce is going to be a hit.

Molly Krebs/Eat More Plants

A little spicy and a little sweet, just like their favorite takeout treat.

Nisha Vora/Avery

Channel your inner nonna and satisfy everyone’s pasta cravings, all in 55 minutes. (That’s a real feat for lasagna.)

Fork and Beans

Nothing against tortillas, but sweet potatoes offer a boost in both the flavorandnutrition departments, which is really all we can ask for in a meal. (Psst:It takes just 30 minutes to maketoo.)

I Am a Food Blog

No deep-frying, no crazy-long ingredient lists and everyone at the table will gobble it up? We know what we’re making tonight.

Minimalist Baker

They’re just like what your mom made when you were a kid…but so much better. You probably already have the ingredients in your pantry.

Ambitious Kitchen

But if your kids are more burger people, these simple patties will be right up their alley. The hidden addition of white beans adds creaminess and a boost of protein and fiber.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Sometimes only small, crunchy and nugget-like will suffice. That’s where these babies come in handy. The trick to their appealing texture is in draining your tofu thoroughly before baking (and yes, you can swap the honey for maple syrup or omit it entirely).

Cauliflower

If you’re worried hot sauce will be too spicy for your kids, try sweet chili sauce instead, recommends Oz Telem, the chef behind this dish.

Minimalist Baker

Pizza night is a thing to be cherished, plant-based or not. Pick up a ball of dough at the grocery store and let everyone go wild with toppings.

The Full Helping

Dinosaur nuggets have met their match. This is like a TV dinner (or meal-prep lunch) for the 21st century.

Ambitious Kitchen

Haven’t gotten on the brinner train? Now’s your chance. (Ahem, that’s “breakfast for dinner” for the uninitiated.)

These guys have the ideal ratio of crispy-on-the-outside to fluffy-on-the-inside texture. It makes them excellent for little fingers to dip into hummus.

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The Full Helping

You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. Store-bought, plant-based sausage needs little more than a few vegetables, jarred marinara and your favorite pasta shape to make a filling dinner.

Minimalist Baker

Similarly, if you already know your kid likes spaghetti and meatballs, making the transition to a vegan version will be seamless.

Fork and Beans

They might not want to eat the garnish—um, hi, olives and pickles—but it’s guaranteed to bring out a smile. (Same goes for the sandwiches.)

The Modern Proper

Once again, peanut sauce saves dinnertime. It’s sweet, salty and irresistible to all ages.

The Simple Veganista

These deserve so much more than just your weekend breakfast spread. Set out some tasty toppings and make “waffle bar dinner” a thing.

Cookie and Kate

To make them vegan, swap the cheese for equally creamy hummus. Cut, serve and enjoy.

Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

Grab your trusty sheet pan and get roasting. These mildly spiced florets will win over even the most persnickety eaters, thanks to a tahini drizzle and avocado garnish.

Minimalist Baker

You already serve frozen peas as a side dish. Add them to your pesto and prepare for the oohs and ahhs.

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...