Best Recipes for Picky Eaters

If you’ve got a picky eater at your table, chances are there’s been more than one occasion when you’ve let them eat something—anything—just to fill their tummies. If getting some veggies and protein involved seems more like a pipe dream, check out these recipes for picky eaters that just might get your kids to move beyond the buttered noodles.

Fish Tacos

If you’re trying to get more fish into your picky eaters’ diets, these Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos from Carlsbad Cravings are fun to eat and full of flavor. Keep them simple with just cabbage and lime.

A quesadilla on a plate that includes hidden veggies as a recipe for picky eaters — A Mind “Full” Mom

Hidden Veggie Quesadillas

Upgrade those plain cheese quesadillas with butternut squash puree. It’s the same color as the cheese (a.k.a. easily camouflaged) and chock-full of vitamins and other healthy perks. Feeling extra adventurous? Try the Cilantro Lime Cream. Get the recipe from A Mind “Full” Mom.

Pasta carbonara with no cream sits on a white place waiting to delight picky eaters — Scrummy Lane

Classic Carbonara

A classic carbonara has no cream and no heavy sauce because the eggs do all the work, making it both light and decadent at the same time. This recipe, sure to delight picky eaters, is from Scrummy Lane and gives a lot of tips on how to make the perfect carbonara.

A platter filled with chicken wings that were cooked in a crock pot — Intelligent Domestications

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Wings

Three ingredients and a few hours in a Crock Pot and bam! Now you have killer BBQ chicken wings to feed the masses, all thanks to this recipe from Intelligent Domestications. Plus the kids will get a kick out of the “secret ingredient” sure to intrigue any picky eater. Check out their other Crock Pot recipes that require only a few ingredients.

A red dish holds a cheesy-looking mac and cheese while it secretly hides broccoli from picky eaters — My Fussy Eater

Mac n’ Cheese, Please

Let’s face it, “mac and cheese” are like magic words in Kid World. That’s why we like how this recipe takes a kid favorite and makes a few healthy additions. Broccoli smothered in cheese and pasta can open the gates for even picky eaters—but if your tots just can’t go green, you can always sub in cauliflower instead. Get the recipe from My Fussy Eater.

Sweet Potato Wraps

We’re always on the hunt for healthy snacks that the little ones will actually eat, and these sweet potato wraps from Lemons & Basil get the toddler seal of approval. You can fill them up with butter, cheese or peanut butter for a perfectly balanced snack.

A large plate of meatballs sits on the table next to a spoon — Kitchen Sanctuary

Multitasking Meatballs

Just think of these meatballs from Kitchen Sanctuary as the secret agents of your dinner table. In addition to a veggie-full sauce, this recipe for picky eaters has a hidden dose of zucchini, onion, and mushrooms. Add it all up and your family will have a favorite new meal that’s actually healthy comfort food.

Two pink smoothies are topped with fruit and have hidden cauliflower buried away in this recipe for picky eaters — Simple Roots Wellness

So Good Smoothie

Psst! Can you keep a secret? This pretty smoothie from Simple Roots Wellness has a lot of berry flavor and a superstar veggie ingredient: cauliflower! Once blended, kids will never know about this sweet treat’s mystery ingredient—it’s perfect for breakfast or a snack!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This delicious homemade chicken noodle soup is a win for everyone, including picky eaters. You can’t go wrong with this recipe from Jennifer Tyler Lee.

An iron skillet filled with One Pot Tomato Chicken Pasta — Maya Visnyei

Eat & Repeat: One Pot Pasta

If your picky eater’s go-to request is always pasta, why not make the most of it? This recipe for picky eaters sneaks in a few mushrooms but won’t overwhelm kids with unfamiliar flavors. Best of all, you’ll only need one pot for the whole shebang! Get the recipe here.

A silver bucket filled with carrot fries, a great recipe for picky eaters — Kitchen Sanctuary

Irresistible Carrot Fries

Do you want fries with that? When it comes to these carrot fries (which are crunchy, cheesy, and baked, not fried) the answer is always yes! They’re a fun way to get kids excited about carrots and a snap to make, too. Get the recipe from Kitchen Sanctuary.

A blue bowl filled with rice topped with Honey Garlic Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry — Kari of Get Inspired Every Day

Your Go-To Stir Fry

Thank goodness for stir fry! This Honey Garlic Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry not only features a good amount of broccoli, it also has sweet and savory flavors that are better than any take-out options. And did we mention it only takes 30 minutes to make? Get the recipe from Get Inspired Everyday.

Two ham and cheese roll ups sit on a plate ready to eat by even the most picky of eaters — It’s Peachy Keen

Baked Rollups

Roll up some ham and cheese for a dinner that will have the little ones forgetting about their pre-boxed meat, cheese and crackers (you know which ones we’re talking about). You and your kids can whip up this recipe from It’s Peachy Keen in less than 20 minutes for a fun, fingers-only meal.

Apple Juice Chicken

You know that stockpile of juice boxes your family has been collecting? This sweet recipe from Oatmeal With a Fork, puts them to good use! The juice chicken is flavorful and easy to make—and we’re willing to bet it’ll be a hit with picky kids and grown-ups alike.

A pepperoni pizza casserole sits in a clear, rectangular dish — Bitz & Giggles

Easy Pizza Casserole

How yummy does this pizza casserole look? Any picky person will love this twist on the classic meat lover’s pizza from Bitz & Giggles — it’s the ultimate comfort food.

A pink smoothie that secretly contains healthy veggies is in a jar topped with a strawberry and banana — Kristine’s Kitchen Blog

Berry Smoothie

This berry smoothie recipe from Kristine’s Kitchen Blog is a great way for picky kids to have more veggies and have no clue about it! The sweet smoothie will be gone before they even realize they are consuming healthy greens.

Lasagna Soup

Lasagna soup from Gimme Some Oven is a tasty recipe that anyone will enjoy when they are having those comfort food cravings. This recipe can be made traditional or plant-based, and if you happen to have any leftover soup-friendly greens in your crisper, feel free to throw them in, too.

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Dessert Pizza

Even the pickiest of eaters’ ears will perk up when they hear the words “dessert” and “pizza” used in the same sentence. You don’t have to mention that it’s made with light, healthy ingredients like fresh fruit and Greek yogurt —all they’ll notice is the taste. This no-bake chilled dessert pizza recipe from Dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade can also stand in for a quick, pretty breakfast.

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Fuss-Free Recipes Even Picky Eaters Will Like