We all know cooking can get tedious, but when you have the occasional helping hand, especially from little helpers, it can turn into a beautiful family experience. We’re, of course, talking about National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day, where the kids try their hand at cooking.
Letting your kids help out in the kitchen every once in a while creates new bonding memories and helps them learn an essential life skill. And they’ll also learn the science and culture behind their food, which can only open their horizons.
But if you think your kids are too young to cook an entire meal, it doesn’t mean they still can’t help out. They can still wash or put away produce, help with batter or dough, grease pans, or even crack eggs. But remember, start off small and give some of these kid-friendly recipes a try!!
1. Two-Ingredient Easy Banana Pancakes
First, start the day with a good, healthy breakfast with this two-ingredient easy banana pancake recipe! Yup, just two ingredients and a blender, and you’ll have an easy gluten- and dairy-free breakfast meal your kids can make in 25 minutes. And it won’t be quite as messy as regular pancakes — but we make no promises!
2. Sloppy Joe Sliders
Speaking of a mess, we know that sloppy joes can be a huge undertaking with your kiddos, but not with this sloppy joe slider recipe. With these simple instructions, little kids and big kids can help with this recipe, and everyone will love the taste. And the best part is that it only takes 30 minutes total, which is perfect for lunchtime.
3. Egg Cups
Eggs are pretty versatile, but they’re even more so with this egg cup recipe that is easily adjustable to whichever ingredients you have. But if you have pepperoni on hand, these mini pizza quiches are always a win, no matter what meal it is their cooking for.
4. Taco Cheeseburger
If you and your family are a little adventurous, why not try this taco cheeseburger? We promise; it tastes better than it sounds! Your little ones can help prepare the ingredients and measure the salsa, while your bigger kids do the shaping and seasoning. Altogether, you’ll have a new family favorite in no time!
5. Nacho Scoops
While you can definitely make nacho scoops as an appetizer, there’s no denying the lure of making them as part of family dinner. You won't have a sloppy nacho platter where part of the chips doesn't have toppings drizzled on them; instead, you'll get individual nacho chips that are filled with utter deliciousness in every bite!
6. Chocolate-Marshmallow Mug Cakes
Chocolate and marshmallows? This mug cake recipe won’t be a hard sell for your kiddos. And what makes this recipe even better is that your kids can easily make them in the microwave, so you won’t have to worry about them using the oven!
7. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
It’s time to let your children experiment in the kitchen with this fantastic crockpot buffalo chicken meatball recipe. Yup — they can cook this in the crockpot! While it’ll take a little longer to cook thoroughly, the results are more than worth it! The kids will have fun rolling the balls, and you’ll love the easy cleanup!
8. Baked Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
Now, if you have older kids, this baked sheet pan sausage and peppers recipe can give them a total sense of accomplishment. With simple ingredients and instructions, they can make hearty dinner meals with little supervision and feel more independent!
9. Pizza Skewers
Just when you think there’s no other way to cook pizza, this pizza skewers recipe changes your mind. Rather than making a pie, this recipe makes individual skewers filled with all the yummy pizza ingredients you can expect from a regular pizza. It’s too cool not to try!
10. Stovetop Lasagna
Busy nights make way for this stovetop lasagna recipe! Within 30 minutes, you’ll have the scrumptious taste of lasagna with up to six servings. This meal might require a little more supervision, but it’s still fun to make!
11. Triple Berry Smoothie with Yogurt
After all that hard work in the kitchen, you and the kids deserve a treat, and this triple berry smoothie recipe delivers! Made with frozen bananas, Greek yogurt, and your favorite berries blended together, you’ll make a filling smoothie that is high in protein and perfect for breakfast or a snack!
OK, Little Chefs, Start Cooking!
There you have it: eleven easy recipes you can make with our kids! Whether you have young pre-school-age children, teens, or a mixture, everyone can help out and discover the joy of cooking. But before you get out their little aprons, your cooking appliances need to be in good shape. So, if your burners are barely working or the oven is on the fritz, don’t wait; find your upgrade at Elders Appliance!
And if you have any questions, give us a call or stop by — our team will help you create a kitchen made for family memories!