If you're on a hunt for healthy recipes for picky eaters - look no more! I've rounded up 15 of the best easy and simple meal ideas for fussy eaters including hidden veggies, ground beef, vegetarian meals, chicken, breakfast and even some snacks!
Jump to:
- Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
- Air Fryer Homemade Taquitos
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- Healthy Beef Tacos
- Healthy Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
- Air Fryer Burger Sliders
- Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe
- Ranch Meatloaf
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese {Crockpot}
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - No Breading
- 30-Minute Healthy Chinese Orange Chicken
- Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
- Protein Baked Oats
- Expert Tips
- FAQs
- Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
It's not just toddlers, kids and babies that are picky eaters - adults are guilty of being fussy eaters too! If you've ever struggled to help to feed your family nutritious food that they will actually eat, you are not alone!
In fact, I began this blog to share the healthy recipes for picky eaters that were actually working for my family. There is nothing more frustrating than setting a grocery budget, planning family dinner ideas, shopping and making meals just to have no one eat them!
That's why you'll find kid-friendly and healthy comfort food recipes right here! And be sure to check out these 15 healthy recipes for picky eaters that I've collected from our archives and friends across the web! Here is to journeying from kid food to slightly more adventurous eating!
This slow cooker hidden vegetable pasta sauce has the vegetables all blended up in to it, so you won't even know there are there. 5 different vegetables, easy to adapt, vegan, and freezes well too.
It can be difficult for most of us to get enough vegetables in to our diet, but it's even harder if you don't like vegetables at all. This hidden veggie recipes is one of the easiest healthy recipes for picky eaters because it hides the veggies so well!
Air fryer homemade taquitos made healthy with shredded chicken and tasty ranch Greek yogurt dip!
These air fryer taquitos are a kid-friendly, healthy recipe that is great for picky eaters (and includes hidden veggies!) Make straight from the freezer to the table in less than 25 minutes!
A cozy and comforting bowl that fussy eaters will have no problem gobbling up!
Pasta is a great choice when getting fussy eaters to try new things! This recipe is simple and easy to make and even throw in a few veggies if you want!
HEALTHY CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI MUFFINS
These healthy chocolate zucchini muffins are made with simple ingredients, have no refined sugar and are dairy free. Super moist, fudgy and delicious with chocolate flavor, they will be a hit in your home!
An easy and seasonal breakfast, lunch snack, or even dessert that boasts hidden veggies and is homemade in just 40 minutes.
This healthy taco recipe is made with lean ground beef tossed with homemade taco seasoning and shredded fresh vegetables. They are an easy-to-make healthier version of homemade taco meat that the whole family will love.
Serve these healthy tacos for taco Tuesday or any night with your favorite taco toppings; they are not only quick but also full of flavor.
Healthy instant pot hamburger helper is an easy weeknight meal your family will love!
Made with ground turkey, cheese, noodles and spices, this homemade cheeseburger macaroni tastes even better than the box classic and will be a weeknight dinner winner!
This is one of the easiest healthy recipes for picky eaters to add their own toppings and even maybe a veggie or two! Use a ground beef patty or cooked grilled chicken for a different option.
Sliders are such a great appetizer for a game day party or a quick lunch or dinner option for your family. Below, we’ll outline how to cook sliders in the air fryer quickly and easily! They’re such a delicious meal!
The BEST juicy healthy turkey burger recipe you've ever had! Quick to prep and ready to grill in less than 10 minutes!
The most delicious moist spinach and feta turkey burger recipe made with no egg!
Creamy, cheesy taco spaghetti is a great way to introduce picky eaters to taco flavors!
If your fussy eaters like tacos then this recipe is a great way to introduce them to taco flavors using a generally loved meal - pasta!
Ranch meatloaf is a family favorite homestyle version much like Grandma's but better! This healthy recipe takes the classic version and elevates it with delicious ranch seasoning!
Delicious and easy to make on weeknights or for a Sunday dinner.
This Crockpot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese has the perfect amount of creaminess and flavor that the whole family will love. It makes an easy vegetarian meal since all of the sauce ingredients can simmer in the slow cooker for the day.
With the addition of butternut squash and lentils, this mac and cheese packs a powerful nutritional punch for the ultimate healthy comfort food!
Air fryer chicken tenders - no breading, no problem! These unbreaded chicken tenderloins have a fraction of the fat and calories of the traditional version thanks to their naked coating and flavorful seasoning!
Juicy and delicious, these healthy chicken tenders can serve as a family friendly main meal or in a salad or wrap in just under 20 minutes.
This simple recipe requires few ingredients and hardly any time. Better than takeout orange chicken ready in 30 to 40 minutes!
Paleo Chinese Orange Chicken made grain-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free.
Pumpkin zucchini muffins are a healthy breakfast or snack recipe great for feeding hungry kids! Moist, fluffy and light, this is a an easy recipe to double and freeze a batch for a quick snack.
Add in some chocolate chips for a little bit of sweetness with the perfect pumpkin zucchini combo!
Healthy protein baked oats is an easy breakfast recipe your entire family will love! Clean eating never looked so good with this delicious morning breakfast.
Easy to make as single-serve baked oats that taste just like cake for breakfast! Highly customizable with delicious flavor options. Quick to bake in less than 30 minutes!
Expert Tips
Over the years, I've developed three strategies for cooking healthy recipes for picky eaters that has in turn helped my fussy eaters eat more broadly and be more open to trying foods.
- Try lots of different veggies. You have to try many times and many different veggies to find out what kids like. The biggest thing that worked for me was finding one veggie that they liked. It took time, patience and constant testing to figure it out. Now both of my girls have their go-to vegetables. So, even if they are showing picky eater tendencies, we can go back on tried and true favorites.
- Try hidden veggie recipes. One of the easiest ways to hide veggies in your kids food is by adding spinach to smoothies or sauces. Crock pot turkey meatballs are one of my favorite meals to hide veggies in!
- Try different forms of veggies. If it's in the shape of a fry, my kids will eat it. When my youngest was going through her smoothie-only phase, I got her to eat butternut squash by cutting it into french fry shapes. Hence why zucchini fries are also a popular choice!
Another strategy I've seen work is creating more choices for picky eaters. That is why an Aldi charcuterie is a great plan for a simple meal where everyone can choose what they want!
FAQs
It was recommended to me to make a list of the things you like and will eat rather than the things you do not like. Start with the basics of what you will tolerate and go on from there.
It also pays to gives foods a second chance that you may have not liked in the past. So if you're thinking one of these healthy recipes for picky eaters looks yummy but you're just not sure - give it a try! Over time your tastes may change and you may actually enjoy them now.
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Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups shredded cheddar Monterey Jack or combination
- 16 ounces sturdy pasta shells or cavatappi
- 1 pound ground turkey can substitute ground beef also
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ medium onion diced
- 3 tablespoon butter cut into small cubes
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
Instructions
- Using the saute mode, drizzle olive oil into the Instant Pot. Saute onions until translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add ground beef or turkey, salt and pepper and other seasonings. Cook beef until done, breaking up meat and moving frequently. Once cooked, stir in ½ can of tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce and remove meat to a side bowl.1 pound ground turkey, ½ medium onion, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- Cancel saute mode and add 16 ounces of sturdy pasta to the pot. Add four cups of water and cook on manual for 4 minutes. Once the cooking cycle completes, carefully quick release and stir noodles.16 ounces sturdy pasta
- Add in butter and stir until well incorporated. Place meat back into pot.3 tablespoon butter
- Add cheese and stir gently. Add milk as needed for a smooth, creamy consistency. Season pasta with salt and pepper and additional seasoning and remaining ½ can of tomato sauce if desired. Serve hot.2.5 cups shredded cheddar, ¼ cup milk
Notes
- Make ahead: Make ahead to feed your family for a few days. When you make this cheeseburger mac ahead, add in a bit of milk when you reheat it for leftovers.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Freezing not recommended.
- Reheat: Add a splash of milk and reheat in the microwave until heated through.
- To avoid burn warning, add in enough olive oil while sautéing ground turkey or beef to ensure you do not get the burn warning.
- Stir in some sour cream or Greek yogurt for extra creaminess (and protein if using Greek yogurt!)
- Taco version: Stir in some enchilada sauce to make a taco version. Crunch a few tortilla chips on top for some extra texture (or check out walking taco casserole!)
- To make vegan: Use plant based meat crumbles, vegan cheese, vegan butter and oat milk if you need to make this recipe dairy free and without meat.
- To make gluten free: Use gluten free noodles to make recipe gluten free.
- Part of this recipe was adapted from Pinch of Yum's Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
Holly
How much kale do you add? It doesn't say in the ingredient list.
Lyndsey
one large handful