20 Easy Kid Friendly Meatless Recipes for Families (2024)

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By Jen

Whether you are vegetarian, vegan or just looking for a little meatless Monday inspiration. This collection of kid-friendly meatless recipes will help make meal planning easy. Be sure to check out all of our other meatless meals for kids recipes too…we’ve got quite a few awesome kid-friendly vegetarian recipes.

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Like many of you, we have been overwhelmed by the information about eating less meat. Recently, the Canadian government released the updated Canadian Health Guide, in which they recommend eating less meat and more protein alternatives. But…they used to say that meat was healthy? What are we supposed to do?

Well, as confusing as the mix of information might be we are moving ahead with what I have always believed – eating a balanced diet. What this means to us is adding more vegetable and protein alternative meals into our recipe repertoire.

Eating less meat is a healthy break for our bodies and an opportunity to discover new dishes. Let’s face it, the first thought I had when I was thinking of taking on this change was “how am I going to convince my kids to eat more veggies?” Yes, our kids are great eaters, they don’t shy away from very many meals, but adding more vegetable-based dishes might be too much for me to handle.

So, what do you do when you have a challenge ahead? We plan the heck out of that challenge. I’ve been super busy preparing for our new meat-less lifestyle. I’ve done a lot of research and have gathered together a collection of delicious, kid-friendly meatless meals.

We don’t want to just “get by”…we want to enjoy each and every meatless meal we eat.

20 Kid-Friendly Meatless Recipes

20+ Kid Friendly Meatless Recipes

A collection of over 20 delicious kid-friendly vegetarian recipes that are easy to make and delicious.

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Photo Credit:www.budgetbytes.com

Spinach and Mushroom Crustless Quiche

Budget Bytes shares a simple breakfast, lunch or dinner option spinach, mushroom & feta quiche.

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Photo Credit:www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joe Sandwich Recipe

One of our favourite kid-friendly vegetarian dinner dishes. A hearty and healthy lentil sloppy joe recipe.

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Photo Credit:damndelicious.net

Easy Lo Mein

Damn Delicious shares a super simple and kid friendly lo mein recipe.

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Photo Credit:www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Kale Salad with Pesto Dressing and Crispy Chick Peas

Our power packed kale salad has crispy chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a kid-friendly pesto dressing.

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Spring Vegetable Pasta Primavera with Goat Cheese

Kids will gobble up this creamy spring vegetable pasta primavera.

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Photo Credit:choosingchia.com

Black Bean Veggie Burritos

Choosing Chia shares how to bring together this amazing black bean vegetarian burrito - the perfect alternative to a typical taco Tuesday.

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Photo Credit:momstestkitchen.com

Easy Vegetable Pot Pie

Did someone say pie?! Get the kids to eat veggies with Mom's Test Kitchen's easy vegetable pot pie.

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Photo Credit:www.thepioneerwoman.com

Cauliflower Soup

The Pioneer Woman shares a flavour packed smooth cauliflower soup...perfect hot lunch idea.

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Photo Credit:www.eatsamazing.co.uk

Easy Couscous Salad Recipe

Fruit can be savoury too. Pack in the fruit with Eats Amazing's fruity couscous salad.

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Photo Credit:www.cookingclassy.com

Vegetarian Quinoa Chili Recipe

Who said chilli has to be full of beef? Swap out the meat with Cooking Classy's quinoa chilli.

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Photo Credit:www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Three Cheese Baked Pasta Recipe

Can't forget the kids' favourite three cheese pasta. Yep, gooey and cheesy and perfect for lunch or dinner (my kids would say it's perfect for breakfast too).

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Photo Credit:parentingchaos.com

Rainbow Fruit Pizza

How delightful is this? Kids will love eating Parenting Chaos' colourful rainbow fruit pizza.

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Photo Credit:intheplayroom.co.uk

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry with Lemongrass

Curry is another favourite with our kids. A delicious oaty sweet potato and chickpea curry with lemongrass from In the Playroom.

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Photo Credit:www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Quick and Easy Vegetarian Meatloaf

Where did the meat go in our vegetarian meatloaf? You seriously won't even miss the meat.

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Photo Credit:food-4tots.com

Cauliflower Tots

Food 4 Tots shares a recipe for irresistible cauliflower tots. Cauliflower is such a versatile vegetable.

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Photo Credit:www.marthastewart.com

Baked Spaghetti and Mozzarella Recipe

Deliciously simple baked spaghetti with mozzarella from Martha Stewart. Classic and crowd pleasing.

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Photo Credit:betsylife.com

Buffalo Quinoa Bites

Kids will go crazy for BetsyLife's Buffalo quinoa bites and dipping sauce.

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Photo Credit:www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Kid Friendly, Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Kids love our vegetarian chili - hearty and rich flavour. Perfect on a cool day and in the thermos too!

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Photo Credit:www.superhealthykids.com

Veggie Nuggets Recipe

Super Healthy Kids shares a crunchy kid favourite veggie nugget recipe.

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Photo Credit:www.shelikesfood.com

BBQ Shepherds Pie with Chickpeas and Lentils

Shepherd's pie without the meat? Yep, She Likes Food shares a kid-friendly vegetarian BBQ shepherd's pie.

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Photo Credit:www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Easy Cheesy Meatless Lasagna Rolls

Our vegetarian lasagna rolls are fun to make, fun to eat and make delicious leftovers for the lunchbox.

A Few Common Questions About Being Vegetarian

What does “vegetarian” mean?

A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat and meat products. While vegetarians do not eat meat, they often eat eggs and dairy products. People may be vegetarian for moral, religious, social or health related reasons.

What does “vegan” mean?

Vegan is a word that people are less familiar with – but that has become much more popular in the last decade. A vegan is a person who does not eat meat and meat products – including any dairy products or eggs. Vegans eat nothing that is an animal by product – even honey.

What does “pescatarian” mean?

A pescatarian is another branch of vegetarianism. A pescatarian does not eat meat, but they do eat fish and seafood. While their diet is largely plant-based, they do eat seafood.

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Using a spiralizer or slicing the vegetables thinly can help your vegetarian dishes be more fun and more palatable for kids. This spiralizer is very well-rated and is affordable.

Check out our collection of family friendly vegan recipes too!

Make sure you are following along…

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About Jen

Jen Farr is a mother living in Toronto, Canada. She has been sharing her DIY crafts, recipes, activities and parenting advice for over 15 years on her blog Kitchen Counter Chronicle. Jen is the mom of 2 lovely daughters. She believes in the power of taking small steps that can make big impacts on the world.

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Comments

  1. Jennifer Fischer says

    I repinned this and clicked through because I love adding meatless meals to our meal plans and then saw my recipe shared! Thanks so much. This is a great post. I loved it before I saw my recipe and now I love it even more.

20 Easy Kid Friendly Meatless Recipes for Families (2024)

FAQs

What is a vegetarian lunch for picky kids? ›

Easy vegetarian lunch options including hard-cooked eggs with crackers, nut or seed butter sandwiches with jam, hummus wraps, DIY Lunchables (without meat), DIY Uncrustables, pasta salad, hummus and crackers or bread, cheese and cracker plate, rice and bean burritos, bean and cheese quesadillas, and more are easy ...

How to eat as a picky vegetarian? ›

10 Vegetarian Meals for Kids + Other Picky Eaters
  1. Baked Tostadas with Fajita Veggies. ...
  2. Kid-Approved Freezer-Friendly Carrot Walnut Meatballs. ...
  3. Vegetarian Enchilada Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans. ...
  4. Butternut Squash Baked Ziti. ...
  5. Grilled Peach Caprese Naan Pizza. ...
  6. Vegan Chicken Pot Pie. ...
  7. Old School Vegetarian Tacos.
May 8, 2019

What do you feed someone who doesn't eat meat? ›

Eggs and dairy products are good sources, and you don't need to eat large amounts to meet your protein needs. Eating a variety of plant-based foods throughout the day also can provide enough protein. Plant sources include soy products and meat substitutes, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

What to eat when you have no food and can't cook? ›

Ways to Eat Healthy Without Having to Cook
  • Precooked Whole Grains. 1/13. ...
  • Frozen Veggies. 2/13. ...
  • Precooked Chicken Strips. 3/13. ...
  • That's a Wrap. 4/13. ...
  • Deli Chicken. 5/13. ...
  • Lower-Sodium Soups. 6/13. ...
  • Canned Salmon. 7/13. ...
  • Ready-to-Eat Boiled Eggs. 8/13.
Aug 28, 2023

What two things a strict vegetarian doesn't eat? ›

About vegetarian and vegan diets

A vegetarian diet is one that does not include any meat or seafood. However, there are many variations to this – some people following a vegetarian diet may eat eggs and dairy foods, while others may avoid one or both.

How to go vegetarian with kids? ›

Some kid-approved vegetarian favourites are:
  1. Whole grain cereal with milk or fortified plant-based beverage.
  2. Muesli or hot cereal like oatmeal.
  3. Vegetable omelettes or scrambled eggs. Try this Indian spiced egg dish.
  4. Nut butter sandwiches. ...
  5. Yogurt parfaits or smoothies.
  6. Macaroni and cheese.
  7. Veggie and Bean Pita.
  8. Veggie pizza.
Jun 20, 2022

What to do when you crave meat as a vegetarian? ›

Focus on Texture

Meat eaters often miss the texture of animal-proteins, but you can easily capture the mouthfeel of meat with only plant-based ingredients. Foods like mushrooms, jackfruit, and eggplant, as well as plant-based proteins such as tempeh, seitan, and tofu are all great substitutes.

What can I make for dinner if I have no ideas? ›

33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make
  • Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breast. tasty.co. ...
  • Honey Soy-Glazed Salmon. tasty.co. ...
  • The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast. tasty.co. ...
  • Chicken & Biscuit Bake. ...
  • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
  • Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas. ...
  • Upgraded Ramen. ...
  • Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli.
May 16, 2024

What is the easiest thing to cook? ›

Easy staples of mine:
  • Eggs - scrambled and over easy.
  • spaghetti with meat sauce (brown meat and add a jar of sauce)
  • hamburgers on the grill.
  • tacos (hamburger meat and seasoning packet)
  • Bake a chicken breast with seasoning and microwave a bag of frozen veggies for side.
Jan 17, 2018

What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What can I replace eating meat with? ›

Protein rich plant foods

Some whole foods, such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and mushrooms, contain protein or have a meaty texture and can work well as meat substitutes. Food manufacturers often include these types of food in their vegetarian and vegan products.

What can I eat if I don't want meat? ›

There are plenty of plant-based sources of protein, including beans, lentils, peas, nuts and seeds, whole grains, tofu and tempeh. With the exception of soyfoods, all these foods offer "incomplete protein," meaning they have some, but not all, of the essential amino acids we need-the compounds that make up protein.

What to eat during a no meat fast? ›

TIPS TO DITCHING MEAT FOR 30 DAYS AND EATING CLEAN

Instead snack on fruits, nuts and other healthy foods throughout the day. Smoothies: Purchase fruit, vegetables, whey protein, nuts, flax seed, and anything you desire and blend it all up. Try Almond or Coconut milk/water in place of cow's milk.

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