Easy Kid-Friendly Soups and Stews
Soups and stews are a great one-pot, quick dinner option. They also can be very balanced, nutritious meals, filled with protein and veggies. Plus, soup and stews are great to make ahead or meal prep for lunches. I love making soup, especially in the winter, but many of these soups are one’s we enjoy all year long. Here is a roundup of over 10 Kid-Friendly Soups and Stews. Not sure your toddler or picky eater will eat soup? I have some great tips to help!
Tips for Helping Kids (and picky eaters) Enjoy Soup:
My kids, now 10 and 12, didn’t always love soup. “Mixed foods” (ones that have lots of different ingredients all mixed together like soup) can be hard for toddlers and young kids to try or enjoy. In short, all the different colors and textures can be overwhelming or scary. So, here are a few techniques I’ve used in the past to help kids learn to like soup:
- Serve “safe foods” (foods you know they already like) alongside the soup.
- Always start with a very small serving. A tiny bowl of soup counts as an exposure!
- Try serving the soup in something silly and novel like a play-kitchen pot or funny mug. If your child loves a certain character or activity (like construction) find bowls or other utensils with those on them. (It gets them excited!)
- Serve soup with their favorite bread and encourage them to dunk it in and taste or lick the bread. We especially love cheesy garlic bread in my house.
- Separate out the broth from the solids. Serve the broth with a straw. Sounds funny but it is way less messy too.
- Let kids pick what they like out and don’t make a big deal if they eat around the stuff they don’t want.
- Encourage kids customize and cook: add cheese on top, add their favorite pasta, or help chop and add the veggies while making the soup.
- Keep serving a small portion even if they don’t eat it. The learning process takes time, so keep trying!
Kid-Friendly Soups and Stews:
This easy weeknight dinner is comfort food that’s also packed with nutritious ingredients like ground turkey and veggies. You can make Lazy Lasagna Soup in the Instant Pot, crockpot, or on the stove top. With minimal ingredients and prep time, this hardy soup is bound to be a go-to recipe that the whole family will enjoy.
Creamy Tomato Soup (with extra veggies!)
This is one of my kids’ favorite soups. They love it for lunches at home, packed up in a thermos for school, or for a cozy dinner any night of the week. Healthy Creamy Tomato Soup is packed with veggies, but you can hardly tell. The soup blended and creamy Greek yogurt adds an extra protein boost.
All the cozy Fall flavors is a bowl! This veggie-packed soup is so easy to make in the slow cooker, Instant Pot (pressure cooker), or on the stove top! Autumn Squash Soup has carrots, butternut squash (or any variety of squash you have), and a little apple to add some natural sweetness. A touch of ground ginger and nutmeg add tons of flavor but aren’t overwhelming at all. This soup is very kid-friendly and below I highlight several ways to serve it to toddlers or soup skeptics.
Creamy Chicken, Veggie, and Gnocchi Stew
Need a nutritious and easy weeknight dinner? Creamy Chicken, Veggie, and Gnocchi Stew is comforting, hearty, and full of flavor. You can make this stew in the slow cooker, pressure cooker/Instant pot, or on the stove top. Plus, it’s a kid-friendly meal that’s packed with protein and vegetables.
Chicken Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup
Chicken Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup is my all-time favorite soup. It’s hearty, healthy, and packed with veggies. You can make this easy weeknight dinner in the Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker) or on the stove-top in less than 40 minutes. Also, it’s simple to make vegetarian by leaving out the sausage and doubling up the beans. Leftovers are great to have in the fridge or freezer to warm up for a quick and nourishing lunch. My boys love having some bread or grilled cheese on the side for dipping.
This Chicken Soup with Lemon and Herbs is in my popular ebook, What’s For Dinner.
Want this recipe and even MORE easy ONE POT dinner recipes???
You’ll love my ebook, Whats for Dinner, 30 Stress-Free One-Pot Meals to Feed the Whole Family!
Kid-Friendly Soups and Stews from The Natural Nurturer Blog:
