Easy, Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Meals
Whether your family is dipping their toes into the vegetarian waters, are longtime ‘veggies’, or your kiddos are looking to go meat-free, I’ve got you covered! These easy, kid-friendly vegetarian meals are well balanced with protein and fiber. Recipes include kid-friendly tofu ideas, pasta dishes, casseroles, and soups. And if you’re thinking eating vegetarian requires special ingredients or doesn’t deliver all the usual flavors of your family favorites, think again! My list of vegetarian meals for kids below includes creamy enchiladas, tomato soup, lasagna rolls, and more!
Here’s to your next Meatless Monday! What are YOUR family-favorite vegetarian meals for kids?
Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Meals: Pasta
Creamy Veggie-Packed Pasta Sauce (with Cottage Cheese)
Just 5 simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes, that all you need for this quick and healthy Creamy Veggie-Packed Pasta Sauce. Blend cottage cheese into a simple tomato sauce to create a creamy, flavorful topping for your favorite pasta. Kids and adults love this simple and delicious meal!
Vegetarian Lasagna Rolls with White Beans and Spinach
Need a healthy dinner the whole family will love? These cheesy and veggie-packed lasagna rolls are the comfort food you can feel good about making any day of the week. Nutritious and fiber-rich white beans replace some of the cheese in these Vegetarian Lasagna Rolls. However, topping the rolls with melty mozzarella makes the dish satisfying and super kid-friendly.
One Pot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This creamy One Pot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is a perfect, kid-friendly weeknight dinner. Plus, there’s no need to cook the squash, boil the pasta, or blend the sauce! This squash-packed dish is made in one pot in less than 30 minutes.
One Pot Pasta with Veggie Packed Sauce (Instant Pot or Stove Top)
Note: While this recipe lists ground turkey or ground beef, you can easily make this dish vegetarian by omitting the meat or using your favorite vegetarian ground meat substitute!
This is one of those weeknight dinners my whole family enjoys. You can make this bolognese inspired, healthy pasta dinner in the Instant Pot or on the stove top. This One Pot Past with Veggie Packed Sauce is really a one-pot wonder…No pre-boiling of the pasta at all! Just add all the veggies, ground turkey, sauce, and pasta to the pot…that’s it! Easy to make this recipe vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Superhero Mac and Cheese (High Protein with Yogurt and Spinach
Looking for an easy, homemade healthy Mac and cheese? No flour, high in protein, and packed with veggies, this Superhero Mac and Cheese makes kids and parents very happy. Greek yogurt gives the sauce a creamy texture and nutritious boost. Plus, the cheesy pasta dish is only made with 5 simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Have your kiddo get into the kitchen and blend up the super green sauce with you. Although it’s packed with spinach, your toddler or big kid won’t even taste it.
Vegetarian Casserole Recipes:
Creamy Salsa Verde Enchiladas (Chicken or Vegetarian
I first came up with this dinner to use up leftover chicken or beans that I had in my fridge. It soon became one of our favorite weeknight meals and checked all the boxes. It’s a meal that’s nutritious, satisfying, and quick to throw together. Plus, my husband and two boys happily gobble it up since the 2-ingredient sauce is mild but flavorful. Hope you enjoy these Creamy Salsa Verde Enchiladas as much as we do!
Easy Black Bean and Veggie Enchilada Casserole
This Easy Black Bean and Veggie Enchilada Casserole is weeknight dinner lifesaver. You mix up the filling, layer, and bake! It’s full of veggies and plant-based protein. You can easily be make it dairy-free using a shredded cheese alternative, and the sauce is mild but flavorful. It’s a meal that’s sure to please the whole family. This no-chop, super quick casserole is a sneak peek recipe from my E-Cookbook, What’s For Dinner. If you want more info about the 30 recipes in the dinner ebook, be sure to scroll down to the links below.
No-Boil Pasta Bake with Veggies
This recipe is a weeknight dinner miracle! To make No-Boil Pasta Bake, you add everything to a baking dish, including pasta straight from the box, mix it with sauce and veggies, and bake it! Totally hands off and no cooking the pasta before-hand at all! I kept the basic recipe simple. However, you can customize this healthy pasta dish with whatever you’d like.
Easy Stuffed Shells (with Spinach and Cottage Cheese)
Cozy, cheesy baked pasta made a little lighter with cottage cheese and lots of spinach. Easy Stuffed Shells are quick to put together for a weeknight dinner and festive enough to serve for a family gathering or holiday. If you prefer a more traditional tasting stuffed shell pasta, use ricotta instead. Both versions are comforting and delicious!
Kid-Friendly Tofu Recipes:
Vegan Burrito Bowls with Tofu Cumbles and Cilantro Lime Rice
This is a healthy dinner that I like to call “accidentally vegan” because your family won’t even notice it’s totally plant-based. Vegan Burrito Bowls are packed with protein and veggies! Plus, this DIY meal comes together in 30 minutes. The tofu is crumbled and cooked until crisp, making is super popular even with tofu-skeptics. Pair it with some veggies and flavorful rice, and this dinner is one you’ll be putting on the menu every week.
Orange Sweet and Sour Stir-Fry
Need a healthy, easy dinner the whole family will love? This Orange Sweet and Sour Stir-Fry is your answer! This is not your typical, boring stir-fry. Tossing the tofu, chicken, or shrimp in a little cornstarch before cooking makes it extra crispy and soak-up the sweet, tangy sauce. The orange flavor makes this recipe 100 percent kid-approved!
Rainbow Noodle Bowls with Roasted Tofu
A healthy weeknight dinner that will make the whole family happy! Rainbow Noodle Bowls are easy to customize, full of colorful veggies, and drizzled with the most delicious, easy sauce. Have a “picky” eater in the house? Don’t worry, I’ve included lots of tips for helping the most finicky toddlers enjoy this meal too. Plus, if kids help prep the veggies or stir the sauce together, they are much more likely to be excited about eating the meal too.
Vegetarian Quick Meal/Lunch Box Recipes:
Easy Bean and Veggie Quesadillas
Veggie and plant-based protein packed into a super toddler and kid friendly package! Easy Veggie and Bean Quesadillas are simple to make and always a hit for lunch or dinner at my house. This recipe is very versatile and you can use whatever vegetables and beans you have on hand to make the no-cook filling. Throw some guacamole or fruit on the side and you’ve got a super nutritious and delicious meal.
This kid and toddler-friendly quinoa recipe, packs lots of goodness into little muffin-like bites. Quinoa Protein Nuggets are easy to bake-up for quick meals at home or lunch boxes on the go. Plus, there’s a lot less quinoa on the floor!
Stuffed Pizza Bites (with veggies!)
his is a fun twist on pizza night that’s perfect for cooking with kids! Stuffed Pizza Bites can be filled with whatever you like. We often do spinach in there because it blends right in with the other fillings. You can use store-bought or homemade pizza dough and any pizza/marinara sauce you like for dipping. It’s a recipe kids will love to make and eat!
Sesame Noodle Salad (Nut-free and gluten-free)
A healthy summer meal or bbq side dish that the whole family will love! This plant based, veggie-packed Sesame Noodle Salad is nut-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Cook your favorite rice noodles, chop up some crunchy veg, and then toss it all in a super flavorful sauce. Pack up this noodle salad for a picnic or a lunch box for a nutritious and refreshing meal.
Crispy Rice and Veggie Fritters/Waffles
We always have leftover rice in the fridge. You too? These Crispy Rice and Veggie Fritters or Waffles are a great way to use up the rice and get some veggies into the day too. Plus, you only need 4 ingredients and 15 minutes–it’s so quick and easy!
Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Soups and Stews:
Healthy Creamy Tomato Soup (with veggies and Greek yogurt
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.
Note: The original recipe includes ground turkey, but it is VERY easy to omit and make this soup vegetarian. Leave out the ground turkey, and replace it with chopped mushrooms, meat replaces, or beans. I’ve heard people use a ground meat alternative, like a vegan sausage, with great success. Leave the cheese out to make it vegan. Lazy Lasagna Soup can be made 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.
Hearty Slow Cooker Veggie Chili (The Natural Nurturer
From The Natural Nurturer: This Hearty Slow Cooker Veggie Chiliis the perfect thing to curl up with at the end of the day! Meatless and veggie-loaded, this crockpot vegetarian chili is simple to make, packed with flavor, and is the perfect plant based dinner that is loved by all kinds of eaters! Vegan + gluten free too!
Autumn Squash Soup (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot
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.
Chicken Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup (Vegetarian Option)
Note: While this recipe calls for chicken sausage, it is super easy to make vegetarian or vegan. Leave out the sausage and add another can of beans or simply use vegetarian sausage! The soup is packed with flavor from the veggies, marinara sauce, and broth, so you won’t miss the meat at all. Leave the cheese out to make it vegan. You can also add some cooked pasta, rice, or quinoa if you want to add more goodness to the pot.
White Bean, and Kale Soup is my all-time favorite soup. It’s hearty, healthy, and packed with veggies. This easy weeknight dinner can be made 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.
Looking for MORE recipe options? My two latest books, WHAT’S FOR DINNER and KID KITCHEN, have both veggie and non-veggie options! Check them out today!
