If there’s anything kids love, it has to be chicken. But it can get boring if you keep making it the same way all the time. That’s why I 100% recommend that you scan through articles like this one…
I’m going to share with you my shortlist of the best kid-friendly chicken recipes across the net. I’m sure your kids will love them, and so will you.
They are all flavorful, but none of them are too hot or too unfamiliar. And remember, chicken is packed with protein, which will help the family feel fuller for longer.
This shortlist will give you plenty of inspiration for your family meal planning, and I’ll also provide links to each recipe, so you can go ahead and make it yourself.
I’ve tried to include a good variety, and plenty of recipes that only require half an hour to make, so that you can whip them up on a busy weeknight.
After the recipes, I’ve got a handy FAQ section, before I wrap up with a conclusion at the end. And without further ado, get those taste buds ready because here we go!
1. Easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe From Cooktoria
We’re going to kick things off with an easy-to-make dish that’s crunchy on the outside and succulent and moist on the inside, much like KFC, but without having to go through the drive-through.
It’s ready to eat in as little as 25 minutes and only requires 7 ingredients. And it’s boneless.
2. Ultra-Satisfying Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe From Inspired Taste
Like chicken, noodles also tend to be quite popular with kids. And this chicken and noodle soup recipe is a great way to get your kids to eat a portion or two of vegetables.
There are no out-there ingredients, it’s mostly chicken stock, chicken, noodles and seasoning. And you can tailor the recipe to include veg you already know the kids like.
3. Classic Hunter’s Chicken Recipe From Good Housekeeping
This is a super simple recipe to make, and it requires only 5 ingredients. And it’s all stuff kids generally like.
This includes bacon, boneless chicken breasts, shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar cheese, and a good barbecue sauce, preferably one you already know the kids like. It goes great served with new potatoes.
4. Baked Popcorn Chicken Recipe From Damn Delicious
Popcorn-style chicken is another KFC favorite with kids. Kids love to grab mouthfuls while they’re watching their favorite shows.
And with this particular recipe, you get a healthier alternative to the deep-fried version. And once you tell the kids the ingredients include potato chips, they’ll be excited to try it.
5. Quick And Simple Mild Chicken Curry Recipe From Kitchen Sanctuary
This chicken curry recipe is so mild that if you don’t tell the kids it’s a curry, they may never know.
Kinda sneaky, I know, but if you’re desperate for a new chicken dish and don’t want to have to cook twice, this is a great way of doing it. And it’s ready to eat in half an hour.
6. Chicken Chow Mein Recipe From Tip Buzz
If your kids ever tried your Asian takeout food, I can bet that this was the dish they liked the best. What’s more, this recipe is ready to eat in as little as 20 minutes.
You can even sneak in some healthy veg, such as carrot or beansprouts. And if you can’t get chow mein noodles, just use spaghetti.
7. Mini Chicken Pot Pie Recipe From The Food Charlatan
Kids love homemade chicken pot pie, and with this recipe, you can make mini ones, and any that don’t get eaten can be reheated to eat the next day.
They also make great finger food for a buffet. And if you use canned crescent rolls for the dough, you can make it in less than half an hour.
8. Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe From Tip Buzz
This is another popular takeout dish that kids just love because it’s so sweet. It’s fruity too, thanks to the use of pineapple chunks, and you can throw in a little veg such as bell peppers and onion. Better yet, it’s ready to eat in just 30 minutes.
9. Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac And Cheese Casserole Recipe From The Chunky Chef
If your kids love the classic baked macaroni and cheese, you can bet they will like this as well. Epic comfort food.
And it’s a great way of getting them some healthy protein if they’re a big fan of mac and cheese with chicken. It uses lots of flavorful yet familiar ingredients.
10. Chicken Tenders Parmesan With Penne And Broccoli Recipe From Martha Stewart
Now, here’s a recipe that both you and your kids are sure to enjoy. It features broiled chicken, which is healthier than classic chicken tenders, and the pasta is combined with healthy broccoli.
And you can use store-bought tomato sauce to save precious time.
11. Crispy, Sticky Sesame Chicken Recipe From Simply Delicious
This is a mild tasting yet sweet tasting dish (thanks to the addition of brown sugar) and the outer of the chicken pieces is coated in a tasty sauce that enables crunchy sesame seeds to stick to it.
You can either serve it with noodles or boiled rice. Kids love it.
12. Chicken Alfredo Pasta Recipe From BellyFull
I just love this recipe, and so will you and your kids.
There’s golden pan fried, lightly seasoned boneless chicken breasts, coated in a dreamy cream sauce, served up on the family’s favorite pasta, topped off with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.
And it’s ready to eat in as little as 33 minutes.
13. Brown-Sugar BBQ Chicken Drumettes Recipe From Martha Stewart
This dish makes for excellent finger food, and it’s super simple to make – you only need 6 ingredients, namely chicken drumettes, salt and pepper, cider vinegar, light brown sugar, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
The recipe yields 8 servings and takes about 45 minutes. But, you can make the barbecue sauce up to 2 weeks in advance.
14. Tasty Chicken Parmesan Pizza Recipe From Bake It With Love
This dish is a winning pick for family dinners, such a people pleaser. It features crispy slices of breaded Parmesan crusted chicken, tangy pizza sauce and stretchy mozzarella cheese.
It’s a super simple recipe and can be quite quick to make if you use store bought pizza sauce and ready-made pizza dough.
15. Chicken Kebabs Recipe From Woman’s Day
Thinking of having a cookout? Then this could be the recipe that everyone will be talking about.
You can even get the kids to have fun helping out threading the ingredients onto the skewers before they go on the grill. There’s a mild marinade for the chicken, and you can add whichever veggies your kids will like.
16. Peanut-Crusted Chicken Fingers Recipe From Martha Stewart
If your kids love peanuts, then they may like this chicken finger recipe, which features a panko and crushed-peanut coating.
It’s also got some nice flavorings in there, such as paprika, sugar, and dry mustard powder. The recipe uses 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts.
17. Greek Chicken Burgers Recipe From Woman’s Day
These Greek chicken burgers are a lot like regular ones. They feature ground chicken for the patties, which sit in pita pockets, combined with a little fresh lettuce, tomato, and crumbled feta cheese.
You can even add some fresh mint leaves if you think the kids will like it.
18. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe From Pure Wow
Kids love sliders – and these feature yummy buffalo sauce. And you can make it with leftover rotisserie chicken.
And to make it kid-friendly, all you have to do is swap out the blue cheese for a more palatable cheese. What’s more, it’s ready to eat in as little as 15 minutes.
19. Coca Cola Chicken Recipe From Spend With Pennies
Once you tell the kids this chicken is Coca-Cola flavored, they’ll most definitely be excited to try it! Better yet, just one can of coke is needed for 8 chicken thighs or drumsticks.
And it’s not just Coca-Cola flavoring it, there’s also garlic, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard powder, and brown sugar.
20. Inside-Out Chicken Kiev Recipe From BBC Good Food
Most kids adore garlic. But if you’re feeling fed up with giving them food that’s too high in calories, then check out this easy to make alternative to the traditional chicken kiev.
Only 3 ingredients are required, boneless skinless chicken breasts, garlic butter and breadcrumbs. It takes less than 30 minutes to make, and each portion is only 218 calories.
21. Chicken Bolognese Recipe From Woman’s Day
If your kid/s like spaghetti bolognese, as most kids do, but you’d like to make a healthier version that does not feature red meat, then this could be the recipe you’re looking for.
Ingredients include ground beef, carrots, garlic, onion, crushed tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and more. And it only takes 40 minutes to make.
22. Cereal-Breaded Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe From Food
How about instead of coating your chicken with regular breadcrumbs, you use cereal as per this recipe.
You can get the kids involved, and they can crush the corn flakes cereal in preparation. What’s more, the recipe is ready to eat in less than half an hour.
23. Cheesy Chicken Sloppy Joe’s Recipe From Delish
Everybody loves sloppy joes, and this healthier version using ground chicken instead of ground beef would be sure to go down well with the whole family.
And it uses easy to source ingredients. But you may wish to ditch the chili powder if the kids aren’t into it.
24. Paprika Chicken Pasta Recipe From Pinch Of Yum
Man, I love this recipe. And with paprika as the main spice, it gives the dish a little intrigue without scaring spice haters away.
And the brine for the chicken pairs perfectly with the creamy paprika pasta sauce. And your kids are getting portions of both carbs and protein.
25. Slow-Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe From Pure Wow
I just love slow cooker chicken. It’s just so easy, you can fix it and forget it, and the chicken comes out so tender you can easily shred it when done.
It does feature chili powder however, but this is a minor ingredient, and you can use a mild version.
26. Cheesy Hasselback Chicken Recipe From The Weary Chef
This super simple, low budget recipe requires just 3 ingredients, namely boneless skinless chicken breasts, and slices of cheese and ham.
And it’s ready to eat in about 30 minutes – perfect for a busy weeknight. Be sure to use your kid’s favorite cheese!
27. Creamy Chicken And Corn Chowder Recipe From Cooking Classy
This rich and creamy chicken broth recipe is great comfort food, and a great way to get the kids eating more veg. It does feature jalapeños, but these can be seeded to reduce the heat.
The recipe yields 7 servings and is ready to eat in less than an hour.
28. Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe From Number 2 Pencil
And now, we’re going to go about with a bang. This dish is very flavorful, but also fairly mild. It only requires 5 ingredients, and uses fresh lemon and herbs and features a hint of garlic.
And I can confirm it’s absolutely delicious – both you and the kids will love it!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Ways Can You Cook A Chicken?
I’m pleased to report that there are many ways to cook chicken. They are as follows:
- Roasted whole chicken
- Braised chicken
- Poached chicken
- Fried chicken
- Grilled chicken
- Spatchcocked chicken
- Pan fried and oven baked chicken
- Rotisserie chicken
- Sous vide chicken
- Air fried chicken
- Beer can chicken
- Smoked chicken
What Tastes Like Chicken But Isn’t Chicken?
It’s always good to broaden a kid’s horizons and get them trying different things. So if you know they like white meat such as chicken, they might also like turkey as well.
What Temperature Should I Reheat Chicken?
Kids don’t always have big appetites, which means there’s usually leftovers for the following day.
Personally, I would recommend that you reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which you can check with a meat thermometer.
What Cuts Of Chicken Do Kids Like Best?
Every kid is different. I have always loved legs the best, followed by thighs and wings. However, some picky eaters won’t eat chicken pieces with bones in them, so it’s best to check what your guests like before you go grocery shopping.
Wrap Up
I trust that this article has inspired you to try a new way of cooking chicken that both you and your kids will love – enjoy!
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