Whip up some tasty family meals with these summer vegetable recipes that your kids will love! With the kids out of school, summer offers more time to have family meals together. If you are spending more time inside, cooking with kids can be a creative activity that also teaches them beginning cooking skills. These vegetable-based meals are healthy, filling, and fun for kids to eat! If your kids can’t stomach regular broccoli or cauliflower, try these creative recipes that put a yummy twist on veggie dishes.

5 Summer Vegetable Recipes for Kids

Zucchini Pizza

You won’t have to persuade kids to eat this vegetable meal! Looks like pizza. Tastes like pizza. But the main ingredient is zucchini! Kids get their servings of vegetables. And you have an easy dinner ready to go. To make this delicious zucchini pizza you’ll need:

• Zucchini
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni slices
• Marinara Sauce
• Italian Seasoning

Cut the zucchini into slices and spread out on a non-stick pan. Spray the pan with olive oil to ensure nothing sticks. Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the slices. Top with mozzarella cheese. Broil for 3 minutes. Then top the slices with pepperoni and broil again for 3-4 minutes. That’s it! Serve with a side of marinara sauce. Kids will love this cheesy finger food they can dip. Enjoy a quick and easy summer meal with kids that only requires a few ingredients!

Veggie Mac and Cheese Bites

Are your kids asking for macaroni and cheese every day? These veggie mac and cheese bites will satisfy their craving but contain hidden veggies! Kids can enjoy their favorite food with extra nutrients. These mini morsels are perfect to heat up the next day or enjoy on-the-go. To make these mac and cheese bites you’ll need:

• 1 box macaroni and cheese
• 1 bag of frozen peas and carrots
• 1/2 cup shredded Colby jack cheese
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 muffin tins

Cook the macaroni and cheese according to the box instructions. Add a half cup Colby jack cheese to the pot, to make it extra creamy and give it a fresher cheese taste. Cook the frozen bag of peas and carrots in the microwave according to the package instructions. Pour into a bowl and mash as finely as you can. Don’t let the mixture turn to mush. Try to break up the veggies so they are smaller and finer. Add one or two cups of veggies to the pot, plus the paprika and garlic powder, and stir together. Spray your muffin tins to avoid sticking. Spoon the mac and cheese mixture into the muffin tins—fill to the top of each muffin cup. Combine the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese into a small bowl. Top each muffin cup with the mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until the top is slightly browned. These cute, mini sized meals will delight kids and adults!

Crispy Veggie Tacos

It’s fiesta time with this one-pan vegetable taco recipe! This summer meal would be perfect as part of a themed dinner night. Snack on chips and salsa pre-meal and enjoy a margarita (for the adults). When dinner is over, have your kids try to open a pinata in the backyard to get the candy surprise! To make these crispy tacos you’ll need:

• Tortillas
• Refried beans
• Red pepper
• Green pepper
• Zucchini
• Corn (frozen)
• Guacamole
• Salsa
• Colby jack cheese (shredded)
• Cumin
• Garlic powder
• Paprika

Chop the red pepper, green pepper, and zucchini into small pieces. Fry in a pan until softened. While frying, cook the frozen corn. Add the refried beans and frozen corn to the pan. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon paprika, garlic powder, and cumin and stir to combine. Put your taco filling into a bowl and cover to keep warm. Put one or more tortillas into the pan. Add a scoop of filling to one side. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Fold the tortilla over and cover with a lid (until cheese is melty). Cook until lightly brown. Flip over to cook the other side. Serve with a side of salsa and guacamole. Kids will love the crunchy goodness they can eat with their hands!

Vegetable Meatballs with Noodles

Wow your kids with these vegetable-based meatballs! Serve them with sauce over noodles and enjoy a delicious family dish. Kids will never know they are packed with nutrition. Plan a hearty vegetarian meal for your next family dinner and enjoy the leftovers. To make this recipe you’ll need:

• 1 cup black beans
• 1 large sweet potato
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Noodles (any variety)
• Marinara or Alfredo sauce

Bake or microwave the sweet potato until tender. Make sure to fork it, so steam can escape. Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes or microwave on high for 9-11 minutes. Add some butter to the potato and mash until smooth. Mash the black beans with the back of a spoon and add to the sweet potato mash. Add the egg, shredded carrots, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. Mix well. Form the mixture into round balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through so each side is browned. Make sure the meatballs are crisp enough on the outside before taking them out (test with a fork). Serve the meatballs over your favorite noodles and add marinara or alfredo sauce.

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Kids love fried rice! This veggie dish puts a fun twist on a popular dish. It tastes so much like the real thing, they won’t know the difference. You can also add protein like chicken or keep it vegetarian. To make this family meal you’ll need:

• Cauliflower rice (Make your own with cauliflower and a blender or buy frozen in a ready-to-go bag)
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Sesame seeds
• Chili flakes (optional, for spiciness)
• Frozen vegetable medley with peas and carrots
• Eggs (2)
• Green onion

Cook the cauliflower rice according to the bag instructions, if frozen. Then put the freshly blended rice or cooked frozen rice into a pan on medium heat. Cook until the cauliflower rice has crisped, and all liquid is gone from the pan. Cauliflower is naturally very soft, so you want the rice to be sturdier to have a rice-like consistency. Cook the frozen veggie medley according to instructions and add to the cauliflower. Add several tablespoons of soy sauce and mix well. Add one teaspoon sesame oil.  Push the rice to one side and crack 2 eggs into the pan. Let them cook for 1 minute and then stir into the rice, so the eggs scramble. Sprinkle chopped green onion, sesame seeds, and chili flakes on top. Your cauliflower fried rice is ready to serve!

Summer is a beautiful time to enjoy a meal together. Try some of these kid-friendly recipes the next time you want to hide some healthy vegetables in your cooking!

Resources:

https://kalynskitchen.com/vals-kid-friendly-broiled-zucchini/

https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/veggie-mac-cheese-muffins/