Kid Friendly Vegetable Side Dishes that are easy to make and kids will actually eat! These sides are totally delicious.
Jump to:
- 1. Honey Glazed Carrots
- 2. Cinnamon Butternut Squash
- 3. Baked Zucchini Tots
- 4. Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
- 5. Cheesy Broccoli
- 6. Baked Beans
- 7. Zucchini Hush Puppies
- 8. Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
- 9. Crispy Green Beans
- 10. Corn Casserole
- 11. Sweet Potato Casserole
- 12. Green Bean Casserole
- 13. Tater Tot Casserole
- 14. Parsnip Fries
- 15. Roasted Beets
- 16. Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- 17. Colcannon with Bacon
- 18. Peas
- 19. Winter Citrus Salad
- 20. Roasted Beet Salad
- More Side Dishes Kids Love
- 💬 Comments
It can be really hard to get kids to eat their veggies. Heck, some adults don't eat them either, right? This collection of kid friendly vegetable side dishes has something for everyone.
The best way to get kids to eat veggies is to set a good example, praise your kids when they try something new, and be creative about how you serve vegetables. I also know that when it comes to getting the pickiest eaters to try new foods I'd like to bang my head against a rock.
My oldest has ARFID, which stands for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. This child literally eats the same ten foods every day and is particular about every detail of the food - how the chicken nuggets look when they're cooked, if the crackers are broken, or if the different foods are touching.
Meal planning can be exhausting because he doesn't eat the same things. Often even kid-friendly vegetable recipes fail to entice and that makes me worry about meeting his dietary needs.
Research shows it takes more than 10 times to introduce a new food before your child accepts it. Frustrating, I know! One tip from our occupational therapist is to wait a few days in between trying a new food. Patience, my friend, you got this!
There are a few tricks to making veggies seem more appetizing like adding cheese, or even marshmallows! Which one of these recipes do you think your picky eater would go for?
1. Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey Glazed Carrots from Juggling Act Mama:
A little bit of honey brings out the natural sweetness in carrots that kids love.
This is a super easy recipe that's quick and easy, too.
2. Cinnamon Butternut Squash
Cinnamon Butternut Squash from Juggling Act Mama:
This is one of my failproof kid friendly vegetable side dishes!
I love that it's easy to prep and clean up is a breeze.
3. Baked Zucchini Tots
Baked Zuchcini Tots from The Wimply Vegetarian:
These delicious zucchini tots are so easy to make, and a great way to get kids to love zucchini! This version of tater tots is filled with zucchini, onion, bread crumbs, herbs, and Asiago cheese.
4. Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar from Juggling Act Mama:
My family begs for these yummy sweet potatoes all year long! You could also use maple syrup in this recipe instead of brown sugar.
(Candied sweet potatoes are delicious, too, but take a bit more work.)
5. Cheesy Broccoli
Quick Broccoli and Cheese from Spend with Pennies:
Cheese makes everything better, right? Kids and adults always gobble this up!
The best part is that the cheddar cheese sauce is simple to make.
6. Baked Beans
Cowboy Baked Beans from Juggling Act Mama:
Bacon makes these slightly sweet and smoky baked beans so good.
It's a great side dish for so many different occasions.
7. Zucchini Hush Puppies
Zucchini Hush Puppy Recipe from Juggling Act Mama:
While hushpuppies take a bit more time than some of the other dishes on this list, they're a surefire way to get kids to eat zucchini.
(You can also add corn kernels to these if you like.)
8. Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
Red Skin Mashed Potatoes from Juggling Act Mama:
These restaurant-style potatoes are so buttery!
If your kiddo doesn't care for the texture of the potato skins, try our white cheddar mashed potatoes instead.
9. Crispy Green Beans
Crispy Green Beans from Dizzy Busy & Hungry:
I love our garlic green beans, but sometimes kids aren't crazy about garlic. However, these yummy greens are breaded and cooked in the oven or your air fryer. It's a great way to get your kids to eat their green beans.
Another way to get kids to try a new food is by pairing it with a dipping sauce they already enjoy. Try these green beans, carrot sticks, or cauliflower florets with ranch dressing and see if that temps their taste buds!
10. Corn Casserole
Cowboy Corn Casserole from Juggling Act Mama:
Cheese and crispy bacon for the win!
Kids love the natural sweetness of corn, but I think it's the creamy, cheesy, bacony goodness that makes this such a popular side dish.
11. Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole from Juggling Act Mama:
Mini marshmallows... need I say more? Who doesn't want to eat a casserole topped with toasted marshmallow on top?!
There are so many different ways to enjoy sweet potatoes but this is my daughter's favorite!
12. Green Bean Casserole
Green Bean Casserole from Juggling Act Mama:
With a creamy sauce and crunchy fried onions, the kids won't even realize the green beans are good for them!
And, I love this is an easy make-ahead meal with simple ingredients.
13. Tater Tot Casserole
Cheesy Tater Tots with Bacon from Juggling Act Mama:
We eat these tater tots all the time at my house. You can make them with regular tots, or try veggie tots made with broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato.
(I really love making this for game day, too!)
You can make this recipe with any kind of veggie tots - it's an easy way to sneak some healthy veggies into your kids!
14. Parsnip Fries
Baked Parsnip Chips from My Gorgeous Recipes:
Parsnips are an underrated root vegetable, in my opinion! These parsnip French fries are tossed in olive oil, paprika, parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and baked until golden brown.
So good!
The kiddos might also like to try these Baked Sweet Potato Fries from The Cookie Rookie.
15. Roasted Beets
Oven Roasted Beets Recipe from Juggling Act Mama:
My daughter has been a beet-lover since she was an itty-bitty baby. It was one of her first foods and is still one of her go-to veggies. You'll love how easy this beet recipe is to make and everyone will love the flavor.
16. Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Crispy Smashed Potatoes from Juggling Act Mama:
Crispy potatoes and parmesan cheese - SO GOOD! These potatoes only need a little bit of prep and then you can let the oven do the rest of the work for you.
17. Colcannon with Bacon
Colcannon with Bacon from Bowl Me Over
Family dinners shouldn't be a battle and subterfuge is sometimes just the thing.
With chunky potatoes and bacon, the kids won't even care that there's cabbage mixed into this Irish side dish!
18. Peas
Peas with Lemon from A Couple Cooks:
This might just be the fastest veggie dish on our list! This recipe starts with frozen peas and fresh garlic and is ready in about 5 minutes!
19. Winter Citrus Salad
Winter Citrus Salad from Juggling Act Mama:
With all the yummy citrus fruits in this salad, your kiddos will gobble up the greens without a peep!
I just love this delicious side dish.
20. Roasted Beet Salad
Roasted Beet Salad from Juggling Act Mama:
Sweet beets with orange segments, pecans, a little mint, and a spinkle of cotija cheese is just such an amazing combination!
This can be served warm or cold.
Did I miss one of your family's favorite kid-friendly sides? Leave me a comment below!
More Side Dishes Kids Love
Here are some more delicious kid-friendly side dishes for weeknight dinners:
- Mac and Cheese | Juggling Act Mama
- Southern Fried Apples | Restless Chipotle
- Cheesy Cornbread | Juggling Act Mama
- Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes | Everyday Eileen
- Sweet Potato Rolls | Juggling Act Mama
- Dried Cranberry Sauce | The Cagle Diaries
- Cranberry Walnut Stuffing | Juggling Act Mama
You might find our fruit and vegetable checklist helpful for keeping track of new foods to try and things your kids already like. Download it for free!
susan | the wimpy vegetarian says
What a great round up for dishes kids will love! And perfect timing!! I plan to make a couple of these when my grandkids come to visit over the holidays. Thank you!