15 Vegan Recipes Your Kids Will Actually Eat
Plant-based cuisine isn’t just for grown-ups. While some kids may scoff at a pile of greens on their plate, there are plenty of 100 percent vegan recipes (that is, meat-, dairy- and egg-free) appealing to all ages and levels of picky eaters.
RELATED: 15 One-Skillet Vegan Dinners
1. Vegan Butternut Mac and ‘Cheese’ with Smoky Shiitake ‘Bacon’
Honestly, it’s even tricky for adults to notice that there’s no actual cheese in this ridiculously creamy, gooey mac and cheese reminiscent of the cult favorite served at By Chloe restaurants.
2. Watermelon Poke Bowl
Substituting raw fish for fruit may be the easiest way to make a dish for picky kids more accessible.
3. Easy Vegan Pesto-Parmesan Spaghetti with Zucchini
In less than half an hour you can have a totally homemade vegan pasta dish, packed with greens and protein-heavy faux Parm.
4. Instant Pot Vegan Farro Risotto
Risotto is notoriously time-consuming, but the Instant Pot makes it a cinch. Packed with fiber and other nutrients, farro is a healthy alternative to rice and has a nice bouncy texture kids—and adults—love.
5. Vegan Kentucky Fried Chick’n
This tofu-based meal can get the whole family on board to help shake up the coating and coat the crispy vegan not-chicken pieces. Serve with ketchup, of course!
6. Vegan Fiesta Taco Bowl
Taco night just got an upgrade—in flavor and nutrients. Serve with tortillas for kids who like to eat with their hands and this vegan salad will go down all so easy.
7. Balsamic Marinated Portobello Pizzas
Pizza night doesn’t have to be totally unhealthy! These adorable individual pizzas built on mushroom caps are as fun to eat as they are to make.
8. Vegetable Spring Rolls With Peanut Sauce
So bright and colorful, these veggie spring rolls don’t feel like they’re missing anything! Homemade peanut sauce also packs up well for lunchboxes or picnics.
9. Chickpea Shawarma Wraps
Sandwiches are always crowd pleasers, and these Middle Eastern-inspired customizable wraps are so full of flavor, they’re definitely dinner-worthy!
10. One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
This may be the easiest vegan dinner of all time—and it’s super people-pleasing! The pasta cooks right into the sauce for maximum flavor and barely any cleanup after. Win-win.
11. Easy Healthy Orange Cauliflower Recipe
This totally vegan, homemade version of the Panda Express favorite takes all the best parts—crisp coating, tangy orange flavor—and wraps them up in an easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to become a weeknight favorite.
12. Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy
One of those notorious plant-based recipes you don’t even know is vegan, these biscuits are so decadent (shout out to coconut oil!), creamy and savory in all the right ways, they feel a little wrong.
13. Crispy Baked Avocado Tacos
The only thing better than guac on a tortilla? Crispy 'cado! Kids will love them, and adults can spice them up with hot sauce.
14. Instant Pot Vegan Pho
Noodle soup is certainly a crowd-pleaser, vegan or not. Full of healthy veggies, herbs and customizable toppings for the picky among us, this pho is so simple to make and perfect to enjoy as a family.
15. Vegan Apple Crisp
For a dessert that dresses up fruit without too much sweet, this vegan crisp does the trick. Try swapping in other stone fruits or mixing and matching produce to keep this treat fresh.
