21 Kid-Friendly Chicken Recipes for Dinner Tonight
21 Kid-Friendly Chicken Recipes for Dinner Tonight
What kid doesn't love chicken tenders? Whether dipped into ketchup or barbecue sauce or else eaten unadorned alongside French fries, crispy chicken is pretty perfect. And we have a feeling most adults don't mind taking a bite or two, either. But what if you're looking to expand your little one's palate? In that case, you'll be pleased to know we have plenty of delicious kid-friendly chicken recipes including pasta, chicken and dumplings, classic chicken noodle soup, and two kinds of tasty chicken tacos.
A timeless recipe beloved by one and all is our Test Kitchen's Favorite Chicken Soup. It's a broth-to-bowl recipe—a whole chicken is cut up into individual pieces and cooked in water with aromatics to create the base for this soup. Once the broth is complete, the chicken is removed and cut into bite-sized pieces, and more vegetables are added to the broth to cook. It's a time-consuming, but hands-off dish that's well worth the wait. Another classic comfort food dish is Chicken Soup with Rice, pictured here. Use a good-quality chicken broth—whether it be homemade or store-bought—because that's the big flavor here.
Looking for a way to sneak kids their vegetables? Make this Chicken-and-Broccolini Mac and Cheese, which hides the green vegetable in a rich cream cheese-based sauce. Kids will gobble it up and not realize that they're getting a hearty dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals in the process. We also like that it's a quick comfort food that you can serve any night of the week.
From versatile crispy chicken cutlets to creamy, cozy pasta dishes, these chicken recipes are kid-friendly and absolutely delicious.
Crispy Chicken Nuggets
Skip the store-bought frozen kind and make these MVP chicken nuggets at home in a flash. Chicken breasts are diced, marinated in yogurt, coated in panko breadcrumbs, and fried until golden brown and crisp. View Recipe
Test Kitchen's Favorite Chicken and Dumplings
Kids will love this serve-yourself-style chicken dinner. To keep the chicken thighs super moist and prevent them from overcooking, start by poaching them lightly, then shredding (but feel free to use store-bought rotisserie chicken to save prep time!). View Recipe
Lemon-Ginger Chicken and Green Beans
Bright with color and flavor, kids won't mind that this chicken dinner is secretly healthy. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are first pan-seared to get a golden brown exterior, then they finish poaching in water with garlic, ginger, and green beans. View Recipe
Oat-Crusted Chicken Cutlets
These kid-friendly chicken cutlets are super versatile. Serve them with mashed potatoes, salad, or roasted vegetables—either way, the extra crunchy, extra crispy oat coating is sure to delight. View Recipe
Crispy Baked Chicken Flautas
Bake these low-key chicken tortillas for Taco Tuesday. Ground chicken seamlessly takes on the flavors of other ingredients including tomato paste, chopped chile in adobo, cilantro, and lime juice. View Recipe
Test Kitchen's Favorite Chicken Soup
This homemade chicken noodle soup recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. Kids will love slurping on the warm, savory broth and will scoop up every last veggie (we promise!). View Recipe
Ground Chicken Tacos
Dark ground chicken comes to life with cumin, coriander, minced chipotle in adobo, and tomato paste. The mixture is sautéed in a cast-iron skillet, piled into warm tortillas, and topped with cheese and salsa. View Recipe
Quick Fried Chicken and Waffles
Kids will adore the idea of breakfast for dinner. When you want to serve them a treat, make this sweet and savory combo with crisp chicken cutlets and warm, fluffy waffles. Don't forget the maple syrup! View Recipe
Crispy Chicken Cutlets
The whole family will love digging into these chicken cutlets. Serve them on their own, with a big crunchy salad, or as the base for chicken parmesan. No matter which way you choose, they'll disappear in a flash. View Recipe
Chicken Bolognese with Tagliatelle
If you're looking for a way to give your children the satisfaction of a rich meat sauce that's just a little bit leaner, try this recipe that uses ground chicken in place of beef and pork. And it's quicker than a traditional Bolognese sauce—this whole dinner comes together in just 45 minutes. View Recipe
Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
So easy and sure to please, serve these chicken fajitas any night of the week. Place all of the toppings in individual bowls on the dinner table so that kids can customize their meal exactly as they please. View Recipe
Chicken Parmesan
Here's an absolute classic that family members both young and old will love. Crispy chicken, marinara sauce, and ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese are the ultimate trio. View Recipe
Individual Chicken Potpies
Here's a quick route to the family-favorite—chicken potpie. Rather than making pie crust for a big pie, use store-bought puff pastry to make individual pies in gratin dishes. Everyone gets their own—and it's easy on the cook. View Recipe
Chicken-and-Broccolini Mac and Cheese
Can't convince kids to eat their greens? Mix them into their favorite comfort food: rich and creamy macaroni and cheese! This dinner is even more indulgent thanks to the inclusion of cream cheese, so we have a feeling they'll forgive the vegetables once they taste it. View Recipe
Chicken Tenders Parmesan with Penne and Broccoli
In this lighter, simpler version of classic chicken Parmesan, chicken breast tenders are coated in a Parmesan cheese and breadcrumb mixture, and then broiled, not fried. An easy side dish of penne pasta and broccoli makes this a complete meal that the whole family will love. View Recipe
Oven-Fried Chicken
Though it's baked, not fried, this breadcrumb-coated chicken has plenty of flavor and crunch. Cook it on a wire rack so the bottoms of the chicken doesn't get soggy. View Recipe
Chicken Burgers
Ground dark-meat chicken makes a burger that's just as juicy and tasty as one made with beef. Sautéed onion, orange bell pepper, and celery add texture and savory-sweet flavor to the burgers. View Recipe
Chicken with Couscous and Orange
Using a supermarket rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking couscous gets this one-dish dinner on the table in a flash. Fresh mint leaves, chopped navel orange, and toasted pistachios give fresh flavor to this easy meal. View Recipe
Brown-Sugar Barbecue Chicken Drumettes
Combine ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and Worcestershire to make a quick barbecue sauce for roasted chicken wings. If you like more heat, add cayenne pepper to taste. View Recipe
Peanut-Crusted Chicken Fingers
A zesty buttermilk marinade makes chicken breast meat moist and tender, while panko breadcrumbs and chopped peanuts create a crunchy coating. View Recipe
Nuggets and tenders aren't the only kid-approved chicken dinner options—but don't worry, we have recipes for them, too.