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Kids can be picky eaters, but most like chicken. Chicken nuggets are universally loved, we have some tasty recipes for those bite-sized pieces as well as a host of other awesome ways to make 20 kid-friendly chicken recipes that will help make mealtime easier and make the kids happy, too.
From pasta to pizza and from wraps to tacos, you’ll find a variety of ways to make kid-friendly chicken into a delicious protein that will help your kids try new ways of enjoying their favorite food. You’ll find recipes that help you meal prep, too, so you’re not always making something at the last minute. Try these ideas.
Kid-friendly air fryer recipes
Kids are gonna love these yummy chicken thighs made right in the air fryer. It’s so easy to pop some thighs in the air fryer and they turn out tender and juicy every time! Garlic Honey Chicken Thighs
Chicken strips, of course, are a kid-pleasing favorite and these air fryer chicken strips could not be simpler to make.
Shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and taco seasoning join to make a quick mixture that gets rolled into a warm tortilla shell, misted with a little oil before being air fried to crispiness. You can also bake these chicken taquitos if you don’t have an air fryer. These hand-held dippables go with just about any sauce that your kids love, like salsa, mustard, melted cheese, or guacamole. Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
Try these Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas that are a cinch to make too!
Kid-friendly chicken crock pot recipes
Taco night will be a hit with these tasty chicken tacos where the boneless chicken breasts are infused with zesty flavors thanks to your crockpot. The chicken will shred easily after its cooking session making it perfect to stuff into hard or soft-shell tacos with your family’s favorite toppings. Crockpot Chicken Tacos by Julie’s Eats And Treats
Kid-friendly cold chicken meals
Packed with protein, this cold chicken cobb salad wrap is filled with shredded chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon chopped boiled eggs, and blue cheese dressing. It’s a hand-held meal that works for adults, too! Chicken Cobb Salad Wraps by Taste And Tell Blog
Taco flavors make these chicken roll-ups a delicious treat for snacks or lunches. Flour tortillas are smeared with taco-spiced cream cheese before adding shredded chicken and cheddar cheese. Roll it up and chill well before slicing these irresistible pinwheels. Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels by The Chunky Chef
Warm weather is a great time to offer a cold chicken salad mixture full of chunks of grapes and apples for a taste of sweetness. Tuck it in a lettuce wrap or between two pieces of bread for a yummy sandwich. Easy and delish! Chicken Salad with Apples And Grapes by Yellow Bliss Road
A cold pasta salad full of zesty shredded Buffalo chicken gets up-leveled with crunchy diced celery and shredded carrots. Toss it with ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, and cheese for a satisfying pasta meal perfect for warm weather. Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad by I Heart Naptime
Kid-friendly chicken pasta
These “hamburger helper” pasta meals can all be made with chicken and they are oh so good. Kids love anything with pasta!
Cheesy pasta along with marinara sauce can be easily made in one pot. Start with browning your chicken and onions and remove to add the sauce and water. Add the browned chicken and uncooked pasta in and cook until the pasta is tender. Add cheese at the end, stir and serve this family-pleasing meal. One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta by The Chunky Chef
Pasta and melted gooey cheese is always a winner and here, the chicken gets added in for protein. It’s seasoned with a little hot sauce and ranch dressing and it bakes in just 20 minutes. You can use rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken to make it all come together in a crowd-pleasing meal. Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake by Inside Brucrew Life
Other kid-friendly chicken meals
These chicken burritos are always a crowd pleaser and my daycare kids can’t get enough. They love anything in a tortilla! AND, the best part is you can make these ahead and freeze them. Make Ahead Freezer Chicken Burritos ahead. Or these Creamy Chicken Enchiladas.
Filled with spicy BBQ shredded chicken and shredded cheese, these hot and savory quesadillas are quickly assembled and grilled in your skillet for a delicious lunch or dinner. Serve with more BBQ sauce or sour cream for dipping. BBQ Chicken Quesadillas by Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons
Perfect for leftover chicken and leftover rice, this take-out favorite is super easy to make at home. Use frozen peas and carrots along with the leftover cooked rice and chicken and season it up with soy sauce. Scramble in some eggs and call it done! Chicken Fried Rice by Natasha’s Kitchen
Skip the drive-through or frozen food section and make these tastier versions of chicken nuggets at home. Chicken breasts are cut into chunks, dipped in an egg mixture, and covered with a seasoned panko mixture before their session in the oven. They’re crispy and golden and perfect for dunking in sauces like honey-mustard, BBQ sauce, and of course, ketchup! Baked Chicken Nuggets by Ambitious Kitchen
Tacos in soup form filled with Mexican flavors and chicken can be quickly made with shredded rotisserie chicken and chicken broth. Pop open some cans of diced tomatoes, corn, and black beans and make this a creamy soup with the addition of softened cream cheese. Serve with shredded cheese, tortilla strips, sour cream, and avocado. Chicken Taco Soup by Salt And Lavender
If your pizza includes chicken and cheese, it’s sure to be a hit. Make it zesty with a little wing sauce, blue cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese to make it a Buffalo-style pizza. Top with sliced green onions and adults will gobble this up, too! Buffalo Chicken Pizza by Taste And Tell
We love this garlic butter chicken that just takes a few minutes to make and the flavor is outstanding!
These adorable mini pot pies are loaded with chopped cooked chicken, peas, and carrots all in a creamy chicken soup base. Quickly make these. Super easy and cute, the kids will gobble these up. Mini Chicken Pot Pies
It’s finger food for the win with these sheet pan chicken nachos. Game days and busy weeknights are the perfect time for this easy chicken meal. Spread your sheet pan with nachos and pile on shredded chicken, cheese, and diced veggies like bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions. A quick session in the oven melts the cheese and it’s ready to be served with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos by Like Mother Like Daughter
Make a meaty batter using shredded chicken, mayo, eggs, mozzarella cheese, and seasoning to form patties. Pan fry them to golden deliciousness. Serve with dipping sauce or tuck them in a bun with lettuce, tomato, and mayo for a handheld meal. You can make several batches of chicken patties for meal planning, too, so all you have to do is reheat. Chicken Patties by Natasha’s Kitchen
Rollups are always a hit with kids and this chicken lasagna meal will be, too. Fill the lasagna noodles with a creamy and cheesy chicken mixture before rolling up each noodle and covering it with a creamy Alfredo sauce. Garnished with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and bake to scrumptiousness. Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups by Home Made Interest
Make those chicken tenders even more crunchy with this potato chip-crusted batter. It’s a simple egg and flour batter and after the chicken is coated with the crushed chips, a session in the oven gets them as crispy as can be. Kids love them and so do adults! Kids will love dipping them in their favorite sauce and adults can add them to a big house salad to make a full meal with them. Win-win! Potato Chip Crusted Chicken by How Sweet Eats
Bacon and chicken join in this stuffed crescent roll recipe for a scrumptious flavor combo that’s enhanced with ranch dressing. Mix shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese, crumbled bacon, and the dressing, and fill the rolls before baking for 15 minutes. So good! Bacon, Ranch, Chicken Crescent Rolls by Mantitlement
Rotisserie, leftover shredded chicken, or even canned chicken can be mixed with BBQ sauce for an easy filling to layer onto Hawaiian rolls. Add shredded cheese, too, before replacing the top layer of the rolls. Brush with melted butter before popping these sliders in the oven for a quick heating session. They’re irresistible! BBQ Chicken Sliders by Tastes Of Lizzy T
For more kid-friendly meal ideas check these out:
- Kid-friendly crock pot recipes
- Quick kid-friendly dinners
- Kid-friendly soup ideas
- Kid Friendly Shredded Chicken Recipes
For more chicken meal ideas, check these out:
- Leftover chicken
- Cook 1 chicken and make 3 meals
- Quick chicken
