The Best Vegetarian Recipes for Kids!
If I had to play the word association game some years ago and I was given the word “vegetarian”, my immediate response would have been “nut roast” , “boring”, or “ewwww!”! But that’s simply not the case these days.
Whether your family is full blown Vegetarian or you are trying Meat Free Mondays (see our Meat Free Monday Recipes collection) for health or economy reasons, (see my previous post about eating healthier for less), vegetarian recipes have come a long way over the years!
As per NHS guidelines, vegetarian diets are safe for children of all ages. As long as they get enough protein and iron from sources such as nuts and seeds (protein sources) and dark green vegetables, beans and lentils (iron sources) and enough energy dense foods to support growth and development.
If you are considering a full vegetarian lifestyle for your small people, then it’s important to check out your individual countries’ health authority guidelines for advice.
But in the meantime, take a look at our Best Vegetarian Recipes For Kids!
You might just be surprised at how yummy vegetarian meals can be!
The Best Vegetarian Recipes For Kids
The Best Vegetarian Recipes for Kids!
Baked Boursin Tomato Pasta
A super simple pasta dinner of tomatoes and Boursin cheese baked in the oven. Minimal effort but maximum taste!
No Tomato Sauce
A vegetable packed sauce with no tomatoes. Use as a simple pasta sauce, on pizza or add to meals likes bolognese.
Mini Carrot Banana Bread
Mini individual carrot cake banana breads, perfect to pop into kids’ packed lunches or a tasty afternoon snack at home
Slow Cooker Ten Hidden Veggie Sauce
A simple Hidden Veggie Sauce made in the Slow Cooker with TEN vegetables in there. A brilliant recipe for those fussy eaters!
Cauliflower Cheese Fritters
Delicious savoury fritters made with cheddar cheese and frozen diced cauliflower. These are a great way to get some cauliflower into your fussy eaters.
DIY Pitta Bread Pizza for Kids
Get the kids involved in making their own meals with these super easy DIY Pitta or Naan Bread Veggie Pizzas!
Actifry Parmesan Courgette Sticks
Delicious crispy Courgette Sticks coated in a parmesan crumb and made in the Tefal ActiFry for a light and healthy meal or snack
Broad Bean & Pea Salad
Liven up your dinner table with this light and summery side dish. This broad bean & pea salad is so inviting, even the kids won’t be able to refuse!
Cheesy Veggie Quesadillas
A quick and healthy lunch for us parents. Mushroom and pepper stuffed quesadillas in a creamy cheesy spicy sauce!
Airfryer Garlic Butter Fries
Airfried french fries coated in a delicious garlic butter
Elf Christmas Tree Green Pancakes
Delicious healthy pancakes packed with spinach and shaped in a Christmas Tree. Just what the Elf ordered for breakfast!
Granola Crust Breakfast Tarts with Yogurt & Berries
Liven up breakfast time with this recipe for Granola Crust Breakfast Tarts with Yogurt & Berries. Delicious AND healthy!
Airfryer Part Baked Bread Rolls
Cook part-baked bread rolls in the airfryer in just 5 minutes. Perfect for a warm and crusty bread roll for breakfast or lunch.
Nut Free Pesto Pasta for Lunchboxes
An easy pesto recipe that’s nut free. Perfect for packed lunches to send to school or nursery for kids!
Spinach, Avocado & Couscous Puree Recipe
A delicious and nutritious baby food puree recipe made with spinach, avocado and couscous.
Chia Fruit Water
Make your own natural energy drink with water, fruit and chia seeds!
Hidden Veggie Tomato Sauce
A tasty tomato pasta sauce cooked in the slow cooker and packed with five different hidden veggies. Perfect for fussy eating kids!
Tefal ActiFry Vegetable Stir Fry
Delicious and healthy Mediterranean Vegetable Stir Fry, made in the ActiFry Genius XL
Bubble & Squeak Fritters
Use up leftover mashed potato and vegetables by turning them into Bubble & Squeak Fritters. Perfect for kids & adults alike!
Garlic & Herb Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Liven up the humble potato side dish with these Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, also known as Hedgehog Sweet Potatoes in our house!
Garlic, Herb & Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas
A delicious and healthy snack of roasted chickpeas with garlic, herbs and parmesan.
Raspberry & Vanilla Chia Seed Jam
A delicious sugar free alternative to jam made from chia seeds, raspberries, honey and vanilla.
Frozen Superhero Smoothie
A frozen smoothie fit for superheros. Blended frozen bananas, strawberries, spinach and almond milk make this smoothie as delicious as it is vibrant.
Jam Crust Skewers
If your child won’t eat bread crusts then try this hack to turn those crusts into a fun snack instead!
Roasted Tomato & Feta Frittata
A delicious and healthy frittata or crustless quiche, made with roasted tomatoes, feta cheese and spinach. A great way to use up leftovers.
Baked Nutella Oat Bars
Easy Nutella Oat Bars made with just four simple ingredients. A delicious breakfast idea kids will love!
Frozen Veggie Packs for Fussy Eaters
If you struggle to get veggies into your picky eaters then try these Frozen Veggie Packs. Six different vegetables blitzed in the food processor and then frozen, ready to add to lots of different meals.
Bircher Muesli For Kids
A simple but super easy bircher muesli breakfast for kids packed with oats, seeds, yogurt and fruit. Spend just 3 minutes prepping this tonight and tomorrow you’ll wake up to this delicious breakfast perfect for Spring and Summer!
Pea & Spinach Green Smoothie Popsicle
Eat your greens in a popsicle! Delicious and healthy Pea & Spinach Smoothie Popsicles dipped in yogurt and chia seeds.
Spinach Pesto
A delicious kid friendly Spinach Pesto Pasta recipe ready in just 5 minutes! No cooking required, perfect for a quick and easy family meal.
Oat Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Chia Jam
A healthy version of the classic jam thumbprint cookies. Made with oats, bananas & almond milk these cookies are gluten and dairy free with no refined sugar.
Mini Chocolate Courgette Banana Bread
Mini Chocolate Banana Breads with hidden veggies. Perfect for a quick homemade snack for kids!
Tomato Pasta Soup
A simple Tomato Pasta Soup recipe, easy to make and great for a quick and easy lunch for kids.
Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Sundried Tomato & Spinach Pesto
Delicious smashed sweet potatoes topped with sundried tomato and spinach pesto.
Roasted Tomato & Red Pesto Soup
A delicious and comforting Roasted Tomato and Red Pesto Soup, super easy to make and served with Cheddar Cheese Soldiers.
Pesto Parmesan Pastry Straws
These Pesto Parmesan Pastry Straws make a super easy snack or party appetizer for the festive season!
Broccoli Stalk Pasta - Hidden Veg Recipe
A delicious creamy hidden veggie pasta recipe made with broccoli stalk. All cooked in one pan in 15 minutes.
3 Ingredient Cheesy Pea Pasta
A speedy three ingredient cheese and pea pasta. Quick and easy to whip up in 10 minutes for a simple lunch or dinner for kids.
Satay Vegetable Noodles | Easy 5 Minute Meal
A super quick, easy and healthy family meal ready in just 5 minutes. You won’t believe just how simple this Satay Vegetable Noodle recipe is to whip up.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Sneak some veggies into your kids meal with this delicious Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe. Great for toddlers and baby weaning too!
Cauliflower Cheese Nuggets
Delicious vegetarian nuggets for kids packed with super nutritious cauliflower!
Baked Cream Cheese Pasta
A simple but delicious mid week family meal. Cream cheese baked in the oven with tomatoes and vegetables and mixed with pasta. Quick, easy and great for kids!
Lentil Pasta Sauce
A delicious tomato and lentil pasta sauce made with red lentils and packed with protein and fibre. A great way to get some extra nutrition into a simple kids pasta dish!
Rainbow Veggie Pizza for Kids
This quick and easy Rainbow Veggie Pizza is ready in just 10 minutes. They’re a great healthy alternative to regular pizza that kids will love!
Slow Cooker Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce
A rich but super simple Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce cooked in the slow cooker for a delicious flavour. The perfect go-to pasta sauce for busy families.
Potato & Chickpea Curry
A delicious and nutritious mild vegetarian curry! This Potato & Chickpea Curry is suitable for adults and kids and packed with Cornish new potatoes and chickpeas.
Boursin Pasta
With just three ingredients you can make this tasty Boursin Pasta. The easiest mid-week meal that the whole family will love and ready in just 15 minutes.
Butternut Squash Fritters
These Butternut Squash Fritters make a delicious and comforting lunch or dinner the whole family will love. They’re also a brilliant way to get some veggies into your picky eaters!
Creamy Avocado & Spinach Pasta
A quick and easy recipe perfect for picky eaters; Creamy Avocado & Spinach Pasta with a no-cook sauce!
Lentil Veggie Nuggets
Delicious Lentil Veggie Nuggets. A healthier alternative to chicken nuggets, these bite sized nuggets make brilliant finger food for kids and toddlers!
20 Minute Rainbow Veggie Risotto
A delicious, quick and easy Rainbow Vegetable Risotto recipe. Ready in just 20 minutes and perfect for kids!
10 Minute Meal - Smoky Bean Chilli
A delicious vegetarian family dinner ready in just 10 minutes; Smoky Bean Chilli!
Tomato, Basil & Lentil One Pot Pasta
A quick, easy and healthy meat free family recipe, all cooked in one pot and ready in just 15 minutes.
10 Minute Meal - Chickpea Curry
A creamy Chickpea Curry ready in just 10 minutes. The perfect speedy mid-week meal when you need dinner on the table fast!
Baked Cheese & Tomato Risotto
A delicious and kid-friendly Baked Cheese & Tomato Risotto recipe, cooked in the oven to make it super easy!
Quorn Taco Cups
Delicious and easy to make, these Winter Warmer Quorn Taco Cups are sure to inject a bit of fun into family mealtimes.
One Pot Mac & Cheese with Hidden Veg
A delicious and easy One Pot Mac & Cheese recipe with hidden veg. Perfect for picky eaters who don’t like eating their veggies!
Vegetable Rice & Egg Bowl | 5 Minute Meal
Whip up a quick and tasty 5 minute meal for the kids! And use just 3 simple ingredients for this Vegetable Rice & Egg Bowl.
Easy Minestrone Soup
A super easy Minestrone Soup recipe, ready in just 15 minutes. A perfect winter warmer for the whole family!
One Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Pasta
When you’re in a hurry and need to feed the kids fast, try this One Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Pasta recipe, only 5 ingredients and ready in less than 15 minutes!
Sweet Potato & Chickpea Veggie Burgers
Delicious vegetarian burgers packed with nutritious sweet potato and chickpeas and flavoured with cajun spices!
OTHER RECIPE COLLECTIONS YOU MAY ENJOY:
Our Meat Free Monday Recipes are perfect for the whole family. Fuss free and using only simple ingredients. With several of them ready in just 10 minutes, they’re the perfect way to ease yourself into the week!
20 delicious winter warming soup recipes that kids will love!
Top 20 Kid-Friendly Salad Recipes
20 Salad recipes that kids will actually eat!
Melissa says
Hi Ciara,
I would die and go to heaven if either of my kids ate anything I cooked. At the moment I have one that eats exclusively cheese and spinach rolls (from the supermarket, will not touch homemade), and egg & mayo sandwiches. he other eats party pies, Vegemite and cheese, or ham and cheese sandwiches (or croissants), mini pizzas (also from the supermarket, will not touch homemade or from the pizza shop as they’re “too spicy” even when I detect zero spice), chicken nuggets, and beef sausages in tomato sauce with bread. They will both eat French fries, pasta with butter and salt, plain rice, two minute noodles, and egg as omelette, fried or hard boiled (without the yolk in the fried or boiled form). The first one will only eat apple in minute amounts, the second one will eat almost any fruit and a few raw veggies like cucumbers and tomatoes but neither would touch a boiled, steamed, fried or baked vegetable for a trip to Disneyland. They don’t even like roast potatoes! My own children turning their noses up at POTATOES! Do you have any advice for how to introduce less processed, more home cooked meals into their diet before they both die from malnutrition or cancer? I’ve been trying for years but they reject even “safe foods” so often and then throw tantrums for crackers and cereal that I often default to what I’m most hopeful they’ll eat. They generally have sensory issues but I don’t think that accounts for all of their fussy eating as they seem to be happy to eat all textures but have unspoken rules about what tastes and textures go together. Like cheese in a spinach and cheese roll is fine, but melted over pasta makes the dish inedible. I’m going crazy. I need help!
Ciara Attwell says
Hi Melissa, first up let me say that their diets are not terrible. I know it might seem quite limited but on a scale of problematic eating they do actually have a wide variety of foods in there, and various textures too as you mentioned. It’s very easy for kids to get stuck in a bit of a rut with eating and they like the familiarity of the same foods over and over again. I think the best thing you can do is to work on creating some fun around food but without the expectation of them eating it. So get them in the kitchen helping you prep dinner, even making a sandwich with you. Even the process of them handling and touching new foods is a great first step in exposing them to new foods.You can also get them to look in cookbooks, recipe websites etc and choose a recipe to make. Then make a shopping list and go shopping for the ingredients. I know we’re all busy, especially as school is starting up but doing this maybe as a weekend activity could have a positive impact too. The idea is to create stress free environments around food where we aren’t pleading with them to actually eat!
India says
Thanks for sharing this. Great to have so many kid friendly vegetarian meals in one place to try out! Looking forward to getting cooking.
Mandy says
Thanks so much for including my falafel sliders – there are heaps of delicious recipes here – can’t wait to start making them!