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Cheap and Easy Plant-Based Recipes

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19 Kid-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes

Give your kids something they will actually like! From extra crispy tofu nuggets to creamy mac & cheese, these recipes are kid-approved.

Collage with four different plant-based meals. Pasta with a bolognese sauce, tofu nuggets, veggie burger, and stack of gluten-free pancakes with chocolate sauce and berries
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When I was a kid, I hated everything – especially sauces. Today, I give ketchup and well-rounded, plant-based recipes a pass.

Took me awhile to get there.

According to WebMd, children may be picky eaters, or now known as “selective eaters,” due to smell, texture, or taste sensitivities. 

Keeping that in mind, every kid will have their own preferences, dislikes, and their fondness for familiar foods.

It’s a great idea to experiment, using dishes they already like and making small tweaks along the way. 

For example, if they love mac and cheese, maybe throw in veggie bacon made of mushrooms.

Or, if they can never get tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, opt for natural peanut butter, crushed raspberries, and a drizzle of honey or date syrup. You can even keep it simple with a side of toasted baguette and a garlic butter dip.

Additionally, if you’re concerned your child is not consuming a well-rounded diet, speak with your child’s pediatrician to check for nutritional deficiencies.

Vegan Recipes for Kids

10-Ingredient Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese

Insanely creamy, rich, and a dish that just keeps on giving – this plant-based mac and cheese recipe will have your kids asking for more! Who would have thought, raw cashews are the best base for any plant-based, homemade cheese sauce.
Bowl of vegan macaroni and cheese.

Oil-Free Vegan Fried Rice

Oooh, gimmie! A kid-crowd-friendly dish that uses affordable and accessible ingredients. Yeah, this is the kind of recipe anyone can get behind. The best part about this recipe is that it’s adjustable. 
Oil-free "fried" rice with veggies served on a platter

Black Bean Tofu Burger Recipe

Mushy, flat, and reeks of “healthy food”? Nope! This one has a variety of textures and a depth of flavor. Using tofu, beans, and mushrooms – this is the veggie burger your kids have been thinking about. Just make sure to pile on the fries on the side.

Vegan Puerto Rican Spaghetti

If you and your family are into Puerto Rican flavors, they're going to love this recipe! It's incredibly taste, while adding plant-based protein with vegan ground "beef."
Meatless Puerto Rican spaghetti topped with chopped cilantro.

Easy Vegan Mushroom Bacon

Kids are craving something savory, crispy, that can perfectly co-exist with a mountain of scrambled tofu? Give ‘em mushroom bacon. Before you say, “ahh but it’s mushroom.” Yes, it’s mushroom, but it’s hands-down the best veggie bacon I have ever had. And it takes just 5 ingredients. Smoky, peppery, with a touch of maple, everyone’s going to enjoy this one. 
Strips of veggie bacon against parchment paper

Baked Zucchini Fries

Potato fries are cool, but if you’re looking to switch things up and get a crisp out of veg, zucchini fries are definitely the way to go. Give the kids their favorite sauces and dips and let ‘em dunk their zucchini fries. You get to give them veggies and they get to have their fun dips – sounds like a win-win to me.  
Baked zuchini fries on parchment paper with a side of dipping sauce

Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

The best way to get your kids to eat vegetables? Well, cover in something that makes it look like something else. These buffalo cauliflower wings are perfectly tender inside and crunchy on the outside.
Cauliflower buffalo wing dipped in vegan ranch dressing

Grilled Cinnamon Raisin PB&J Sandwich

Quick and easy, here’s a PB&J sandwich that’s perfect for lunchtime or as a snack. My advice: use natural peanut butter, thick slices of whole wheat bread, and homemade raspberry jam. We’re taking the traditional PB&J sandwich and making it even better. 
Grilled Cinnamon Raisin PB&J Sandwich

Vegan Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Thinking about introducing something new to your kids? This might be a good start. The veggies and spices are blended into a thick, creamy sauce that they’ll never even suspect. Opt for a side of brown rice for a touch of fiber and added nutrients. This easy Indian recipe will give your kids something new to test their palates.
Vegan butter chicken topped with cilantro and served with rice.

Extra-Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

Baked, crispy, and dunkable – these tofu nuggets are that meal that everyone can get behind. Because they are mild in flavor, they can be tossed and dipped in anything you want. Personally, I still go for a pool of ketchup. 
Close up extra crispy nuggets with a honey hot sauce.

How To Make Vegan Banana Pancakes

The texture of bananas can be offputting, I totally understand. If they aren’t blended, whipped into ice cream, or fried…they can be a bit mushy. So, just like everything else here, let’s just throw them into a stack of thick, gluten-free pancakes made of oat bran. 
Stack of gluten-free banana vegan pancakes with vegan butter and syrup

Oat Bran Pancakes

If you're craving something sweet for breakfast, go for a stack of fluffy & soft Oat Bran Pancakes made with just 8 ingredients. 100% plant-based and easy to make!
Stack of gluten-free oat bran pancakes topped with vegan butter and syrup.

3-Ingredient Strawberry Mint Popsicles (Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free)

Homemade strawberry mint popsicles are the perfect summertime treat! We’re making these refined sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan & with only 3 Ingredients.
Sugar-free strawberry mint popsicles with a bowl of frozen strawberries

Mushroom Lentil Loaf

Let’s crank on the oven for an umami-blasted Mushroom Lentil Loaf made with plant-based ingredients! Made with juicy mushrooms, protein-packed lentils, spices, and topped with a sweet-and-savory glaze
Sliced mushroom lentil loaf with glaze and topped with parsley.

3-Ingredient Plant-Based Applesauce

This sweet treat is 100% plant-based using ingredients including crispy, red fuji apples, dates, and a dash of cinnamon. Have it warm or cold – the choice is theirs. Personally, I like to have it warm during the colder seasons and chilled during the summer.
Homemade date-sweetened applesauce in a mason jar served with an apple slice and a spoon.

Cannellini Bean Burgers

Cannellini bean burgers are delicious to serve kids and easy to make for you. We're working with pantry-friendly ingredients, meaning we're limiting the prep work!
Cannellini bean burger with sirarcha mayo sauce, spinach, and sliced onions.

Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

Air fryer tofu has never been easier! If you’re looking for a crunch, you’re in for a treat. With just SEVEN ingredients and air-fried in 20 minutes.
Air fryer tofu nuggets in a white bowl.

Vegan Creamy Chickpea Pasta with Spinach

A plant-based take on the beloved meat sauce, we’re using mushrooms to achieve a meaty-texture and umami flavor. Use their favorite pasta sauce and hide the veggies! They don’t like a chunky pasta sauce? Blend it up. 
Linguine pasta with chickpeas, spinach, and coconut milk in a wok.

Need to take lunch with you? Check out our Vegetarian Packed Lunch Ideas. 

Tried a dish from this 19 Kid-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes list?

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  2. Na'Keia

    Thank you so much for these recipes. My nine year old stated she wanted to go vegan along with me; now she is giving in to the pressure of outside family influence. Which is causing her to bark at the meals I have been preparing lately. Hopefully with some of these I can show her a plant based\vegan diet can be delicious to eat and fun to prepare.

    Reply

    • Aly Michell

      I hope she loves some of these recipes on this list! One of my favorite kid-friendly recipes that I love and my younger family members love is the vegan mac and cheese and mushroom bacon (good together too). I am sorry to hear she’s being pressured – I hope she can ignore the noise and eat what she enjoys.

      Reply

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