Fast Dinner Ideas For Kids

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When it comes to dinner time after a full and busy day, sometimes you want something fast and tasty. There are some meals that are quick to make and take less time than others. While you want all the children to leave the table with full bellies, you also want their meals to be nutritious and tasty! I know I get stuck in a rut and get sick of cooking the same thing, so here are a few quick meal ideas...

 

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Tater Tot Nachos

Crispy and fluffy tater tots next to a delicious and meaty beef - for vegetarians, you can switch out the beef for a meat alternative. 

This is a super simple dish that takes no time at all. And, you can skip or add more spices as you prefer. Cook your tater tots according to the packet, and while they are cooking in the oven, make your beef mix.  

Ground beef, some taco seasoning, chopped onions, and that’s it! 

Once your beef is ready and the tater tots have a few minutes left, add the beef into the dish and top with shredded cheese and some pepper. 

Hotdogs

Hotdogs might be the ultimate in fast and tasty meals. What makes them so great is that they can be personalized to everyone's taste. 

Rather than opt for the thinner hotdogs in the cans, grab some bratwursts and follow this air fryer brats recipe. 

Choose sweet brioche buns as your hotdog bun, and fry some sliced onions on low heat with a little bit of sugar for a delicious caramelized onion topping. 

Mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise are the best sauce mixed for the top of the brat; top with the onion mix, and then add some shredded cheese too.

Chicken taco wraps

Tortillas can make any meal simple. For these, all you need to do is to put garlic, and onions in a pan with a little olive oil, cube some chicken breasts, and cook them until golden brown. Add some pre-mixed chicken taco seasoning, grab a bag of pre-mixed salad, and you are good to go. 

Add sour cream to the inside of each tortilla, add some salad mix, and top with the chicken, then roll. 

Alternatively, there are pre-formed crunchy taco shells available to give a little more bite to your meal. 

Another great one is to add cilantro and shredded cheese.

Instant Pot Pasta

The ultimate in speed, add your chosen pasta and the correct water to your instant pot. Hit the pasta or rice button. While the pasta is cooking, get some heavy cream, shredded cheese, jalapenos (optional), and seasoning. 

Once the pasta is cooked, there might be a small amount of water left, and that is fine. Add in the cream and seasoning, and give it a good stir. Keep stirring as you add the cheese and the jalapenos. 

Close the lid and let it warm for a minute or two, and you are left with a cheesy, sticky, and spicy pasta meal that takes no effort at all. 

If you have a little more time and want to make something sweet and homely, then check out this recipe: Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes.