32 Picky Eater Recipes for Even the Fussiest Kids

Kids are notoriously picky eaters, not liking the look of anything too brown, too healthy or too much looking nothing like candy! But it’s all in the mind, so take a look at this article about turning your fussy eaters into foodie connoisers. These picky eater recipes will get eaten fast! They are all hand-picked with fussy kids in mind, and include classic favorites such as mac and cheese, heart shaped pizza, chicken fried rice, and so much more. These easy dinner ideas will be a huge hit with everyone at the table.

One Pot Taco Macaroni and Cheese

This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.

If you’re in the mood for a hearty and flavorful meal, look no further than this recipe for taco macaroni and cheese. Combining the best of both worlds with Mexican and Italian flavors, this one-pot dish is perfect for satisfying your comfort food cravings in the cooler months.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Taco Macaroni and Cheese

Beef Stewed with Mushrooms, Red Wine and Bacon

Boeuf bourguignon is one of the best French recipes with beef. This flavourful beef recipe combines the meat with red wine and herbs for an exquisite dish. This dish is sometimes called beef burgundy, because the traditional wine used is from France’s Burgundy region.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stewed with Mushrooms, Red Wine and Bacon

Roasted Tomato and Meatball Polenta

Meatballs and polenta with garlic roasted tomatoes is a simple-to-make, hearty meal. Easy comforting weeknight meals like this are perfect for the colder months when you crave something tasty and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato and Meatball Polenta

Beef and Potato Bake

This beef and potato bake is an easy, one pot meal that is filling and delicious, making it a great option for a busy weeknight dinner. With a layered potato topping, it’s a convenient dish that won’t create a lot of dirty dishes and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Potato Bake

Meatball Marinara Subs

Savor the juicy homemade meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and fluffy brioche buns in Italian meatball marinara subs – a satisfying comfort food that’s perfect for lunch or busy weeknights. These sandwiches are far tastier than the fast-food version and are sure to please anyone, regardless of their Italian heritage.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Marinara Subs

Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole

This fiesta chicken pasta casserole bake features a delicious blend of chicken, corn, black beans, and Mexican-inspired seasonings. Whether you’re using a rotisserie or leftover chicken, this southwest-style casserole will surely become a family favorite!
Get the Recipe: Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole

Heart Shaped Pizza

Indulge in a delightful homemade heart-shaped pizza with a crisp, golden crust, gooey cheese, and your favorite toppings. This simple recipe will win over your loved one’s heart with its delicious flavors and charming presentation.
Get the Recipe: Heart Shaped Pizza

Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce

Indulge in a delicious homemade Italian pasta dinner with pesto fettuccini and Bolognese sauce, bursting with fresh veggies in every bite. This hearty dish, featuring a homemade beef Bolognese meat sauce and fettuccine pasta, will satisfy your cravings for a flavorful Italian meal.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce

Swedish Meatballs

Try making these delicious copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs at home and enjoy the same great taste as the ones you find in the store.
Get the Recipe: Swedish Meatballs

Italian Stromboli Recipe

Experience the taste of true Italian flavors with this authentic stromboli recipe from South Philly, where Italian immigrants first created this Italian-American dish. With its combination of deli meats, cheese, and rich Italian flavors rolled into a delicious sandwich, this easy-to-make stromboli is a great way to spice up any pizza night.
Get the Recipe: Italian Stromboli Recipe

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Perfectly tender chicken is always a winning option and you can’t go wrong with this simple, eight ingredient grilled chicken recipe. This chicken and pineapple recipe offers such wonderful tropical flavors, as well as blending the sweet, tangy and savoury elements for a mouthwatering result.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Baked Feta Pasta

This baked feta pasta dish is the perfect combination of creamy, tangy feta cheese and sweet, juicy tomatoes. It’s quick and easy to make, and sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection!
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta

Shepherd’s Pie

Leftover turkey shepherd’s pie is an easy weeknight dinner using leftovers, such as turkey and mashed potatoes, as well as onion, herbs, vegetables, and Guinness for flavor. It’s a delicious and hearty meal that everyone will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie

One Pot Chicken and Rice

For a quick and easy weeknight dinner, consider this baked chicken and rice casserole with Brussels sprouts and bacon, a hearty and filling one pot meal that’s sure to please the whole family. Perfect for cooler months, this tasty recipe is a great way to use simple ingredients like chicken and rice in a flavorful way.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Chicken and Rice

BBQ Smoked Meatloaf with Glaze

Try this BBQ smoked meatloaf recipe on your pellet grill or Traeger, and you won’t regret it! With a garlicky tomato meatloaf glaze, this rich and meaty recipe is one of the best smoker ground beef recipes.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Smoked Meatloaf with Glaze

Italian Beef

You won’t be able to resist making slow cooker Italian beef again and again once you try it. This hearty and filling dish is perfect on toasted rolls or hoagie buns and the slow cooked beef is incredibly tender and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Italian Beef

Lemonade Chicken

This Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken is a simple and delicious crockpot meal with a tangy sweet and sour sauce made from lemonade concentrate and lemon zest. It’s easy to make and can be cooked on high or low to be ready whenever needed.
Get the Recipe: Lemonade Chicken

Beef and Noodles with Mushrooms

This slow cooker beef and noodles with mushrooms is the ultimate winter comfort food, perfect for chilly evenings. With a delicious combination of beef, mushrooms, and egg noodles in a creamy mushroom soup sauce, this easy crockpot recipe is a great option for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Noodles with Mushrooms

Italian Penne Rosa Pasta

If you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, try making this one-pot Penne Rosa Pasta with a creamy tomato sauce. This comforting and filling Italian dish is both tasty and satisfying, and perfect for those who love a little spice in their meal.
Grab the Recipe: Italian Penne Rosa Pasta

Slow Cooker Chunky White Chicken Chili

If you find yourself with some rotisserie chicken to use up, along with frozen corn, pinto beans, tortilla chips and green chiles, why not rustle up this crockpot chunky chicken chilli recipe? It’s a great recipe for home cooks and an easy crockpot dish for this time of year.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chunky White Chicken Chili

Baked Chicken Tacos

These oven baked chicken tacos are an easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will LOVE! It has a saucy rotisserie chicken filling and is topped with melty cheese, these crispy tacos are the BEST! Not to mention, no cooking is required – simply add everything to the taco shells and bake. You’ll have a delicious meal in 15 minutes flat!
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Tacos

Chicken Parmesan Pasta Skillet

Chicken parmesan pasta is an easy and delicious dinner with just a few ingredients? What could be better! This chicken pasta skillet is our go-to easy dinner recipe anytime we are craving comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Pasta Skillet

Chicken Enchilada Soup – Chili’s Copycat

Chicken enchilada soup is a heavenly combination of chicken, onion, garlic, chillies, paprika, sour cream, and more. This restaurant version of tortilla soup is bursting with wonderful south of the border flavours in every mouthful, and the crispy tortilla strips on top contrast beautifully.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Soup – Chili’s Copycat

Black Pepper Chicken

Make restaurant-style black pepper chicken at home in just 30 minutes with this delicious copycat Panda Express recipe. Satisfy your Asian food cravings with this easy and flavorful stir-fry.
Get the Recipe: Black Pepper Chicken

BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Looking for a hassle-free dinner recipe that requires minimal prep? Try this delicious BBQ chicken flatbread that bakes in the oven for a crispy crust and melty toppings! With a pre-made flatbread base and simple BBQ chicken toppings, this recipe is both easy and satisfying, making it a great option for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Chicken Pastina Soup

Got some leftover or rotisserie chicken to use up? If so, I highly recommend making this mouth-watering Italian chicken soup with pasta. Find out how to make pastina and this could become your new favourite soup recipe.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pastina Soup

Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried rice made in one-skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll never want takeout again after tasting how good homemade is! Way more flavor, not greasy, and loads of juicy chicken!!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Buffalo chicken pasta is a cheesy blend of a creamy buffalo sauce, seared chicken breasts, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses melted and tossed in your favorite pasta. You will be delighted with every forkful of this easy yet delicious dinner option that is ready in just 35 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

This dish has pot pie vibes, but uses tater tots for a topping instead of crust. I know your whole family will love this when dinner rolls around. Using rotisserie chicken and tater tots are tasty shortcuts for a wholesome meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros

Transform your taste buds with these mouth-watering slow cooker Greek chicken gyros, paired with a homemade tzatziki sauce that will have you licking your plate clean!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros

Easy Cheese Quesadilla

Add rotisserie chicken to this 4 ingredient cheese quesadilla is such an easy recipe and is so good! This classic cheese quesadilla recipe is perfect as an appetizer or even a meal and ! It is sure to become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheese Quesadilla

Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe

This Fried Chicken Sandwich recipe is a deliciously satisfying upgrade from the fast food version, with a perfectly seasoned, golden brown coating and mouthwatering toppings. It’s a finger-licking deliciousness will elevate your sandwich game to the next level!
Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe