Need more kid-friendly and kid-approved Whole30 recipes? I am all about not making two meals for dinner and my kids eat what the grown-ups eat. But, when you dive into a Whole30, that can feel a little trickier, especially if all the Whole30 foods feel like a far cry from your regular meals.
I get it – I have a family of 5 boys who used to be the pickiest of eaters! (See my picky eater tips here). Here are some of our kid-approved favorites that are easy to make, take 10 ingredients or less, and my family loves on or off the Whole30!
WANT A WHOLE BOOK OF KID-APPROVED RECIPES?
(kid-friendly, but not just for kids!) Then you need my new cookbook,Whole Food for Your Family!All of these recipes were tested on my 5 boys, who are recovering picky eaters ; ). I know your family will find some new favorites. Learn more or order here!
Paleo Chick-fil-a Chicken
We love this copycat recipe! It freezes fantastically, replacing those so-many-ingredient store bought nuggets. It includes egg-free and nut-free options for those that need them. One of my most popular recipes! In a crunch for time? Either marinate the night before, or skip the pickle juice marinade and this turns into popcorn chicken! My family loves them with the below easy homemade Date Mustard Sauce or Canes Sauce.
Whole30 Copycat Raising Canes Sauce
This copycat Whole30 Raising Canes Sauce is both easy and delicious! My sauce is just as flavorful as the original Raising Canes Sauce, but is Whole30 or Paleo and is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free with egg-free and vegan options. It only takes 5 minutes to make and comes together with 5-6 basic ingredients you might already have on hand!
Sheet Pan Fajitas
This Whole30, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free sheet pan meal feeds your family with only 15 minutes prep and 20 minutes cook time. It’s a great, simple, tasty solution on a busy day!
Out-N-In Burger Bites
The burger bites are fun for dinner or they make a great finger-food appetizer. They are Whole30, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and egg-free. Plu, they are ready in about 30 minutes, with 20 minutes hands on prep. The burger bites can be made in the oven or the air fryer. They include a copycat In-N-Out sauce that even my boys who work at In-N-Out say is spot on in flavor! The sauce is simple, taking only 5 minutes to mix together.
Hash Brown or Cauliflower Waffles
These Whole30 Hash Brown or Cauliflower Waffles are a savory gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free twist on a waffle that is easy and fast. These are a great simple go-to for a busy morning or breakfast for dinner and I love that I can sneak in some frozen veggies. A delicious, nutrient-dense way to start the day. I love that they are freezer-friendly so we double batch and freeze to eat throughout the week.
Whole30 BK Copycat Chicken Fries
We love this Whole30 Copycat Chicken Fries version of a Burger King classic. Chicken fries are chicken nuggets, but in a long skinny easy to hold and dip “fry” shape! They are so fun and a fantastic dinner or appetizer. They are Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, with an egg-free option! Perfect for getting protein into kids of any age ; ).
Date Mustard
This is my favorite dressing and dipping sauce on or OFF the Whole30, as I was a honey mustard fiend. The dates in the date mustard sauce are a great way to get your kids to enjoy a compliant sauce and/or help them transition away from traditional sweet sauces. I also enjoy the date mustard as an inexpensive delicious salad dressing, stocked with healthy fats!
Garlic Fries
Meet our family’s hands-down FAVE crispy fry option that can be done in oven or airfryer. Finally, a homemade fry that is crispy and delicious!
Whole30 Sloppy Joes
This Whole30, Paleo take on the classic sloppy joes is always a hit in our house! Simple, comes together in less than 30 minutes, and is a kid favorite! If you are just looking for a gluten-free option, you can serve these on gluten-free buns. Our family Whole30 favorite way to eat these is on top of my Hash Brown or Caulilflower Waffles (below) – YUM!
Whole30 Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veggies
These Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free nuggets with hidden veggies are a perfect family win! The hand-held shape is perfect for little hands, though these aren’t just for kids! And no, my kids have never detected the hidden veggies ; ).
A great sauce can go a long way in making meals come together and this easy Whole30 Ranch is a staple for our Whole30’s. In my local Whole30 groups, I would bring this to the opening potluck and have people insist I needed to start bottling and selling it. This is a mayo-based sauce which means it’s a great source of healthy fats. Perfect for all the dipping and topping your salads!
Tomato Basil Chicken Soup
I know you may think soup is NOT kid-friendly. But this was the first soup that my boys liked. This Whole30 compliant tomato chicken basil soup comes together quickly, is flexible, and calls for things you might already have on hand! Love this easy soup that my boys devour and can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stove.
Brisket Sliders
This Whole30 brisket recipe is one of my most popular. I grew up in Texas and there they *know* brisket! This one is a make over of my best friend’s grandma’s recipe – straight from a Texas grandma to you. This is often my go-to party appetizer to take, as I then know I will at least have a protein there I can have and it’s requested at every Whole30 group potluck I’ve had.
Pick Your Veggie Fritters
I did NOT grow up liking my veggies (anyone else?). I ate peas, corn and potatoes. I have learned though that I can like almost any veggie, with the right recipe. This recipe I love for it’s versatility and how kid-friendly it is as well – I got my kid’s buy-in with the CRISPY texture.
Blackened Chicken
This Whole30, Keto, and Paleo compliant chicken recipe is quick & easy, has ingredients you probably already have, and flavorful! It checks alll the boxes and is great by itself or in a salad or lettuce wrap. We make it a few times a month and love it! Great on it’s own, on a salad, or in a lettuce wrap.
Creamy Whole30 Mashed Potatoes
Gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo (and of course nut and egg free, it’s mashed potatoes ; ), EASY with a game-changing hack. I have been making mashed potatoes all wrong. I recently learned a hack that has made all the difference.
Taco Soup
Meet the 30-minute one-pot dinner solution that my kids love! It’s nice those meals that your kids look forward to and this hearty, almost chili-like soup is one of them. It’s gluten-free and dairy-free, and leave out the beans to make it Whole30, Paleo and Keto. My kids have not even *noticed* this one has cauliflower rice in it – blends right into the texture and flavor #momwin. Works great both on the stove or in an instant pot. A family favorite, we usually double it and enjoy the leftovers or freeze it (it freezes great too)!
5-Ingredient Chicken Strips
The easiest#whole305-ingredient chicken strips you probably already have the ingredients for! These are kid-friendly – both in flavor and ability to involve the kids in the prep. I make them in a pinch when dinner needs to happen fast. Everyone in our family is on board with these and they keep great in the fridge (freeze great too!) to chop up for salads or wraps later in the week.
Garlic Chicken
Another easy chicken recipe coming at you! Seven ingredients (not counting salt) and can be made in the oven or the airfryer. A nice moist chicken with enough flavor to be interesting but mild enough for my kids to love it too. Great by itself, chopped up in salads, or on top of zoodles with a marinara sauce like a chicken parmesean. Whole30 compliant and keto-friendly, this one is a winner!
Homemade Tacos or Fajitas
Such an easy, affordable way to make gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30 tacos or fajitas happen with this easy homemade seasoning! Even my teenage boys can make this one and it’s a meal everyone loves!
Pesto Bacon Chicken
We love Pesto Bacon Chicken because it combines several things I love (pesto. bacon.) in an easy delicious bundle. Whole30, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free, dairy-free. Looks so fancy, taste is on point, but I didn’t have to slave in the kitchen forever for it! #winwin. Works great in the oven, on the grill, or in the airfryer. If you have pesto on hand, it becomes a 3-ingredient recipe!
Whole30 Curly Fries
Nut-free, egg-free options, oven or airfryer. Bring a restaurant favorite home with this fun healthier swap! Using a spiralizer actually makes these faster, no cutting individual fries. Cook quickly in the airfryer or in the oven.
Chicken or Turkey Zucchini Nuggets
This kid-friendly handheld protein-veggie combo is a protein source that kids of all ages can enjoy! We love dipping it inmy date mustardsauce. The ingredients are simple and inexpensive and this can be cooked in a pan on the stove or your airfryer. These freeze fantastically, so double batch and freeze the extras. Bonus: it’s Whole30, Paleo, and Keto compliant. Wahoo!
Whole30 Mini Meatloaves
These Whole30, Keto, Paleo, kid-friendly Mini Meatloaves are a great way to get more protein into your little ones. My kids were turned off by a meatloafbut loved these more individual sized ones! Protein can be a hard sell for kids and these make that more approachable. With only 10 ingredients you might already have, options for air fryer, they freeze great, and come together start to finish in 30 minutes, what’s not to love??
Tangy Chicken
This kid-friendly favorite is regularly requested by my minions. It’s an easy chicken dish that is flavorful but neutral enough to win over even some of my tough critics. Bonus – it comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Whole30 Chili
There aren’t many soups my kids love, but this is one of them! Whole30/paleo/keto-friendly and can be made on the stove or instant pot. Love that it gets so many veggies into this hearty soup that we don’t miss the beans one bit. Easy to make, with only 20 minutes of prep, and makes enough that even this family of 7 has a serving or two left for lunches the next day. Freezes great, so it’s a great one to make up and store away for a night you don’t want to cook.
