50+ Easy Recipes for Picky Eaters
This comprehensive collection of recipes is specifically designed for picky eaters. All recipes are simple, familiar, and can be customized to individual preferences.
Breakfast Recipes (8 Recipes)
1. Simple Pancakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients: Flour, eggs, milk, butter, baking powder, salt, syrup
Instructions: Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, cook on griddle until golden. Serve with syrup.
2. Scrambled Eggs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Eggs, butter, salt, pepper, optional cheese
Instructions: Scramble eggs in butter, season, add cheese if desired.
3. French Toast
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients: Bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon, butter, syrup
Instructions: Dip bread in egg mixture, pan-fry until golden, serve with syrup.
4. Oatmeal with Toppings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Oats, milk or water, brown sugar, optional fruits
Instructions: Cook oats, add sweetener and preferred toppings.
5. Cereal and Milk
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Ingredients: Preferred cereal, milk
Instructions: Pour cereal, add milk, serve immediately.
6. Toast with Butter and Jam
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Bread, butter, jam or jelly
Instructions: Toast bread, spread butter and jam.
7. Yogurt Parfait
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Yogurt, granola, preferred fruits
Instructions: Layer yogurt, granola, and fruits in a bowl.
8. Banana with Peanut Butter
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients: Banana, peanut butter
Instructions: Slice banana, serve with peanut butter for dipping.
Lunch Ideas (10 Recipes)
9. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Bread, cheese, butter
Instructions: Place cheese between bread slices, pan-fry in butter until golden.
10. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Bread, peanut butter, jelly
Instructions: Spread peanut butter and jelly on bread, assemble sandwich.
11. Chicken Salad Sandwich
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients: Cooked chicken, mayo, bread, optional celery
Instructions: Mix chicken with mayo, serve on bread.
12. Quesadilla
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Tortillas, cheese, optional chicken
Instructions: Fill tortilla with cheese, pan-fry until golden.
13. Macaroni and Cheese
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Pasta, cheese, butter, milk, flour
Instructions: Cook pasta, make cheese sauce, combine.
14. Chicken Nuggets
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Store-bought or homemade chicken nuggets, dipping sauce
Instructions: Bake or fry nuggets, serve with preferred sauce.
15. Hot Dogs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Hot dogs, buns, optional condiments
Instructions: Cook hot dogs, serve in buns with preferred toppings.
16. Pizza Bagels
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients: Bagels, pizza sauce, cheese, optional toppings
Instructions: Top bagels with sauce and cheese, bake until melted.
17. Tuna Salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Canned tuna, mayo, bread or crackers
Instructions: Mix tuna with mayo, serve on bread or with crackers.
18. Cheese and Crackers
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Crackers, cheese slices
Instructions: Serve crackers with cheese.
Dinner Recipes (15 Recipes)
Many dinner recipes overlap with our 30+ Dinner Ideas article. Here are additional favorites:
19. Spaghetti with Butter
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients: Spaghetti, butter, Parmesan cheese
Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with butter and cheese.
20. Baked Chicken
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients: Chicken pieces, olive oil, salt, pepper
Instructions: Season chicken, bake at 375°F until cooked through.
21. Meatloaf
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients: Ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup
Instructions: Mix ingredients, form into loaf, bake with ketchup topping.
22. Baked Potatoes
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients: Potatoes, butter, cheese, sour cream
Instructions: Bake potatoes, top with butter, cheese, and sour cream.
23. Rice and Chicken
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients: Rice, cooked chicken, butter
Instructions: Cook rice, serve with chicken and butter.
24. Hamburgers
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Ground beef, buns, cheese, ketchup
Instructions: Form patties, cook, serve on buns with cheese and ketchup.
25. Fish Sticks
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Store-bought fish sticks, tartar sauce
Instructions: Bake fish sticks, serve with tartar sauce.
26. Chicken Pot Pie
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients: Pie crust, cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, vegetables
Instructions: Mix filling, top with crust, bake until golden.
27. Tacos
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Ground meat, taco shells, cheese, lettuce
Instructions: Cook meat, warm shells, assemble with preferred toppings.
28. Chicken and Rice Casserole
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients: Rice, chicken, cream of chicken soup, cheese
Instructions: Mix ingredients, bake until bubbly.
29. Sloppy Joes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Ground beef, sloppy joe sauce, buns
Instructions: Cook meat with sauce, serve on buns.
30. Chicken Fingers
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients: Chicken strips, breadcrumbs, egg, dipping sauce
Instructions: Coat chicken, bake or fry, serve with sauce.
31. Beef Stroganoff
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Ground beef, egg noodles, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup
Instructions: Cook beef, mix with soup, serve over noodles with sour cream.
32. Pizza
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Pizza dough, sauce, cheese, preferred toppings
Instructions: Top dough with sauce, cheese, and toppings, bake until golden.
33. Lasagna
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients: Lasagna noodles, ground beef, cheese, marinara sauce
Instructions: Layer noodles, meat, cheese, and sauce, bake until bubbly.
Snack Recipes (10 Recipes)
34. Apple Slices with Peanut Butter
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Apples, peanut butter
Instructions: Slice apples, serve with peanut butter for dipping.
35. Cheese and Crackers
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients: Crackers, cheese slices
Instructions: Serve crackers with cheese.
36. Trail Mix
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, pretzels
Instructions: Mix preferred ingredients together.
37. Smoothies
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Yogurt, milk, fruits, optional sweetener
Instructions: Blend all ingredients until smooth.
38. Popcorn
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Popcorn kernels, butter, salt
Instructions: Pop kernels, season with butter and salt.
39. Fruit Kabobs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Preferred fruits, skewers
Instructions: Thread fruits onto skewers.
40. Veggie Sticks with Dip
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Carrots, celery, cucumbers, ranch dip
Instructions: Cut vegetables into sticks, serve with dip.
41. Granola Bars
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Oats, honey, nuts, dried fruits
Instructions: Mix ingredients, press into pan, bake until set.
42. Banana Bread
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients: Bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, butter
Instructions: Mix ingredients, bake in loaf pan until golden.
43. Muffins
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients: Flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, optional fruits
Instructions: Mix ingredients, bake in muffin tins until golden.
Desserts & Treats (7 Recipes)
44. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, chocolate chips
Instructions: Mix ingredients, drop onto baking sheet, bake until golden.
45. Brownies
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients: Chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs, flour
Instructions: Mix ingredients, bake in square pan until set.
46. Ice Cream Sundaes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: Ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cherries
Instructions: Scoop ice cream, top with sauce, whipped cream, and cherry.
47. Rice Krispie Treats
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Rice cereal, marshmallows, butter
Instructions: Melt marshmallows with butter, mix with cereal, press into pan.
48. Pudding
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: Pudding mix, milk
Instructions: Mix pudding with milk according to package directions.
49. Fruit Popsicles
Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus freezing)
Ingredients: Fruit juice, optional fruit pieces
Instructions: Pour juice into popsicle molds, freeze until solid.
50. Cupcakes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Cake mix or flour-based recipe, frosting
Instructions: Bake cupcakes, cool, frost with preferred frosting.
Tips for Success
- Start with familiar ingredients and gradually introduce variations
- Let picky eaters help with preparation when possible
- Keep portions small to reduce pressure
- Serve new foods alongside familiar favorites
- Don't force eating - keep mealtimes positive
- Celebrate small victories and food exploration
Conclusion
These 50+ recipes provide a wide variety of options for picky eaters. Remember, the key is to work with their preferences while gradually introducing new foods. For more dinner-specific ideas, check out our 30+ Dinner Ideas article.
Our Picky Eater Test can help identify specific eating patterns and provide personalized recipe recommendations.