Our quick and easy kid-friendly pasta recipes are healthy, delicious, and perfect for picky eaters. From creamy and cheesy options to fun veggie-packed dishes, these kid-approved pasta meals make dinner time a breeze.
If you have kids, then your weekday routine may be jam packed with juggling drops off, pick ups, work, and after school clubs!
Some days can seem pretty hectic and there isn't always a great deal of time to spend preparing evening meals.
One meal that I know will always go down well in our household is pasta!
It's super versatile, filling, comforting and best of all quick and easy to prepare. Not to mention budget friendly too.
You can't beat a simple pesto pasta dinner but if you're looking for some new and different pasta recipes to try then check out the recipes below. Some even have lots of hidden veg... bonus!
Kid-Friendly Pasta Recipes
Butternut Squash Pasta
Get a quick dinner on the table for the kids in less than 15 minutes with this super easy veggie packed pasta.
One Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Pasta
If you are looking for picky eater pasta ideas, then try this One Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Pasta!
The cauliflower blends into the cheesy pasta sauce and the kids won't even know it's in there! Great if you are struggling to get veggies into your fussy eater!
Slow Cooker Hidden Veg Pasta Sauce
One of my most popular recipes has been this Hidden Veg Tomato Sauce which I've been making for years now.
But I wanted to come up with a slow cooker version to make life even easier! Make a big batch of this and add to cooked pasta for a really healthy pasta for kids!
And if you like this recipe, the you might also want to try my Slow Cooker Ten Hidden Veggie Sauce!
One Pot Broccoli Mac & Cheese
If you've been searching for quick pasta dishes for kids, then look no further! Part of our 15 Minute Meal collection, this is a really fast and simple recipe for kids!
Hidden Veg One Pot Orzo
This is one of those recipes that is super basic but sometimes we all need these kind of simple recipes that can be whipped up in just a few minutes and require minimal cooking.
And this Hidden Veg Orzo is one of those. I love it because:
- It's all cooked in one pot
- Uses just seven simple ingredients
- Contains three different veggies
- Is cheap to make
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
I originally made this as a toddler pasta recipe when my son was little, but we are still eating it now even though kids are much older!
This recipe is even suitable for baby weaning, so if you have kids of dirrent ages, then there's no need to cook separate meals!
Quick Sausage Spaghetti For Kids
Another of my quick pasta dishes for kids is this Sausage Spaghetti For Kids.
My kids love sausages and especially those chipolata ones! You can of course use any sausages you like in this dish and it only takes 15 minutes to cook so perfect for busy weeknights!
No Cook Red Pepper Pasta Sauce
This is one of those recipes to have in your back pocket for hectic days when you need to get a meal on the table fast.
The sauce is whipped up in the food processor in just a minute and requires no cooking at all. You just need to add it to cooked pasta and heat for a few seconds.
Bone Broth Pasta
If your child will only eat plain pasta, then this hack is for you. By cooking it in bone broth, you can increase the protein, collagen and amino acids to make it a little healthier.
If you really struggle to get your kids to eat anything other than plain pasta, then check out my How To Get Your Kids To Eat Pasta With Sauce blog post over on the Pick Plates website.
Tomato Pasta Soup
This is pasta lunch recipe for kids is easy, quick and cheap to make too!
A warming and filling lunch for kids perfect for those colder months. You could even send this to school for older kids in a thermos.
3 Ingredient Cheesy Pea Pasta
This idea is super simple and I often make it for the kids for a speedy hot lunch. It's barely a recipe to be honest, just three ingredients!
But it's quick, easy and cheap to make too. A parent win for sure!
Simple Tomato Spaghetti For Kids
This is a really easy pasta recipe for kids!
Quick to make together too, the sauce cooks in the time it takes to boil the pasta! Great when you need something tasty on the table quickly!
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meatballs With Hidden Veggie Sauce
Part of our Slow Cooker Recipe Collection, this recipe is great if your kids love spaghetti and meatballs but aren't too keen on veggies!
The veg is completely blended into the sauce so even the pickiest of eaters won't even know it's there!
Airfryer Creamy Hidden Veg Pasta Sauce
If your'e looking for a creamy pasta for kids, then this airfryer hidden veggie sauce is one for you to try! My kids absolutely loved the creaminess of this pasta
I often to cook a double batch of this sauce and freeze half for another time!
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
If your kids aren't adverse to "green pasta" then this Broccoli Pesto Pasta is a really healthy pasta for kids.
I completely understand that the colour of this pasta might be a barrier for some fussy eaters!
So if you wanted the nutritional benefits of broccoli without the colour, then you could try this Broccoli Stalk Pasta instead!
Sausage & Cheese Pasta
This Sausage and Cheese Pasta is actually one of my pasta Lunchbox Ideas, but there's absolutely no reason why you can't also have it at home!
This is a good one if your kids don't like lots of sauce on their pasta!
Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
This Cauliflower Mac & Cheese is a real comfort food dish! A healthy twist on a family classic dish packed with veg that the kids can't see or taste.
And if you wanted a less healthy version, then you could try my Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese, which is not so healthy but the ultimate in family comfort food!
One Pot Spaghetti Carbonara
You know that I love a One Pot Recipe! It just takes the stress out of cooking dinner and leaves less washing up which is a double win in my book!
Mr carbonara recipes takes only 2 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook so you can have dinner on the table for the whole family in less than 20 minutes.
If you liked this post you may also enjoy:
The Best 15 Minute Meals for Kids
The Best Vegetarian Recipes for Kids
Kelly says
The one pot mac & cheese went down well with my two as did the broccoli pesto pasta! Going to try the quick sausage pasta next.
Haley says
Mac & Cheese is always a good option.