Getting kids to eat their veggies can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, but it does not have to be! With a little creativity and a touch of fun, you can turn leftover veggies into delicious and appealing meals that your little ones will love. From colourful pasta bakes to mouth-watering veggie-loaded pizzas, here are some kid-friendly dinner ideas that will make veggies the star of the show.
How to make vegetables kid-friendly?
Making vegetables kid-friendly involves presenting them in a way that is visually appealing, tasty, and easy for kids to eat and enjoy. Also, by hiding them to incorporate them into familiar and well-loved meals, you can introduce a variety of flavours and textures and make mealtime a positive and enjoyable experience for even picky eaters. And, at the same time, make good use of your leftover veggies!
Top four ideas for kid-friendly leftover veggie recipes
Cooking with leftovers can be a creative and resourceful way to prepare meals for your little ones. Not only does it help reduce food waste, but it also introduces kids to a variety of flavours and textures. If you find yourself with some leftover veggies and are wondering what to make, look no further! We have some delicious and kid-friendly recipe ideas that will leave them asking for more.
If you want more ideas and inspiration, you can check out our articles with our top soups with leftover vegetables, delicious rice dishes with leftover vegetables, and our favourite leftover vegetable recipes with eggs.
Pasta bakes and pasta with leftover veggies
Pasta is a go-to favourite for many kids, and it pairs perfectly with leftover veggies. Whip up an easy, creamy pasta bake with white sauce and mix in a variety of colourful finely chopped or shredded veggies.
Explore the mouthwatering world of veggie-loaded pasta with our spaghetti with roasted veggies featuring a medley of tomatoes, aubergines, and courgette, perfectly complemented by a generous sprinkle of cheese. For a kid-friendly twist, blend the veggies into a lusciously creamy sauce, taking this dish to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Leftover veggie pizza
Who can resist the allure of pizza? Its adaptability allows for endless creativity, making pizza night a thrilling experience when you involve your kids in crafting their own personalised leftover veggie pizzas. Use our basic recipe for pizza dough and top it with an assortment of colourful bell peppers, courgettes, cherry tomatoes, and much more while also remembering to add the kids’ favourites like pepperoni, ham, small sausages, or bacon, and, of course, a generous helping of melted cheese on top.
Leftover veggie lasagne
Lasagne is truly a family favourite and a comforting and hearty dish that can easily be adapted to include leftover veggies. Layering leftovers like thinly sliced, chopped, or shredded carrot, potato, courgette, mushroom, or bell pepper in between lasagne sheets and rich tomato sauce is a brilliant idea. Simply use our classic Italian lasagne recipe and add whatever you want, or use our vegetarian lasagne recipe. Kids will appreciate the flavours and textures of this scrumptious leftover vegetable lasagne, and it is a wonderful way to introduce them to the joys of eating their veggies while savouring one of their favourite dishes.
Tacos, nachos, and quesadillas with leftover veggies.
Take your kid-friendly leftover veggie dinners up a notch with some mouthwatering Tex-Mex-inspired treats! Turn taco night into a veggie fiesta. Use our easy recipe for homemade shredded beef tacos and mix the beef with blanched shredded or finely chopped carrots, bell peppers, courgettes, or other leftovers. They will blend seamlessly into the meat!
Then, picture biting into cheesy quesadillas oozing with savoury sautéed vegetables. These Tex-Mex delights are not only incredibly tasty but also perfect for those family fun nights when you want to add a little spice and excitement to the dinner table.
Why not give our scrumptious veggie nachos a try? Covered with tasty cheese and onion, kidney beans, tomato, parsnip, and sweet potato, it is a delicious twist on classic comfort food. They are of course served with guacamole and are the perfect treat for any party or fun occasion with kids and adults alike.
