Let’s gather and be thankful – safely at home with our own families! This year, the kids table will become the best spot in the house with the tasty plates including easy Thanksgiving recipes like these.
Check out our roundup of kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes that are great for Thanksgiving festivities with immediate family as we all take care to stay home this year. From sweet to savory, our top four kid-friendly recipes will make your Thanksgiving day special, even if it’s not shaping up to be a traditional gathering everyone is used to.
Potato Mashers
Tip: Not only can the kiddos help with prep, but they can also customize their potato mashers to make their very own creations! Experimenting with flavor is always fun and a great way for kids to interact and share ideas to create new flavor combinations together.
Ingredients
2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 ½ Tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Assorted toppings like sour cream, mini Goldfish crackers, brown gravy, chives, bacon crumbles, etc.
Instructions
- Add potatoes to a pot of salted boiling water. Cook until tender (about 15 minutes), drain. Put drained potatoes back into the large pot.
- Heat butter and milk over low heat in a small saucepan until butter is melted. Add minced garlic and stir until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Using a potato masher or electric beater, slowly blend milk mixture into potatoes in the large pot until smooth. Add salt and pepper and stir.
- Top each serving with assorting fixings and enjoy. Makes 8 child-sized servings (or 4 adult servings)!
Turkey Dinner Roll-Ems
Tip: Layering the ingredients into the tortillas lets kids customize their rolls. Our base recipe includes components of a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, but can certainly be switched out or modified to suit your (or your child’s) taste.
Ingredients
8 ounces softened cream cheese
¼ cup cranberry sauce
8 10-inch flour tortillas or whole-wheat wraps
½ head lettuce torn or cut into 4-inch pieces
16 slices deli turkey
16 slices sharp cheddar cheese, halved
2 tomatoes, halved and sliced
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese and cranberry sauce in a small bowl until combined.
- Spread a thick layer of cream cheese mixture onto a tortilla or wrap, all the way to the edges. Layer lettuce down the middle.
- Layer two slices of turkey and four pieces of cheese on top of the lettuce. Top with tomato slices.
- Roll tortilla (or wrap) tightly and wrap tightly in plastic wrap to keep the rolled shape. Continue with remaining tortillas or wraps until all have been assembled and wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
- Chill the wrapped rolls in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. To serve, unwrap the plastic and trim any unfilled ends. Slice each roll into 8 pieces.
Cheesy Cauliflower Dippers
Tip: From adding ingredients to the bowl to mashing these dippers into the muffin tin, there’s a lot kiddos can help with to prep this recipe. And of course, a dipper side dish is a fun, kid-friendly addition to our Kidsgiving feast!
Ingredients
4 cups finely chopped cauliflower
1 egg, whisked
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
1 ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Spray 2 mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
- Place cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl. Place a damp paper towel on top of the cauliflower and microwave for 2 minutes. Squeeze out any excess moisture with a clean dish towel or paper towels.
- Add egg, both kinds of cheese, panko, garlic powder, and parsley to the bowl with the cauliflower. Mix well to combine.
- Spoon one heaping Tablespoon of the cauliflower mixture into each muffin tin. Press to pack down into the tin.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cauliflower dippers are golden brown. Let cool at least 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tins.
- Serve dippers with ketchup, marinara, mayonnaise, or honey mustard sauce on the side!
Roasty-Toasty Apple Bake
Tip: This one’s an easy dessert recipe that comes together in just 10 minutes – can’t beat that! Include granola, mini chocolate chips, and other sweet fixings on the side for kids to make this dessert completely theirs and share creative ideas with friends.
Ingredients
8 cored, diced apples of various types
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about half of a lemon)
3 teaspoons cinnamon
Granola, whipped cream, or mini chocolate chips for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F degrees.
- In a large bowl, toss apples with vanilla, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
- Spray a medium-sized baking dish or casserole dish with non-stick spray. Place apple mixture into the dish.
- Roast apple mixture in the oven for 45 minutes, tossing halfway through.
- Top servings with granola, a dollop of whipped cream, or any other desired toppings for some extra sweetness.
