9 Vegetable Side Dishes Our Kids Like (Really!)
Need to add some color to your kids' plates? Here's a collection of the go-to vegetable side dishes that we serve to our own families with minimal complaining! It's worth trying these veggie sides for picky eaters when you'd prefer not to sneak them in.
What are your tried-and-true veggie side dishes for kids? Comment below with your review on any that you've made, or suggest another favorite recipe to add to the list. Find more parent-approved vegetable dishes on our list of vegetarian meals, too.
Baked Parmesan Zucchini
Kristy Pepping: If your kids are like mine, eating certain veggies can be a struggle. Not these in our house! Make anything look like a french fry and they are in! Plus, these require mixing a few ingredients in a bowl which is simple enough even for younger kids to take charge. From Damn Delicious
Quick & Easy Green Beans
Alexandra F.: We've learned that it's almost always best to go with simple recipes for our picky eaters, and green beans sautéed with olive oil or butter and a little bit of salt is a longtime favorite. Quick, easy, and they always get eaten up. From My Recipes
Baked Parmesan Zucchini Rounds
Kelly R: I have a few vegetable side dishes in my rotation for using up extra zucchini, but this is everyone's favorite! They're especially fun served on homemade pizza night with some marinara for dipping. From Five Heart Home
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Alexandra F.: We have a lot of picky eaters in the family and this is one of the few vegetable side dishes we can be sure everyone will eat. Fortunately, it's an easy one to make - just carrots on the stovetop with a little brown sugar. And, while cooking them in butter is extra tasty, we often use olive or canola oil with great results. We leave the parsley garnish out because our kids will make us pick it off if we don't. :) From 365 Days of Baking and More
Broccoli and Cheese
Mommyx3 (Monique H): A little greenery with some yummy cheese (my children's fav) is always a win. Whether its parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese its always a yummy side.
Kale Chips
Kelly R: My kids generally eat veggie sides reasonably well, but dark leafy greens are a hard sell. Kale chips are always a guaranteed hit...the enthusiasm I get when these are on the menu is almost unsettling! We like this recipe way more than anything you can buy pre-made, and it's easy to experiment with seasonings (we like seasoned salt). Cut and washed kale is one of my favorite things at Trader Joe's since it makes the prep time on this so much faster. From Allrecipes
Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
Kelly R: My kids got hooked on prosciutto asparagus as a holiday appetizer before we started having it as a veggie side for regular dinners. I find that a little prosciutto goes a long way, and use about 1/4 slice or even less for each asparagus spear. From Simply Recipes
Soy Glazed Edamame
Kelly R: Flavored edamame is one of our favorite vegetable side dishes when we go out for sushi, so we figured out how to make it at home. Cook a bag of frozen edamame (in pods) according to package instructions. In a skillet, heat 1tsp toasted sesame oil and 1tsp avocado oil. Add 1 clove minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add edamame to the pan, and cook for 1-2 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk a few tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce with 1tsp cornstarch and sriracha to taste. Add to the skillet and toss for 30 seconds until thickened and edamame is coated with sauce. Thin with water if needed.
Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms
Kelly R: We buy a big pack of mushrooms nearly every time we go to Costco (which is a lot!), just so we can make this recipe, which my tween devours. We just omit the capers. This, a loaf of crusty bread for dipping, and a bagged Caesar salad is our "Costco dinner!" From Smitten Kitchen
Primary photo: Alexis Lozano on Pexels
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