Meal planning for kids is often frustrating. It is difficult to convince them to try new foods, especially when it comes to vegetables. Most kids hate them!
But don’t worry! There are endless options you can pick from the vegan recipes for kids. The recipes are easy to make, beginner-friendly, and of course delicious. Everybody will love it!
Dairy-Free Mac & Cheese
Who can resist mac and cheese? It is creamy and delicious! This is one of the vegan recipes for kids which is for everyone, even an adult will love it too. It is pantry-friendly that includes cashews, spices, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, and lemon juice. The cashew here will be the creamy base and the protein source.
In this recipe, you will use elbow pasta because it is the most common pasta used for mac and cheese. But actually, you can use other pasta types like shells, bowtie, cavatappi, and rotini. Choose what you like.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw-unsalted cashews
- 4 cups water
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 5 cups cashew water
- 2 tbsp vegan butter
- 2 cups elbow pasta
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil and then add cashews and salt. Cook for 10 minutes then drain it.
- Prepare the blender then add cashews, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, and tomato paste. fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, 1.5 cups cashew water, and Dijon mustard. If you want the sauce to be thicker and creamier, you can add vegan butter. Then blend the ingredients until smooth.
- Cook the pasta based on the package and then drain.
- Stir in the sauce to the pasta and salt to taste.
Tips
- You can enhance the dish by adding other elements such as mushroom bacon, tempe, roasted broccoli, green onions, carrots, peas, bread crumbs, and vegan parmesan.
- It is better to serve the dish right away because it can dry up quickly. If you want to store it, put it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. You can reheat the mac and cheese with low heat and add a little bit of water to loosen the sauce. The non-dairy milk is fine too.
- If you want the sauce to be thinner, just add some water, and don’t forget the salt.
- Adding vegan butter will make the pasta creamier. If the sauce is too thin, just give it some minutes because it will be thickening.
- You can also use gluten-free pasta if you like.
Vegan Fried Rice
Fried rice is one of the simplest dishes you can make, and the best thing about this dish is you can make it vegan. This is one of the best vegan recipes for kids that includes vegetables, tofu, rice, and soy sauce. Of course, you can also modify the recipe.
To get the best result, use the leftover rice because it will not make the fried rice lumpy. Don’t use warm or hot rice.
Ingredients
- Oil
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup scrambled tofu
- 2 cups leftover rice
- 5 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Set a wok or a large pan on a medium heat. Add oil and then stir in onions and garlic and then add carrots.
- Next, add shredded cabbage and increase the heat. After that, add frozen peas, rice, and tofu. Mix the ingredients in a high heat, and then add soy sauce. Cook for another 8 minutes.
- Add salt to taste and then serve while it is warm.
Tips
- Don’t worry if you don’t have the vegetables mentioned in the recipe. You can use anything you like as long as the vegetable doesn’t release too much water. Even, it is Ok if you just want to cook the rice without vegetables.
- Adjust the soy sauce as you need it. You don’t have to stick with the recipe.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Are your kids craving a crunch? These buffalo cauliflower wings will be a great dish. The cauliflower is tossed with panko bread crumbs, batter, and also buffalo sauce. Traditionally, buffalo wings are fried, but in this recipe, we will do it differently.
This vegan recipe for beginners will use baking powder to make it crunchier. Therefore, don’t skip this important ingredient. Keep in mind to not use baking soda. These two are different things.
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup of vegan milk
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 tbsp vegan butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Set the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and preheat it. Place parchment paper in the baking tray.
- Prepare a mixing bowl and then whisk baking powder, flour, and vegan milk. In a different bowl, mix garlic powder, bread crumbs, salt, and smoked paprika.
- Dip cauliflower florets into the flour mixture and then tap off the excess liquid from the florets.
- Next, coat the florets with bread crumbs.
- Arrange the florets onto the baking sheet. Don’t forget to leave space between florets. Bake for around 20 minutes and then flip halfway.
- While baking the cauliflower, prepare a saucepan on low heat and then add brown sugar, buffalo sauce, and butter. Cook until melted.
- Remove the cauliflower from the oven and coat it with buffalo sauce. Place it again on the baking sheet and bake it again for 20 minutes.
Tips
- You can modify the dipping sauce. You don’t have to stick with the recipe. If you want some suggestions, vegan blue cheese dressing is a perfect choice. Or, you can use another creamy dipping sauce.
- Make a second batch once you are running out of panko mix.
Vegan Lasagna
Life is incomplete without the lasagna on the table. One of the vegan recipes for kids turns the lasagna to be the best vegan comfort food that your family will love.
The lasagna sheets are covered with vegetable ragu, almond ricotta, and also cheese sauce. This is one of the best vegan recipes for picky eaters.
This vegan lasagna can be stored in an airtight container. Store it in the fridge, it will be OK for up to 5 days. If you freeze it, it will last up to 3 months.
Ingredients
- 1 box lasagna
- 5 cups chopped spinach
- 2 cups almond ricotta
- 1 recipe of cheese sauce (vegan cheese)
For The Vegan Ragu
- 840 ml marinara sauce
- 4 cups chopped veggies (we use carrot, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and bell pepper)
- 1 onion, chopped
- basil, pepper, oregano, and salt to taste
Instructions
- Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and preheat it.
- In a bowl, mix vegan ricotta and spinach.
How to make ragu
- Prepare a pot and put it in a medium heat. Add chopped vegetables along with onion.
- Saute the vegetables with a splash of vegetable broth until soft.
- Add marinara sauce and then season it to taste.
- Set it aside.
Assembling the lasagna
- Prepare the baking sheet and arrange the lasagna. Start with ragu, add some lasagna sheets, cheese sauce, lasagna, spinach ricotta, lasagna, ragu, lasagna, ragu, and finish with the remaining sauce.
- Cover the baking sheet with foil and put it in the oven. Bake for around 40 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake again for another 5 minutes until the sauce turn brown. Make sure you watch your lasagna so it doesn’t burn.
- Then, remove the lasagna from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
How to make vegan cheese sauce
Ingredients
- 400 g cannellini bean
- 1/2 cup so milk
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Mix the beans with other ingredients and then blend it until smooth.
- Adjust the taste with more salt, lemon juice, pepper, and nutritional yeast.
- You can save the cheese sauce in an air-tight container. Place it in the fridge and it will last up to 4 days.
How to make almond ricotta cheese
- 220 g raw almonds
- 1/2-3/4 cup water
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in the blender. Add 1/2 cup water and then blend it until smooth. If necessary, add more water. You should get a fluffy and creamy result.
- Adjust the taste with garlic, salt, and oregano.
- Place the ricotta cheese in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It will last up to a week.
FAQs
How do vegan kids get protein?
There are many sources of protein such as grains, legumes, tempeh, tofu, soy milk, peanut butter, nuts, tahini, soy yogurt, and so on. Some of these ingredients need to be consumed daily so the kids get sufficient protein.
Is Honey a vegan?
Unfortunately, honey is made by bees, and harvesting honey is against the definition of veganism.
What do vegan kids eat?
Kids should be encouraged to eat varieties of food such as vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, ground nuts, tofu, fruits, and seeds. As long as your kids don’t have allergies, you can give them nuts.
So, what do you think about the vegan recipes for kids above? Which one is your favorite? Drop it on the comment!