73 Finger Foods for Kids That Make Dinner (or Lunch) a Breeze

With strawberries, sunflower butter and sunflower seeds (allergen-friendly!), they’re too cute to resist. Fruit snacks who?

They’re crispy, moist and ready in 30 minutes, plus they don’t taste even remotely healthy (that part is crucial).

No one is immune to the appeal of sticky rice. Even a toddler.

Packed with protein *and* shaped like a muffin—nothing better.

Customize these guys with their favorite lunch meat and cheese combo (or, you know, whatever is in the fridge).

If a salad and a chicken nugget had a delicious baby, this would be it.

Shhh. Just say they’re a new kind of hot dog.

Go wild with the star-shaped cookie cutters.

Golden and crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy on the inside. Also known as an instant classic.

Is it a coincidence that these are just as appealing to adults as they are to the pre-K set? We think not.

Start them on California rolls early and they’ll be eating the real thing in no time.

Pack ’em in a lunch box or save them for an afternoon snack. Either way, you’re about to win the coveted best parent award.

We’ve been known to make a batch ahead of time and stash them in the freezer for emergency meals. All you have to do is reheat and go.

The more multicolored, the better.

Oh hi, fancy Hawaiian pizza. As long as you ease up on the crushed red-pepper flakes, these will be a guaranteed hit.

What can we say? We love a sneaky vegetable. These are baked in the oven, which is healthier and easier than deep-frying.

Picked fresh from the garden, aka your fridge.

Mortadella is basically adult bologna, so feel free to make that swap (along with any others you see fit).

Shawarma: Fun to say and even more fun to eat, especially when bite-size.

This has brinner written all over it. Pass the maple syrup.

They’re as easy to make as it is to order takeout (thanks, frozen pizza dough), and they happen to pair just as deliciously with ranch dressing.

They’ll be asking for salmon again next week.

If the sauce is too spicy, choose something on the mild side or trade it for barbecue.

Toaster pastries have nothing on you.

Wow, your kids are so classy.

Cured meat plus cheese plus carbs is a match made in lunchtime heaven.

Face it: Your kid doesn’t want to eat a casserole for dinner and you don’t want to make one. This is the solution.

The more it looks like a box of crayons, the more likely they are to eat it. 

Who will gobble up more, you or your toddler?

These sammies are ready in less time than it takes to get everyone to the table.

They’re glorified chicken tenders with a creamy dip on the side. What’s not to love?

Sweet and tangy is a crowd-pleasing flavor combination. Just make sure you save a few for yourself.

If your kid can’t handle too much heat, just hold back on the sriracha to make the glaze more sweet than spicy.

If you ask us, this is a way better snack than animal crackers or cheese puffs.

We might be biased, but who wouldn’t happily eat tiny pieces of melty, breaded cheese?

Creamy and sweet squash rings are a fairly easy sell. But if you’re sharing the table with a picky eater, just save the dipping sauce for yourself.

When they ask why the chicken nuggets look funny, just smile and nod.

Mushroom hater in the vicinity? No problem. Just let them choose a different topping. (There’s nothing wrong with plain old cheese.)

Just like the peanut butter pretzels you buy in bulk-size tubs, but so much better.

The secret to getting your kid to eat any green vegetable on the planet? Coat it in Parmesan and bread crumbs. We know because it works for adults too.

If your kids want to help (bless), have them mash the avocado and beans or tear the mushrooms with their hands. Since they’ll end up hidden inside, they don’t need to look cute.

Serve the accompanying blue cheese crema on the side and win over the grown-ups in the room too.

They’re basically doughnuts, right?

Come for the eat-with-your-hands tacos, stay for the breakfast-for-dinner vibes.

Everything is better in dumpling form. These guys take 35 minutes from start to finish.

We’ll take “nuggets” for 400, Alex.

File these under “how to win the afternoon snack game.”

If you don’t have turkey, you can use chicken or even pepperoni instead. Store-bought pizza dough makes it foolproof.

Bacon, lettuce and tomato is hard to beat, but we figured out how: Top it with avocado and wrap it up inside a tortilla.

Crispy, satisfying and so much tastier than the ones from the freezer aisle. Plus, no one will know they’re secretly healthy.

Would you believe us if we told you they’re made with just five ingredients? (Six if you want to add pepperoni.)

Just assemble, warm them in the oven until the cheese is melted and serve. (Fine, leave out the pickles if you absolutely must.)

Taco seasoning is the magic ingredient that makes this cauliflower shine. Drizzle everything with queso and they’ll love you even more.

It’s a classic for good reason.

You know what these would go great with, other than ketchup? Chicken nuggets.

We’ve yet to meet a person who’s able to turn down a latke. These are extra-crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside and practically begging to be dunked in applesauce (or sour cream).

They’re just the right size for small fingers to hold and dip. Just don’t be surprised when you start sneaking a few.

We’re sure no one would complain if you let them choose the toppings and get involved in the assembly process. Besides, they’ll be ready to eat in 30 minutes.

Raise your hand if you love a breakfast sandwich. We’re about 99 percent sure your kid will too.

It turns out you can turn almost anything into a french fry if you try hard enough. Lucky for you, it’s not hard at all. You don’t even need to fry them.

FYI, these flaky little turnovers can be made ahead and frozen for up to three months. We recommend making a double batch so you have some ready at a moment’s notice.

Store-bought is more than fine when it comes to the wonton wrappers (and Ina Garten would totally agree). The filling requires little more than tossing everything in a bowl, and they cook up in 15 minutes flat.

Your mom served you fish sticks from a box. No offense, Mom, but this version (made with any firm white fish) is a major upgrade.

But if your vibe is more Taco Tuesday than fish and chips, these fish tacos will check all the right boxes. The tangy, mayo-free slaw is *chef’s kiss.*

Vegetables? Check. Protein? Check. Muffin-shaped? Yep, they’re going to be a hit for both you and your 4-year-old.

Meatloaf? No way. Meatloaf that’s been topped with cheese and baked in a cute little muffin tin? That’s more like it.

The mini pepperoni is almost too cute. The five-ingredient shopping list and ten-minute cooking time are even better.

We’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t like Parmesan cheese, which happens to be the second ingredient in these sweet and salty bites.

For whatever reason, grilled cheese transformed into a portable roll is so much more appealing to a child than a sandwich is. It’s only three ingredients; we’ll take it.

Unlike the restaurant version, these are pan-fried to save time and avoid a giant mess. But they’re as flavorful and dippable if you happen to have hummus on hand.

Get the recipe

They’re basically caprese skewers, if caprese were made with string cheese.

They’re almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Who knew spinach could taste so delicious? (You did.)