40 Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Meals (That They’ll Actually Want to Eat)

All the finger-friendliness of sushi, without dealing with any raw fish? Sign us up and pass the soy sauce (or soy sauce substitute).

Once your kids discover the deliciousness of grilled peaches, they’ll never want to eat them any other way. Luckily, this dinner is delicious enough to make on repeat.

A colorful, fish-free poke bowl is a fun feast for your budding foodie.

Anything in a jar is way cooler than what’s served on a plate. Bonus points for creamy peanut butter and sweet coconut, two flavors kids love.

Up the ante with this quick and easy soup topped with double-decker mini sandwiches. We guarantee your kids will go bonkers.

For them, this has the same appeal as green eggs and ham, but it tastes so much better.

If you don’t eat eggs, no big deal. These sweet potato pancakes are just as delicious on their own.

Johnnycakes are like pancakes with cornmeal, so they have a delightful texture that’s crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Plus, who can argue with pancakes for dinner?

Squiggly noodles + sweet corn = dinnertime magic. It’s just math.

If you ask us, the fewer utensils you need, the better. These are tangy, spicy and sweet (not to mention a breeze to make).

This colorful and slightly healthier take on gnocchi (you know, those hearty potato-based pillows of heaven) is simple to make and too fun to pass up.

Not today, chicken fingers. These meatless nuggets are baked instead of fried, so slather on the ketchup.

Tell your kids this is fancy mac and cheese, and watch them gobble it up.

Who said guac gets to have all the fun? It turns out that avocado and pasta are meant to be together. This one is good for all ages.

Save the blue cheese crema for the adults (or serve it on the side as a dip for more adventurous eaters).

Not only will everyone devour this lemon pasta, but you can make it in minutes. Skip the herbs if your kids hate green stuff.

They’re crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and a great vehicle for smashed avocado (or, fine, ketchup).

Tell them they’re a new kind of hot dog and see what they say.

It’s one of our childhood favorites and soon to be one of theirs too. The only difference? This one is way easier to execute.

The cauliflower florets get baked until crispy, drizzled with an easy homemade queso and wrapped in warm tortilla blankets. In a word, yum.

This is just as kid-friendly as the kind in the blue box, but so much tastier.

Things we love: quesadillas. Things we don’t love: standing at the stove making dinner. That’s what our trusty sheet tray is for.

Nothing will win you “parent of the year” faster than making brinner, aka breakfast for dinner.

These are filled with sweet potatoes, peppers, onions and broccoli, but truthfully, you could use whatever’s on hand (or whatever your kid will eat).

It’s a classic for a reason: easy to make, crowd-pleasing and even better when dipped in a little ketchup.

Suzy is about to get a good helping of veggies without even realizing it. Make a bunch of these in advance and store in the freezer for easy reheating.

Dry, stringy chicken, we hardly knew ye.

Your kid will do a double take when you tell him he gets to have tater tots for dinner. (You don’t have to tell him how many servings of veggies he’s actually eating.)

What’s great about this meal, besides the ease of prep, is that you can get the kids in the kitchen to help prepare it. You do the knife work then let your sous chefs assemble.

Go ahead, sneak some extra broccoli in there. We have a good feeling no one will mind.

Roasted corn, black beans, fresh cilantro and sweet potato are a match made in kid-dinner heaven. Even better, they make excellent leftovers.

Serve these bites with hummus and pita for a hands-on meal that’s also packed with vitamins.

Nothing against rice, but quinoa packs in a lot more protein—and that’s essential when you’re feeding hungry kids.

Thanks to store-bought enchilada sauce, you can have a tasty, healthy dinner on the table in 30 minutes. Who needs tortillas?

If you’re dealing with a particularly picky eater, ease her into trying something new by pairing it with something she already loves (like cheese, of course).

When your kid gets tired of buttered noodles (don’t worry, she will), whip up this creamy number. Psst: It’s actually dairy-free.

This one is getting filed under “no-brainers.”

Yes, they are as amazing as they sound and look. And yes, you can make them ahead of time and freeze them for hectic weeknight dinners.

Pop quiz: If your meal isn’t conveniently nestled in a bell pepper, are you even really eating?

It’s better (and healthier) than takeout, and it takes 20 minutes to make. What more could you want?