21 Veggie Recipes So Good the Kids Actually Finished

Getting kids to eat their vegetables is hard enough—getting them to ask for seconds is rare. These 21 veggie recipes made that happen without bribes or threats. They’re easy to make, packed with ingredients you probably already have, and not one of them screams “health food.” If you’ve got picky eaters around, these dinners might just make you look like a magician.

Greek Quinoa Salad

Quinoa salad in a brown bowl, garnished with pita bread. — Greek Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Greek Quinoa Salad brings together cucumbers, olives, and feta in a way that gets kids to actually clean their bowls. It comes together in under 30 minutes and holds up well in the fridge. It’s packed with protein, crunch, and just enough tang to feel like more than a side. You won’t hear a single “what’s this green stuff?”
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Spinach Lasagna Rolls skip the big bake for a quicker version of a familiar comfort food. They’re easy to portion, freeze well, and look fancier than they are. Filled with ricotta and spinach, they land right in that sweet spot between hearty and simple. Even picky eaters ask for seconds without noticing the greens.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Vegetarian Chili

Two bowls of chili with onions and sour cream. — Vegetarian Chili. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Vegetarian Chili is one of those veggie recipes that makes everyone forget there’s no meat in the pot. It simmers with beans, peppers, and enough spice to keep it interesting without scaring anyone off. One pot, easy cleanup, and full of pantry staples. It disappears fast when it hits the table.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Chili

Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Citrus Asparagus Couscous is light but satisfying, with a lemony finish that makes it taste brighter than a Tuesday night. It cooks in under 20 minutes and pairs well with whatever’s left in the fridge. The asparagus cooks just enough to keep its snap, which somehow makes it kid-approved. It’s the kind of side that accidentally becomes dinner.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Veggie Couscous Salad

Veggie Couscous Salad pulls together bell peppers, cucumbers, and herbs into one big bowl of lunch-ready flavor. It’s one of those veggie recipes that somehow tastes even better the next day. No reheating, no whining, just quick scooping and eating. If meal prep had a win column, this would be in it.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Couscous Salad

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan takes ten minutes and a bit of hand work, and suddenly kale doesn’t taste like work. The lemon juice softens the greens while the cheese brings in a little comfort. It’s a smart move when you want something that feels fresh but still eats like a meal. Even kids stop pushing it to the side.
Get the Recipe: Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Kung Pao Chickpeas

Kung pao chickpea dish in a bowl with rice and skillet off to the left. — Kung Pao Chickpeas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Kung Pao Chickpeas bring just enough heat and crunch to make dinner feel like takeout without the bill. The sauce coats everything just right, and the whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes. Serve it with rice and you’ve got a weeknight win. Somehow it always ends with someone asking if there’s more.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chickpeas

Summer Orzo Salad

Summer orzo pasta salad in a while serving bowl on a whitewashed background next to a bowl of green beans. — Summer Orzo Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Summer Orzo Salad is cool, quick, and full of easy wins like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and crumbled cheese. It’s one of those veggie recipes that handles potlucks and leftovers with no complaints. Kids tend to eat it without negotiation. Even if it’s not summer, it brings the mood.
Get the Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad

Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli

Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli sounds ambitious but skips the stress with pre-made wrappers and a quick filling. It’s creamy without cream, sweet without sugar, and exactly the kind of dinner that makes people think you worked harder than you did. Light enough not to feel heavy, but full enough to carry the plate. Even the youngest critics go quiet mid-bite.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad trades roasting for something brighter, with lemon and sharp cheese doing the heavy lifting. It only takes 15 minutes, and you don’t even have to turn on the oven. Kids don’t realize they’re eating sprouts, and adults don’t mind the second helping. It’s the kind of salad that makes you forget it’s a salad.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili throws everything in the pot and turns out bold, filling, and kid-approved by dinnertime. It’s packed with beans and veggies but still hits like comfort food. The hands-off cooking makes it even better on busy days. Even the leftovers get eaten without complaints.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs

Kebabs on a plate with a lemon wedge. — Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs use lentils and herbs to build flavor that holds its own on the grill or stovetop. They’re easy to shape, fast to cook, and dipped in yogurt sauce, they disappear quick. The texture wins over even the skeptics. It’s one of those veggie recipes that ends up on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash brings color, crunch, and a little bit of wow to the table without the fuss. It’s easy to prep ahead and bakes hands-free while you do anything else. Each squash half turns into its own bowl, which kids actually think is fun. Everyone forgets it’s plant-based halfway through the meal.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna

Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna layers everything you’d expect with one small change—no one minds the spinach. The noodles stay soft, the cheese does its job, and dinner gets quiet real quick. It’s easy to make ahead and feeds a crowd. Even Grandma asks if she can take some home.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna

Thai Pumpkin Curry

Overhead shot of a white pot with Thai pumplkin curry. — Thai Pumpkin Curry. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Thai Pumpkin Curry is smooth, quick, and builds flavor fast with pantry staples and canned coconut milk. It’s one of those veggie recipes that makes you forget there’s no meat on the table. Ladle it over rice and dinner’s done. The aroma alone brings people into the kitchen early.
Get the Recipe: Thai Pumpkin Curry

Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Tahini

A roasted cabbage steak is served on a pink plate. It is topped with a creamy sauce, pumpkin seeds, and chopped green onions. The cabbage is browned and slightly charred at the edges. — Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Tahini. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Tahini take cabbage from forgettable to front-row. They’re crisp on the edges, soft inside, and the sauce brings it all together in minutes. It’s shockingly easy for how good it looks on the plate. Even picky eaters don’t leave much behind.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Tahini

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Two bowls of butternut squash soup on a wooden table. — Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings turns soup night into something everyone asks for again. The dumplings are simple but make it feel more filling. It’s creamy without adding cream, and sweet without being sugary. Kids always come back for another spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake

A bowl of pasta salad featuring mushrooms, asparagus, and a creamy green sauce. The dish is garnished with fresh herbs. A small bowl of nuts and some greenery are in the blurred background. — Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake takes one dish, one bake, and turns into something that tastes way more complicated. The sauce clings to every bite and hides a bunch of veggies inside. It reheats like a dream and doubles as lunch the next day. Everyone assumes there’s cheese in it—and no one corrects them.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake

Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry

Tofu and broccoli on a plate. — Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry brings dinner together in under 25 minutes, no drama, no complaints. The sauce does the heavy lifting, making tofu something everyone actually wants to eat. It’s easy to double and works just as well cold the next day. Even the broccoli doesn’t get left behind.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry

Zucchini Noodle Salad

Zucchini Noodle Salad is crisp, fresh, and light enough to keep dinner from dragging. It’s one of those veggie recipes that lets you skip the stove and still feel like you made something real. Kids like the noodle shape enough to forget it’s zucchini. It disappears faster than expected every time.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Stuffed shells in a cast iron skillet. — Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta sneak in greens under layers of cheese and tomato, and somehow get the thumbs up anyway. The shells hold everything in one scoop, making them perfect for messy eaters and clean plates. They bake in under 30 minutes. It’s the kind of dinner that gets written down in someone’s planner.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta