Camping food ideas kids will love (beyond hot dogs)

Many people think that camping food for kids begins and ends with hot dogs. And although we consider a crispy hot dog cooked over an open fire a delicacy hard to beat, our family also has many other yummy campfire favorites. 

Pretty much anything can be cooked over a campfire, with the proper tools and a little patience! Frying homemade donuts, baking bread, cooking steaks—you name it, you can cook it over an open fire. If you think about it, you’d have a hard time coming up with a food that can’t be cooked outside or wouldn’t taste better over an open campfire! You can cook things in a skillet, on a grate, on a camp stove, or in a foil packet directly on your campfire. With so many ways to cook, it can be overwhelming even to know where to begin. 

Today, we’re focusing on easy camping meals and simple recipes that your kids will love helping with AND eating. The camping foods for kids below, include meals, snacks, and desserts. These recipes are our tried-and-true favorites and are destined to become the stuff of magical memories made by my kids over the campfire. I hope you’ll add a few of them to your camping menu on your next camping trip! Because the best camping food is made and enjoyed together, outside. 

Cooking that involves the whole family

I’ve learned that if I try to do all the camping food on my own, I quickly start to feel stressed and overwhelemed. Everyone else is relaxing and enjoying themselves, while I’m busy trying to cook food over an open fire without burning it, balancing utensils on a nearby log, keeping things from falling in the dirt, and making sure no one gets burnt. Campfire cooking is a juggling act for sure.

But, one of the ways to make camping meals easier is to have help from the rest of the family! Many hands make light work, and if you include your whole family in the meal prep and cooking, it makes a huge difference.

Luckily, this doesn’t take a lot of prodding or begging for help on my part. Kids naturally love to help, and they love to try food that they’ve made themselves. Even if it’s a new food or one they don’t eat regularly, they’re much more likely to be excited about eating it if they’ve helped prepare it. It’s a win-win! 

Safety first

Just like with any other kind of cooking, the most important thing is to make sure everyone is safe when you’re campfire cooking with kids. Make sure all your children understand the importance of being careful around a campfire and know what to do in case of an emergency. Remind them of some basic safety rules: no running near the fire, be careful of any hot pots or utensils, keep a respectful distance from the fire, and no waving the hot dog sticks in the air. (There are few sights more terrifying to me than several children waving flaming marshmallows on hot sticks around a campfire!)

It helps to have a strong visual boundary around your campfire, like a metal or rock fire ring. As adults, we have to remember that our kids are often unaware of potential dangers. Part of the beauty of cooking together is that you can teach them these things firsthand. Kids are more than capable of learning how to safely function around even potential dangers like a campfire.

Basic equipment for camping food

When you’re gathering equipment to cook camping food and assemble your camp kitchen, you want to keep your supplies and equipment as simple as possible. Everything we’re sharing today can be made with three key items: (1) a hot dog stick, (2) a cast iron Dutch oven, and (3) a hobo pie iron. These three pieces of equipment have become our go-to campfire cookware. Let’s take just a minute to look at these three items and all the possibilities they represent.

Cast iron Dutch oven:

From bread to soup and everything in between, the Dutch oven is a camping food workhorse. Make sure to get one with a lid and a handle, if possible. You can hang it from a tripod over the fire, set it on top of a grate, or nestle it among the coals. With a dutch oven, you can cook biscuits, then bacon, then scrambled eggs for breakfast – all in one pot. You can simmer soup in it for lunch, and then cook our delicious kielbasa, beans, and red potatoes dish in it for supper.

A cast iron dutch oven really makes any kind of cooking possible over an open fire! I’m still working on consistently not burning the biscuits…but one day, I’d really like to master them and move on to bread!

Hobo pie iron

Hobo pie irons are an incredibly fun way to cook camping food and make the perfect kid-friendly camping meal. They elevate any sandwich to an experience of crispy, melty goodness. They can also be used as mini skillets to reheat leftovers, cook hashbrowns, make pancakes, and much more.

If you have a large family, it’s nice to have a couple of pie irons in order to keep the hobo pies flowing. We currently just have one double pie iron for our family of six, and it makes for a slower meal experience, but it’s still doable. Sometimes our extended family makes hobo pies for large family gatherings, and it’s a bit of a hectic event, with multiple irons in the fire and assembly-line sandwich prep going on. But it’s always a ton of fun.

Hot dog stick

I feel like these go without saying. If you’re planning camping food, you’re going to want some sticks to roast hot dogs or marshmallows on at some point! They’re certainly the tool that’s easiest to improvise out in the wild. All you need are some straight sticks and a knife to sharpen a point at one end. A wooden skewer could work, but you’ll want something with a large handle that won’t burn. It’s nice to have these sturdy wood and metal ones that can balance your hot dogs better and cook multiple marshmallows at once.

Other equipment for camping food

There are so many different ways to cook when you’re camping. We like to bring a foldable cooking grate when we’re camping because it makes it a lot easier to cook over a fire. Some campgrounds provide a fire ring with a grate built in, but not all of them. Foldable grates are fairly compact when folded up, lightweight enough to carry around easily, but reasonably tough and sturdy.

Some thick hot mats or cooking mitts are also important for camping food, especially when you’re handling cast iron or if you’re letting your children help with hot items. It’s nice if they’re extra-durable because cookware can get REALLY hot over a fire.

You want to be sure to pack some sturdy cooking utensils, preferably ones with long handles for cooking over a campfire. You don’t need a bunch, but I always bring some cooking tongs, a spatula, and a couple wooden stirring spoons.

Lastly, tin foil is great to have on hand when camping over an open fire. Foil-wrapped meals can be customized to suit all tastes and make great healthy meal options. You can make your own aluminum foil packs for quick and easy meals with zero clean-up! 

Breakfast hack for camping mornings

There’s nothing quite like waking up in the morning to singing birds and the relaxing sounds of nature all around. Slow mornings camping are one of my favorite things. But, we all know that mornings with kids just don’t stay slow for long! It’s inevitable that someone is asking for breakfast before you’re even out of your sleeping bags. Suddenly that vision of peacefully sipping your coffee around the campfire evaporates, and you’re scrambling to assemble breakfast ingredients before the water is even hot enough for coffee.

So, before we even discuss breakfast, here’s my best morning camping hack: pack a bag with a variety of granola bars, protein bars, breakfast biscuits, etc. While you’re getting the fire going and making that coffee, let the kids grab a snack from the bag. Mom and Dad get a few minutes to enjoy their coffee, and no one starves before the bacon is cooked. You can thank me later for that one. 

Breakfast over the campfire

I really believe that simple is best when you’re camping. At home, I typically make most of our food from scratch and emphasize healthy meals. But, that requires plenty of ingredients, time, and dishes. If you’re able to juggle that all on a camping trip, I commend you! But, in order to make our camping food easy and fun, I often rely on more pre-made foods when we’re camping for ease and convenience. 

For breakfast, one of our favorite meals is cinnamon rolls, sausage, and hash browns. These are all favorites for the kids to help with. (Other favorites include make-ahead breakfast burritos, but we’ll save that recipe for another day.) 

Campfire cinnamon rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a great camping food for kids. Refrigerated cinnamon rolls are a great way to experiment with Dutch oven baking over a campfire and are one of my favorite easy breakfast ideas. When we’re camping with limited prep space and trying to keep ingredients as simple as possible, pre-made cinnamon rolls straight from the can make everything soooo much easier! Let your kids open the package and separate the cinnamon rolls into a greased Dutch oven. Give them a little space to rise and allow some room in between them to flip them.

Put the lid on the dutch oven and set it over a hot section of slow-burning coals on a grate or a tripod. You don’t want these over open flames or they will burn very quickly! We’ve found that the best way to not burn them at first is to check the bottoms often. Of course, they bake better if you keep the lid on. But, if you aren’t confident with your fire’s temperature, just keep an eye on them. When they are golden brown on the bottom, use a spatula to flip each one over. Then watch the bottoms again. 

Learning to cook over the fire by trial and error

If your fire has a pretty nice spread of coals, they will probably take about the same amount to brown the second time. This whole process usually takes about 10-15 minutes. Every fire is different, and the kind of wood you are using affects how hot it is…which is why campfire cooking is such a trial-and-error thing.

Remove them from the fire and let your kids spread the icing on them (remember, cast iron holds heat for a long time, so you may want to set the cinnamon rolls on a plate first if you’re concerned about small hands brushing the hot pan) and enjoy! Even when we’ve burnt the bottoms a little, these little treats have been a huge hit around our campfire.

Camping breakfast sausages and hash browns 

While the cinnamon rolls are cooking, pull out the hot dog sticks and the hobo pie irons. If your kids are old enough to handle a hot dog stick safely, let them cook their own sausage links just like a hot dog. This is such a fun activity for little people.

Pro tip: buy precooked sausages! This easy food takes all the fear out of making sure the sausages are cooked enough. All the kids have to do is get the sausage heated through. And they can munch on them as soon as they are cool enough to eat.

Meanwhile, separate the halves of the hobo pie iron and let the kids lay the hash browns on them. Lay these across a grate or prop them between rocks to use them as mini skillets to cook the hash browns. Once again, minimal prep and fuss involved! You can remove them from the fire and let an older child flip them once one side is browned.

Let everyone help with camping food

I’ve discovered that letting our kids help with simple tasks like these has really increased their confidence and ability to work safely around a campfire. They know things are hot and take care not to burn themselves. Each time they try, they are a little more capable of flipping things, handling things with hot pads, and working safely around a fire.

Lunchtime around the campfire

Easy, adaptable, and delicious, hobo pies are our family’s favorite campfire meal! They require minimal cooking skills and very basic ingredients. Our favorites are sandwich hobo pies: the pizza sandwich (mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and pizza sauce), the classic sandwich (all varieties of lunch meat, cheese, and condiments), and the dessert sandwich (any flavor of canned pie filling, topped off with marshmallows).

Once the flavors get melted together in a sealed pie iron over a campfire, the taste is unforgettable! Making an entire meal of hobo pies is entirely acceptable. So is eating the dessert pies for breakfast. But, we usually round out hobo sandwiches into a healthy meal by adding fresh veggies and fresh fruit, like grapes or apples.

Making hobo pies

Get your kids involved in the process of making hobo dinners and lunches by letting them help build their sandwiches. Set out the ingredients and let them create! Kids have so much fun layering on their chosen meats and cheeses for hot sandwiches or smearing a piece of bread with pie filling to create an amazing camp pie. Just remember to help them not fill their hobo pies TOO full (especially the fruit ones), or they will be hard to eat! 

Cooking with pie irons with kids

After you assemble your sandwiches, cooking them is pretty simple. Preheat your pie iron over the fire, grease it lightly with butter or cooking spray, and then center your sandwich on the iron. Close the pie iron tightly and be sure to clip the little clasp on the handle closed, so the pie iron seals shut. We like to use a knife to trim off any bread crusts hanging off the edge before we start cooking them.

Then, cook the hobo pie until it is lightly browned on each side and the center is nicely melted. You have to pay attention to the heat of your fire to get it right—but it’s not hard. It works best to cook them slowly over a moderate fire or section of coals. When they’re finished, be sure to have a plate or clean surface ready to flip them on to (not styrofoam or plastic, because it will melt!) so they can cool before everyone dives in!

Snack time: kid-friendly trail mix

Whether you’re spending your day hiking, swimming, or just hanging around the campfire, the kids are sure to be ready for a snack before too long. Before you head out on your camping trip, have your kids help you put together this super easy, kid-approved trail mix to add to your stash of camping food! This is the easy way to make camping snacks ahead of time. 

My favorite part about trail mix is that it’s totally adaptable to your kids’ tastes and preferences. Even picky eaters can customize their trail mix to their exact likings. You can even just open your pantry cupboards and add whatever you find. The idea is to add enough nuts for protein, some dried fruit for nutrition, and some sweets, just for fun.

Kids’ trail mix recipe:

• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup honey-roasted peanuts
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup M&M’s
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 2 cups Cheerios

Mix together and store in an airtight container, or divide into snack-size bags for individual portions to stash in backpacks.

More kid-friendly camping snack ideas

• Tortilla chips and salsa
• Beef jerky
• Granola bars
• Fig cookies
• Cheese, sausage, crackers
• Fresh fruit
• Pre-cut veggies
• Mixed nuts

Camping supper idea: kielbasa, beans, and red potatoes

After a full day of outdoor adventures, everyone is always starving for dinner! Make-ahead meals and foil-pack meals are great for camping. But, my favorite camping supper is this one-pot meal because it’s so quick and easy to throw together, and then you can relax while it simmers over the campfire. In my opinion, it’s the perfect camping food. It requires a minimum of refrigerated ingredients and can feed large groups of people, which makes it perfect for camping, too. The yummy sausage-like meat is always a favorite of kids everywhere.

Memorable camping food

This was the meal I packed for our family’s first-ever camping trip, when our oldest was a toddler, so it’s a personal favorite. We were traveling home from somewhere and planning to stop over for a night in a campground in the Appalachian Mountains. I stashed a couple of cans of beans and a bag of potatoes in the back of the car somewhere and a package of kielbasa in our cooler. We arrived at our campsite in the middle of nowhere right at suppertime, with the ominous rumbling of thunder across the mountains. 

Somehow, in the midst of gathering firewood, building a fire, and trying to set up our borrowed tent, we also managed to chop the potatoes and meat and get this meal cooked over the campfire. We burrowed into our tent with our pot of kielbasa just as the storm broke loose. It was a long day and this meal hit the spot. It has remained a favorite meal for our family over the years, and one I often rely on when traveling or camping because it’s so easy. Sometimes a great camping meal will bring back memories and make you smile. 

Kielbasa, beans, and red potatoes recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package (1 lb) Polish kielbasa
• 6 large red potatoes (or feel free to swap out a few for sweet potatoes)
• 2 cans of green beans
• 2 cloves garlic
• Salt, pepper, and seasoned salt (I use the Bearded Butchers Blend Original seasoning. It’s a local favorite, made right up the road from our home, but its great flavor and clean ingredients have made it popular everywhere!)

Instructions:

Mince garlic and saute in 1 T. butter or olive oil in a Dutch oven. Wash and cut potatoes into medium-sized cubes, then add to Dutch oven. Slice kielbasa and stir in. Add green beans and salt/pepper to taste. Saute for approximately 5 minutes, then add a cup of water and put the lid on the Dutch oven. Let simmer on the hot coals until the potatoes are tender. You want to make sure to keep just enough liquid in the pan to keep everything from sticking to the bottom, but not too much (this isn’t a soup). When it’s finished cooking, there shouldn’t be excess liquid in the pot.

Add some biscuits to any meal

Freshly cooked biscuits go perfectly with any good camping meal (and are sometimes the best part of the meal!). If you’re ambitious, you can make biscuits from scratch. Sometimes I mix my dry ingredients together before we leave to create my own “just add milk” biscuit mix. Other times, it’s WAY easier just to use canned biscuit dough! The good news is that both options taste great!

You can bake biscuits in the Dutch oven the same way you do the cinnamon rolls—check them often and flip them when the bottoms are browned. If you only have one Dutch oven, it’s a good idea (and probably easiest) to bake the biscuits before you do the Kielbasa, Beans, and Red Potatoes. Just wrap them in a towel to keep them warm until supper is ready…if they last that long!

Camping dessert: s’mores buffet

Let’s be honest – you just can’t beat s’mores for a favorite campfire dessert for every age! S’mores are the classic camping food for kids. This easy crowd-pleaser is the quintessential campfire dessert. But, in case you’ve gotten a little tired of the classic version, or if you’re just looking for an extra-fun variation, try a s’mores buffet!

Mix and match to try all kinds of new flavor combinations, and be sure to add your own favorites, too!

The base:

• Classic graham crackers
• Chocolate graham crackers
• Round chocolate cookies
• Round mint chocolate cookies
• Oreos
• Fudge stripe cookies

The middle:

• Basic marshmallows
• Square marshmallows
• Flavored marshmallows

The toppings:

• Milk chocolate bars
• Reese’s Thins
• Peanut butter
• Sprinkles
• Mini chocolate chips

Mom hacks for s’more fun

• Set all your ingredients out on a tray, so they’re easy to access! Every parent knows how quickly s’more-making gets out of control once the marshmallows start melting.
• Even if your kids can toast their own marshmallows, keep at least one adult with both hands-free until all the kids’ smores are made. That way, someone is available to help when a kid’s marshmallow is slipping off their stick or catches on fire.
• Always have a wet cloth or a bucket of warm soapy water handy before you start making smores with kids! It makes all the stickiness just So. Much. Easier.
• Don’t give in to the temptation to buy the giant “campfire” marshmallows. I know they look amazing and fun. But they’re just too big to fit into a s’more, and the mess that ensues is EPIC. Ask me how I know…
• If you want to make s’more even more fun, put your marshmallow and toppings inside ice cream cones, wrap them in foil, and cook slowly over the campfire for a warm, melty delicious treat. Great option for little kids that aren’t ready to cook over the fire on their own. 

Camping meals made simple

And there you have it! One full day of fun, easy campfire meals that you can make with your kids and that they will love! Some of our family’s best camping memories are centered around simple meals like these and the time spent cooking them together. I hope your family will enjoy them as much as we do!

What’s your family’s favorite camping food?

About the author

Leslie is an Ohio farm girl and chaser of light, children, and sometimes chickens. She’s a lover of Jesus, wife to her high school sweetheart, and a homeschooling mom of four wild rascals who love the great outdoors as much as she does. As a family, they love hiking, camping, fishing, and just about any outdoor activity. She and her husband are just beginning the process of building a homestead from the ground up, doing most of the work themselves. Leslie has a lifelong obsession with writing and capturing everyday life from behind the lens. Follow along with their homesteading, homeschooling, and everyday adventures on her Instagram account.

You can find more from Leslie in the following locations:
Instagram: @c_l_allofus
Leslie’s RWMC posts: Leslie Alvis

The post Camping Food Your Kids Will Love Eating & Making appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Favorite fall recipes to make with kids

Fall is wonderful for so many reasons, but one of those is because it’s the harvest season. Three crops that are harvested in abundance during this time of year are zucchini, apples, and pumpkins. Each is nutritious, delicious, and very versatile in recipes. Today, I’m excited to share all of the fun ways we can use these three items to whip up some tasty and nutritious snacks and meals for and with our kids.

Kid-friendly zucchini recipes

If you planted zucchini in your garden, you probably still have some plants that are producing into and through the fall. Not only do zuchinni plants produce will into the fall season, they grow fast! I have found that zucchini can grow inches seemingly overnight! One morning it will be a small zucchini with the blossom still attached, and the next, it’s bigger and heavier than your arm! When that happens, and you have pounds and pounds of zucchini to work with before it goes bad, refer back to these recipes, and you’ll use every bit of that zucchini in no time.

Zucchini bread

Zucchini bread is a must-make recipe, if you’ve got homegrown zucchini around the house. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. My mom makes a wonderful hearty zucchini bread every year at Thanksgiving, and it’s one of the first things gone from the table. The smell of bread baking in the oven is sure to put everyone in a good mood. And if you get to enjoy a slice of still-warm zucchini bread with some butter melting on top of it, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

Ultimate zucchini bread recipe

Here’s our favorite “Ultimate Zucchini Bread” recipe, adapted from this one from Smitten Kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated, packed zucchini
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon fine sea or table salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons raw sugar

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a loaf pan with nonstick spray. Place grated zucchini in a large bowl and add oil, eggs, sugars, vanilla, and salt. Use a fork to mix until combined. Sprinkle in cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder and mix until combined. Add flour and mix until just combined. Pour into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the raw sugar. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick or tester inserted into the middle cake but also into the top of the cake, closer to the dome, comes out batter-free. Let cool completely in the pan. Leave in pan, unwrapped, overnight or 24 hours, until removing (carefully, so as not to ruin flaky lid) and serve in slices. 

Zucchini boats

Zucchini boats are another great (and really fun) way to use zucchini! The best thing about zucchini boats is that they can be eaten with your hands! Fewer dishes are always a win, in my book. And although you scrape out the center of the zucchini, you’ll want to chop it up and add it to the filling, so no part of the zucchini is wasted.

Another great thing about zucchini boats is that you can use a variety of ingredients for the filling and make them however you want! Don’t have sausage? No problem, use ground beef or ground turkey. Vegetarian? Use beans instead of meat. Don’t have cheddar cheese? Substitute the type of cheese you have for the topping. Zucchini boats are very versatile and cook in 25-30 minutes. The recipe below for zucchini boats from Taste of Home is a big hit at our house (and SO easy)!

Kid-friendly zucchini boat recipe

Instructions:

Grilled zucchini

You know we’re all about getting outdoors here at Run Wild, and grilling zucchini is a wonderful opportunity to do that! Have the kids help you slice up the zucchini into steaks or spears, toss them in some olive oil with your favorite grilling seasonings, and throw them on the grill. Or, add in some of your other favorite veggies (onions, squash, peppers) and pop them onto a kebab! In about ten minutes, you’ll have a tasty side dish. Try this recipe.

Take your grilled zucchini to the next level by setting out some dipping options, too! We like to dip ours in ranch dressing or marinara sauce. This is an especially good tactic if you have kids who are picky eaters (or ones that say they don’t like zucchini). Sometimes dipping food in a sauce or dressing will get them to try it because, let’s be honest, isn’t it just more fun to eat that way?

Zoodles

Have you heard of zoodles? Zoodles are what you get when you take a spiralizer to a zucchini. The spiralizer cuts the zucchini into long, thin strips the size of a spaghetti noodle. Making zoodles with kids is so much fun because they can be several feet long. If you don’t have a spiralizer, I recommend this one. It’s inexpensive and easy enough for kids to use! They’ll love helping out in the kitchen for this project and turning zucchini into noodles! If you have more than one kid, you might even want to get two spiralizers and see who can make the longest zoodle.

Zoodles can be used in place of spaghetti in any recipe that calls for pasta. The flavor is mild, and the consistency is very similar to a spaghetti noodle. Your kids will forget that they’re even eating a vegetable. If you cut thin strips off the zucchini lengthwise, they can be used in place of a lasagna noodle! 

Zucchini fritters

You can also use grated zucchini for fritters! This is a sure-fire win with my kids because they’re hot and crispy (and taste a bit like a flavorful hashbrown). Here’s our favorite zucchini fritter recipe inspired by Just a Taste.

Ingredients:

Grated zucchini (freeze it!)

Don’t forget that when you have zucchini coming out of your ears and won’t be able to use it all right away, you can always freeze it. This will keep it fresh for months and give you a taste of summer well into the winter months.

First, grate the zucchini, squeeze out as much moisture as possible, put it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen zucchini will be good for up to three months. I like to add my frozen shredded zucchini to lots of the recipes I make during the week: omelets, soups, salads, ground meats, and basically any savory dish. I’ll even top a baked potato with shredded zucchini and some cheddar cheese. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! 

Favorite fall apple recipes

Visiting an apple orchard is fun, but the best part is eating the apples! Apples are a classic fall favorite staple and can be used in so many ways, making them one of the easiest and most versatile ingredients. They can be sweet, savory, and even spicy. They can be used in so many different dishes. And, they’re probably one of those things that your kids won’t ever complain about eating!

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to enjoy apples in the fall. Here are a few recipes that kids will love to help out with and eat!

Apple dipping station

Have your kids been asking to have a play date at your house? I feel like mine are always wanting some friend or another to come play at our house. Hosting an apple-themed play date is easy and so much fun, especially in the fall when apples are aplenty. Maybe you even took the kids apple picking recently and have more apples than you know what to do with. Most kids like apples so they don’t need to be enticed to eat them.

At your apple play date, why not set up an apple dipping station as the snack! As I mentioned before, it’s just more fun to eat something when you get to dip it first! All you’ll need to do is cut up some apples and have a variety of dips and toppings for the kids to choose from! Let them try them all and find their favorite flavor combinations. 

Dips for apple slices:

• Peanut butter/almond butter/sun butter
• Caramel
• Nutella
• Cream cheese
• Marshmallow fluff
• Buttercream icing

Apple slice toppings:

• Mini chocolate chips
• Chopped peanuts
• Raisins
• Mini marshmallows
• Shredded coconut
• Toffee bits
• Crushed graham crackers
• Sprinkles

Applesauce

If you’ve got apples to spare, it really doesn’t get any better than making your own homemade applesauce! And I promise it’s easier to make than you might imagine! You don’t even need to peel the apples if you don’t mind the applesauce being a little more tart.

To make homemade applesauce, simply core and slice eight to ten apples (peel them only if you want). Throw them in the slow cooker with half a cup of water (and a cinnamon stick, if you like cinnamon applesauce), and let it cook until the apples are the desired tenderness. It will take about five to six hours on low heat. If you want smooth applesauce, put the mixture in the blender/food processor (or use a stick mixer) and puree. I like my applesauce a bit chunky, so I just smash the apples a bit with a potato masher. Add sugar (and maybe some cinnamon) to your liking, and that’s it! 

Baked apples

Bakes apples are almost as easy to make as applesauce, but because you cook them in the oven they take less time. I like to make baked apples for dessert on a cool fall night because they make the house smell amazing! Here is the recipe I use. These will need to cook for about 40 minutes to get really tender. You can let each kid customize their apple before putting it in the oven by having a variety of different spices (cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, allspice, clove, etc.) and sweeteners (sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey.) Top the baked apples with a scoop of ice cream for an extra special treat.

And if you really want to make this a fun activity, instead of baking the apples in an oven, bake them over a campfire! They make an absolutely amazing treat when enjoying an evening outside in the backyard or on a camping trip! 

Apple pie filling

One of my sisters had an apple tree at her previous home, and some years that tree produced so many apples we could barely eat them all! In cases like that, we had to get creative with all the way to use the apples, so they wouldn’t go to waste.

One of my favorite ways that she used them was to make jars and jars of apple pie filling using a simple apple pie filling recipe and gave them as Christmas gifts. Genius! What a great gift for your kids to give to their teacher or neighbor, as well. My jar was gone before the new year because it was so tasty!

You could definitely use the filling to make a pie, but I also used it to top so many things, like ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt. Or, how delicious would it be over-baked brie? What a great way to spend time making something special with your kids and have gifts to give to loved ones afterward! 

Favorite pumpkin recipes to make with kids

Last but not least, let’s talk about pumpkins. Pumpkins are the star of the season and have to be included in this list of favorite fall recipes to make with your kids. We see them used as decorations and love to carve them for Halloween, but most pumpkins are also edible and nutritious.

Cooked pumpkin has high percentages of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and iron. These nutrients keep our immune system strong and our skin and eyes healthy. Here are some ways to get all of those important vitamins and minerals into those little bodies that seem to have endless energy.

Pumpkin pancakes

Pancakes are a breakfast staple at my house, but when my kids drench them in syrup, I feel like it’s more of a dessert than a healthy breakfast. One way to add more nutrients to your pancakes is to add pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree can be purchased in a can from the store (although, not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling), or you can make your own if you’re feeling extra ambitious. The more you add, the more orange-colored they will be, but in addition to color, it will add more pumpkin flavor and extra nutrients.

Choose an amount of pumpkin puree that fits your family’s tastebuds. For every two cups of pancake mix, I typically add one cup of pumpkin puree. This works well for our family, and I get zero complaints about them tasting too pumpkiny. Pancakes are quick and easy and can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer for use on those mornings when everyone sleeps in. My kids pop frozen pancakes into the toaster for an on-the-go breakfast. 

Pumpkin bread

Like zucchini bread, pumpkin bread is a HUGE hit at our house with kids and adults alike. We have been known to eat pumpkin bread for breakfast, but it could really be a dessert as well. You can make it in a bread loaf and slice it or even make it into muffins for on-the-go snacks. My youngest has started asking for his own loaf of pumpkin bread to take home from Thanksgiving when we go to Grandma’s house. 

If you want to get extra-decadent, these pumpkin cream cheese muffins are just about the most amazing thing ever. 

Pumpkin chili

Who doesn’t love a warm bowl of chili on a cool fall afternoon? Chili is a fan favorite at our house and a staple on weekend evenings when we spend all day outside. A great way to add some flavor (and nutrients) to your chili is to add pumpkin puree to your favorite chili recipe. It makes it a little thicker and healthier. I always serve my chili with a generous portion of cornbread and some sour cream on top. Here is the pumpkin turkey chili recipe I use.

Dinner in a pumpkin

I’ve been saving the best for last! My birthday is at the end of October, and back before I can remember, my mom started making dinner in a pumpkin for my birthday! It was such a fun and unexpected tradition and something that still continues today. The dinner portion is comprised of wild rice mixed with sausage, peppers, and onions. However, you could serve chili, dip, soup, or even sloppy joe meat out of a pumpkin, as well! The options are endless! 

Your family may like to have this meal on Halloween night because it’s served right out of the pumpkin! It makes for a fun centerpiece on your Halloween dinner table. This one does take a while to bake, so plan on getting it in the oven at least an hour before you want to eat. The time is so worth it, though! Your kids will love scooping their dinner right out of the pumpkin. 

Cooking with kids

Cooking with your kids is an experience they will not easily forget. Yes, there will be a large mess. Sure, it will take longer. Yeah, you will need a healthy dose of patience. But the benefits far outweigh the mess. Your kids will be learning math through measuring, counting, timing, and portioning. Teach them where each ingredient comes from as they add it to the bowl. Show them how heat rises when the steam drifts up from a pot of boiling water. Watch them coordinate their muscle movements as they slice a zucchini or grate cheese.

Kids are absorbing so much information all the time. When we cook with our kids, we make sure that the information they receive is wholesome and will serve them well in the future. The chances that they eat the food they cook are also much higher than if someone else prepares the food for them, so get those kids in the kitchen with you! Need a little more motivation?

Here is a blog post all about the benefits of cooking with kids.

Take it outside

After you’re done preparing all of this deliciousness, don’t be afraid to take your food outside. Pack a picnic and bring pumpkin bread for dessert. Set up a table on the patio and eat your chili by candlelight. Gather around a backyard bonfire and warm yourself up with some baked apples.

They say that food tastes better outside, right? Let us know if that is true for you and your kids. Happy fall, and have a great time trying these delicious fall recipes to make with your kids!

Which fall recipe do you want to make with your kids?

About the author

Wendy is a married momma living in central San Diego, CA, raising 4 human kids, 2 goat kids, 4 chickens, and one grumpy cat. She enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, backpacking, going to the beach, and generally getting out of doors. Wendy is a family photographer and also works at several local elementary schools as a garden educator. She dreams of traveling to all 50 states and beyond, and believes that there is great beauty to be found in all parts of the earth, we just have to open our eyes to see it.

You can find more from Wendy online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wendycoxphotography
RWMC posts: Wendy Cox

The post Favorite Fall Recipes To Make With Kids appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Cooking with kids

Cooking is an everyday part of life, even if we sometimes wish it wasn’t. Kids love to be a part of (and even find joy in) the daily activities that long ago lost their novelty to us grownups. And while there are many people that enjoy cooking and even relish nourishing their families with healthy food, there are many others that do not find much joy in the kitchen.

Cooking is one of those daily activities that kids absolutely want to be a part of, even from a young age. Kids naturally want to help and a lot of times, they’d do just about anything to spend more time with you. Including cooking chores! They love feeling like they contributed and are so proud of the work they do to help out.

Cooking is not only a part of daily life, but it is something children all need to learn how to do. Only about 1/3 of children actually help prepare meals in their families. We’d love to help raise that number. There are so many great skills and lessons that kids can learn in the kitchen. Let’s get them involved! 

Photo credit: Tiana Kubik

Why kids should help cook

Anyone who has ever cooked with kids knows that cooking with kids takes longer and the messes that are made are generally much larger than the ones you’d make yourself. This can be frustrating and when time is a factor, often not an option parents are willing to entertain. We get it. It is so hard to teach when doing it yourself is faster, easier, and less messy.

However, cooking with kids is not only beneficial for the kids, but also for the parents. Cooking with your child gives you a bonding experience and quality time together doing something together that benefits the whole family. Eating meals together allows time for family bonding and may even improve mental health. Eating together contributes to fewer emotional and behavioral issues in children and greater feelings of mental well-being, according to recent studies. If you can’t let your child help you prepare meals daily, perhaps you can devote time once a week to cooking with your kids. 

Benefits of cooking for kids

There are so many benefits to sharing the task of cooking with children, beyond simply teaching them to cook. Shredding and chopping helps build fine motor skills. Following a recipe helps with reading. Measuring ingredients helps with math skills. Kids also take a lot of pride in the family meals they cook and are more likely to try new foods. While my kids might choose to eat macaroni and cheese, pizza, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets every day, we think it’s important to try unfamiliar foods that have a variety of ingredients. Cooking with kids is a great way to do that! 

Here are a few science-backed reasons you should bring your children into the kitchen and let them help you cook on a regular basis.

• Kids who cook, eat healthier foods. (Science Daily)
• Baking is all about fractions and practical applications of math can help children understand concepts like fractions much better. (Institute of Education Sciences)
• Allows kids to explore their senses – touching different textures, smelling a variety of ingredients, tasting food in different states of completion, etc. (Kids Health)
• Kids will often decide to try new foods if they help prepare them. (National Library of Medicine)
• Family traditions and routines help build stronger family relationships. (National Psychological Association)
• Boosts a child’s confidence. (Kids Health)

How kids can help cook (kitchen tasks by age)

Children can easily help prep and cook almost any meal, but what and how they help depends on the age of your child. There are certain kitchen tasks that are more suitable for older kids, but lots of ways even the littlest ones can help and get involved. Young kids are great helpers, so don’t overlook them! There are lots of easy ways to get your children involved in the cooking process. The best way is sometimes to ask them what they’d like to help with (kids often have strong opinions on these subjects).

Pro tip: For the younger kids, consider getting one of those kitchen helpers that adjust in height so that your child can safety step up to the counter to help. 

Here is a general guide for how children can help you in the kitchen, broken down by age.

Ages 0-1

• Taste test edible ingredients
• Help dump pre-measured ingredients into bowls
• Play with unneeded cooking utensils

Ages 2-5

• Mash ingredients
• Tear lettuce for a salad
• Wash vegetables
• Wash fruits
• Knead dough
• Wrap potatoes in foil
• Mix ingredients
• Testing kitchen tools

Ages 5-7

• Mix dry ingredients
• Measure ingredients
• Count items
• Set the table
• Crack eggs
• Chop softer fruits and veggies
• Begin learning to read recipes
• Washing dishes

Ages 8-12

• Make shopping list
• Unload groceries
• Read recipes
• Peel veggies
• Toast bread
• Mix a simple batter on their own
• Wash and put away dishes
• Make sandwiches

Ages 12+

• Make stovetop recipes
• Bake on their own
• Use sharp knives
• Try new recipes
• Learn to use a variety of kitchen gadgets

These age-appropriate kitchen and cooking tasks for kids were taken from Taste of Home’s A Guide to Kitchen Tasks for Every Age. This is just a guide and can be adjusted as necessary for your child’s skill and interest level. Kids vary in abilities and desires and this is true with cooking as well. The idea is to involve them in some way, enjoy their company, teach skills, and instill healthy habits along the way.

Photo credit: Kristen Ryan

Fun recipes to cook with kids

The Run Wild My Child Creative Team came together to share some of our favorite recipes. These are all recipes that our children love to eat and help prepare. Not only do each of the following recipes share how kids can help cook it, but they are all tested and loved by the children and families who shared them.

We’ve included both desserts and main dish recipes below. There are vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and meat-filled options. Some of these recipes are great for busy parents that need a quick weeknight meal and some take time. All of them are customizable to fit your own family’s needs and tastes. They’re tried and true and guaranteed to be a big hit with your young chefs. 

Photo credit: Tiana Kubik

Dessert recipes kids love

We all know dessert is technically supposed to be served after the main dish, but kids (and many grownups) love dessert. So we thought we would start with dessert and work our way to the main dishes! Here are some tried and true dessert recipes that you can cook with your kids!

Almond meltaway cookies

This awesome almond dessert was shared by Creative Team member Tiana Kubik. Her family loves this recipe because it is super yummy and much easier to make than her mother’s equally yummy Christmas cookie recipe. The kids literally beg to make these whenever they get a chance. The kids love to help measure and stir and her oldest is now the director, meaning he reads out the recipe and makes sure everyone stays on track!

Ingredients

Cookies

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 cups butter or margarine, softened 
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 eggs
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cream of tartar

Decorating glaze

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Food coloring, as desired 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat 3 cups of powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, 1 teaspoon almond extract, and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with a spoon.
2. Stir in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
4. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with 3-inch cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
5. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
6. In a small bowl, beat all glaze ingredients except food colors on low speed until smooth.
7. Divide among several small bowls. Stir desired food color, one drop at a time, into each until the desired color.
8. Decorate cookies with glaze and other decorations as desired.

Photo credit: Chelsea Furlong

Apple crumble (vegan and gluten-free options)

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust (you’ll only need one crust for the bottom) – Chelsea recommends using this gluten-free crust: Wholly Gluten Free Bakehouse Crust made by Wholly Wholesome 

Apple filling

• 6-8 McIntosh apples (can’t find McIntosh apples? Don’t worry, any crisp, tart apple will do; pink lady, honey crisp, gala, etc. are all good choices)
• 1/2 cup sugar (you can use coconut palm sugar, cane sugar, or regular white sugar)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Dash of ground cloves
• Dash of salt

Crumble topping

• 2/3 heaping cup of light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour – Chelsea recommends a gluten-free flour blend
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Dash of salt
• 2/3 cup butter – Chelsea recommends Earth Balance Butter Spread (the salted and soy-free option)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Prepare your crust of choice. (either make the dough or start thawing the frozen dough)
3. Peel apples and cut them into slices. (kids love helping with this part!)
4. Put apple slices in a large bowl and add the following ingredients: (kids love adding the ingredients!)
   • Sugar
   • Cinnamon
   • Nutmeg
   • Ground clove
   • Salt
5. Mix well with a spoon or your hands until spices and sugar are evenly distributed and coat apple slices.
6. Now make the crumble topping! Add all crumble topping ingredients into a bowl and mix together until combined well. This is another perfect opportunity to get the kids to help. These ingredients mix together easiest when you use your hands. It’s the perfect bit of messy and fun that makes cooking exciting for kids. (If the messy bit doesn’t sound like fun, you can use a Kitchenaid mixer with the paddle attachment to combine these ingredients.)
7. Once the crumble topping is finished, fill one prepared pie shell with the apple mixture. Then cover the pie completely with the crumble topping. I use my hands to do this part as well and kids love to help sprinkle the crumble topping on top of the apples.
8. Place the pie on a metal baking sheet covered by tin foil. The pie mix may bake over and caramelize on the pan so the baking sheet and foil will protect your oven from a big mess!
9. Bake for 20 minutes uncovered. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for approximately 30 minutes more. Check occasionally to see if the top is browning. If your pie starts getting too dark or begins to burn, cover with foil.
10. Pie is finished when apples are soft, topping is baked completely through, and has a nice brown, crunchy crust over the top.
11. Serve as is, or topped with your favorite whipped topping or vanilla ice cream!

Easy chocolate chip cookies

This easy one-bowl cookie recipe is not only a hit with kids, but it’s vegan too! While traveling the country full-time, Executive Team member Katie Fox did not want to give up cooking with her kids, but she had to adapt recipes a bit to make it easy to do. Using fewer dishes is a huge bonus when you only have essential dishes due to space limitations, but also it makes cleanup so much easier! And when cooking with kids limiting messes is always a plus! This recipe was adapted from Cookie and Kate’s Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oil (coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil work well)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 tsp baking power
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder (optional)
• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare your baking pan. Use a cooking spray or parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking.
2. In a large mixing bowl mix together oil, water, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix until both sugars have been incorporated into the oil and the texture is smooth. This takes about 1-2 minutes with a handheld or standup mixer. (kids love to mix things by hand, so let them watch the sugar dissolve in the oil while they mix by hand. You can always finish the job once their arm tires.)
3. Next add in the vanilla (if you are using it), the baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon (if you are using it). Mix it all together. (kids love to scoop, measure, dump, and mix these ingredients in)
4. Add in the flour one cup at a time, mixing the first cup in completely before adding the second cup. Don’t over mix, just mix until the flour is no longer visible.
5. Finally, add the chocolate chips. The dough is a bit sticky.
6. Use a spoon to scoop out walnut-sized amounts of dough (about 2 inches in diameter) and drop them onto the prepared baking pans. Leave 3-4 inches between each dough ball.
7. Bake for 14-17 minutes – until the edges of the cookies are turning golden brown.
8. Let them cool and enjoy!

Frozen yogurt berry bark

If you’re in need of a sweet (yet very healthy) tasty treat, this is the perfect option! Super easy to make and kids love it! My big kids can now make this all by themselves. You can use fresh or frozen fruit (and feel free to swap out the berries for any fruit of your choice). Make sure to eat it quickly while it’s cold so it doesn’t melt all over! 

Ingredients

• 32 oz vanilla Greek yogurt
• strawberries
• raspberries
• blueberries
• 2-3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla bean puree

Directions

1. Mix the honey and vanilla into the yogurt in a large bowl.
2. Spread the yogurt out onto a baking sheet using a rubber spatula.
3. Place berries on top.
4. Freeze (at least 1-2 hours).
5. Use a knife to break into pieces.
6. Enjoy right away while it’s COLD!

Photo credit: @meghangarriott

Apple donut rings

Ingredients

• apples
• peanut butter (or other nut butter), Nutella, marshmallow cream
• nuts, candies, chocolate chips, sprinkles

Directions

1. Core and slice apples crossways.
2. Slather a thick coat of peanut butter, Nutella, or marshmallow cream for the “donut icing” onto each apple slice.
3. Let your kids have fun with the toppings using chopped nuts, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. 
4. Enjoy!

Photo credit: @wonderclubexplorers

Main dish recipes kids love

Kids may love desserts, but those are “sometimes” foods. They are usually not cooked every day. But, most of us cook at least one meal every single day, if not more. Let’s dive into the heart of the meal with some fun main dish ideas that your kids will love. The recipes below are some of our team’s family favorites. 

We encourage you to invite your kids to be a part of the everyday cooking experience. Give them the age-appropriate tasks suggested above or find something they like to do and find ways to incorporate that into your meal preparation. Cooking with kids is fun and when they help cook meals, like dinner, they are far more likely to eat it without complaint (which is always a bonus!). The following recipes provide many different ways to get kids helping cook main dishes too.

Photo credit: @wonderclubexplorers

Krabby patties

An ode to SpongeBob SquarePants, this is one item on the Krusty Krab menu just about anybody can eat! Creative Team member and lover of SpongeBob Michelle Garret shared this fun and kid-friendly recipe. Her family first made these Krabby patties (no crab involved) to celebrate the birthdate of Stephen Hillenburg, SpongeBob’s creator, but now the meal is a fun treat for any night of the week.

Ingredients

• Ground burger meat of choice (ground beef or turkey)
• Burger meat seasonings of choice
• Quality cheddar cheese slices

Directions

• Add seasonings to ground meat of choice and mix together. (Kids like mixing things together and using their hands to do it, let them help mix the seasonings in!)
• Form the burger patties as you would any other burger. (Again, kids will love helping form the burger patties.)
• Cut star shapes out of your cheddar cheese slices.
• Cook your burger patties.
• As the burgers finish cooking, place the star-shaped cheese slices on top of the burger and let it melt.
• Enjoy!

Photo credit: Meghan Garriott

Pierogies

This savory dish was shared by Creative Team member Meghan Garriott. Pierogies are filled-dough dumplings and they can have many different fillings. Meghan’s family makes them with a potato and cream cheese filling and eats them on Christmas. Pierogi-making is laborious, which is why her family only does it once a year. But the best part about them (other than how delicious they are) is that the whole family makes them together. There are so many different tasks that kids can help out with while they spend time working on a special family dinner.

Ingredients

Potatoe filling

• 12 medium potatoes (cooked and mashed)
• 1 – 1 1/2 large packages of cream cheese
• Salt to taste

Dough

• 4 eggs
• 4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 12 generous tbsp sour cream

Directions

1. Cook potatoes. After they are cooked and while they are hot mash them.
2. Mix in cream cheese and salt to taste and allow the potato mixture to cool.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, add flour and 1 1/2 tsp salt and mix together.
4. In another mixing bowl, add all eggs and whip them. Add in sour cream and whip until it is well mixed together.
5. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and use a spoon to combine them. Once the dough comes together, use your hands and continue mixing and kneading the dough on a floured surface until the dough is smooth. (this is fun for kids to help with!) 
6. The dough will still be slightly moist when done. 
7. Cut dough into four pieces and on a floured surface roll out with a rolling pin.
8. Using a round cookie cutter or the edge of a drinking glass cut the dough into circles. Make sure to put flour on the cutter/glass to avoid dough sticking to it.
9. Add potato filling on top of each circle dough and fold over. Seal the half circles by pinching the dough together or using a floured fork to press the edges together.
10. Bring a pot of water to boil. Reduce heat so water is gently boiling.
11. Drop the pierogies into the boiling water and boil for 5-7 minutes or until the pierogies float to the top of the water.
12. Drain and cover perogies with a lot of melted butter so they do not stick together.
13. Enjoy!

Chicken pot pie puffs

Since that last recipe was a bit complicated, let’s try a kid-friendly recipe that’s as easy as pie – chicken pot pie! This super easy 4 ingredient recipe was submitted by RWMC founder Sara McCarty. This is perfect to throw together when you need a super quick weeknight meal that’s warm, hearty, and filling. The puffs taste just like homemade chicken pot pie and are easy enough for kids to make all by themselves. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 can biscuits

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, combine vegetables, chicken, and soup; mix well. 
2. Press each biscuit into 5 1/2-inch rounds. Place 1 round in each of 8 greased regular-size muffin cups of a muffin tin. Firmly press in bottom and up side, forming 3/4-inch rim. 
3. Spoon a generous 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each muffin cup. Pull edges of dough over filling toward center; pleat and pinch dough gently to hold in place.
4. Bake at 375°F 20 to 22 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from pan.
5. Enjoy!

Taco pizza

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
• 1 packet taco seasoning mix
• 2 (8 oz) tubes crescent rolls
• 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
• 2–3 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
• 4 green onions, chopped (optional)
• chopped green/red bell pepper (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a skillet, brown beef and drain. Add taco seasoning according to the package directions.
3. Unroll crescent rolls from tube. Place in an ungreased jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. Press dough over the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust.
4. Bake at 375 for 11 -13 minutes or just until golden brown.
5. Microwave beans in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute. Carefully spread beans over warm crust creating a thin layer.
6. Top with cooked beef mixture.
7. You can also sprinkle on the tomatoes, black olives, peppers, and green onion (or you can wait until after cooking to add them). Top with cheese.
8. Return pizza to the oven for 3-6 more minutes until cheese is melted. Cut into squares and serve immediately!
9. Enjoy!

Tried and true kid-friendly recipes

Many of us search and find recipes all over the internet that turn into family favorites. Instead of sharing these recipes in full, we decided we would share the links to the original creators. Below you will find several recipes our team and their families love to cook and their kids enjoy. And just like above, they are separated by desserts (first of course) and main dishes.

Desserts and muffins

• Apple muffins — Cookie and Kate
• Baked apple chips — RWMC
• Banana bread — The Food Charlatan
• Banana pudding — Super Healthy Kids
• Cinnamon sugar donuts — As Easy As Apple Pie
• Fruit popsicles — RWMC 
• Pink strawberry cake — Call Me PMC
• Pumpkin muffins — Cookie and Kate

Main dishes

• Cheez-It chicken tenders — Averie Cooks
• Crockpot white chicken chili — Diethood
• Chicken marsala — Once Upon a Chef
• Egg-in-a-hole — The Food Network
• Hamburger mac & cheese soup — Six Sisters Stuff
• Pesto chicken & veggie meatballs – Super Healthy Kids
• Pizza balloons — Barry Lewis 
• Pizza dough — Yummy Addiction
• Tater tot casserole — The Salty Marshmallow
• Turkey meatloaf — Super Healthy Kids
• Turkey sausage pasta — The Slender Kitchen

What are your favorite recipes to cook with kids?

The post Cooking with Kids: 25+ Recipes To Make With Your Kids appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Cooking pizza outdoors with kids

If you’re looking for ideas to spend more time with kids outdoors, cooking with kids is a fun way to spend time together outside whilst also doing an activity they love. Making, kneading, and even proving the dough is an outdoor activity idea for the whole family. It can also be a great way to keep kids of all ages occupied if you’re entertaining. Why not even try cooking outdoor pizzas as a party activity or a fun science experiment?

Why pick pizza?

Cooking outside with kids can be wonderful and there are many ideas out there! Here are a few other ways you can spend time outdoors cooking with kids. But with so many fun options for meals and foods to make outside, why pick pizza? What’s so great about cooking pizza outside and why should you give it a try? Here are so reasons that may convince you just how fun and versatile pizza can be.

Pizza is fun and easy

Pizzas are really easy for kids to make! If your kids love cooking, outdoor pizzas are a great way to get kids to do something different outdoors. Plus, it gets them involved in the cooking process, which is something kids love to be a part of.

Pizza gets kids to try new foods

The choice in toppings will likely lead to trying new foods. Kids will love making their own dough and picking their own toppings. The free element of choice means that they are more likely to choose things they may not usually eat. Yes, that even means vegetables (maybe even vegetables from your own garden). Kids that don’t usually try new foods can often be encouraged to try them as a pizza topping because they’re in smaller quantities. See below for our favorite pizza toppings with a ton of healthy ideas for kids too!

Healthy pizza options

Pizza makes choosing healthy options easier. While pizza may not automatically sound like a healthy choice, it absolutely can be! It’s easy to get healthy toppings and ingredients into pizza, which makes it a good choice for parents! Try using a cauliflower-based crust or wholemeal flour crust to make your pizza even healthier. Veggies are easy to sneak onto a pizza too, especially things such as peppers, spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms! If your kids don’t like seeing their veggies, you can puree them into the pizza sauce for hidden nutrition. 

Create memorable moments

Cooking outside is a memorable experience in and of itself! Taking the meal prep, cooking, and eating outside is a simple change, but one that your whole family is sure to enjoy. Changing things up every once in a while can make a regular meal seem much more exciting and will create lasting memories!

Outdoor pizza oven options

Pizza is one of the easiest and quickest things to cook outdoors if you have a pizza oven. The extreme heat of a pizza oven and its open flames help to produce the unique flavor and texture of a Neapolitan pizza. For anyone looking to replicate this style of pizza, then a pizza oven is what you need!

There are a few different options for outdoor pizza ovens. You can buy a pizza oven, build your own pizza oven, or even use an existing gas grill! Any of these methods will produce incredibly delicious mouth-watering pizza, right in your own backyard! Here’s a little bit about each option.

Buying a pizza oven

If you’re looking to buy a pizza oven, our favorite outdoor pizza oven is the Roccbox from Gozney (also available here from Amazon). Although they are expensive, they’re a great investment for social events and parties because they cook pizzas in just 60 seconds! Yes, you heard that right! You’ll always be able to knock out something quickly to feed hungry guests and an outdoor pizza is a perfect thing to create quickly after a long day out on a family adventure!

Building a pizza oven

If you have some time on your hands and are looking for a long-lasting option, you can also build your own pizza oven for your backyard or garden. See here for a great tutorial to help you build your own outdoor pizza oven. If you want to create a temporary and fun family DIY cardboard pizza oven and use the summer sun to cook your dinner, then this Solar Pizza Oven tutorial is for you! 

Using a gas grill as a pizza oven

Not everyone has a pizza oven or the time to make one, but many of you may already have a gas grill! Turns out, this is perfect pizza oven equipment! There are a few different ways to convert your gas grill into an easy-to-use pizza oven. The folks over at Baking Steel share one way to use a gas grill as a pizza oven and it is so easy! Or, you can place your pizza dough directly on the grill to par-bake it, then flip and add toppings and finish cooking. Pizza on the grill is simple and fun! 

Pizza dough recipe

Making and kneading the dough is my kids’ favorite part of pizza night. Sometimes we’ll buy pre-made dough from a grocery store or even use the dough from a can, but the very best dough is the kind you make yourself. It’s easier to make than you might expect and kids love being involved in the process. 

Pizza dough ingredients

Pizza topping ideas for kids

We asked our Creative Team members what their (and their kids) favorite pizza toppings were. See below for their fun and creative pizza topping answers!  Use these ideas to create some new pizza topping combinations in the future!

• BBQ chicken with cilantro and red onion
• Pineapples, chicken, barbecue sauce
• Pepperoni and olive (a classic)
• Roasted red pepper and goat cheese
• Mushrooms and olives
• Garlic and ricotta cheese
• Sweetcorn and goat cheese
• Broccoli and olives
• Red sauce and olives only (some kids just don’t like cheese)
• Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella
• Pineapple and ham (or Canadian bacon)
• Taco pizza – taco meat, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, cheese and black olives
• Feta, sundried tomatoes, and turkey kielbasa
• Potato and goat cheese
• Bacon, egg and arugala

Not seeing your favorite or your child’s favorite topping choices above? No worries! Making pizza with your family is all about having fun! Offer different topping options, including those you know will be chosen by your family members, but also new toppings too! Let each person create their own topping combinations and then share the different outdoor oven-baked pizzas. This isn’t just a meal, it is a way to get outside while making memories!

Outdoor pizza oven tips and tricks

For pizza with a crispy crust and perfectly cooked toppings, high heat is required. This is where purpose-built pizza ovens shine since they can withstand temperatures far greater than those of regular home ovens. How long it takes to cook your pizza will depend upon your oven’s internal temperature, and can vary from as long as 10 minutes to as quickly as just 90 seconds! Once your oven is up to temperature, you’ll need to actually put your pizza in the oven.

We don’t advise throwing a raw pizza into your oven with your bare hands, so a trusty pizza peel will be a valuable investment in your outdoor baking arsenal. A pizza peel is a flat, wide tool that helps you move pizza pies around. Some pizza peels are better designed to transfer a pizza from the countertop to your pizza oven while others are better for turning the pizza while it’s cooking in the oven. 

Since the pizza dough can be a bit sticky, you’ll need something to keep it moving freely on the peel. You can use another sprinkling of flour or cornmeal on your pizza peel to prevent the dough from sticking and help it slide off the peel and into the oven in one swift movement. 

You can cook all kinds of other food in your outdoor pizza oven, not just pizza. Try cooking and serving roasted vegetables, focaccia bread, cinnamon rolls, or even peach cobbler, all of which cook up amazingly well in an outdoor oven.

Make outdoor pizza night a summer tradition

We hope you’ll enjoy making pizza outdoors with your family  – it may even become a tried and tested household summer tradition. If your kids have got the outdoor cooking bug, then you’ll love our outdoor skills posts. Have a read of this one here giving tips for fire safety to help kids know how to use fires safely. 

If you liked reading our ideas for pizzas you’ll love our other ideas for camping cookouts with kids! 

Caution: You must be careful when using outdoor pizza ovens near kids. Pizza ovens are exceptionally hot and you should take extra care when using them around kids.

What pizza toppings will you choose?

About the author

Jemma lives in London, England with her husband and kids. Her all-time favorite thing to do is take photos and capture memories of her family. She’s on a mission to ensure parenthood doesn’t rush by so quickly by creating mini family outdoor adventures and hopefully some big adventures too, one day! She’s a mum to four and an English teacher to many. She loves sharing her passion for storytelling, adventures, and nature crafts on her blog and here. 

Find more from Jemma in the following locations:
Instagram: @thimbleandtwig
Blog: www.thimbleandtwig.com
Facebook: @thimbleandtwig
Etsy shop: ThimbleandTwig
RWMC posts: Jemma

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