Top 10 Gluten-Free Recipes for Kids

The good news is that gluten-free options are more readily available than ever. Encourage your child to explore new foods by having them help you in the kitchen. 

Today we are sharing the top 10 gluten-free recipes for kids. There will be options to make it or take it with recipe inspiration and meal delivery options to meet your needs. 

Gluten-Free Cooking for Kids

Gluten-Free Home Cooking 

If you are new to gluten-free cooking, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by what to make that will be safe for your child. The main ingredients to avoid are wheat, rye, barley, malt, Brewer’s yeast, and wheat derivatives (durum, semolina, spelt, etc). 

Most gluten-free flours, pasta, and starches can be used as direct substitutes for wheat flour. This means, you can easily many many of your favorite recipes or find a new favorite today with gluten-free alternatives. 

Cooking with kids increases their confidence in the kitchen as well as increases their vegetable consumption. We are sharing 8 kid-tested recipes to try today. 

Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services 

When time is tight, it can be comforting to know that there are gluten-friendly meals that you can add to the cart anytime. Top10 makes researching the right gluten-free meal delivery service easier. 

They’ve compiled the ten best gluten-free meal delivery services, some of which you make yourself and some are pre-made and ready to go. Find two meal delivery options below to put on your meal plan for the week. 

Top 10 Gluten-Free Recipes for Kids 

Breakfast 

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, why is it so challenging to think of what to eat that doesn’t include gluten? Here are three gluten-free breakfast recipes to start your day off right. 

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl

Blend protein, fiber, and fruit in a satisfying breakfast strawberry banana smoothie bowl from Kristi at Carrots & Cookies. Smoothie bowls require a thicker consistency than traditional smoothies that can be consumed through a straw. 

Skyr and chia seeds give smoothie bowls a spoon-worthy consistency. Chia seeds are naturally gluten-free and are good sources of omega-3 fats and fiber.

The protein foundation of this smoothie bowl is skyr. Skyr is a thick Icelandic yogurt with a creamy consistency and mild flavor. Greek, plain, or regular yogurt are suitable substitutes for skyr. 

Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

Morning routines just got a lot easier knowing you can take a cereal breakfast on the go and it doesn’t require any baking. These Peanut Butter Cereal Bars from Elizabeth Ward at Better is the New Perfect is a great breakfast solution. 

Certified gluten-free oats and breakfast cereal are the foundation of these breakfast bars. If peanut butter is problematic, you can substitute sunflower seed butter or soy butter.

Kids will enjoy making these cereal bars themselves. You can incorporate math and reading skills to help measure ingredients. All the recipe requires is mixing ingredients and pressing them into a baking dish. Keep these bars in the freezer and bring them out as needed for a quick breakfast. 

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

Not sure what to do with leftover pumpkin puree and it’s time to make breakfast? Look no further than Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes from Jeanette at The Radiant Root. 

Pancakes are another breakfast you can prepare in batches to freeze and enjoy as needed for a quick breakfast. 

Pumpkin pancakes are a recipe that tiny hands can help prepare. They can also adjust the spice levels to meet each family member’s taste preference. Gluten-free flour is the foundation of these pancakes. You can use any combination of your gluten-free all-purpose flour. 

Lunch 

It is easy to get stuck in making the same lunches each day. This is especially true when you are sticking to safe foods. Shake up your lunchtime routine with these three recipe inspirations. 

Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup

Don’t wait for the next sick day, add Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup from Julie at the Marching Apron to your lunch menu today. This chicken noodle soup is packed full of protein and vegetables. 

Soup can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker, based on your availability. The advent of gluten-free noodles is changing the game for soups and pasta. 

Making soups at home is a cost-effective way to manage unwanted sodium intake. This is another way to control the quality and quantity of ingredients in your family’s food. 

Apple Nachos

Sometimes playtime and lunchtime converge like this Apple Nachos recipe from Judi at LiveBest. Kids will enjoy making their own version of apple nachos with their favorite toppings. 

Slicing apples is a practical way to work on fine and gross motor skills. You can mix and match toppings from whatever you have in your pantry. Try drizzling peanut butter, yogurt, shredded cheese, pretzels, or chocolate on your apple slices. 

If you are looking for a way to keep your apple slices looking fresh, try squeezing fresh lemon juice or brush with a light layer of honey, which will prevent the slices from browning. 

Masterful Mac and Cheese and Baked Beef Meatballs

Having a fast lunch solution is just what you need. Masterful Mac and Cheese and Baked Beef Meatballs from Freshly are fully cooked and ready to serve. 

The fan-favorite Mac and Cheese is made with gluten-free brown rice macaroni noodles. The sauce contains sweet butternut squash which blends perfectly with a two cheese sauce of pepper jack and mild cheddar. They’ll never know there is a veggie in their dish. 

Pair the mac and cheese with baked beef meatballs. Oats are naturally gluten-free and are a savory substitute for bread crumbs. Spinach and carrots give the meatballs a nutritious twist you can feel good about. You can also find baked turkey meatballs to try. 

Dinner 

“What’s for dinner?” It’s the same question we get asked every day, and yet we don’t always have an answer. Not today. Here are three dinner solutions that will be sure to impress the whole family. 

Almond Coconut Chicken Tenders

Crispy, crunchy oven-baked chicken tenders are fun for little hands to eat, but also a breeze to bake. Elysia at Haute and Healthy shares her almond coconut chicken tenders which are sure to be a new gluten-free dinner favorite. 

Making your own chicken tenders is a delicious way to control the quality of ingredients you are feeding your family. Plus, with less than 10 ingredients you can find around the pantry, you won’t be spending extra time trying to find obscure items for your recipe. 

Using almond flour and coconut instead of bread crumbs works well for both gluten-free and Paleo recipes. Almonds are a rich, nutty source of both protein, fat and turn golden brown in the oven. 

Quick Pumpkin and Black Bean Tacos

Looking for a meatless weeknight meal that you can make in a single skillet? Look no further than Melissa’s Quick Pumpkin and Black Bean Tacos. You can prepare a colorful vegan meal in less than 20 minutes. 

Black beans, corn, and pureed pumpkin are the foundation of these tasty tacos. This recipe is great for picky eaters because you can mix and match ingredients to meet each family member’s personal preference. 

Sausages and Mashed Acorn Squash

Put a nutritious spin on favorite recipes to add more color and nutrition to your family’s plate. Pan-seared sausages and mashed acorn squash from Green Chef is a vibrant weeknight dinner. 

Roasting acorn squash caramelizes the starch and gives the squash a sweet flavor. Then, you make the mash creamy and dreamy with cream cheese and top with chives. Your kids won’t believe how much a serving of collard greens cooks down in the pan, while red peppers give a pop of color to the dish. 

This recipe is a good one for having kids help prep the meal. Children as young as two can help scoop the seeds from the center of the acorn squash. Older children can remove the leaves from the stems of the collards. There are little ways to encourage everyone to play a role in making dinner. 

Dessert 

Having dessert always seems like a good idea, but finding the time to prepare dinner and dessert feels like too much. That’s why we found a dessert that can be ready with 4 ingredients and done in less than 15 minutes. 

4 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies

Leanne at Healthy(ish) Appetite has a 4 ingredient chocolate chip cookie recipe that you’ll want to bookmark today. 

Do you have a banana that is about to go bad? Now is the time to transform that banana into chocolate chip cookies. You can combine bananas, peanut butter, gluten-free oats, and chocolate chips to make warm, chewy cookies. 

Since these cookies are sweetened only with chocolate chips and bananas, you can enjoy these cookies any time of day. Plus, you can freeze the cookies and portion them out all week as needed. 

Final Thoughts

Gluten-free cooking doesn’t have to be bland or boring. It can be easy to get stuck in a food rut making the same “safe” meals each week. Use these ten recipe inspirations to help add variety, color (and nutrition!) to your family’s plate. 

Having gluten-free meals kits and prepared meals delivered right to your door might just be a game-changer for your family. The peace of mind knowing there is an option that will work for everyone is wonderful. You can find gluten-free and other no-hassle healthy meal delivery services that are a fit for your family.