Kitchen

8 Kid-Friendly Pasta Recipes That Aren’t Carbonara or Bolognese

by Jana Blanco
April 8, 2021

Pasta’s a surefire hit with the kids; when they’re tired of bolognese and carbonara, here are our fave alternatives

Tired of coming up with creative ways to get your kids to eat? Us too! Which is why we’re always grateful for awesome pasta recipes. Almost all kids (and kid-ults) can’t say no to pasta. Why not? It’s a warm hug for our tummies and oh so satisfying. So if you’ve got picky kids, here are some pasta recipes worth trying out.

Easy (and super kid-friendly) pasta recipes you can whip up in a jiffy

1. Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

This uber photogenic pasta recipe (pictured up top) from Epicurious uses green veg, juicy cherry tomatoes and shrimp — delish! If you’ve been wanting your kids to eat their veg, this dish is a good way to start!

2. Creamy Salmon Pasta

Another kid-friendly pasta recipe with seafood, this version of creamy salmon pasta uses frozen peas and salmon chunks. Feel free to use any dried pasta shape for more pizzaz!

3. Rainbow Spaghetti

Got some extra food coloring in the pantry? Use it for this easy-peasy pasta recipe that only requires butter and parmesan cheese. Our hot tip: don’t scrimp on the cheese!

4. Easy Tuna Pasta Bake

What we love most about this baked pasta dish is that it only takes 30 minutes to cook and prep. The canned corn adds a nice, sweet crunch to the finished product and kids will love the melted cheese crust on top!

5. Pea-pesto Handkerchiefs

We don’t know about you, but our kids love their pesto. Instead of using bottled pesto sauce, this recipe involves making your own pesto! Adding frozen peas brings the healthy level up a notch. And yes, please be generous with the ricotta.

6. Silvana’s Mediterranean & basil pasta

The roasted veggies are what make this pasta dish a crowd pleaser. If you’re feeding the kids, feel free to skip the red chillies — they can be spicy! This recipe can also be served cold, just be sure to add extra olive oil to moisten the pasta.

7. Three Cheese Lemon Spaghetti

If your kids are fans of cheesy pasta (who isn’t?), they’ll love all the cheesiness of this pasta recipe. Although it’s somewhat similar to a carbonara (sans the bacon), the lemon adds an interesting twist.

8. Chicken and Kale Pasta Bake

One of the biggest reasons we love pasta bakes is that cheesy, crispy baked crust. Unlike your typical pasta bake that’s usually made in a Pyrex, this is baked on a baking sheet and topped with panko for extra crispiness. We love that it has kale, too!

Planning your weeknight menu just got easier thanks to these kid-friendly pasta recipes. And, as always, be generous with the cheese!

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