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    Home » Blog » Kids In the Kitchen » Easy Recipes for Kids

    Easy Italian Dinner Menu for Kids

    Published: Apr 11, 2019 · Modified: Aug 9, 2021 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This simple Italian dinner menu will inspire kids to run their own Italian restaurant at home for their family. Inspired by our favorite Olive Garden menu items, this is a fun dinner for kids to make for their family.

    The best family dinner we have ever had started with a jar of tomato sauce and ended with a full blown Italian restaurant in my kitchen.

    It was a crazy busy night. I hadn't been to the grocery store but I needed to get dinner on the table fast.

    I rummaged around our pantry looking for anything that might work.

    I found:

    • a box of pasta
    • a jar of sauce
    • some frozen peas in the freezer

    Done! Spaghetti is one of Little Pea's favorite meals.

    When she saw the pasta, she got excited and asked if she could help make dinner. 

    While we got the water boiling, my sweetie asked me how to say "Hello" in Italian.

    She was intrigued by the word "Ciao," which somehow lead me to playing Andrea Bocelli's Time to Say Goodbye on our kitchen speaker. 

    The next thing I knew, we had:

    • homemade paper menus at the table
    • place cards that said "Ciao" at each plate
    • lit candles and pretty paper napkins
    • a sign that said "Little Pea's Restaurant" on the front door for Tim to see when he got home
    • and my pint-sized chef was reviewing her big sister's resume as she applied to work as hostess at her pretend restaurant!

    It all happened so fast and was so utterly unplanned but it was the most fun our family had at dinner together in ages.

    My kids think about cooking like they do playing.

    It's not something they do every single day, but when they do get in the kitchen, our focus is on fun.

    Inspire Your Kids to Cook

    Want to encourage your kids to set up an Italian restaurant at your kitchen table?

    There's nothing wrong with letting them cook the same jar of sauce + box of pasta that we did, but today I'm sharing three super-fun Italian recipes that involve a few more steps so they can channel their inner Italian chef.

    All three of the Italian recipes are written in the same style as my children's cookbook: The Ultimate Kids' Cookbook

    • The cover of The Totally Awesome Ultimate Kids' Cookbook by Tiffany Dahle
      The Totally Awesome Ultimate Kids' Cookbook

    Just like the recipes in my book, I want you to be able to print the recipes below off and simply hand them to your kids to cook.

    Give your kids some ownership and control over producing this Italian dinner menu and watch them glow with pride!

    Simple Italian Dinner Menu for Kids

    This fresh Italian dinner menu is a little more advanced than a jar of sauce and a box of pasta, but kids will love the opportunity to cut up the fresh produce and turn it into a full dinner.

    Even picky eaters may feel encouraged to try something new once they have prepared it themselves:

    1. Fresh strawberry lemonade
    2. Simple caprese kabobs: Tomatoes and mozzarella balls threaded onto skewers or you could make my caprese salad
    3. Delicious chicken scampi with sautéed garden veggies

    And if you want a few more options for the kids to choose from, you may enjoy:

    • A blue bowl is filled with spaghetti noodles, sliced bell peppers, and chicken tenderloins to show the finished chicken scampi.
      Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
    • A sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze on a plate with a fork.
      Caprese Salad {3 Fun Ways to Serve It}
    • A glass of strawberry lemonade has a fresh sprig of mint on the top for garnish and sits next to several slices of fresh lemon.
      Easy Strawberry Lemonade
    • 16 Easy Pasta Recipes
    • The baked garlic bread is on a cutting board and has been cut into wedges for serving.
      Easy Homemade Garlic Bread
    • A salad spinner basket holds freshly washed lettuce leaves.
      Caesar Salad Dressing & 3 Variations

    💌Get Your Kid Chef Cooking NOW!

    Are your kids eager to help in the kitchen? Sign up for my FREE newsletter and I'll send you my very best recipes for cooking with your kids:

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
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      Reader Interactions

      Trackbacks

      1. Yes, YOU can host the BEST DIY kids cooking classes says:
        May 9, 2019 at 11:57 am

        […] Easy Italian dinner menu to empower kids in the kitchen: A fun and simple 3-course menu for kids to cook […]

        Reply
      2. This easy strawberry lemonade recipe is party perfect says:
        April 11, 2019 at 1:06 pm

        […] Basil: this is one of my favorite combos with strawberries! In fact, a basil garnish would help the drink fit right in with this kid-friendly Italian dinner menu. […]

        Reply

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      Hi, I'm Tiffany!
      I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

      More about me →

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