73 Finger Foods for Toddlers
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi1/73Cauliflower-Carrot Cheesy Tots
Cauliflower and carrot—in place of the usual potato—add sweet, vegetal flavor and a good dose of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins to this irresistible play on tater tots.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone2/73
Sheet-Pan Eggs
Want to make eggs ahead of time? Bake them in a sheet pan, slice and chill for up to three days, and serve them with avocado slices for toddlers—and in breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and quesadillas for the rest of the family.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone3/73
No-Bake Energy Bites with Oats and Dried Cherries
These coconut- and oat-studded bites come together in just one bowl—keep them on hand for a healthy anytime pick-me-up.
- Photo by Alex Lau4/73
Kids' Chicken Katsu
Cutting chicken cutlets into small strips makes them perfect toddler-approved finger food.
- Photo by Alex Lau5/73
Oat and Apple Pancakes with Yogurt
The oats and fruit in this batter will start your kids' day on the right nutritional foot—even with a generous glug of maple syrup poured over the top. Cut the healthy pancakes into strips and let toddlers dip them into yogurt sauce or maple syrup.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Rhoda Boone, Food Styling by Ali Nardi6/73
Mini Beef and Mushroom Patties
These mini burger patties are versatile and family-friendly. Make a big batch to freeze and serve the patties alongside veggies and cheese for your toddler, and as sliders, on top of grain bowls, or in pita sandwiches for the rest of the family.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson7/73
Peanut Butter–Banana Muffins
Wheat germ lends a good dose of vitamins to these delicious, kid-friendly muffins, while boosting the nutty flavor.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini8/73
10-Minute Chicken Flatbreads With Hummus and Yogurt
Serve all the toppings for this exceptionally fast flatbread dinner in separate bowls so each family member can build their dinner plate just like they like it.
- Photo by Aubrie Pick9/73
Rice Balls With Salmon Filling (Onigiri)
Onigiri is a quintessential Japanese food made by families for breakfast, lunch boxes, and picnics.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson10/73
Make-Ahead Sheet-Pan Meatballs
This is the simplest way to make a large batch of meatballs that you can turn into a variety of dinners, from pasta to soup to sandwiches.
- Photo by Carl Kravats11/73
Muffin Cup Veggie Omelets
Baking eggs and veggies in muffin tins makes them portable and manageable for little ones to gnaw on as a handheld breakfast.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson12/73
Kid-Friendly Peanut Sauce
Serve small slices of chicken breast and vegetables alongside this addictive, kid-approved peanut dipping sauce.
- Photo by Carl Kravats13/73
Elvis-Inspired Peanut Butter Banana Waffles
Elvis famously loved peanut butter and banana sandwiches, often with bacon. It was that delicious combo that led to these family-friendly waffles.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt14/73
Chicken and Mushroom Quesadillas With Carrot and Mango Slaw
A tangy cilantro-lime yogurt dipping sauce and a pretty carrot- and mango-ribbon slaw add a refreshing twist to this crowd-pleasing dinner.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez15/73
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Beans and Guacamole
Serve the components of this healthy stuffed sweet potato separately, sliced up into small pieces for toddlers.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova16/73
Make-Ahead Crispy Chicken Cutlets
Stash a big batch of these easy breaded cutlets in the freezer and dinner will always be just a few minutes away. Again, cut them into small strips to make them manageable for little ones to eat with their hands.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson17/73
Herby Chicken Kofta Meatballs
Serve these meatballs cut up on a plate alongside veggies and small pieces of pita for toddlers.
- Photo by Maes Studio, Inc.18/73
Waffled Ham and Cheese Melt With Maple Butter
Here, your waffle iron acts as a panini press for this ham and cheese sandwich, which can be cut into strips or small bites.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson19/73
Grilled Corn on the Cob With Salt-and-Pepper Butter
This low-fuss, spreadable salt-and-pepper butter makes seasoning your grilled corn a one-step affair at the dinner table.
- Photo by Lindsey Rose Johnson20/73
Oatmeal Cookie Energy Bites
Energy bites are the perfect thing to stash in your bag for on-the-go toddler snacks.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini21/73
10-Minute Shrimp With Green Beans and Creamy Lemon-Dill Dip
We call this one a picnic dinner since everything can be eaten with your hands. It's easy to pack up and take to the park if you want, but it also works great on the family table. Again, ingredients can be cut into more manageable bites for little ones if need be.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell22/73
Calzones With Chorizo and Kale
These are essentially pizza pockets—but they're more complex in flavor, so they'll please adults and kids alike, while also maintaining their status as perfect finger food.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi23/73
Chicken Meatballs with Ginger and Miso
These flavor-packed meatballs are delicious whether poached, grilled, or baked.
- Photo by Carl Kravats24/73
Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, and Banana Cookies
These vegan cookies are free of butter, added sugar, and even eggs—the peanut butter and applesauce hold them together. You won’t miss the sugar. The sweet banana and abundance of chocolate more than make up for it.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell25/73
Freeform Chicken Meatballs With Carrots and Yogurt Sauce
Shaping meatballs into perfect spheres is too fussy for a weeknight meal. Instead, drop dollops of spiced ground chicken onto a sheet pan and roast with carrots until both are golden brown.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson26/73
Banana Coconut Muffins
These moist, easy muffins rely on mashed bananas and flaked coconut for sublime texture and tropical-leaning flavor.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt27/73
Granola Bars with Dried Fruit and Seeds
A combination of nut butter, dried fruit, and lots of seeds makes these chewy homemade granola bars downright irresistible. For a crispier bar, toast them in the oven after baking.
- Photo by Alex Lau28/73
Perfectly Roasted Potatoes
You know what goes with pretty much everything? Crispy, creamy, perfectly roasted potatoes. The secret: Steam before you roast.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson29/73
Slow-Cooker Shredded Chicken
Freeze small portions of this versatile, flavorful chicken to make easy work of tacos, salads, and sandwiches—and to serve plain on a plate alongside veggies for toddlers to eat with their hands.
- Photo by Peden & Munk30/73
Roasted Veg With Nutritional Yeast
Simple roast vegetables are perfect finger foods for kids. Nutritional yeast makes them taste cheesy and salty.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Mira Evnine31/73
Frozen Chocolate-Covered Bananas
If you’re able to stop making “Arrested Development” jokes long enough, these sweet bites will be the actual talk of your next party.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone32/73
Mango-Chutney Chicken With Roasted Carrots And Zucchini
The whole family gets what they want with this easy, customizable sheet-pan dinner. The recipe includes instructions for seasoning these chicken breasts to suit picky palates, and everything can be cut up to make it manageable for young children.
- Photo by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn33/73
Blondie Muffins
These vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free mini muffins are perfect for knocking out a craving for something that's sweet but still healthy. The chickpeas lend great protein and fiber.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Molly Baz34/73
Chicken Teriyaki
Served with a bright, refreshing radish salad, these salty, sweet, and shatteringly crisp glazed thighs will satisfy all your classic chicken teriyaki cravings.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova35/73
Cowboy Breakfast Casserole With Sausage and Spinach
Assemble this easy sausage, egg, and cheese casserole at night, then put it in the oven (straight from the fridge) the next morning for a quick and casual breakfast.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova36/73
Parmesan-Crusted Chicken
Not to be confused with chicken Parmesan, our baked Parmesan crusted chicken is sure to please! The combination of Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and mayonnaise provide the perfect crust for this juicy chicken dinner!
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich37/73
Whole Grain Pancakes with Blackberries
These pancakes are healthy and filling thanks to whole wheat flour and cooked grains, because we want them flavorful and with a hardy texture.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt38/73
Classic Blueberry Muffins
Chock-full of berries, our ultimate muffins have just the right amount of sweetness, plus a gentle tang and tender crumb thanks to sour cream.
- Photo by Maes Studio, Inc.39/73
Waffled Macaroni and Cheese
Putting mac and cheese in a waffle iron to press it into a kind of waffle-shaped macaroni pie means it can be cut into small bites and eaten as finger food.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks40/73
No-Bake Butterscotch-Coconut Cookies
Need cookies in a flash? These butterscotch "buttons" come together fast and don't require an oven, which means you can have a treat any time you want it.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson41/73
Salmon Burgers with Red Pepper Mayo
Serve the salmon patty (made of entirely pantry ingredients) without the bun and cut into manageable bites for small children.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson42/73
Sesame Chicken Drumettes
Serve this one-pot baked chicken dish with steamed rice and broccoli. Remove the meat from the bone to make things easier for little ones.
- Photo by Alex Lau43/73
Corn Waffles With Strawberry Syrup
Stir fresh corn into these sweet-and-savory waffles. No fresh strawberries where you are? Frozen, or even sliced plums, work just as well.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog44/73
Apple Pie Cookies
Get the flavors of fall in the palm of your hand with these adorable bites stuffed with jammy cinnamon-spiced apples.
- Photo by Shutterstock45/73
Crispy Whole Wheat Graham Crackers
Homemade grahams are buttery and crisp, with an incredible depth of flavor thanks to earthy whole wheat flour and the mellow maltiness of golden syrup—a type of light molasses.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, and Ali Nardi46/73
Grilled Corn, Zucchini, and Black Bean Quesadillas
These veggie-studded, kid friendly quesadillas are super easy and super nutritious.
- Photo by Ted Axelrod47/73
Veggie Sushi Hand Roll
Strips of vegetables like peppers and cucumbers rolled into perfect hand-held bites along with rice and nori makes for a perfect toddler snack.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell48/73
Frozen Yogurt Bark
Just the right mix of crisp, creamy, and slightly sweet, this frozen treat is exactly what we want to snack on all summer long.
- Photo by Marcus Nilsson49/73
Whole Wheat Chapatis
If you have a stovetop griddle, use it to make a few flatbreads at a time.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi50/73
Quiche Sardou
Both the tart shell and the filling for this luscious quiche can be prepped ahead, making it a great dish to have in the fridge for quick lunches and dinners for the whole family.
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Silver Dollar Latkes
Sure, this recipe can make standard-size latkes, but the minis are just right for toddlers.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell52/73
Homemade Spiced Coconut Chips
Customize this addictive crunchy snack to your heart’s content with your favorite sweetener and ground spices.
- donna hay magazine, photography by Benjamin Dearnley53/73
Miso-Glazed Salmon Skewers
With a sprinkling of spice, these simple broiled salmon skewers are an easy, family-friendly dinner. When you remove them from the skewers, they become perfect handheld strips that kids can eat with their hands.
- Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell54/73
Creamy Cauliflower Dip
For a veggie-on-veggie snack, toddlers can dip bell pepper strips or cucumber sticks into this creamy cauliflower dip.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell55/73
Crispy Spiced Potato Wedges
Mustard seeds give these steak house-style wedges great flavor and crunch.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell56/73
Shrimp and Corn Fritters
Bursting with fresh corn, these fritters take inspiration from classic Southern shrimp and grits.
- Photo by Lisa Keenan58/73
Berry Explosion Muffins
Free of refined sugar, these muffins are sweetened naturally with dates, and get a protein boost from both chia seeds and almond flour.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton59/73
Sheet-Pan Grilled Cheese
Two rimmed baking sheets and a hot oven mimic a giant panini press, making grilled cheese for a crowd a super quick and easy prospect. Cut these guys into manageable strips for little kids.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone60/73
No-Bake Energy Bites with Ginger and Turmeric
These superfood-filled, protein-packed bites are perfect for healthy, kid-approved snacking. (Just make sure you skip the optional espresso bean coating!)
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks61/73
Easy Everyday Pancakes
When you store this batter in the fridge (for up to 2 days!) every day can be pancake day.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi62/73
Fresh Corn Quiche
Freshly cut corn kernels and a quick blender egg custard are all that goes into a store-bought pie shell for this unbelievably easy and delicious summer brunch all-star.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell63/73
Crispy Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with roasted potatoes for a kid-approved side. A mix of fresh thyme and nutmeg keeps this version interesting for adults.
- Photo by Philip Haynes64/73
Sweet Potato Fritters with Poached Eggs and Avocado
Serve these sweet potato fritters with hard boiled, rather than poached eggs, to make them super toddler-friendly.
- Photo by Catherine McCord65/73
Apple Cheese Wraps
Apples can be hard for toddlers to chew. Make sure they're sliced extra thin to make these healthy snacks safe for little ones to handle.
- Photo by Gregory Waldo66/73
Marinated Mushroom, Tomato, and Scallion Skewers
Remove these vegetables from the skewers after cooking to make them the perfect finger food for kids.
- Photo by Catherine McCord67/73
Vegetarian Pesto Wraps
Vegetable-packed wraps are the perfect healthy, on-the-go food for kids.
- Hannah Kaminsky68/73
Quinoa and Red Lentil Burgers
Quinoa and red lentils cook in the same amount of time, right in the same saucepan, making these burgers super convenient.
- Photo by Tara Donne, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi69/73
Avocado Toast with Tomato-Corn Salsa
Tomatoes and fresh corn salsa add a Mexican twist to the classic avocado toast. But, to simplify things for toddlers, feel free to skip the topping and simply serve smashed avocado on bread, sliced into strips.
- Evi Abeler70/73
Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies
These egg-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, guilt-free brownies are some of the best you will ever taste! They will crumble a bit more than regular brownies, so beware of crumbs!
- Photo by Alex Lau71/73
Potato Blinis
This is how you serve your family pancakes for dinner. These potato blinis are inspired by a Thomas Keller recipe, but they're super simple to make and perfect finger food.
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Sweet Potato and Sage Pancakes
These wheat-free pancakes are sweetened with nothing but homemade, sugar-free applesauce.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks73/73
Diner-Style Buttermilk Pancakes
Buttermilk, baking soda, and seltzer unite to create these extra-fluffy pancakes. Their large size is classic for diners, but you can make them easier to flip by using smaller scoops, if you like.
