Quick & Cheap Dinner Ideas for Kids

Kids will enjoy making their own mini pizzas using a variety of fresh, inexpensive ingredients. Use half an English muffin as a crust, and top it with canned or jarred tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Kids can customize their own pizzas using favorite toppings such as pepperoni, chopped tomatoes or olives.

Roll-ups contain traditional sandwich fixings but feature a fun-to-eat shape. Have your kids help you make the roll-ups by spreading mayonnaise, creamy dressing or mustard on one side of a flour tortilla. Layer on preferred sandwich ingredients, such as sliced cheddar or Swiss cheese, deli ham or turkey and lettuce. Roll the tortilla up and serve with tater tots or a bowl of soup.

Most kids love chicken nuggets, and you can make your own chicken nuggets in minutes using chicken breast. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and coat them with an egg wash and crushed cracker crumbs. When the nuggets are baked, they'll feature a crunchy coating. Serve the nuggets with homemade French fries. For dipping, put out ketchup or ranch dip.

Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic, easy-to-prepare meal that most kids enjoy. Cook the meatballs in a skillet until they are cooked through and pour a bottle of marinara sauce over them. Make the sauce your own by sprinkling in Italian seasonings, such as basil and oregano, or fresh, chopped vegetables. Sprinkle in some seasoning mix instead for maximum flavor in the least time. Serve the sauce over hot pasta and pack any leftovers in your child's lunchbox as a hot lunch the next day.