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  4. 25 Vegetable Side Dish Ideas Kids Will Actually Like

25 Vegetable Side Dish Ideas Kids Will Actually Like

Headshot of Penelope Wall
Penelope Wall Updated July 08, 2022
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We're always looking for new vegetable sides for family meals. Of course, what's appealing to one child might not be for others. I have two kids: one loves spicy foods and puts hot sauce and kimchi on everything. The other is always asking if ketchup can count as his vegetable. We try to meet somewhere in the middle and keep offering new foods and flavors, because you never know what they will try and love. These kid-friendly vegetable recipes are healthy and easy—perfect for weeknight dinners!

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Maple Roasted Carrots

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Roasting brings out the inherent sweetness in carrots—but add a little maple syrup and butter and you have a caramelized vegetable your kids (and you!) will actually want to eat seconds of.

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Kid-Friendly Salad

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Make salad something your kids will actually want to eat with this kid-friendly crudité plate. Put it out before dinner and watch them eat all their veggies without a fuss!

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Broccoli Casserole

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The lightened-up luscious sauce elevates this easy casserole recipe over standard broccoli-and-cheese side dishes.

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Homemade Ranch Dressing with Veggies

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Make a big batch of homemade ranch dressing to keep on hand for dipping crisp, raw vegetables anytime for a healthy snack both kids and adults will enjoy.

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Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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In this easy vegetable side dish recipe, sweet potatoes are tossed with maple syrup, butter and lemon juice and then roasted until tender and golden brown. The delicious glaze that forms on these maple-roasted sweet potatoes transforms this ultra-simple dish into something sublime.

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Parmesan Broccoli Bites

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Almond flour (aka almond meal) makes the coating on these broccoli "fries" extra-crunchy and flavorful. Find it in the gluten-free section of large supermarkets and natural-foods stores.

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Mashed Butternut Squash

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For this mashed butternut squash recipe, we start by roasting the squash, which really intensifies its flavor and sweetness. That means you don't need to add much—just a few pinches of spices and a little butter and salt—to make the perfect healthy side dish for any fall meal. If you want to dress it up more, add some honey and warm spices, like cinnamon, for a sweet profile; for a savory profile, add a teaspoon or two of rosemary, sage or thyme (or a combination) and sprinkle with Parmesan. Or go sweet and savory, with bacon fat (or bacon crumbles), maple syrup and additional cayenne. Using a food processor gives this mash a very smooth texture, but you could certainly mash it with a fork or potato masher for a more rustic texture.

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Quick Cucumber Kimchi

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While slowly fermented cabbage and pungent garlic are the ingredients most people associate with kimchi, there are dozens and dozens of other versions of Korea's national dish, featuring all manner of vegetables, such as these quickly pickled cucumbers with just a trace of garlic.

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Oven Sweet Potato Fries

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Making oven fries out of sweet potatoes brings out their inherent sweetness.

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Cheesy Zucchini Tots

Cheesy Zucchini Tots
Credit: Casey Barber
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Not one, not two, but three cheeses combine to make these low-carb cheesy zucchini tots live up to their name. Bake them in the oven or fry them in your air fryer for a crisp exterior and a gooey, melted center. Don't use pre-shredded cheese here; shred it fresh for the best and creamiest results. Serve with ketchup, marinara, ranch or your favorite dipping sauce.

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Mary's Zucchini with Parmesan

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In this simple and delicious recipe, the almost- caramelized zucchini are topped with a Parmesan crust. Serve the zucchini like a wedge of pizza, straight from the pan, with the cheesy side up. We named this recipe Mary's Zucchini after the mom of one of our former Test Kitchen managers. It's perfect for just-picked zucchini.

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Ginger-&-Miso-Glazed Broccoli

Ginger-&-Miso-Glazed Broccoli
Credit: Jacob Fox
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A touch of maple or honey balances the flavor of umami-laden miso while thickening the sauce to coat this stir-fried broccoli.

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Boiled Corn on the Cob

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Want to know how to boil corn on the cob? This boiled corn on the cob recipe starts with 4 ears of fresh summer corn.

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Brown Butter & Sage Acorn Squash

Brown Butter & Sage Acorn Squash
Credit: Greg DuPree
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We like acorn squash because its skin is tender enough to eat (which saves you the hassle of peeling), but any winter squash will work for this nutty, maple-drizzled side.

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Kale Chips

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Not a fan of kale? These crispy baked kale chips will convert you! For the best result, don't overcrowd the pans.

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Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

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This healthy recipe is a savory riff on the traditional brown-sugar-and-pecan-topped sweet potato casserole so often found on Thanksgiving tables. Crispy baby kale leaves make a stunning garnish, but any green or herb that suits you will look great, fried or not.

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Skillet Cauliflower Gratin

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Nonfat milk and a bit of sharp Cheddar combine to make a rich sauce without all the butter usually found in gratins.

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Avocado Fries with Sriracha Aioli

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Creamy avocados are a delicious foil to crunchy breading in this healthy oven-fried avocado fries recipe. Dip into spicy Sriracha dipping sauce for a flavor explosion. Save your ripe avocados for guacamole or toast—only firm ones will do when making these fries.

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Edamame with Ginger Salt

Edamame with Ginger Salt
Credit: Jerrelle Guy
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Add zing to convenient frozen edamame with easy homemade seasoning. You'll have leftover ginger salt—try a sprinkle on steamed or roasted veggies.

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Brown Sugar-Glazed Beets

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Try a sweet glaze on beets or other root vegetables to help balance their earthy flavor. This easy recipe will work with steamed carrots, turnips or rutabaga too.

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Sesame Carrots

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Toasted sesame seeds add taste and eye appeal to a cheery plate of crunchy carrots.

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Cheesy Pull-Apart Cauliflower with Pesto

Cheesy Pull-Apart Cauliflower with Pesto
Credit: Brie Passano
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For this fun and festive appetizer or side dish, a combination of pesto and mozzarella cheese is tucked into a whole head of cauliflower. After roasting, the florets are easy to pull off, revealing the ooey-gooey cheese beneath. 

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Colorful Roasted Sheet-Pan Veggies

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These easy roasted vegetables will give your plate a pop of color. Give the cubes of butternut squash a head start for 10 minutes to soften in the oven before adding in the other veggies. The broccoli, peppers and onion are naturally more tender than the squash and cook more quickly. That way everything ends up finishing at the same time.

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Garlic-Rosemary Smashed Potatoes

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A combination of baked, mashed and roasted, these crusty, garlicky smashed potatoes are a healthy and creative alternative. Serve alongside a seared steak or roasted pork tenderloin and green beans.

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Air-Fryer Onion Rings

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Credit: Jacob Fox
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These air-fryer onion rings are a great alternative to traditional deep-fried onion rings. The homemade dipping sauce adds to the savory flavor and adds a creamy note to counter the crispy coating.

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    1 of 25 Maple Roasted Carrots
    2 of 25 Kid-Friendly Salad
    3 of 25 Broccoli Casserole
    4 of 25 Homemade Ranch Dressing with Veggies
    5 of 25 Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    6 of 25 Parmesan Broccoli Bites
    7 of 25 Mashed Butternut Squash
    8 of 25 Quick Cucumber Kimchi
    9 of 25 Oven Sweet Potato Fries
    10 of 25 Cheesy Zucchini Tots
    11 of 25 Mary's Zucchini with Parmesan
    12 of 25 Ginger-&-Miso-Glazed Broccoli
    13 of 25 Boiled Corn on the Cob
    14 of 25 Brown Butter & Sage Acorn Squash
    15 of 25 Kale Chips
    16 of 25 Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
    17 of 25 Skillet Cauliflower Gratin
    18 of 25 Avocado Fries with Sriracha Aioli
    19 of 25 Edamame with Ginger Salt
    20 of 25 Brown Sugar-Glazed Beets
    21 of 25 Sesame Carrots
    22 of 25 Cheesy Pull-Apart Cauliflower with Pesto
    23 of 25 Colorful Roasted Sheet-Pan Veggies
    24 of 25 Garlic-Rosemary Smashed Potatoes
    25 of 25 Air-Fryer Onion Rings

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    25 Vegetable Side Dish Ideas Kids Will Actually Like
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